The Family Tree

by S.K. Grice, Sheila Grice

She thought there’d been no witnesses.
She thought he’d never be found.
Until the leaves arrived.

Jolene Parker wants nothing more than to be awarded custody of her children after her alcoholism and OCD rituals uprooted her family. But when a cold case involving a local man's mysterious disappearance suddenly re-opens, a secret from her past forces her into a twisted game of lies and deceit.

To save her family and her freedom, Jolene must continue to conceal what really happened that night... but the sinister letters arriving in the mail rekindle the same crazed paranoia that destroyed her life before. When police begin searching around a majestic oak tree on her property, Jolene can obsess about nothing else:

Someone knows.

But had there really been a figure standing in the shadows that night, a witness to Jolene's unforgiveable crime? Or is the real danger the darkness within her own mind?

Genres: Fiction

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2021

Reviews

[KKEC Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind Blown!

The Family Tree by S.K. Grice
Published: October 1, 2021
Amazon Digital Services
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

S.K. Grice is an American author living in Australia with her husband, daughter, three demanding dogs, and a backyard full of noisy birds and frogs. The Family Tree: a psychological thriller, is her debut novel in the thriller genre. She also writes contemporary romance under Sheila Grice. When she’s not in her writing cave or reading a book, she likes to spend time in nature and with family and friends laughing, drinking good wine, and being goofy.

“We should have buried this secret deeper.”

Jolene has lived her life with a secret so heavy that it has infected her very soul. With a life that has had challenges from a young age, Jolene found love and acceptance with her best friend Annette and her mom, Patsy. This little chosen family was all the happiness Jolene thought she could ever want or need. Until tragedy struck twice, and life delivered a twisted surprise that she didn’t see coming. Now, adult Jolene has to figure out how to save herself before it’s too late.

Holy. Buckets. I did not see the twist in this one coming. S.K. Grice straight up, Kiersten Modglin’d me! Not since I discovered KMod has a thriller gripped me quite as this one did.

I loved the characters. Jolene was such a perfect mix of chaos and rationalization. I found the way she struggled quite poetic and powerfully beautiful. Here is a woman who has been through the unspeakable, she has demons she can’t talk about and a past that is trying to catch her- and yet she has to find the inner strength to fight for everyday life.

Noah grew on me, I wasn’t sure how I felt about him at first, but he is such a great character. And I love that his true colors are pure.

The setting for this novel was beautiful and haunting, and you can see the family tree and hear the cicadas. The way Jolene’s struggles are described brings a powerful empathy for her.

I also found the way her mental health struggles were written was done with care and compassion. I enjoyed this story and the way things developed. But the twist- oh goodness!

To say I clutched my pearls would be a massive understatement! If you are looking for a thriller that will leave you speechless- look no further!

[Vivienne Callahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Family Tree is a masterclass in psychological suspense. S.K. Grice expertly weaves a chilling narrative that kept me on edge from the first page to the last. The tension is palpable, and Jolene Parker’s complex psyche is portrayed with such depth and realism that I found myself questioning what was real alongside her. The sinister letters, the dark secrets, and the haunting family dynamics are all crafted with precision, creating a story that lingers long after the final chapter.

Grice’s storytelling is both intelligent and gripping. The way the mystery unfolds, coupled with the psychological intricacies of Jolene’s mind, makes this book impossible to put down. Every twist feels earned, and the suspense is perfectly paced. This is not just a thriller, it’s a psychological exploration that highlights the fragility of human perception and the consequences of past actions. A brilliant read for anyone who loves a story that is as thought-provoking as it is suspenseful.

[Rob Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Family Tree: A Psychological Thriller by S.K. Grice is a tense and compelling psychological thriller that explores the dark secrets and hidden tensions within a family. Grice skillfully balances suspense, intrigue, and character development, creating a story that keeps readers on edge while revealing the complex dynamics that drive the narrative.

The novel excels in building atmosphere and psychological tension. Each character is layered and believable, with motivations and secrets that gradually unfold, heightening the suspense. The pacing is deliberate, allowing the tension to simmer before delivering well-crafted twists that keep readers fully engaged.

Overall, The Family Tree is a gripping read for fans of psychological thrillers and suspense. Grice’s ability to weave emotional depth with dark intrigue and suspenseful plotting makes this a standout in contemporary psychological fiction.

[CJ Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an entertaining psychological thriller. I was hooked from the opening chapter. Is Jolene imagining her stalker? Who is sending the letters, making the threatening phone calls? Who wants to hurt her and why? So many mysteries. I had to keep reading from beginning to end. It was hard to put it down. Just when the reader thinks they know what is going on there is another death, another twist in the tale. You are drawn into Jolene’s world and feel for her every step of the way. How easily could any of us end up in this same situation. All of the characters are believable and well depicted, as is the setting. I could imagine being there. I recommend this story to everyone who enjoys a good thriller, suspense, or mystery story. This has it all. I think this book was well written and kept my attention from the start. Well done SK Grice. I’m looking forward to reading your next book.

