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DI Helena Stratton #3
The Child in the Tree
He’s been brainwashed. Nothing will stop him from doing what that woman wants.
DI Helena Stratton takes on a missing person’s case that at first seems like a lad just hasn’t come home on time. But when someone turns up dead…
Why is this person taking teen boys?
What are ‘the crow’ and ‘the hollow’?
With death involved, it’s imperative the team find the abductor—and fast.
And who on earth is the child in the tree?
DI Helena Stratton takes on a missing person’s case that at first seems like a lad just hasn’t come home on time. But when someone turns up dead…
Why is this person taking teen boys?
What are ‘the crow’ and ‘the hollow’?
With death involved, it’s imperative the team find the abductor—and fast.
And who on earth is the child in the tree?
- GenresMystery
266 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 18, 2019
161 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Emmy Ellis
127 books110 followersAuthor of these series:
• DI Tracy Collier
• DI Carol Wren
• DI Bethany Smith
• DI Helena Stratton
• The Cardigan Estate
• DI Morgan Yeoman
• Detective Anna James
• DI Tracy Collier
• DI Carol Wren
• DI Bethany Smith
• DI Helena Stratton
• The Cardigan Estate
• DI Morgan Yeoman
• Detective Anna James
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 18, 2019
Bone-chilling what a family member can do to the mind of a young boy when crazy with religious beliefs and macabre ways to teach them!! Disturbing revelations abound as a boy is missing, parents frantic and DI Helena Stratton searching to find the boy...Until a body is found..and Another teen boy disappears...
There is a letter delivered, stating the boy can be found 'in the Hollow'..What is That!? Helena has her team start investigating, trying to find out anything they can about the strange words on this letter..So many odd things happening, chilling scenes, horrible feelings when dealing with broken -hearted parents, and finally figuring out Who the abductor is...But What have you found...
A thriller that takes hold of you and does Not let go, taking you through absolute fear, intense suspense and horrific examples of just what one person can do to another..
The 3rd book in this series continues the fantastic pairing of Emmy Ellis and M.A.Comley, producing an incredible adventure that You have to go on..Bring your flashlight, tissues, and paper bag to breathe in..And Open The Book...
There is a letter delivered, stating the boy can be found 'in the Hollow'..What is That!? Helena has her team start investigating, trying to find out anything they can about the strange words on this letter..So many odd things happening, chilling scenes, horrible feelings when dealing with broken -hearted parents, and finally figuring out Who the abductor is...But What have you found...
A thriller that takes hold of you and does Not let go, taking you through absolute fear, intense suspense and horrific examples of just what one person can do to another..
The 3rd book in this series continues the fantastic pairing of Emmy Ellis and M.A.Comley, producing an incredible adventure that You have to go on..Bring your flashlight, tissues, and paper bag to breathe in..And Open The Book...
June 8, 2019
These authors have taken creepiness to a new level.
Because violent crime seems to be at a iow level, DI Helena Stratton and her team are asked to investigate a missing person. A young boy has not returned hom after leaving school.
But then a body is found ...........
And another teen boy disappears ....
Who is the child in the tree ... and why are they there?
This is another well written crime fiction with finely drawn characters. Although third in this series, it reads well as a stand alone. I highly recommend starting at the beginning. It's worthwhile seeing how the characters have grown and changed along the way.
Many thanks to the authors for the advanced digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
June 17, 2019
Shocking and heartbreaking, this is the third in the stunning DI Helena Stratton
series. A child is taken, parents are frantic. Stratton, despite her own personal struggles, must with her partner and team find out what happened. There are terrifying scenes with the abductor and the frightened boys…awful, but you can’t put the book down. Helena’s dealing with the parents is wrenching.
This story had me on the edge of my seat with my heart pounding. We see glimpses into the maniac’s childhood, and see what a religious fanatic family member can do to the mind of a young boy. What makes it harder for Helen and her team is friction from her boss, but, being the amazing detective that she is, she toughens up even more and soldiers through. Together, she and her team start to make progress. Then another child is taken.
Will they find him in time?
I love this series. Not just the cases and the psychotics that Stratton and her team are up against, but the characters themselves. Their ongoing development is wonderful, and the interactions between them, on and off the cases, contain brilliant, lighter moments; banter in just the right places to allow you to breathe and feel an uplifting balance.
M.A. Comley and Emmy Ellis have again done a wonderful job. There's also a resolution to Helen's backstory, which is why I recommend reading books one and two in this series to understand her amazing growth. Well done, brilliant authors! Five stars, can't wait for book four!
