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Fractured Oak
It’s hard to catch a killer when the only witness is a tree.
“Comprehensive, well-researched, and above all mesmerizing”—Readers’ Favorite
In 1853, after Catherine Miller is murdered for daring to become a doctor in a field full of men, a molecular fusion between human decay and natural rebirth transforms her into a Northern Red Oak. One hundred and seventy years later, she remains a mute but sentient tree, rooted near a secluded Northeast Ohio house. After she watches in horror as the newest homeowner murders one of his PhD students, Catherine is resolved, somehow, to see that justice gets served.
Fortunately, present-day Catherine has an unwitting ally: Lani Whitaker, a fourth-generation detective facing mandatory retirement and sick of being treated like a dried-up relic by her young chief of police. When the body of that same PhD student turns up in the woods, Lani is determined to solve the case and go out with a win.
Two women, generations apart, linked to each other through murder. Can solving a twenty-first-century homicide shed light on a nineteenth-century killer?
“Comprehensive, well-researched, and above all mesmerizing”—Readers’ Favorite
In 1853, after Catherine Miller is murdered for daring to become a doctor in a field full of men, a molecular fusion between human decay and natural rebirth transforms her into a Northern Red Oak. One hundred and seventy years later, she remains a mute but sentient tree, rooted near a secluded Northeast Ohio house. After she watches in horror as the newest homeowner murders one of his PhD students, Catherine is resolved, somehow, to see that justice gets served.
Fortunately, present-day Catherine has an unwitting ally: Lani Whitaker, a fourth-generation detective facing mandatory retirement and sick of being treated like a dried-up relic by her young chief of police. When the body of that same PhD student turns up in the woods, Lani is determined to solve the case and go out with a win.
Two women, generations apart, linked to each other through murder. Can solving a twenty-first-century homicide shed light on a nineteenth-century killer?
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 4, 2023
26 people are currently reading
11383 people want to read
About the author
Dannie Boyd
1 book46 followersWriter, reader, overthinker.
(Dannie Boyd is a pen name for medical thriller author Carrie Rubin.)
(Dannie Boyd is a pen name for medical thriller author Carrie Rubin.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
March 23, 2023
What an accomplishment! Catherine Miller was the third woman in the U.S. to graduate from a medical college. A partnership with an established young doctor awaited her. The year, 1853. At her commencement, Catherine felt the need for fresh air. With her head in the clouds, she "escaped into a thick copse of trees", unaware that she was being followed, never to be seen again.
Cleveland, Ohio. Although "...our railroads, waterways and manufacturing bring tremendous progress, we must not risk unraveling our social fabric...How soon before our good citizens die from an error at the hands of a lady doctor..." Young Constable Henry Whitaker was stationed at the tension-filled graduation. He brooded his entire life, unable to solve the case of Dr. Catherine Miller's demise.
It was now one hundred seventy years since Catherine died. "My soul has been trapped in a tree", a Northern Red Oak, to be exact. "I exchange nutrients with the roots of my fellow trees...my bark is fractured...my branches arthritic...". "Time is elusive when one is a tree...I spent many decades alone with nature before the foundation of a home was placed, along with a carriage house...now called a garage...My faithful companion Iggy [a beagle] is unbothered by the new weeds and mushrooms...sprouted around my exposed roots...I wonder if my arboreal death will come soon...a swift chop will truncate any meager life I have left."
Mark Carver, the current occupant of the house on the secluded land, heads a university research team developing a new weight loss drug. Harrison Price, heavily invested and expecting to make millions, is about out of patience when a potential issue might delay human trials. PhD research student, Tony Habib had informed Carver about a case of liver cancer in one of the mice. Tony wants to record his findings. Carver wants to "take care of Tony". From Catherine's vantage point, "something unspeakable is about to happen...I howl my silent cry, of warning." How can Catherine, witness to Tony's murder, seek justice on his behalf?
Fourth Generation Homicide Detective, 65 year old Lani Whitaker and her 33 year old partner Brian Dupree are enlisted to solve the mystery. Lani is facing mandatory retirement. "If the powers that be are going to boot her out the retirement door, she...wants to go out with a win...". Perhaps Lani will be grabbing at invisible threads, but, partner Brian has her back. Their banter is lighthearted, often humorous. Lani loves greenery, She gives her own plants "verbal and hydration" care. She is fond of the Northern Red Oak in Carver's backyard.
Is it possible for a one hundred seventy year old tree to help solve a murder in the 21st Century, and in doing so, discover who caused her demise in the 19th century? "Come now, men, are you going to be out-answered by a mere woman? Dr. Catherine Miller was not seen as 'one' woman, but, a wave of change.
The premise of "Fractured Oak" by Dannie Boyd was refreshing. The mix of mystery, magical realism and with a nod to the dogged determination of two women, centuries apart, made for an engrossing fictional read. Highly recommended.
Thank you Indigo Dot Press and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Cleveland, Ohio. Although "...our railroads, waterways and manufacturing bring tremendous progress, we must not risk unraveling our social fabric...How soon before our good citizens die from an error at the hands of a lady doctor..." Young Constable Henry Whitaker was stationed at the tension-filled graduation. He brooded his entire life, unable to solve the case of Dr. Catherine Miller's demise.
It was now one hundred seventy years since Catherine died. "My soul has been trapped in a tree", a Northern Red Oak, to be exact. "I exchange nutrients with the roots of my fellow trees...my bark is fractured...my branches arthritic...". "Time is elusive when one is a tree...I spent many decades alone with nature before the foundation of a home was placed, along with a carriage house...now called a garage...My faithful companion Iggy [a beagle] is unbothered by the new weeds and mushrooms...sprouted around my exposed roots...I wonder if my arboreal death will come soon...a swift chop will truncate any meager life I have left."
Mark Carver, the current occupant of the house on the secluded land, heads a university research team developing a new weight loss drug. Harrison Price, heavily invested and expecting to make millions, is about out of patience when a potential issue might delay human trials. PhD research student, Tony Habib had informed Carver about a case of liver cancer in one of the mice. Tony wants to record his findings. Carver wants to "take care of Tony". From Catherine's vantage point, "something unspeakable is about to happen...I howl my silent cry, of warning." How can Catherine, witness to Tony's murder, seek justice on his behalf?
Fourth Generation Homicide Detective, 65 year old Lani Whitaker and her 33 year old partner Brian Dupree are enlisted to solve the mystery. Lani is facing mandatory retirement. "If the powers that be are going to boot her out the retirement door, she...wants to go out with a win...". Perhaps Lani will be grabbing at invisible threads, but, partner Brian has her back. Their banter is lighthearted, often humorous. Lani loves greenery, She gives her own plants "verbal and hydration" care. She is fond of the Northern Red Oak in Carver's backyard.
Is it possible for a one hundred seventy year old tree to help solve a murder in the 21st Century, and in doing so, discover who caused her demise in the 19th century? "Come now, men, are you going to be out-answered by a mere woman? Dr. Catherine Miller was not seen as 'one' woman, but, a wave of change.
The premise of "Fractured Oak" by Dannie Boyd was refreshing. The mix of mystery, magical realism and with a nod to the dogged determination of two women, centuries apart, made for an engrossing fictional read. Highly recommended.
Thank you Indigo Dot Press and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2025
In a Nutshell: An interesting cocktail of contemporary police procedural plus mild mystery plus magical realism plus historical fiction. Though not much of a mystery, this indie work kept me hooked from start to end.
Story Synopsis:
Unlike what I had initially assumed, this isn’t a debut work. Dannie Boyd is the pen name of medical thriller author Carrie Rubin, who chose a pen name for this work as its magical realism foundation is different from her usual genre. Her expertise and her experience are amply demonstrated in this novel.
Bookish Yays:
😍 Historical fiction and contemporary drama – two of my favourite genres. When both come in the same book and are even handled well, yay!
😍 The dual perspectives of Catherine and Lani are written excellently. Of course, having one voice in first person and one in third person helps maintain the distinction in the perspectives, but I still appreciate how the author played close attention to the women’s ages in their voices. Catherine, who was twenty-three when killed, still sounds like a young adult, having a crush over someone and being emotional in her feelings. Her confusion over modern technology and her comments about the change in times also come out nicely. Lani, on the other hand, sounds like a true veteran who has had a lifetime of dealing with gender discrimination and gives back as hard as she gets. At the same time, she is not written as a force of nature who is unfazed by her age. On the contrary, her groans and grunts also make appearances when needed. I loved the honesty and accuracy in both their voices.
😍 Though the story covers a variety of topics, it doesn’t digress into unrelated minor tracks, nor does it slacken the pace. The events progress steadily from start to end. More importantly to me, nothing much seemed farfetched, even the fact that Catherine’s pov comes from her being a tree!
