Book Review for Thatcher’s Tree by James Shipway
Thatcher’s Tree, by James Shipway, is a horror mystery that tells the story of a young film student named Polly, who becomes stranded on an island filled with monsters. The book’s gripping setting paves the way for a unique illustration of how eerily beautiful humanity can truly be.
The book begins with the introduction of an emotionless killer who under psychiatric evaluation. As doctors try to uncover their patient’s secrets, Shipway rewinds time and introduces Polly, who is setting sail for a film project. The ship, however, ends up in a strange storm, and leaving Polly and two other sailors stranded on the island. As she encounters the horrific monsters on the island, as well as the feral, but enchanting Thatcher, she begins to see the dangers of slipping into her own, demented mind, all the while endeavoring to seek out a balance between her humanity, and her savagery. The plot is complex and reveling, so much so that nothing is as it seems, and that at times, the safest place you could be is hiding behind the monsters who watch you from the dark.
Shipway’s attention to detail is extraordinary. He pulled me in with grotesque imagery that’d left me speechless many times over; the bodies in the water, the darkness of the jungle, and even the majesty of the evolution of the island itself. He establishes a sense of isolation and depression, as he details Polly’s descent to madness. The innocence Polly had, as she watches her friends fall before her, is incredibly addicting. As the story progresses, Shipway doesn’t shy away from details, as he dangles Polly somewhere between life and death.
And it was through this did I fully witness Polly’s degradation. I could feel her humanity slipping away, first when she thought about killing her friends and no one finding out, then to callously abandoning Thatcher, a companion that had kept her alive for so long. She’s changed from this sweet, innocent girl, to something more evolved, something advanced enough to effortlessly look down in disgust upon humanity, to kill without hesitation. She was beautiful, in my eyes. Beautiful and abominable.
Overall, I would give this book a rating of a 4.0 out of 5 stars. I loved the setting that Shipway has established; they almost take a life of their own, twisting and changing the characters until finally, they evolve. Still, the book does have its detractions, such as the punctuation errors that are littered throughout the book. However, I did enjoy this story, and would recommend it to those who enjoy religious horror, nihilists, and people who simply love a good scare.