June 1, 2019
Well, yet again the authors have come up with a gripping story line that had me hooked throughout.
The authors start as they mean to go on with a dark and disturbing prologue and they kept it up all the way through. You can’t help but get more emotional when children are involved. The angst that the parents go through when their child doesn’t return home, really doesn’t bear thinking of and I pitied Helena having to deal with the parents as got to be one of the hardest parts of the job.
The scenes with the abductor were very eerie and scary and I really felt for the boys and what they are going through. It certainly made for a tense and at times, heart wrenching read.
The Child In The Tree is an enthralling and at times terrifying read. The authors throw in some very unexpected turns in the story adding to the thrill factor. Am really enjoying Helena and her team and how they work. A crime series definitely not to be missed.
My thanks to the authors for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
The authors start as they mean to go on with a dark and disturbing prologue and they kept it up all the way through. You can’t help but get more emotional when children are involved. The angst that the parents go through when their child doesn’t return home, really doesn’t bear thinking of and I pitied Helena having to deal with the parents as got to be one of the hardest parts of the job.
The scenes with the abductor were very eerie and scary and I really felt for the boys and what they are going through. It certainly made for a tense and at times, heart wrenching read.
The Child In The Tree is an enthralling and at times terrifying read. The authors throw in some very unexpected turns in the story adding to the thrill factor. Am really enjoying Helena and her team and how they work. A crime series definitely not to be missed.
My thanks to the authors for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
May 25, 2019
Sorry can't give more than 5*s.
This latest book lives up to the series that two most amazing authors have joined together. You are transported back with emotions like you are they with them.
It can be read as a standalone but why would you want to, the series is amazing and just keeps getting better and better x
This latest book lives up to the series that two most amazing authors have joined together. You are transported back with emotions like you are they with them.
It can be read as a standalone but why would you want to, the series is amazing and just keeps getting better and better x
June 6, 2019
This is the third book in the DI Helena Stratton series to be released. Its a collaboration between Emmy Ellis and Mel Comley which seems to be working brilliantly.
Jayden is sitting under the slide in the dark, going through instagram on his phone when he hears footsteps near him. The man, who is wearing something on his face so Jayden can only see his eyes and mouth, called him the 'The child in the tree'. The man got hold of Jayden, one hand tighly round round his neck and hauled him to his feet. He held him close to his body and carried him to off to where he was going to hold him.
There is a poison pen letter delivered to the police station, in the old fashioned style of each letter cut out of a newspaper. The date was yesterday and it had a poem. Louise rang DI Helena Stratton and told her about the note she had found. Helena asked for the poem especially after hearing about Jayden. The poem goes: 'In the hollow, you'll find there. If he dies, I do not care. As I suffered, then so shall he. It will bring justice flying to me. He'll be kept for forty eight hours, then returned from whence he came.'
This freaked Helena out a bit and she asked Louise to check miss pers. They found the report for Jayden Rook, so she took details, headed into the incident room and told the others.......the ball started rolling. Little did they know what was in store.
Wow, I was blown away reading this book, it was dark and creepy, just how I love my books to be!
This series is just getting better.
Jayden is sitting under the slide in the dark, going through instagram on his phone when he hears footsteps near him. The man, who is wearing something on his face so Jayden can only see his eyes and mouth, called him the 'The child in the tree'. The man got hold of Jayden, one hand tighly round round his neck and hauled him to his feet. He held him close to his body and carried him to off to where he was going to hold him.
There is a poison pen letter delivered to the police station, in the old fashioned style of each letter cut out of a newspaper. The date was yesterday and it had a poem. Louise rang DI Helena Stratton and told her about the note she had found. Helena asked for the poem especially after hearing about Jayden. The poem goes: 'In the hollow, you'll find there. If he dies, I do not care. As I suffered, then so shall he. It will bring justice flying to me. He'll be kept for forty eight hours, then returned from whence he came.'
This freaked Helena out a bit and she asked Louise to check miss pers. They found the report for Jayden Rook, so she took details, headed into the incident room and told the others.......the ball started rolling. Little did they know what was in store.
Wow, I was blown away reading this book, it was dark and creepy, just how I love my books to be!
This series is just getting better.
May 25, 2019
The third in the DI Stratton series. It lives up to the warped and wonderful series that I definitely expect from this definitive duo.
Stratton is a warped character because of her past but it just drives her to be the best police officer that she can be and to solve her cases in record time.
The story itself has so many religious undertones which I didn't expect to enjoy as I am not a religious person in nature and tend to be bored by the topic. This was very different as it was just an undertone and it was so much lart of the story that it just seemed that it was necessary.
