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Owl in the Oak Tree
She's the key witness to a drive-by shooting. But what happens when her duty to justice threatens the most important thing in her world—her family?
Reagan Ramsey—mother and middle school teacher extraordinaire—knows how to hold it together in the face of adversity. In the aftermath of her husband’s death from cancer, Reagan is doing everything she can to help her two children process their father’s passing while trying to sort out what a new normal looks like for their family. The loss proves especially difficult for her seven-year-old daughter, Lizzie, who has a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and autism and is nonverbal. Lizzie’s father had been her protector, a hands-on parent since the day she was born, and in his absence, her behavior becomes increasingly challenging as she struggles to express her feelings of loss and confusion.
But when a random encounter puts Reagan in the cross fire of a drive-by shooting—an event that shakes the foundation of her community—she suddenly becomes an involuntary key witness to a murder that turns her world, and her sense of safety, upside down. Trapped between protecting her family and helping to bring the killer to justice, Reagan’s sense of right and wrong is tested like never before.
As fear and shame threaten to break Reagan, she must learn to rely on her own conscience and her community for the strength to put her life on the line for those she loves. A piercing examination of how grief and gun violence reshape families and communities ,Owl in the Oak Tree is a suspenseful story of love and redemption.
Reagan Ramsey—mother and middle school teacher extraordinaire—knows how to hold it together in the face of adversity. In the aftermath of her husband’s death from cancer, Reagan is doing everything she can to help her two children process their father’s passing while trying to sort out what a new normal looks like for their family. The loss proves especially difficult for her seven-year-old daughter, Lizzie, who has a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and autism and is nonverbal. Lizzie’s father had been her protector, a hands-on parent since the day she was born, and in his absence, her behavior becomes increasingly challenging as she struggles to express her feelings of loss and confusion.
But when a random encounter puts Reagan in the cross fire of a drive-by shooting—an event that shakes the foundation of her community—she suddenly becomes an involuntary key witness to a murder that turns her world, and her sense of safety, upside down. Trapped between protecting her family and helping to bring the killer to justice, Reagan’s sense of right and wrong is tested like never before.
As fear and shame threaten to break Reagan, she must learn to rely on her own conscience and her community for the strength to put her life on the line for those she loves. A piercing examination of how grief and gun violence reshape families and communities ,Owl in the Oak Tree is a suspenseful story of love and redemption.
324 pages, Paperback
Published February 23, 2023
13 people are currently reading
8642 people want to read
About the author
Penny Walker Veraar
1 book25 followersPenny Walker Veraar was born in Memphis, lived in: Wisconsin where she obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology; Dallas, where she worked as a medical social worker; and Cincinnati where she now resides with her husband. She started her novel Owl in the Oak Tree before social media was a thing. Writers wrote and left promotion to others. That was after she began working in a treatment program for chemically dependent adolescents, which definitely was a thing, even back then. She wanted to showcase that unique program but as she gained life experience her interest expanded to family life with a disabled child. She patterned her novel as Women’s Fiction but professional reviewers most often labeled it a thriller. No matter, she primarily wants to write pieces people will enjoy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
January 2, 2023
If you like stories with a simple plot and good character development, chances are you will like this book.
Reagan, a teacher in Norwood near Cincinnati, is struggling to cope with life after her husband passes away. She has two kids – Matthew and Lizzie, and Lizzie is a special needs child with Down’s Syndrome and Autism. There is a shooting on the street and Reagan is a witness. After this, Reagan lives constantly under stress and fear for her family, as there are some occurrences which seem like threats. There is another track in the story pertaining to drug dealing and abuse. As expected, the two threads converge at the end.
The character development is very good and you feel for what Reagan goes through. The story is uncomplicated and while the exact particulars of the crime get revealed at the end, it is quite easy to sense the direction the story will take. The pace is quite slow though, and some sections distinctly lack energy and it feels like very little movement.
I liked the story for its simplicity and honesty though.
My rating: 3.5 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, GG Publishing and the author for a free electronic review copy.