😍 And now that we are talking of the tree, I must admit I was very worried when I realised that one of the povs was that of a tree. I had had a bad experience with Elif Shafak’s ‘The Island of Missing Trees’, which also had a tree narrator. But in this book, the magical realism element is just outstanding and the author gets the voice of the tree spot on. Catherine narrates only what she observes and sometimes ponders over her life as a human in the 1850s, thus making her perspective sound genuine.
😍 Catherine’s musings over the past include her struggles as a female student in the male-dominated world of medicine. These seem very true to the era.
😍 Lani and Brian make for a great team. Like a typical police pair, they have their differences but their bond is strong and comes across in every scene. I enjoyed how Lani was not depicted just as a police detective but also had her own backstory that highlighted the reason for her protectiveness towards Brian.
😍 Doesn’t a story always get better with an adorable dog? If you read this book, you get Iggy the beagle. I wish there were more of him in the plot, but what we get is also pretty good.
😍 The author’s note at the end reveals more details about the historical fiction timeline, highlighting why she chose a fictional character to represent the third woman medical graduate in the US.
Bookish Nays:
😐 Lani’s pov has Brian and the chief of police making some age-related jokes. Brian’s comments are mostly like banter while the CoP’s are more condescending. While I liked how realistic this made the whole scenario, I feel that the jokes were stretched too much. Some of the gags were funny, no doubt, and Lani not just took them in the right spirit but also gave back with equal fervour, but after a point, the jokes began to feel repetitive, and this reduced their impact.
😐 A majority of the characters in the historical timeline feel somewhat flat as we get only limited glimpses of them. This isn’t a major problem, because the focus of the story is more on the contemporary investigation. However, I would have liked to know more about a few of the characters in Catherine’s life as well.
⚠ The book doesn’t have much of a mystery because we already know who the killer is, courtesy Catherine’s eye-witness (whoops… tree-witness!) account of the murder. So while Lani and her team are in the dark, we the readers can just wait until they discover the identity of the guilty party. This might spoil the suspense for those who pick this book up primarily as a mystery.
(This didn’t bother me much because the book had enough to keep me entertained and I am not much of a mystery fan anyway.)
The audiobook experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 7 hr 27 min, is narrated by Sierra Kline. She has the tough task of narrating a twenty-three year old and a sixty-five year old, but she handles the task adeptly, giving both the leading ladies a memorable voice that doesn’t sound exaggerated. Catherine’s pov is much more emotional, and Kline renders every feeling well. I truly enjoyed her performance and would definitely recommend the audio version.
All in all, I enjoyed this story because it delivered what it promised. I was confused over whether to go for a 4 star rating or higher because the book has more entertainment merit than literary merit. However, commercial fiction hardly ever gets as much acclaim as literary fiction, and when a book serves as one heck of an entertainer and delivers on its promise exactly as per its genre, it deserves a high rating regardless of its simpler prose.
Definitely recommended when you are looking for a light cozy mystery intermingled with historical elements and magical realism, with strong characters as a plus.
4.5 stars, rounding up happily.
I won a free copy of the audiobook in a giveaway. Thank you, Indigo Dot Press! This book came as a wonderful surprise, and was a treat to read.
Content warning: Animal abuse
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
In 1853, Catherine Miller became the third woman to become a medical doctor. On the same day as she received her diploma, she was brutally murdered.
Now, a hundred and seventy years later, Catherine is still alive but not as a human. She is a sentient oak tree, observing quietly the events and the resident of the secluded house near the place “she” is rooted in. The owner of the house, Dr. Carver, isn’t Catherine’s favourite person, and her worst fears are confirmed when he ends up murdering one of his Ph.D. students in front of her. Can she do anything though? She is just a tree.
Lani Whitaker, a detective just a few weeks short of her mandatory retirement, is fed up of being treated as an incapable old woman by the chief of police. When she, along with her young partner officer Brian, is handed the investigation of the Ph.D. student’s murder, Lani is determined to end her career with victory.
The story comes to us in the first person perspective of Catherine and the third person limited perspective of Lani.
Unlike what I had initially assumed, this isn’t a debut work. Dannie Boyd is the pen name of medical thriller author Carrie Rubin, who chose a pen name for this work as its magical realism foundation is different from her usual genre. Her expertise and her experience are amply demonstrated in this novel.
Bookish Yays:
😍 Historical fiction and contemporary drama – two of my favourite genres. When both come in the same book and are even handled well, yay!
😍 The dual perspectives of Catherine and Lani are written excellently. Of course, having one voice in first person and one in third person helps maintain the distinction in the perspectives, but I still appreciate how the author played close attention to the women’s ages in their voices. Catherine, who was twenty-three when killed, still sounds like a young adult, having a crush over someone and being emotional in her feelings. Her confusion over modern technology and her comments about the change in times also come out nicely. Lani, on the other hand, sounds like a true veteran who has had a lifetime of dealing with gender discrimination and gives back as hard as she gets. At the same time, she is not written as a force of nature who is unfazed by her age. On the contrary, her groans and grunts also make appearances when needed. I loved the honesty and accuracy in both their voices.
😍 Though the story covers a variety of topics, it doesn’t digress into unrelated minor tracks, nor does it slacken the pace. The events progress steadily from start to end. More importantly to me, nothing much seemed farfetched, even the fact that Catherine’s pov comes from her being a tree!
😍 And now that we are talking of the tree, I must admit I was very worried when I realised that one of the povs was that of a tree. I had had a bad experience with Elif Shafak’s ‘The Island of Missing Trees’, which also had a tree narrator. But in this book, the magical realism element is just outstanding and the author gets the voice of the tree spot on. Catherine narrates only what she observes and sometimes ponders over her life as a human in the 1850s, thus making her perspective sound genuine.
😍 Catherine’s musings over the past include her struggles as a female student in the male-dominated world of medicine. These seem very true to the era.
😍 Lani and Brian make for a great team. Like a typical police pair, they have their differences but their bond is strong and comes across in every scene. I enjoyed how Lani was not depicted just as a police detective but also had her own backstory that highlighted the reason for her protectiveness towards Brian.
😍 Doesn’t a story always get better with an adorable dog? If you read this book, you get Iggy the beagle. I wish there were more of him in the plot, but what we get is also pretty good.
😍 The author’s note at the end reveals more details about the historical fiction timeline, highlighting why she chose a fictional character to represent the third woman medical graduate in the US.
Bookish Nays:
😐 Lani’s pov has Brian and the chief of police making some age-related jokes. Brian’s comments are mostly like banter while the CoP’s are more condescending. While I liked how realistic this made the whole scenario, I feel that the jokes were stretched too much. Some of the gags were funny, no doubt, and Lani not just took them in the right spirit but also gave back with equal fervour, but after a point, the jokes began to feel repetitive, and this reduced their impact.
😐 A majority of the characters in the historical timeline feel somewhat flat as we get only limited glimpses of them. This isn’t a major problem, because the focus of the story is more on the contemporary investigation. However, I would have liked to know more about a few of the characters in Catherine’s life as well.
⚠ The book doesn’t have much of a mystery because we already know who the killer is, courtesy Catherine’s eye-witness (whoops… tree-witness!) account of the murder. So while Lani and her team are in the dark, we the readers can just wait until they discover the identity of the guilty party. This might spoil the suspense for those who pick this book up primarily as a mystery.
(This didn’t bother me much because the book had enough to keep me entertained and I am not much of a mystery fan anyway.)
The audiobook experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 7 hr 27 min, is narrated by Sierra Kline. She has the tough task of narrating a twenty-three year old and a sixty-five year old, but she handles the task adeptly, giving both the leading ladies a memorable voice that doesn’t sound exaggerated. Catherine’s pov is much more emotional, and Kline renders every feeling well. I truly enjoyed her performance and would definitely recommend the audio version.
All in all, I enjoyed this story because it delivered what it promised. I was confused over whether to go for a 4 star rating or higher because the book has more entertainment merit than literary merit. However, commercial fiction hardly ever gets as much acclaim as literary fiction, and when a book serves as one heck of an entertainer and delivers on its promise exactly as per its genre, it deserves a high rating regardless of its simpler prose.
Definitely recommended when you are looking for a light cozy mystery intermingled with historical elements and magical realism, with strong characters as a plus.
4.5 stars, rounding up happily.
I won a free copy of the audiobook in a giveaway. Thank you, Indigo Dot Press! This book came as a wonderful surprise, and was a treat to read.
Content warning: Animal abuse
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
April 20, 2023
3.5~4
“Of all the home dwellers to inhabit this remote bundle of land, he is my least favorite. I can’t define why, no more than I can define why my soul became trapped in a tree, but I feel it nonetheless.”
Catherine IS the fractured oak of the title. Why? She has no idea, and all we can do it is suspend disbelief and enjoy the magical realism and Catherine’s voice as she narrates her view of the action today in this old area outside the city of Cleveland, Ohio. Her own story starts in 1853, beginning with the prologue.