I really am finding this series as the relationship between Stratton and her boss and her teammates is very fun to witness.
She seems to hate her boss and who could blame her but she thinks what I think many of us do about our bosses at times. I think one day she may snap and say something to him.
Wonderful book definitely going to be hard to top this one as it just sat with me and the warpedness of this series is so attractive.
Stratton is a warped character because of her past but it just drives her to be the best police officer that she can be and to solve her cases in record time.
The story itself has so many religious undertones which I didn't expect to enjoy as I am not a religious person in nature and tend to be bored by the topic. This was very different as it was just an undertone and it was so much lart of the story that it just seemed that it was necessary.
I really am finding this series as the relationship between Stratton and her boss and her teammates is very fun to witness.
She seems to hate her boss and who could blame her but she thinks what I think many of us do about our bosses at times. I think one day she may snap and say something to him.
Wonderful book definitely going to be hard to top this one as it just sat with me and the warpedness of this series is so attractive.
June 18, 2019
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This is the third book in the DI Helena Stratton series and I have to say I have thoroughly enjoyed them all, they are very well written thrillers with plenty to keep you gripped to the dark storylines.
The author's have done a brilliant job in bringing the series to life and their collaboration has worked so well, if they do team up again in the future I will certainly be getting a copy of what they release!
This book for me wasn't as strong as the two previous books in the series as I was not a huge fan of the religious undertones and they started to irritate me towards the end, but it was still a gritty and dark read which had me addicted to find out how it would all end and what would happen to the child in the tree...
The characters were well developed and created plenty of intrigue for me, the pace was excellent and I loved how the story crept along creating just the right amount of suspense. I finally warmed to Helena in this one too which I think helped me enjoyed the book even more, we got to see more of her human side and I was delighted that she got the ending she deserved.
It is 4.5 stars from me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon, I really enjoyed it but the first two in the series were my favourites!
This is the third book in the DI Helena Stratton series and I have to say I have thoroughly enjoyed them all, they are very well written thrillers with plenty to keep you gripped to the dark storylines.
The author's have done a brilliant job in bringing the series to life and their collaboration has worked so well, if they do team up again in the future I will certainly be getting a copy of what they release!
This book for me wasn't as strong as the two previous books in the series as I was not a huge fan of the religious undertones and they started to irritate me towards the end, but it was still a gritty and dark read which had me addicted to find out how it would all end and what would happen to the child in the tree...
The characters were well developed and created plenty of intrigue for me, the pace was excellent and I loved how the story crept along creating just the right amount of suspense. I finally warmed to Helena in this one too which I think helped me enjoyed the book even more, we got to see more of her human side and I was delighted that she got the ending she deserved.
It is 4.5 stars from me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon, I really enjoyed it but the first two in the series were my favourites!
June 3, 2019
This is the third in this series, a collaboration between two excellent authors in their own rights, so... as I always say, best to start from book one and read in order. Yes, the main story is self-contained but there is character backstory and development that is best understood with knowledge of the prior books.
Oh this was chilling and heartbreaking! A child goes missing, taken and, well, you'll read for yourself what happens to him. But it had me on the edge of my seat with my heart in my mouth. But who has taken him and why are they doing this? We then see glimpses to the perp's own childhood and, oh my! And there's the angst the parents are going through. So well written, I could feel their pain dripping from every page as I read. Talk about an emotional read!
Helen and her team are up against it, again with little assistance from above. But they are a crack team, a family in some regard, and together they start to make progress. But with another child taken, will they get there in time?
I have loved this series from the start. Not just the cases, and the baddies that they pit their wits against, but the characters themselves. Their ongoing development is fascinating to watch and the interactions between them, on and off the cases, is brilliant. As with most books by these authors, the case here is just awful but the injection of lighter moments, the banter, injected in just the right places, lifts the reader enough that the book never gets too dark and remains balanced overall.
Again, as you would expect from both authors, there is no superfluous padding. The main story gets on with itself very nicely and anything else included has its place.
There's also a conclusion to Helen's own backstory, again why it's useful to have read the previous books for full understanding. Sometimes authors drag out series arcs too long, but thankfully, not here. Actually, thinking about it more, I say conclusion but with these two, who really knows!
Anyway, all in all, a cracking addition to what looks to me to be a series that will keep on giving. Can't wait for book four.
Oh this was chilling and heartbreaking! A child goes missing, taken and, well, you'll read for yourself what happens to him. But it had me on the edge of my seat with my heart in my mouth. But who has taken him and why are they doing this? We then see glimpses to the perp's own childhood and, oh my! And there's the angst the parents are going through. So well written, I could feel their pain dripping from every page as I read. Talk about an emotional read!
