Review of Under the Blood Tree

[Steinkar]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Under the Blood Tree" by P. J. Grondin.]

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3 out of 5 stars

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The prologue of PJ Grondin’s Under the Blood Tree describes four pre-teen boys hearing screams of rape from a young girl crawling out of a car down by a lake. When they find her and see a dead body in the car, they make a snap decision to save the girl by pushing the car with the body into the lake. Then they make a blood pact never to speak of the incident again. Chapter 1 begins 15 years later when a devastating drought drains the lake, and the car and body are discovered. The plot follows the four men as they navigate their adult lives, trying to keep the secret while simultaneously protecting themselves and their families against prosecution. With multiple flashbacks throughout the novel, details of that night and all the townspeople involved begin to be discovered, and they realize they can no longer keep their secret. The mystery can only be solved by unraveling all the intertwined relationships of the citizens of the small town and the parts each played in the lives (and deaths) of others.

I enjoyed the winding mystery of this audiobook. Grondin does a masterful job of divulging just enough details in each flashback to keep listeners guessing throughout the book. For example, Milly’s family relationships become more and more surprising as the story progresses. I also like how the inclusion of seemingly random details adds realism and suspense: When Morris, the reporter, is searching an unfamiliar database for information, Grondin includes an explanation of how long a computer search might take and how to narrow it down, leading listeners to become impatient right along with the character. Finally, the mystery is being investigated separately by both Bannon, the chief investigator, and Morris, and the two periodically check in with one another, filling in the blanks for each other and the listeners, which helps us keep track of all the details.

The book is not without flaws, however. Most importantly, I am disappointed in how Grondin has his characters react to the idea of homosexuality. First, there are several references to a male librarian’s “overtly feminine manner," making the male reporter “uncomfortable.” In another instance, Cheryl thought the matching scars on Tom’s and Andy’s hands were “some kind of love symbol.” Tom comments that Andy would not like that implication, and Andy replies, “You’re damn right about that.” Neither of these two references has anything to do with advancing the plot or solving the mystery and only serve to disparage the main characters, revealing bigotry that makes them much less engaging.

I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. Although Grondin makes a few missteps and there are a couple of inconsistencies in this audio version, this is a good mystery with interesting characters and vivid detail. It drives home the idea that, no matter how well-intentioned, “Secrets have a way of eroding trust.”

Mystery lovers will find this book hard to put down. While there is some derogatory language, there is nothing overtly sexual or violent that might offend younger readers.

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Under the Blood Tree
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[Nathan Ari]

Set in drought-stricken Middle Georgia, the story begins as Cypress Lake’s waterline dramatically drops, revealing a chilling secret that had remained hidden for sixteen years. Four childhood friends—Tommy, Andy, Curtis, and Billy Ray—once bound by a blood oath under an ancient tree, are now respectable adults with careers, families, and reputations to protect.

But when a long-buried truth reemerges, everything they've built is suddenly at risk. Each man is forced to confront the consequences of that long-ago summer and the decisions that shaped their lives. As the mystery unfolds, it becomes a gripping examination of guilt, loyalty, and redemption.

[Kibet Hillary]

After fifteen years, the secret is discovered and now they have to find a way to resolve the issue? This sounds like a real thriller, and I cannot wait to see how the whole issue unravels with time. Many thanks for the amazing review, @Steinkar.

[Steinkar]

It really is a well-thought out mystery! I hope you enjoy it.

[Onyemuwa-dave]

That's an excellent, well-structured review! You effectively highlight the engaging "winding mystery" and "masterful job of divulging just enough details" through flashbacks. Your critique of the "missteps" in character reactions to homosexuality is very insightful and important, but I feel it greatly biased your review score. Thanks for your candid and thorough assessment!

[NetMassimo]

A certain kind of attitude is cringy to me unless it's used to stress a character's bigotry. Otherwise, this thriller seems well constructed, with different lives intertwining in a mystery that's slowly unraveled. Thank you for your honest review!