“Unaware she was about to die, Catherine Miller, a young woman delicate in build but determined in mind, hurried down the sidewalk of Cleveland’s Superior Street, her velvet cloak flapping against her gown in the March wind. Having just become the third woman in the United States to graduate from a medical college of repute, she was in need of an escape to steady her nerves.”
Boyd explains quickly and simply how and what the tree can observe.
“Catherine
As a tree…
On a ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ calendar displaying five otherworldly misfits, the man inside the house draws an X over March 24, 2023, and this is how I know it’s been one hundred and seventy years since I died.”
Chapters are introduced with either Catherine’s name or the name of Lani, the soon-to-be-retired police officer who comes to the property, investigating a murder. The voices are distinctive, and even without the introductory names, it is easy to know whose side of the investigation we’re seeing.
Catherine, the tree, has strong opinions about Mark Carver, the current owner of the house and acreage. He spends a lot of time outside by his firepit, and when he’s inside, she can see through the big glass doors to the kitchen and living area. But, she can’t hear indoor conversations, so she knows she has gaps in her knowledge.
Mark Carver is a medical researcher developing a weight-loss drug, and having been a fat kid, he’s hyper-sensitive about weight and fitness, hence his outdoor ‘healthy’ life and his frequent running. His wealthy investor is pushing for some quick results – hurry up with the mice trials and move on to humans, asap!
Lani is not happy about retiring, but in preparation, she’s clearing out some of her attic. She finds an urn with her great-grandfather’s ashes. Also in the box is his diary, which includes his notes about an unsolved murder from back in his day, that of Catherine Miller. We met him in the first few pages, but this is all news to Lani. She’s fascinated and reads a bit every day.
I liked Boyd’s characters and the storyline. We are left in no doubt about Mark Carver. Catherine hears his conversation with Iggy, his Beagle, when Carver picks up a small bird that is stunned after crashing into one of the glass doors. [It happens at our place often.]
“Iggy, seemingly as horrified as me, scoots back and whimpers. Mr. Carver stares at him beyond the crushed bird. ‘Ah, lighten up, Iggs. You’re as wimpy as the woman I got you from.’ When the dog blinks at him, Mr. Carver adds in a flat tone, ‘Some things are just better off dead.’”
It’s a good read. Boyd ties up the loose ends well, and I’d enjoy seeing Lani and Brian again, if Lani takes his advice and becomes a Private Investigator or something. She’s certainly not past her use-by date.
Thanks to NetGalley and Indigo Dot Press for the copy for review from which I’ve taken the liberty of quoting.
“Of all the home dwellers to inhabit this remote bundle of land, he is my least favorite. I can’t define why, no more than I can define why my soul became trapped in a tree, but I feel it nonetheless.”
Catherine IS the fractured oak of the title. Why? She has no idea, and all we can do it is suspend disbelief and enjoy the magical realism and Catherine’s voice as she narrates her view of the action today in this old area outside the city of Cleveland, Ohio. Her own story starts in 1853, beginning with the prologue.
“Unaware she was about to die, Catherine Miller, a young woman delicate in build but determined in mind, hurried down the sidewalk of Cleveland’s Superior Street, her velvet cloak flapping against her gown in the March wind. Having just become the third woman in the United States to graduate from a medical college of repute, she was in need of an escape to steady her nerves.”
Boyd explains quickly and simply how and what the tree can observe.
“Catherine
As a tree…
On a ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ calendar displaying five otherworldly misfits, the man inside the house draws an X over March 24, 2023, and this is how I know it’s been one hundred and seventy years since I died.”
Chapters are introduced with either Catherine’s name or the name of Lani, the soon-to-be-retired police officer who comes to the property, investigating a murder. The voices are distinctive, and even without the introductory names, it is easy to know whose side of the investigation we’re seeing.
Catherine, the tree, has strong opinions about Mark Carver, the current owner of the house and acreage. He spends a lot of time outside by his firepit, and when he’s inside, she can see through the big glass doors to the kitchen and living area. But, she can’t hear indoor conversations, so she knows she has gaps in her knowledge.
Mark Carver is a medical researcher developing a weight-loss drug, and having been a fat kid, he’s hyper-sensitive about weight and fitness, hence his outdoor ‘healthy’ life and his frequent running. His wealthy investor is pushing for some quick results – hurry up with the mice trials and move on to humans, asap!
Lani is not happy about retiring, but in preparation, she’s clearing out some of her attic. She finds an urn with her great-grandfather’s ashes. Also in the box is his diary, which includes his notes about an unsolved murder from back in his day, that of Catherine Miller. We met him in the first few pages, but this is all news to Lani. She’s fascinated and reads a bit every day.
I liked Boyd’s characters and the storyline. We are left in no doubt about Mark Carver. Catherine hears his conversation with Iggy, his Beagle, when Carver picks up a small bird that is stunned after crashing into one of the glass doors. [It happens at our place often.]
“Iggy, seemingly as horrified as me, scoots back and whimpers. Mr. Carver stares at him beyond the crushed bird. ‘Ah, lighten up, Iggs. You’re as wimpy as the woman I got you from.’ When the dog blinks at him, Mr. Carver adds in a flat tone, ‘Some things are just better off dead.’”
It’s a good read. Boyd ties up the loose ends well, and I’d enjoy seeing Lani and Brian again, if Lani takes his advice and becomes a Private Investigator or something. She’s certainly not past her use-by date.
Thanks to NetGalley and Indigo Dot Press for the copy for review from which I’ve taken the liberty of quoting.
September 24, 2023
I’ve never read a novel quite like this one.
Dual timeline and dual POV, this novel kept me turning page after page to see where the story was going.
The two characters are exquisitely different and yet alike, their tones unique and the author does a really great job of bringing out their personalities.
What is so different about this novel is that we start of with a mystery death of one individual but are able to watch a murder of another individual, privy to all the details. As the story progresses we follow the detective assigned to the case and bounce back and forth between perspectives of the two women. I’m pulled to both likable characters and although this isn’t a nail biter, I agonized over the truth being set free.
If you’re looking for a 1/2 murder mystery whodunnit, 1/2 detective novel and a unique perspective of a woman reincarnated into a tree (I know it sounds weird but I gave it a shot and it isn’t as weird as I thought it was going to be - I actually quite enjoyed it) give this a go. Not an incredibly long read but worth the time spent reading it!!
Dual timeline and dual POV, this novel kept me turning page after page to see where the story was going.
The two characters are exquisitely different and yet alike, their tones unique and the author does a really great job of bringing out their personalities.
What is so different about this novel is that we start of with a mystery death of one individual but are able to watch a murder of another individual, privy to all the details. As the story progresses we follow the detective assigned to the case and bounce back and forth between perspectives of the two women. I’m pulled to both likable characters and although this isn’t a nail biter, I agonized over the truth being set free.
If you’re looking for a 1/2 murder mystery whodunnit, 1/2 detective novel and a unique perspective of a woman reincarnated into a tree (I know it sounds weird but I gave it a shot and it isn’t as weird as I thought it was going to be - I actually quite enjoyed it) give this a go. Not an incredibly long read but worth the time spent reading it!!
January 8, 2023
Imagine being reincarnated as a tree, now wouldn't that be something!
This concept is what attracted me to the book and I wasn't disappointed.
A fast paced exciting read, history meeting up with modern day and all its inventions. But most of all two strong female leads and their fight for truth and justice. What an amazing journey this was, I couldn't put it down. A cleverly crafted story with well developed characters set in beautiful surroundings. Pageturner!
Thank you Netgalley and Indigo Dot Press for the ARC.
This concept is what attracted me to the book and I wasn't disappointed.
A fast paced exciting read, history meeting up with modern day and all its inventions. But most of all two strong female leads and their fight for truth and justice. What an amazing journey this was, I couldn't put it down. A cleverly crafted story with well developed characters set in beautiful surroundings. Pageturner!
Thank you Netgalley and Indigo Dot Press for the ARC.
September 12, 2023
I don't generally read murder mysteries. They don't appeal to me. However, Fractured Oak is different. A portion of the story is told from the perspective of a freshly minted, murdered, physician that has spent the last 170 years as a tree... and now finds she has a murderer in her "backyard". The other POV is that of almost-retired, grumpy, police detective Lani. I especially enjoyed the relationship between Lani and her younger partner. And that poor beagle (the dog is fine, but he shouldn't have had to see things like that!). I really enjoyed this novel.
April 5, 2023
This book has such an interesting premise: a women who is murdered in the 1800s turns into a tree. In the present day, as a tree in his yard, she observes the life of a man who murders his PhD student. We get the POVs of Catherine (the tree) and Lani (a soon-to-be retired police officer investigating the present day murder) and I love them both. This story kept me interested the entire time and I really enjoyed the author’s writing.