Helen and her team are up against it, again with little assistance from above. But they are a crack team, a family in some regard, and together they start to make progress. But with another child taken, will they get there in time?
I have loved this series from the start. Not just the cases, and the baddies that they pit their wits against, but the characters themselves. Their ongoing development is fascinating to watch and the interactions between them, on and off the cases, is brilliant. As with most books by these authors, the case here is just awful but the injection of lighter moments, the banter, injected in just the right places, lifts the reader enough that the book never gets too dark and remains balanced overall.
Again, as you would expect from both authors, there is no superfluous padding. The main story gets on with itself very nicely and anything else included has its place.
There's also a conclusion to Helen's own backstory, again why it's useful to have read the previous books for full understanding. Sometimes authors drag out series arcs too long, but thankfully, not here. Actually, thinking about it more, I say conclusion but with these two, who really knows!
Anyway, all in all, a cracking addition to what looks to me to be a series that will keep on giving. Can't wait for book four.
June 1, 2019
The third in this series of DI Stratton and I have to say the best so far. You can read it on its own but knowing how these authors write I wouldn't want to miss out on the others. There is a strong religious twist in this book which sometimes didn't sit well with me having been partly brought up by an Irish granny. But I think it was needed in this case to accentuate the terrible connotations of the past generations.
DI Stratton and her overworked team certainly are hard at it trying to solve these terrible crimes. Without much help from the powers that be her team decide to go it alone with the clues they have and after narrowing down the possibilities they finally have not one but 2 arrests, one gruesome one from DI Stratton's past and one from the present case. To me this series should be able to be given more than 5 stars, brilliant and nail-biting writing.
DI Stratton and her overworked team certainly are hard at it trying to solve these terrible crimes. Without much help from the powers that be her team decide to go it alone with the clues they have and after narrowing down the possibilities they finally have not one but 2 arrests, one gruesome one from DI Stratton's past and one from the present case. To me this series should be able to be given more than 5 stars, brilliant and nail-biting writing.
June 4, 2019
Just finished this book on a long bus journey, not quite sure how I managed to keep quiet though! Tense, thrilling, horrific and scary read but loved it. This series gets better and better and I hope it continues, love these two authors working together.
June 19, 2019
I wanted to DNF this book. I read to the end, so I could write this review.
WARNING: SPOILERS-SPOILERS-SPOILERS
The primary storyline is about the kidnapping and torture of young teenaged boys. I read a lot of police procedurals, so the bones of this story are all too familiar: 1) the murderer has DID/multiple personalities; 2) the murderer was once abused/tortured by an older person, 3) murderer abuses/tortures his victims, and 4) villains use religious beliefs—or any reason—to justify their actions. The murderer remains nameless until Chapter 18.
Police procedural focus on detectives interviewing people—again and again. DI Helena Stratton has flashbacks to her own horrific experience—when she was kidnapped, imprisoned, beaten and raped by Jason Uthway, a murderer and sex-trafficker. The lengthy flashbacks are disturbing, especially when juxtaposed with the teens’ experiences.
This story is set in England, which seems more secular and less puritanical than the US. A young teen forces himself to visit his wealthy, paternal grandmother in order to placate her for his mum—who cleans other people’s houses. His dad killed himself years ago. Grandmother reads the Bible to teen for hours, and she forces him to “eat the body of Christ” and drink His blood. He balks at going to church and won’t believe in God or Jesus.
Grandmother drugs him, cuffs his wrists, and hangs him in a huge, hollow tree. He hangs in total darkness for two days, without food or water. Next time, she chains him in her dark cellar for three days. She repeats as needed. After all, Jesus was hanged on wood. What the boy suffers breaks his mind into pieces.
He accepts God and Jesus. If he reneges or snitches to his mum, Grandmother will cut off monetary support, so his mum will suffer a hard life.
He later learns that Grandmother and his own father also suffered in the tree. How many generations of children were broken by this practice?
I’m one of many Americans who have “no religious preference.” However, I found the OTT use of religion in this book disconcerting—especially in view of the sociological context of wealth/power versus poverty/powerlessness in the US today.
Note that I am in the minority of Goodread reviewers, so please read with a teaspoon of salt.
WARNING: SPOILERS-SPOILERS-SPOILERS
The primary storyline is about the kidnapping and torture of young teenaged boys. I read a lot of police procedurals, so the bones of this story are all too familiar: 1) the murderer has DID/multiple personalities; 2) the murderer was once abused/tortured by an older person, 3) murderer abuses/tortures his victims, and 4) villains use religious beliefs—or any reason—to justify their actions. The murderer remains nameless until Chapter 18.