[Bella Nox]

I finished this book after learning about it in one of my Facebook groups that's hosting an Indie author a month for this year. I've tried to keep up because I like to support my fellow Indies, but let's be real, life gets in the way. Anyway. This one was a pleasant surprise.
Some Indie books are just kind of thrown together, we're Indies... it is what it is.
Some Indie books are full of words and descriptions and it's easy to get lost in them... again, this is the way it goes.
Some, like this one, are surprisingly well thought out, and stay right one the edges of wordy and too descriptive to make a nice story line that can be clearly followed throughout the pages. Though a bit long, I was seriously pleasantly surprised by this one.

[Ivy Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a traumatic night as a teenage Jolene continued with her life with a secret buried deep within her mind. When local town interest in a old case and the arrival of leaves sent to her, Jolene has no choice but to open wounds she thought she had long closed. Determined to uncover the strange events happening in present day, Jolene begins to investigate. Her mental health issues has her questioning her own sanity. Fast paced read that I could have read in one day if not for having to go to sleep in order to not be tired at work. Couldn’t wait to finish.

[Sabrina (Bien) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book from S.K. Grice called the Family Tree.
At first I had a hard time coming in the story but by chapter 2 I was hooked.
The way it is written is so great and you really want to know what is going on and who is tormenting Jolene. The story takes you into here world and her OCD triggers. You really want to know who it is and I was really surprised to find out who was the tormentor. That was a great plot twist!

I give this book 5/5 stars and really enjoyed reading this book! Great job by S.K.Grice.

[Mrs Crossley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went into The Family Tree expecting a psychological thriller, but it really did not feel thrilling at all. The story was very slow and much more sentimental than suspenseful. I actually guessed who the culprit was pretty early on, which made the rest of the book feel pretty uneventful.

Overall it felt more mundane than exciting, and definitely slower than any thriller I have read before. Not terrible, just not what I expected.

[Shannon Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a book grabs your interest in the first chapter, you know it’s going to be pull you in further with each one. While not all details made perfect sense, what murder plot does, I was hooked and knew I would read on trying to solve it until the end. And as they say here, it’s one of the Goodreads. ;)

[Aloysia Y Tadajewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Attempt Was Pretty Good

I enjoy psychological thrillers and this one didn't disappoint. It's a good read, and I kept trying to figure out who was the crazy person. I never would have guessed the culprit, and you'll just have to read it yourself to find out. Enjoy the book!

[DAVID ALSPECTOR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twists, turns and terrify characters are fully abound in the great story that keeps the pages flipping and the reader asking “what’s going to happen next.” Definitely a recommendation to get your hands on

[Terry Spring]

A good fast read with lots of twists and turns. The reader gets hints of what happened - are they real ? It's pshycological twists will keep you guessing to the end.

[Claire Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful debut thriller. Easy to read, kept me guessing throughout, great characters....thoroughly enjoyed it! Will definitely be keeping an eye out for more from this author.

[Monica Domeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a crazy spin at the end!!!

[Jasmine Torres · Rating 2 out of 5]

Took me a while to read - was a little too wordy
the plot had potential but I think the story could’ve been told in less pages/chapters

[Carol Ueland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Friends experience an attack and plant an oak tree. They call it the family tree. Fast forward 17 years ahead, the detective is interested in solving a crime of a man gone missing 17 years ago. Oak leaves arrive in the friend’s mail and another person dies. A quick interesting read.

[Korri Vaughan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ Good, but the ratings are a little over-hyped. Didn’t expect the twist at the end!

[Nicole West · Rating 5 out of 5]

It all starts with Joelene and her best friend having a quiet girls night in. It all turns sour when Mike drugged out of his mind, a true bully in all ways decides to crash their night and in self defence one of them kills him in self defence. They decide to not call the police due to recriminating evidence but bury him in the back yard and plant a tree on top.

Seven years later putting the event to the back of their minds and pretending it never happened a stalker starts sending reminders in the mail causing to threaten Jolene's mental health.

All Jolene wants is to get back custody of her children and start a new life. Circumstances turn from bad to worse and she has to do 3 months in jail but the stalker is still waiting outside.

The suspense and twists in this novel are great, well done 👏

[Patricia Doyle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Weak plot. Weak, repetitive writing. Weak ending. This one wasn’t for me. Sorry.

[Elizabeth Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, it was an easy quick read.
You got a real feel for the characters, the plot thickened to the end.

[Samantha Norris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. It had an unexpected twist. Mental health and how guilt is dealt with played a large part in this story and I thought the author covered it well.