Thank you to Netgalley, Indigo Dot Press and Dannie Boyd for this ARC ebook. Fractured Oak will be released April 25, 2023.
Thank you to Netgalley, Indigo Dot Press and Dannie Boyd for this ARC ebook. Fractured Oak will be released April 25, 2023.
February 12, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Indigo Dot Press for an ARC of this book!
The premise of this book had me hooked: Catherine Miller is reincarnated as a tree after being murdered, and now a witness of a homeowner murdering his student. This was a perfect mix of murder mystery, magical realism, and female power.
I loved reading Catherine’s chapters, the author did a great job at writing from a point of view of something non-human while still conveying so much human emotion and feelings. I admire Catherine so much, she’s such a great character. I really enjoyed Lani’s POV, too. Her witty and sarcastic temper made her so fun, and as Catherine herself said, they would’ve been best friends in another lifetime.
Everything about this book was amazing and I’d definitely like to read more of Dannie Boyd in the future!
The premise of this book had me hooked: Catherine Miller is reincarnated as a tree after being murdered, and now a witness of a homeowner murdering his student. This was a perfect mix of murder mystery, magical realism, and female power.
I loved reading Catherine’s chapters, the author did a great job at writing from a point of view of something non-human while still conveying so much human emotion and feelings. I admire Catherine so much, she’s such a great character. I really enjoyed Lani’s POV, too. Her witty and sarcastic temper made her so fun, and as Catherine herself said, they would’ve been best friends in another lifetime.
Everything about this book was amazing and I’d definitely like to read more of Dannie Boyd in the future!
December 17, 2022
I really enjoyed this book the cover is beautiful and got my attention straight away then I read the first line of the description. It’s hard to catch a killer when the only witnesses is a tree And I was hooked. this book had to be my next read.
Fractured Oak is a murder mystery about two women from different generations. You follow both Lani and Catherine in the present day but you also read about Catherine's story from 170 years ago. I really enjoyed this book I liked that It was different from any other murder mystery I have read this year even though I was pretty sure that I knew who the killer in the past was as soon as that character was introduced and I was correct it did not take anything away from my enjoyment of the story. I felt this book was very well written and especially found the present day Catherine chapters very interesting to read.
Thank you to NetGalley for the free review copy
April 15, 2023
I’m here with a new book recommendation and I’m so excited to tell you about this book! Around February and March, I was not really in the mood to read anything. It wasn’t exactly a slump because I did read every now and then, but nothing was really sticking up and I was only interested in the stories I was reading while I was reading. But every time I would put the book down, the story would vanish from my brain.
To me, a good book is one that doesn’t get out of my head. Even after I put it down. Even after I finish reading it. A good book should keep me reading. It should keep me on my toes, making me feel crazy from thinking about it in every second of my waking hour. A good book is like that crush that you can’t stop thinking about, that makes you want to talk it up to your friends. A good book makes you want to recommend the book to people who never even asked for your recommendation, and especially, it makes you want to write down about it so that thousands of strangers on internet can take my word for it and read that book.
So, sometime in April, I went on a family trip to Agra and I picked up this book, Fractured Oak, and I kid you not, I just couldn’t stop reading this book. This book was so good that even though I was out on a trip with my family, I still looked forward to read this book each night when I was back in my hotel room. Now, that’s something! Although, I’ve seen this with me that I tend to read more when I’m traveling or outside in general than when I’m in my home, preoccupied with chores. Nonetheless, I was also reading a two more books other than this but Fractured Oak was the only one that made me want to read. It was constantly in my mind.
Now that I’ve hyped you up enough about this book, let’s talk about what it really is.
Fractured Oak is sort of historical fictional thrown into the mix of a who-done-it murder mystery. A perfect mix, if you ask me and thankfully it was done well. This book involves two murder mysteries. It starts with the murder of Catherine, a female doctor who dared to become one of the few female doctors in the field dominated by men. After she is murdered (in the year of 1853), her soul somehow gets trapped into an oak tree and we as readers learn her point of view as she still continues to live as a tree in the present time. A second murder takes place in front of the tree, and this involves her reaction to it, and wondering who must have killed her (because she still doesn’t know who murdered her, after all this time and now that she’s a tree, she has no hope if she will ever know), and then how this second murder motivates her to seek justice against the murder that happened right in front of her, and how she chooses to not stay silent even though she is….a tree.
I JUST LOVED THIS BOOK. SO. SO. SO MUCH.
There are two point of views in this story. One is obviously from the pov of Catherine, the oak tree and the other is by a female constable who has a green thumb, and I loved both of them so much. I guess you must have figured it by now that it was a feminist book. I love feminist books a lot but this book did more than justice to the feminist theme. I can’t really explain how. It was funny. I loved the internal dialogue that was going on inside both the women’s minds, but so, so inspiring…and empowering!
I also loved the concept of the tree with its own point of view who sees all and knows all, and wants to seek justice, not for themselves but for someone they’ve seen pass by them. Like can you imagine if trees actually see you and think, “yes, I like this person and I will seek justice for them, even though I’m a tree and I can’t speak.” Like that is so cute!!!!! And I would love to believe that trees are actually like that, just like humans, in fact, much better than humans, and so much wiser and sensible.
It also made me want to turn myself into a tree. *insert crickets singing*
Anyway, I have literally no complaints with this book. If you know me, you’d know that when it comes to critiquing books, I become really strict and particular. But this book really impressed me. The prose was impeccable, the description and the characters were beautifully written. Overall, I would like to give this book a 5 out of 5 stars and we all know how many times that happens! So, yes. It means, GO READ IT. NOW. GO GO GO.
I would like to thank the author, the publisher and Netgalley for giving me this amazing opportunity to read this arc in return of an honest opinion. Thank you so much for reading!
To me, a good book is one that doesn’t get out of my head. Even after I put it down. Even after I finish reading it. A good book should keep me reading. It should keep me on my toes, making me feel crazy from thinking about it in every second of my waking hour. A good book is like that crush that you can’t stop thinking about, that makes you want to talk it up to your friends. A good book makes you want to recommend the book to people who never even asked for your recommendation, and especially, it makes you want to write down about it so that thousands of strangers on internet can take my word for it and read that book.
So, sometime in April, I went on a family trip to Agra and I picked up this book, Fractured Oak, and I kid you not, I just couldn’t stop reading this book. This book was so good that even though I was out on a trip with my family, I still looked forward to read this book each night when I was back in my hotel room. Now, that’s something! Although, I’ve seen this with me that I tend to read more when I’m traveling or outside in general than when I’m in my home, preoccupied with chores. Nonetheless, I was also reading a two more books other than this but Fractured Oak was the only one that made me want to read. It was constantly in my mind.
Now that I’ve hyped you up enough about this book, let’s talk about what it really is.
Fractured Oak is sort of historical fictional thrown into the mix of a who-done-it murder mystery. A perfect mix, if you ask me and thankfully it was done well. This book involves two murder mysteries. It starts with the murder of Catherine, a female doctor who dared to become one of the few female doctors in the field dominated by men. After she is murdered (in the year of 1853), her soul somehow gets trapped into an oak tree and we as readers learn her point of view as she still continues to live as a tree in the present time. A second murder takes place in front of the tree, and this involves her reaction to it, and wondering who must have killed her (because she still doesn’t know who murdered her, after all this time and now that she’s a tree, she has no hope if she will ever know), and then how this second murder motivates her to seek justice against the murder that happened right in front of her, and how she chooses to not stay silent even though she is….a tree.
I JUST LOVED THIS BOOK. SO. SO. SO MUCH.
There are two point of views in this story. One is obviously from the pov of Catherine, the oak tree and the other is by a female constable who has a green thumb, and I loved both of them so much. I guess you must have figured it by now that it was a feminist book. I love feminist books a lot but this book did more than justice to the feminist theme. I can’t really explain how. It was funny. I loved the internal dialogue that was going on inside both the women’s minds, but so, so inspiring…and empowering!
I also loved the concept of the tree with its own point of view who sees all and knows all, and wants to seek justice, not for themselves but for someone they’ve seen pass by them. Like can you imagine if trees actually see you and think, “yes, I like this person and I will seek justice for them, even though I’m a tree and I can’t speak.” Like that is so cute!!!!! And I would love to believe that trees are actually like that, just like humans, in fact, much better than humans, and so much wiser and sensible.
It also made me want to turn myself into a tree. *insert crickets singing*
Anyway, I have literally no complaints with this book. If you know me, you’d know that when it comes to critiquing books, I become really strict and particular. But this book really impressed me. The prose was impeccable, the description and the characters were beautifully written. Overall, I would like to give this book a 5 out of 5 stars and we all know how many times that happens! So, yes. It means, GO READ IT. NOW. GO GO GO.