Police procedural focus on detectives interviewing people—again and again. DI Helena Stratton has flashbacks to her own horrific experience—when she was kidnapped, imprisoned, beaten and raped by Jason Uthway, a murderer and sex-trafficker. The lengthy flashbacks are disturbing, especially when juxtaposed with the teens’ experiences.
This story is set in England, which seems more secular and less puritanical than the US. A young teen forces himself to visit his wealthy, paternal grandmother in order to placate her for his mum—who cleans other people’s houses. His dad killed himself years ago. Grandmother reads the Bible to teen for hours, and she forces him to “eat the body of Christ” and drink His blood. He balks at going to church and won’t believe in God or Jesus.
Grandmother drugs him, cuffs his wrists, and hangs him in a huge, hollow tree. He hangs in total darkness for two days, without food or water. Next time, she chains him in her dark cellar for three days. She repeats as needed. After all, Jesus was hanged on wood. What the boy suffers breaks his mind into pieces.
He accepts God and Jesus. If he reneges or snitches to his mum, Grandmother will cut off monetary support, so his mum will suffer a hard life.
He later learns that Grandmother and his own father also suffered in the tree. How many generations of children were broken by this practice?
I’m one of many Americans who have “no religious preference.” However, I found the OTT use of religion in this book disconcerting—especially in view of the sociological context of wealth/power versus poverty/powerlessness in the US today.
Note that I am in the minority of Goodread reviewers, so please read with a teaspoon of salt.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2019
Yes, they've done it again! Mel Comley and Emmy Ellis present book three in this series. You will not want to miss this one. A young boy fails to return home after school and DI Helena Stratton and DS Andy Mald are launched into yet another complex investigation. A note is delivered to the police station informing them that the boy will be released after fourth eight hours. There is no ransom requested and the motive is unclear. Any mother can identify with the worry and heartbreak this brings. Are they dealing with an abductor who has taken a young lad for his own nefarious reasons, or are the dealing with yet another murder case. This book will fill you with all manner of emotions and is yet another rollercoaster ride. Highly Recommend.
June 21, 2019
The child in the tree by mel Comley and Emmy ellis.
Omg. An absolutely fantastic read. I didn't want it to end. I love Helena and Andy characters. Mel and Emmy write well together. And the killer is soo creepy and crazy. I could see the house with the creepy cellar and the tree. I dont want to say goodbye to Helena or Andy. But they ended it perfectly. Highly recommended. 5*.
Omg. An absolutely fantastic read. I didn't want it to end. I love Helena and Andy characters. Mel and Emmy write well together. And the killer is soo creepy and crazy. I could see the house with the creepy cellar and the tree. I dont want to say goodbye to Helena or Andy. But they ended it perfectly. Highly recommended. 5*.
October 16, 2019
A great page turner as usual
I usually prefer to read a book where the killer or bad person is kept secret and you keep guessing until the end. In this book and most of the series you're aware of the baddy, however it doesn't stop the enjoyment of reading the story. I really love this author.
I usually prefer to read a book where the killer or bad person is kept secret and you keep guessing until the end. In this book and most of the series you're aware of the baddy, however it doesn't stop the enjoyment of reading the story. I really love this author.
February 4, 2022
As usual another brilliant read. We are used to hearing about grandmothers being loving, what happens when they are not, when they terrify you to the point you need to create new personas.
Read and find out
Read and find out
June 27, 2019
Great read
July 9, 2019
It was so good. I read it in a day. Keep up the great writing
August 5, 2019
Fantastic read
Really enjoyed this book, just as much as the first and second in the series. My first time reading anything by this author and it definitely won't be the last 😁
Really enjoyed this book, just as much as the first and second in the series. My first time reading anything by this author and it definitely won't be the last 😁
August 18, 2019
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
December 24, 2019
Really enjoyed this book
June 18, 2019
Teenage boys are going missing, where are they being taken to and held? Why are they being taken? DI Helena Stratton and her team must find the answers and quickly.
This is a dark and disturbing book. You can’t help but feel for the parents of the missing boys, you can feel the tension. Great characters and a well written book.
This is a dark and disturbing book. You can’t help but feel for the parents of the missing boys, you can feel the tension. Great characters and a well written book.
July 27, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed
I totally enjoyed this book. I didn't even guess who dun it which is unusual for me. I enjoyed the series but this was my favorite.
I totally enjoyed this book. I didn't even guess who dun it which is unusual for me. I enjoyed the series but this was my favorite.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews