Screaming Tree [Paperback]

Phil Lovesey (Author)

Book Description

Complex psychological thriller from the author of When the Ashes Burn: 'Phil Lovesey is among the most talented of the new wave of young British crime writers' Marcel Berlins, The Times As a seven-year-old boy, William Dickson goes into the woods with his friend Fat Norris and watches as he falls to his death from a tree. Friends and family couldn't be more sympathetic -- as if they don't realize how much William is to blame. Fat Norris is the first, but William soon claims other victims, particularly when he sees just how easy it is for him to kill and get away with it: a woman who attacks him, a school bully and a teenage yob all fall prey to his murderous impulses, without him ever arousing the slightest suspicion. It's only much later that a throwaway remark by his mother casts a whole new light on William's crimes. Can his memory of past events be completely trusted? Or is there an even more sinister and complex reason for the shadow of death that has hung over him since he went into the woods?

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A promising new young British voice' Time Out When the Ashes Burn: 'The most gripping, horrifying book of the year' Yorkshire Post Ploughing Potter's Field: 'A superior piece of crime-writing' Philip Oakes, Literary Review 'Robust writing, a keen, brutal perception of modern existence and a penchant for shocking violence' Marcel Berlins, The Times

About the Author

Born in Essex in 1963, and the son of award-winning crime writer Peter Lovesey, Phil Lovesey was educated at Tiffin Boys School. A foundation course in art led to a degree in film and television studies, then a career as London's laziest advertising copywriter. He turned to 'proper' writing in 1994 with a series of short stories, and was runner-up in the prestigious MWA 50th Anniversary short story competition in 1995. He lives in Chelmsford with his wife and two young children, and is without question one of the worst badminton players in the South East. The Screaming Tree is his fourth novel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins Pb (May 6, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0007127375
• ISBN-13: 978-0007127375
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,557,686 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Definitely Not a Light Read!, May 13, 2008

By 

James N Simpson (Gold Coast, QLD Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Screaming Tree (Paperback)

The Screaming Tree is definitely no light reading material but it is certainly an interesting read and one you won't regret purchasing.

Written in a narration style William Dickson starts of the story recounting to the reader his memories of some seriously morbid and heavy events throughout his childhood up to his present day life boarding with two roommates as he attends college. Along the way William ended the lives of his best friend, a deranged woman, private school bully and a drunken thug who placed him in a coma for a number of months and left his head hideously scarred. At least that's what William believes is his history. When his mother tells him a different version of his first killing where he was found screaming in a tree (hence the title) he believes she is losing her mind. Is she though? Or is it him? His memory was never the same after the coma. As part of his acceptance to the tertiary institution he is attending he must see a shrink named Carter. Carter doesn't believe either William or his mother are insane and is determined for William to remember the truth. However William is now the suspect in another killing, one he knows for sure he didn't do and this is going to make things a little more interesting.....

It's heavy reading at times but stick with it, it's a good tale.