I would like to thank the author, the publisher and Netgalley for giving me this amazing opportunity to read this arc in return of an honest opinion. Thank you so much for reading!
July 24, 2023
FRACTURED OAK by Dannie Boyd
A person before they die chooses what type of tree they would like to become. Then, after death, their body is placed in the fetal position into an egg-shaped pod which is then buried. Above this pod, a tree is planted. The decomposing pod then nourishes this growing tree, such that a transformation of molecules occurs so one might, quite literally, become a tree.
Once I got over the hurdle of letting go of my disbelief and was willing to accept the novel’s unusual premise, I honestly couldn’t put it down.
There are two major murders to be solved. One which happened 175 years ago and another which happens in present time. Both are connected in the most intriguing and interesting manner.
One hundred-seventy-five years ago Catherine Miller mysteriously disappeared on the day of her commencement celebration to Med school.
Fast forward to 2023. Catherine’s decomposing body has nourished the growth of an Oak tree on the grounds of a corrupt medical researcher’s estate.
Using first person, Dannie Boyd (Carrie Rubin) does an excellent job portraying Catherine the Tree in this magical realism mystery. Catherine’s body might have metamorphosed into a tree but she still has her inquisitive mind, thoughts, sight and sensations as she witnesses a murder.
Enter Detective Lori Whitaker (who’s reluctantly about to retire) and her young, handsome protégé, to investigate the murder. Their relationship is an amusing one of banter and respect.
The novel shines on many levels:
* The intriguing link between Catherine Miller’s murder and Detective Lori’s great great grandfather, Constable Henri Whitaker, who documented his investigation into Catherine’s disappearance 175 years ago, providing a long list of suspects.
* Detective Lori’s anxiety about her upcoming retirement.
* Boyd’s lovely prose: Warblers and hawks land on my branches overnight every spring. Even the scents absorbed through my pores change with the seasons: the smoky, crisp scent of autumn, the clear frost of winter, the fecund and floral aromas of spring and summer.
* Corruption in Pharma and funding of medical research.
* The author presents social commentary on women and equality: how 175 years ago a woman entering medicine was practically unheard of. During Catherine’s time, she was one of three other women in her class among a classroom of men filled with contempt towards their female peers and their arrogant belief that a woman’s weaker constitution and intellect makes her unfit for practicing medicine. Catherine is a pioneer paving the way for women entering the field of medicine. (...that road definitely takes guts to travel).
Using Dannie Boyd as her voice, Carrie Rubin brings to this novel her medical expertise and her sense of social justice as she has done in her other more conventional medical thrillers. Having read all of Carrie Rubin’s books I have always enjoyed not only her gripping plots but also her fast paced style of writing.
The novel has a very satisfying ending in which Catherine the Tree helps solve the murder. And a surprise ending as well. Who would have thought?
A person before they die chooses what type of tree they would like to become. Then, after death, their body is placed in the fetal position into an egg-shaped pod which is then buried. Above this pod, a tree is planted. The decomposing pod then nourishes this growing tree, such that a transformation of molecules occurs so one might, quite literally, become a tree.
Once I got over the hurdle of letting go of my disbelief and was willing to accept the novel’s unusual premise, I honestly couldn’t put it down.
There are two major murders to be solved. One which happened 175 years ago and another which happens in present time. Both are connected in the most intriguing and interesting manner.
One hundred-seventy-five years ago Catherine Miller mysteriously disappeared on the day of her commencement celebration to Med school.
Fast forward to 2023. Catherine’s decomposing body has nourished the growth of an Oak tree on the grounds of a corrupt medical researcher’s estate.
Using first person, Dannie Boyd (Carrie Rubin) does an excellent job portraying Catherine the Tree in this magical realism mystery. Catherine’s body might have metamorphosed into a tree but she still has her inquisitive mind, thoughts, sight and sensations as she witnesses a murder.
Enter Detective Lori Whitaker (who’s reluctantly about to retire) and her young, handsome protégé, to investigate the murder. Their relationship is an amusing one of banter and respect.
The novel shines on many levels:
* The intriguing link between Catherine Miller’s murder and Detective Lori’s great great grandfather, Constable Henri Whitaker, who documented his investigation into Catherine’s disappearance 175 years ago, providing a long list of suspects.
* Detective Lori’s anxiety about her upcoming retirement.
* Boyd’s lovely prose: Warblers and hawks land on my branches overnight every spring. Even the scents absorbed through my pores change with the seasons: the smoky, crisp scent of autumn, the clear frost of winter, the fecund and floral aromas of spring and summer.
* Corruption in Pharma and funding of medical research.
* The author presents social commentary on women and equality: how 175 years ago a woman entering medicine was practically unheard of. During Catherine’s time, she was one of three other women in her class among a classroom of men filled with contempt towards their female peers and their arrogant belief that a woman’s weaker constitution and intellect makes her unfit for practicing medicine. Catherine is a pioneer paving the way for women entering the field of medicine. (...that road definitely takes guts to travel).
Using Dannie Boyd as her voice, Carrie Rubin brings to this novel her medical expertise and her sense of social justice as she has done in her other more conventional medical thrillers. Having read all of Carrie Rubin’s books I have always enjoyed not only her gripping plots but also her fast paced style of writing.
The novel has a very satisfying ending in which Catherine the Tree helps solve the murder. And a surprise ending as well. Who would have thought?
June 8, 2023
I want to start by saying that this was a good story; I would recommend it to anyone that likes murder stories with a unique otherworldly twist. It was entertaining and had a nice little tiny twist at the end. Enjoyable book overall. Stop my review here if that's all you need to hear because the remainder was what I didn't like and why it didn't get a fourth star.
There was no need for "feck" to be in regular use. We all know and have heard "fuck" before and it's unnecessary to tap dance around swear words. If you are going to use "feck" as an alternative, give us a reason that it is in use. Make it reasonable; otherwise it's just an annoying pronunciation of "fuck." Is Lani a cop or a preschool teacher?
Similarly, it was cute that Lani called her boss "Chief Toddler..." once. It was grating to hear it over and over and over. We get it, she has no respect for this guy, but she's still a professional. It was unnecessary and made her seem unprofessional.
The real jarring issue that took me out of the story was when Catherine, who has been a sentient tree for 170 years, references things that she's "never heard of" like a bicycle, a hose, and several other things, all of which were invented before she died. Maybe they weren't in popular use when she died, but again SENTIENT TREE with 200 combined years of life experience, she should have at least heard of these things. This should've been either researched better or, for the author, I would recommend a new editor.
There was no need for "feck" to be in regular use. We all know and have heard "fuck" before and it's unnecessary to tap dance around swear words. If you are going to use "feck" as an alternative, give us a reason that it is in use. Make it reasonable; otherwise it's just an annoying pronunciation of "fuck." Is Lani a cop or a preschool teacher?
Similarly, it was cute that Lani called her boss "Chief Toddler..." once. It was grating to hear it over and over and over. We get it, she has no respect for this guy, but she's still a professional. It was unnecessary and made her seem unprofessional.
The real jarring issue that took me out of the story was when Catherine, who has been a sentient tree for 170 years, references things that she's "never heard of" like a bicycle, a hose, and several other things, all of which were invented before she died. Maybe they weren't in popular use when she died, but again SENTIENT TREE with 200 combined years of life experience, she should have at least heard of these things. This should've been either researched better or, for the author, I would recommend a new editor.
April 25, 2023
Unique! Girlies unite! Trees, academic treason, mystery, crime, Hmmmm????
April 23, 2023
3.5 rounded up. This was better than I thought it would be. The idea of a sentient tree outside of the fantasy genre had me skeptical but I actually liked it. I liked Lani a lot and sort of wish there was a story of her after retirement adventures.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2024
As soon as I saw the cover and read the description, I was eager to read this book. It’s interesting, beautiful and also matches perfectly with the storyline. It caught my interest straight away.
At the beginning, I was wondering where it was leading to. I was curious to keep going, to find out more. I liked the way it was written from the tree’s perspective, it was cleverly done and had me pondering on how trees and nature try to communicate with us. I love trees and can imagine that they quite possibly feel unheard by a lot of humanity. That certainly intrigued me.
The story all came together neatly and it was concluded very well. It saddens me that women experienced these unacceptable situations of treatment, when both sexes equally have so much skill and talent to share. I think this book created a scene of justice and success in the end.
It was a pleasant read and I particularly enjoyed the chapters of Catherine’s telling.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and all involved in me being able to read this book for an honest review.
At the beginning, I was wondering where it was leading to. I was curious to keep going, to find out more. I liked the way it was written from the tree’s perspective, it was cleverly done and had me pondering on how trees and nature try to communicate with us. I love trees and can imagine that they quite possibly feel unheard by a lot of humanity. That certainly intrigued me.
