The Hanging Tree

I’ll admit, I approached *The Hanging Tree* with skepticism—dual timelines can so easily feel gimmicky, and historical mysteries often drown in exposition. But Shapiro sidesteps both traps with surgical precision. The 1700s sections, told through Alys’s perspective, are visceral and immediate, avoiding the stiff formality that sinks so many period pieces. Meanwhile, Nicole’s modern-day chapters crackle with dry wit and a growing paranoia that Nahikian sells perfectly. Her performance is understated but razor-sharp; she doesn’t *act* the emotions so much as let them seep into her delivery, which makes the moments of outright terror hit harder. That said, the pacing isn’t flawless. The middle act sags slightly as Nicole sifts through letters and court records—necessary for the plot, but the audiobook’s momentum stalls when the action becomes too cerebral. And while the ending ties the threads together satisfyingly, one late reveal about a secondary character feels rushed, like Shapiro suddenly remembered a loose end. Still, the strengths far outweigh the quibbles. The sound design is particularly impressive: the echo in the manor’s halls, the way voices seem to drop to whispers during flashbacks—it’s subtle, but it pulls you deeper into the story’s oppressive atmosphere. If you love mysteries that reward patience, where the horror lies in what’s *implied* rather than what’s shown, this is a standout. Just don’t start it before bed unless you’re okay with side-eyeing your own ceiling beams for creaks.