The story all came together neatly and it was concluded very well. It saddens me that women experienced these unacceptable situations of treatment, when both sexes equally have so much skill and talent to share. I think this book created a scene of justice and success in the end.
It was a pleasant read and I particularly enjoyed the chapters of Catherine’s telling.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and all involved in me being able to read this book for an honest review.
February 20, 2023
Fractured Oak By Dannie Boyd
5 Stars
When I started this book, I didn't know how I'd feel about it. I was pleasantly surprised and found myself deeply engrossed from page one.
Catherine, a young woman with a promising future as a doctor, is killed on the night of her commencement in 1853. Later, she awakes as a tree. Living her life as such and seeing all that happens in front of her. When in 2023 a murder happens in front of her. Her story and that of this fated victim bring together a fantastical story of mystery and murder.
I was really amazed at this story. The story told from the different viewpoints, one a tree, make this book, magical in a way. I was sucked into the story of murder and mystery surrounding the current and past characters. This book really brought the past and the present together in a way that was hard to lay down. I'll be telling my friends about this book. Im so thankful for this review copy from netgally and this amazing author. This was a new author for me and I am so glad I was able to review this story. I hope to read more soon.
~Stormi Ellis~
5 Stars
When I started this book, I didn't know how I'd feel about it. I was pleasantly surprised and found myself deeply engrossed from page one.
Catherine, a young woman with a promising future as a doctor, is killed on the night of her commencement in 1853. Later, she awakes as a tree. Living her life as such and seeing all that happens in front of her. When in 2023 a murder happens in front of her. Her story and that of this fated victim bring together a fantastical story of mystery and murder.
I was really amazed at this story. The story told from the different viewpoints, one a tree, make this book, magical in a way. I was sucked into the story of murder and mystery surrounding the current and past characters. This book really brought the past and the present together in a way that was hard to lay down. I'll be telling my friends about this book. Im so thankful for this review copy from netgally and this amazing author. This was a new author for me and I am so glad I was able to review this story. I hope to read more soon.
~Stormi Ellis~
December 19, 2022
If you like small amounts of magic realism, historical fiction, feminism, and detective tropes, this is the book for you. Boyd ties two crimes committed years apart together in an engrossing way. It was like two books smooshed together in a way that rarely works, but does for this novel.
My issue is that there is a lot of unnecessary repetition. Plus there were connections made that just seemed a little forced. But I read the book very quickly because I liked the characters. I wish past Catherine’s life was explored a little more because I loved her. I give the story 3 1/2 stars, but rounded up to 4.
My issue is that there is a lot of unnecessary repetition. Plus there were connections made that just seemed a little forced. But I read the book very quickly because I liked the characters. I wish past Catherine’s life was explored a little more because I loved her. I give the story 3 1/2 stars, but rounded up to 4.
March 8, 2023
An interesting and unique read. The writing could have been a bit more…natural. At time the dialogue was a bit off. The story and characters were fine.
May 23, 2023
Title: Fractured Oak
Author: Dannie Boyd
Genre: Thriller - Mystery - Magical Realism
Publisher: Indigo Dot Press - Copyright 2023
Publication Date: April 25, 2023
ISBN: 9781958160046
Read: March 19-21, 2023
Disclaimer: I received a digital advance reader copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis from Publisher: It’s hard to catch a killer when the only witness is a tree.
In 1853, after Catherine Miller is murdered for daring to become a doctor in a field full of men, a molecular fusion between human decay and natural rebirth transforms her into a Northern Red Oak. One hundred and seventy years later, she remains a mute but sentient tree, rooted near a secluded Northeast Ohio house. After she watches in horror as the newest homeowner murders one of his PhD students, Catherine is resolved, somehow, to see that justice gets served.
Fortunately, present-day Catherine has an unwitting ally: Lani Whitaker, a fourth-generation detective facing mandatory retirement and sick of being treated like a dried-up relic by her young chief of police. When the body of that same PhD student turns up in the woods, Lani is determined to solve the case and go out with a win.
Two women, generations apart, linked to each other through murder. Can solving a twenty-first-century homicide shed light on a nineteenth-century killer?
Review: First, let me say that Dannie Boyd is a pen name for author Carrie Rubin, who has several medical thrillers published under her own name. Apparently she chose a pen name for Fractured Oak because it deals with magical realism, a departure from her normal books, in addition to the mystery of who killed whom. With that being said, on to the review...
I really enjoyed the premise of this book. Catherine, the third woman to graduate from medical school in the United States, is murdered in 1853, discovers her soul melded with that of an oak tree, and then finds herself witness to a modern-day murder. This alone was enough to hook me into the story because trees live silent lives, and honestly, I have often wondered what they may have witnessed over their lifespans--especially the long-lived trees like oaks and redwoods. What horrors have they seen? What joys? What forgotten moments and forgotten people have they known? At least in some way, Boyd has answered a few of these questions by telling part of the story from Catherine the Tree's point of view.
Then there's Lani, the detective trying to solve the murder. Faced with ageism, she's determined to not let everything she's worked her entire life to achieve go down without a fight. I loved her spirit and her humor. I've known my fair share of cops, and Lani would be right at home among any of them.
The best part about Fractured Oak is that as a reader I got a two-for-the-price-of-one murder plot. Told in alternating points of view between Catherine and Lani, and although the murderer is known for the contemporary death, there's no lack of tension because that comes in the form of the uncertainty of whether Lani will catch the killer. The resolution of Catherine's murder in 1853 is left until the end but is no less satisfying.
Fractured Oak is a unique blend of mystery, psychological thriller, and magical realism that simply works in a beautiful blend of colorful characters, detailed world building, mysterious clues, and a touch of magic.
Author: Dannie Boyd
Genre: Thriller - Mystery - Magical Realism
Publisher: Indigo Dot Press - Copyright 2023
Publication Date: April 25, 2023
ISBN: 9781958160046
Read: March 19-21, 2023
Disclaimer: I received a digital advance reader copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis from Publisher: It’s hard to catch a killer when the only witness is a tree.
In 1853, after Catherine Miller is murdered for daring to become a doctor in a field full of men, a molecular fusion between human decay and natural rebirth transforms her into a Northern Red Oak. One hundred and seventy years later, she remains a mute but sentient tree, rooted near a secluded Northeast Ohio house. After she watches in horror as the newest homeowner murders one of his PhD students, Catherine is resolved, somehow, to see that justice gets served.
Fortunately, present-day Catherine has an unwitting ally: Lani Whitaker, a fourth-generation detective facing mandatory retirement and sick of being treated like a dried-up relic by her young chief of police. When the body of that same PhD student turns up in the woods, Lani is determined to solve the case and go out with a win.
Two women, generations apart, linked to each other through murder. Can solving a twenty-first-century homicide shed light on a nineteenth-century killer?
Review: First, let me say that Dannie Boyd is a pen name for author Carrie Rubin, who has several medical thrillers published under her own name. Apparently she chose a pen name for Fractured Oak because it deals with magical realism, a departure from her normal books, in addition to the mystery of who killed whom. With that being said, on to the review...
I really enjoyed the premise of this book. Catherine, the third woman to graduate from medical school in the United States, is murdered in 1853, discovers her soul melded with that of an oak tree, and then finds herself witness to a modern-day murder. This alone was enough to hook me into the story because trees live silent lives, and honestly, I have often wondered what they may have witnessed over their lifespans--especially the long-lived trees like oaks and redwoods. What horrors have they seen? What joys? What forgotten moments and forgotten people have they known? At least in some way, Boyd has answered a few of these questions by telling part of the story from Catherine the Tree's point of view.
Then there's Lani, the detective trying to solve the murder. Faced with ageism, she's determined to not let everything she's worked her entire life to achieve go down without a fight. I loved her spirit and her humor. I've known my fair share of cops, and Lani would be right at home among any of them.
The best part about Fractured Oak is that as a reader I got a two-for-the-price-of-one murder plot. Told in alternating points of view between Catherine and Lani, and although the murderer is known for the contemporary death, there's no lack of tension because that comes in the form of the uncertainty of whether Lani will catch the killer. The resolution of Catherine's murder in 1853 is left until the end but is no less satisfying.
Fractured Oak is a unique blend of mystery, psychological thriller, and magical realism that simply works in a beautiful blend of colorful characters, detailed world building, mysterious clues, and a touch of magic.
May 9, 2023
The premise of this thriller by Dannie Boyd is fascinating. A newly minted female physician is murdered in 1853 by an unknown assailant. Through some supernatural phenomenon, her consciousness is transplanted into an oak seedling that grows where her body was buried, and she experiences the next hundred and fifty years from within the tree’s confines as it becomes a majestic (though now ailing) beauty. Catherine Miller witnesses life on that small patch of land, unaware herself of who killed her and completely unable to do anything but observe and think.
She also happens to be the only witness to a murder committed at her feet in 2023. And there’s no way for her to help identify the killer—a pharmaceutical scientist who will do anything to protect his latest creation, a drug to cure obesity.
Enter police detective Lani Whitaker, who is only days away from retirement. She suspects Mark Carver, the scientist, from the get-go but can’t nail down the evidence. Catherine knows where he hid the murder weapon, but it will never be discovered unless she can find a way to reveal it to Lani.
Boyd is masterful at characterization and scene-making, and the reader quickly feels a strong affinity for these two point-of-view characters. The plot is fast-paced without feeling forced, allowing both Catherine and Lani to go about their missions surrounded by the necessary tension and risk but letting their personalities govern the movement. In Lani’s voice there’s plenty of spunky humor as well, and the banter between her and her partner, Brian Dupree, provides a nice foundation to support the contemporary action.
The really unique thing about Fractured Oak is that you get two murder plots in one, and both are equally engaging. Via Lani’s own ancestor, a cop in 1853, we get an account of the investigation into Catherine’s murder. There’s a whole passel of potential suspects, but thrillers require surprises, and this story of Victorian-era misogyny delivers.
Fractured Oak will satisfy all fans of mystery novels, but it has a lot to offer readers who just like a tight, engrossing story with appealing protagonists and well-paced action.
She also happens to be the only witness to a murder committed at her feet in 2023. And there’s no way for her to help identify the killer—a pharmaceutical scientist who will do anything to protect his latest creation, a drug to cure obesity.
Enter police detective Lani Whitaker, who is only days away from retirement. She suspects Mark Carver, the scientist, from the get-go but can’t nail down the evidence. Catherine knows where he hid the murder weapon, but it will never be discovered unless she can find a way to reveal it to Lani.
Boyd is masterful at characterization and scene-making, and the reader quickly feels a strong affinity for these two point-of-view characters. The plot is fast-paced without feeling forced, allowing both Catherine and Lani to go about their missions surrounded by the necessary tension and risk but letting their personalities govern the movement. In Lani’s voice there’s plenty of spunky humor as well, and the banter between her and her partner, Brian Dupree, provides a nice foundation to support the contemporary action.
The really unique thing about Fractured Oak is that you get two murder plots in one, and both are equally engaging. Via Lani’s own ancestor, a cop in 1853, we get an account of the investigation into Catherine’s murder. There’s a whole passel of potential suspects, but thrillers require surprises, and this story of Victorian-era misogyny delivers.
Fractured Oak will satisfy all fans of mystery novels, but it has a lot to offer readers who just like a tight, engrossing story with appealing protagonists and well-paced action.
April 30, 2023
The premise of this novel--that a woman dies and becomes a sentient tree--is intriguing enough, but that the tree is also a witness to a murder and actually tries to help in the resulting investigation is truly original. Two stories are laid out and told with sympathy, utilizing two distinct POVs, one being that of a 19th-century young female medical student (Catherine), and the other a soon-to-retire hardboiled female investigator (Lani). The women could not be more different from each other, except they both want justice.
Catherine was murdered and, through a trick of molecular biology, becomes a tree. As this tree, she witnesses a murder. While that murder is being investigated, her own murder, unsolved for generations, weighs on her mind as well as Lani's mind. While the connection between the two women is a bit of a leap, it had a logic that I was happy to accept.
The novel is psychologically deeper than a cozy mystery, but the ending(s) were what one might expect with a cozy. While the reader knows who the contemporary murderer is, the mystery is in if and how Lani gets her man. I don't mind knowing who the killer is as long as I'm kept in doubt as to whether he'll be caught and brought to justice. In contrast, the reader is kept in suspense about Catherine's generations-old unsolved murder until the very end.
All in all, Fractured Oak is a very satisfying read, and i applaud Dannie Boyd for making it seem so effortless to tell a story about two murders through the POVs of two very different but courageous women.Fractured Oak
Catherine was murdered and, through a trick of molecular biology, becomes a tree. As this tree, she witnesses a murder. While that murder is being investigated, her own murder, unsolved for generations, weighs on her mind as well as Lani's mind. While the connection between the two women is a bit of a leap, it had a logic that I was happy to accept.
The novel is psychologically deeper than a cozy mystery, but the ending(s) were what one might expect with a cozy. While the reader knows who the contemporary murderer is, the mystery is in if and how Lani gets her man. I don't mind knowing who the killer is as long as I'm kept in doubt as to whether he'll be caught and brought to justice. In contrast, the reader is kept in suspense about Catherine's generations-old unsolved murder until the very end.
All in all, Fractured Oak is a very satisfying read, and i applaud Dannie Boyd for making it seem so effortless to tell a story about two murders through the POVs of two very different but courageous women.Fractured Oak
March 22, 2023
. . . ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭒
You know how sometimes you’re reading a book and think: “this reminds me of…”, or “this is such a similar plot to…”, well, no chance of that happening here! This was such a unique plot concept, and interesting take on the alternative POV, I can confidently say that this was a first for me. Told from dual perspectives of a present time near-retirement detective, and the spirit a murdered female physician from 1853 whose soul is trapped within an oak tree, this one gets points for creativity.
And listen, if you’re going to personify a tree, toss in some magical realism, and add in a splash of murder, one would hope it would be done well, and it was. The story was enjoyable, the characters likable, and the narrative engaging. I appreciated the author highlighting the challenges of women entering into primarily male-dominated professions, the subtle and obvious sexism and misogyny, and the patriarchal lens that unfortunately still exists today.
I did find that I wanted more from Catherine’s murder, and felt a little disappointed in the resolution of her story. I feel like I almost would have preferred her murder remain unsolved - not that I wouldn’t that closure for Catherine - but more that the “who” of the whodunnit fell a bit flat for me, and that simply discovering her may have been enough to set her free.
Ultimately, this was such a unique story, and I applaud the author is taking a creative leap of faith - it’s certainly paid off.
~👩🏻🦰
⧞ Fractured Oak will be available for purchase April 25th, and we encourage you to check it out!
You know how sometimes you’re reading a book and think: “this reminds me of…”, or “this is such a similar plot to…”, well, no chance of that happening here! This was such a unique plot concept, and interesting take on the alternative POV, I can confidently say that this was a first for me. Told from dual perspectives of a present time near-retirement detective, and the spirit a murdered female physician from 1853 whose soul is trapped within an oak tree, this one gets points for creativity.
And listen, if you’re going to personify a tree, toss in some magical realism, and add in a splash of murder, one would hope it would be done well, and it was. The story was enjoyable, the characters likable, and the narrative engaging. I appreciated the author highlighting the challenges of women entering into primarily male-dominated professions, the subtle and obvious sexism and misogyny, and the patriarchal lens that unfortunately still exists today.
I did find that I wanted more from Catherine’s murder, and felt a little disappointed in the resolution of her story. I feel like I almost would have preferred her murder remain unsolved - not that I wouldn’t that closure for Catherine - but more that the “who” of the whodunnit fell a bit flat for me, and that simply discovering her may have been enough to set her free.
Ultimately, this was such a unique story, and I applaud the author is taking a creative leap of faith - it’s certainly paid off.
~👩🏻🦰
⧞ Fractured Oak will be available for purchase April 25th, and we encourage you to check it out!
April 30, 2023
I was immediately attracted by the beautiful cover, and the blurb promised an extraordinary story.
There are of course more novels with non-human protagonists: we have seen dolphins, a polar bear, an octopus, bees, or a piece of wood in the past years; I think this is a good development, to me a book or a perspective cannot be odd and distinct enough.
The blurb reminded me of the novel of Johan de Boose - a Flemish author who wrote an award-winning book about a piece of wood that smirkingly comments on twenty centuries of Christianity (Dutch: het ‘Vloekhout’).
That a tree is in the lead here is in itself not quite correct, as it is Catherine Miller’ soul that is trapped in a Northern Red Oak.
I found the first few chapters really engaging, though I had to get used to the sudden transition to Lani’s story in the beginning. Eventually I found that perspective more engaging, Catherine's story eventually becoming a tad dull and static, but given her appearance, perhaps that is not surprising.
I was quite taken by with the ending of Catherine’ story when she is no longer connected to the tree that extended her life, allowing her finally to transition - and I liked the story line of Lani solving the murder, but I found the switch between the tree/Catherine perspective, and Lani’s story a bit hard to place at times.
**** 3.5 stars. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this review copy. I leave my review voluntarily.
There are of course more novels with non-human protagonists: we have seen dolphins, a polar bear, an octopus, bees, or a piece of wood in the past years; I think this is a good development, to me a book or a perspective cannot be odd and distinct enough.
The blurb reminded me of the novel of Johan de Boose - a Flemish author who wrote an award-winning book about a piece of wood that smirkingly comments on twenty centuries of Christianity (Dutch: het ‘Vloekhout’).
That a tree is in the lead here is in itself not quite correct, as it is Catherine Miller’ soul that is trapped in a Northern Red Oak.
I found the first few chapters really engaging, though I had to get used to the sudden transition to Lani’s story in the beginning. Eventually I found that perspective more engaging, Catherine's story eventually becoming a tad dull and static, but given her appearance, perhaps that is not surprising.
I was quite taken by with the ending of Catherine’ story when she is no longer connected to the tree that extended her life, allowing her finally to transition - and I liked the story line of Lani solving the murder, but I found the switch between the tree/Catherine perspective, and Lani’s story a bit hard to place at times.
**** 3.5 stars. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this review copy. I leave my review voluntarily.
April 21, 2023
I’m a bit conflicted about this one. The concept was intriguing - one of the perspectives is a TREE??? Sign me up!
In the beginning, the story held my attention and I was eager to keep reading. I loved Catherine’s character and her point of view was super unique. Halfway through, though, I started to find her POV boring and repetitive - I began to prefer Lani’s chapters and would sigh whenever Catherine’s chapters were next. But even Lani’s chapters started to feel boring because, as the reader, we already know who the killer is and with Catherine’s POV we already know what the killer’s next move is.
I think that if readers had less information from Catherine’s POV (who the killer is, their motive, etc) and if Lani had more suspects than just the actual killer, the book would’ve kept my attention the whole way through.
There were two mysteries going on, but, for one of them, readers already know who the killer is. For the second one regarding Catherine’s unsolved case, I was able to guess her murderer halfway through the book.
Although this one fell a bit short for me, I still think it would be a great read for those looking for a different, fun mystery to relax with!
Thank you NetGalley and Indigo Dot Press for providing me with the eARC!
In the beginning, the story held my attention and I was eager to keep reading. I loved Catherine’s character and her point of view was super unique. Halfway through, though, I started to find her POV boring and repetitive - I began to prefer Lani’s chapters and would sigh whenever Catherine’s chapters were next. But even Lani’s chapters started to feel boring because, as the reader, we already know who the killer is and with Catherine’s POV we already know what the killer’s next move is.
I think that if readers had less information from Catherine’s POV (who the killer is, their motive, etc) and if Lani had more suspects than just the actual killer, the book would’ve kept my attention the whole way through.
There were two mysteries going on, but, for one of them, readers already know who the killer is. For the second one regarding Catherine’s unsolved case, I was able to guess her murderer halfway through the book.
Although this one fell a bit short for me, I still think it would be a great read for those looking for a different, fun mystery to relax with!
Thank you NetGalley and Indigo Dot Press for providing me with the eARC!
July 10, 2023
Fractured Oak had me intrigued from the beginning. This was due in part to the unique concept of telling one woman’s story (Catherine) in the first person, but as her 170+ year old, Oak Tree self. This part of the story partially takes place in 1853, when she was human and had been only the 3rd woman to graduate from a true medical college, and part is in the current time while she is the tree. The other interest drawing element was the second woman’s third person narrative (Lani). She is a detective who is only a few weeks away from a dreaded retirement. Both are very determined, justice-minded ladies. Their stories become intertwined initially when a murder takes place in the vicinity of Catherine as the tree, and she is focused trying to on help Lani solve the case. Their stories become intertwined further, but I will not go into that as it would be major spoilers.
I really enjoyed this novel and recommend it as a quick, well paced read. I would have given it 5 stars, but the fact that Lani constantly used feck or fecking, instead of the words we all know those are in the place of, was rather grating and just did not hit the mark for me.
Thank you to Dannie Boyd and Indigo Dot for the gift of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this novel and recommend it as a quick, well paced read. I would have given it 5 stars, but the fact that Lani constantly used feck or fecking, instead of the words we all know those are in the place of, was rather grating and just did not hit the mark for me.
Thank you to Dannie Boyd and Indigo Dot for the gift of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2023
This story was super original and addicting. One of the main POV is a fractured almost 200-year-old oak, who has the soul of Catherine, who had just graduated as the 3rd woman in medicine in the 1800’s when she was brutally killed. When she witnesses another grisly murder in present day from her place guarding a backyard, she wishes she could do something to bring the killer to justice, especially when he uses her as an accomplice to hide his murder weapon. Enter Lani Whittaker, a soon-to-be retiring police detective who is trying to figure out who the murderer is before she’s forced out of her career. Will a special connection between two souls (tree and human) relegated to the “end” of their lives/careers come together to bring justice to a killer?
This premise sounds strange, I will admit, but the author pulled it off with amazing grace. Wow. I was deeply rooting for a tree! (pun intended, ha ha). I had a hard time putting this book down once I started. It really was a unique and cool way to present a murder-mystery, and I loved every branch and stem of it. Bravo to the author. I highly recommend this one.
This premise sounds strange, I will admit, but the author pulled it off with amazing grace. Wow. I was deeply rooting for a tree! (pun intended, ha ha). I had a hard time putting this book down once I started. It really was a unique and cool way to present a murder-mystery, and I loved every branch and stem of it. Bravo to the author. I highly recommend this one.
June 5, 2023
I chose this book as the result of the description on Bookbub selling it as a dual time line story about a tree. I was intrigued, so I bought it on Kindle. I had just finished 2 books by Irina Shapiro and I didn't find this writing to be on par with Shapiro's; there were places where I wanted the author to just get on with it already--I get that the tree's personality is frustrated by her inability to move or speak!
The story line was interesting, although my rationality was stretched almost to the breaking point with the tree. I suspected the ending would be something like it turned out to be, but was satisfied with it, all the same. I'm not quite sure what the word "feck" added to the conversation, but I guess it was better than what it was substituted for--that many f-bombs would have made me give up on it. It was a quick, easy read, and sometimes that's what you want.
Would I read it again? I dunno. Would I recommend it? Probably not. For those who ask: a LOT of "feck" and its derivatives; if you can get past that, you'll be okay. The main villain appeared to be a bit randy, but this was only alluded to, so you can probably get by with that, too.
The story line was interesting, although my rationality was stretched almost to the breaking point with the tree. I suspected the ending would be something like it turned out to be, but was satisfied with it, all the same. I'm not quite sure what the word "feck" added to the conversation, but I guess it was better than what it was substituted for--that many f-bombs would have made me give up on it. It was a quick, easy read, and sometimes that's what you want.
Would I read it again? I dunno. Would I recommend it? Probably not. For those who ask: a LOT of "feck" and its derivatives; if you can get past that, you'll be okay. The main villain appeared to be a bit randy, but this was only alluded to, so you can probably get by with that, too.
September 3, 2024
BOOK REPORT
Holy my COW what an incredible book!
I now want to go outside and lie down against my giant pine trees and hug them. But, given the whole poison ivy situation in the general vicinity, that might not be the best idea I’ve ever had.
Instead, I’ll just fan girl a little more about Carrie Rubin/writing under the pen name Dannie Boyd. I’ve got to read everything by her now. E V E R Y T H I N G.
Or, maybe not. Maybe I’ve read what will be to me her best, a great police procedural that perfectly incorporated my belief that all living organisms are interconnected, something I’ve long said when I tell people that I believe that the ones I love who are now only with us in spirit can be found in the rivers and the trees.
Amen.
Holy my COW what an incredible book!
I now want to go outside and lie down against my giant pine trees and hug them. But, given the whole poison ivy situation in the general vicinity, that might not be the best idea I’ve ever had.
Instead, I’ll just fan girl a little more about Carrie Rubin/writing under the pen name Dannie Boyd. I’ve got to read everything by her now. E V E R Y T H I N G.
Or, maybe not. Maybe I’ve read what will be to me her best, a great police procedural that perfectly incorporated my belief that all living organisms are interconnected, something I’ve long said when I tell people that I believe that the ones I love who are now only with us in spirit can be found in the rivers and the trees.
Amen.
January 23, 2025
I am so disappointed because I wanted so badly to like this book. It had a high GR rating and the premise sounded very intriguing. However, the writing is terrible. The dialogue is cringy and corny. The author keeps using words that remind me of something a midwest grandmother would say. She constantly has characters saying “feck” or “fecking” and “behind” or “rearend”. I don’t need profanity in my novels, but I also got second-hand embarrassment while reading this. Can someone else take this story and write a better novel?
August 12, 2023
I'm not a fan of magical realism but this book caught my interest and held it throughout the entirety. I am nearing retirement myself so I understand Lani Whitaker's fears and doubts. I particularly liked the POV of the "tree" (Catherine Miller) which gave the reader insight into the crimes that the detectives weren't privy to. This is a well-written novel that grew slowly from a seed to a full-fledged oak. I would definitely read Ms Dannie Boyd again.
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