Reagan, a teacher in Norwood near Cincinnati, is struggling to cope with life after her husband passes away. She has two kids – Matthew and Lizzie, and Lizzie is a special needs child with Down’s Syndrome and Autism. There is a shooting on the street and Reagan is a witness. After this, Reagan lives constantly under stress and fear for her family, as there are some occurrences which seem like threats. There is another track in the story pertaining to drug dealing and abuse. As expected, the two threads converge at the end.
The character development is very good and you feel for what Reagan goes through. The story is uncomplicated and while the exact particulars of the crime get revealed at the end, it is quite easy to sense the direction the story will take. The pace is quite slow though, and some sections distinctly lack energy and it feels like very little movement.
I liked the story for its simplicity and honesty though.
My rating: 3.5 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, GG Publishing and the author for a free electronic review copy.
March 22, 2023
Reagan is a newly-widowed teacher and mother of two, one of whom. Lizzy, is a special needs child. When Reagan witnesses a drive-by murder, she must balance the safety of her family with the safety of the community.
When I saw Owl in the Oak Tree, the debut novel by Penny Walker Veraar on Netgalley, it was the cover that attracted me. It was listed as a mystery/thriller but that is really just a small part of this story. It is about grief and resilience, what brings families together in the face of tragedy and what tears them apart, the problems but mostly the joys of raising a special child, about drug addiction, and the effects of gun violence, not only on the victim and the shooter, but on the community as a whole. But most of all, this is a beautiful story about families and, in the end, hope.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
When I saw Owl in the Oak Tree, the debut novel by Penny Walker Veraar on Netgalley, it was the cover that attracted me. It was listed as a mystery/thriller but that is really just a small part of this story. It is about grief and resilience, what brings families together in the face of tragedy and what tears them apart, the problems but mostly the joys of raising a special child, about drug addiction, and the effects of gun violence, not only on the victim and the shooter, but on the community as a whole. But most of all, this is a beautiful story about families and, in the end, hope.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
December 29, 2022
This debut novel by Penny Walker Veraar is riveting and captivating. It’s a story about family dynamics after loss, navigating life as a young widow with a severely disabled child and trying to do the right thing as the only witness to a crime.
Reagan Ramsay has an abundantly full life and manages to traverse through all of her trials and tribulations with grace and patience. As she is grieving the loss of her husband, she is also raising two young children, one of whom has a dual diagnosis of Down Syndrome and autism, working as a teacher, and wanting to be a good citizen by helping law enforcement catch a criminal, but also needing to protect her children. The writer perfectly weaves all of the intricacies of the many storylines without losing the reader to tiny details. You will cheer Reagan on, cry with her, laugh with her and your heart will get broken over and over. It’s a beautiful, well-written and complex story about family love. The book hangover from this one will last awhile.
I give this book 5 stars and look forward to another book by this author.
Reagan Ramsay has an abundantly full life and manages to traverse through all of her trials and tribulations with grace and patience. As she is grieving the loss of her husband, she is also raising two young children, one of whom has a dual diagnosis of Down Syndrome and autism, working as a teacher, and wanting to be a good citizen by helping law enforcement catch a criminal, but also needing to protect her children. The writer perfectly weaves all of the intricacies of the many storylines without losing the reader to tiny details. You will cheer Reagan on, cry with her, laugh with her and your heart will get broken over and over. It’s a beautiful, well-written and complex story about family love. The book hangover from this one will last awhile.
I give this book 5 stars and look forward to another book by this author.
January 28, 2023
This is an ARC review from NetGalley.
This debut novel by Penny Walker Veraar was a fantastic read.
Reagan is newly widowed with 2 children to raise, one of these having Down syndrome and autism.
This book follows the families journey as they find their feet without their father/husband.
Reagan is spectator to a drive-by shooting and must make the hard decision to identify the shooter and put herself/her family at risk, or choose not to and watch as her safe community crumbles.
This book was gripping and heart-felt. It was easy to fall in-love with each character and so easy to stand in Reagan's shoes and to understand how big of a decision it was to make.
It kept you hooked the whole way through and left satisfied with the end result.
This debut novel by Penny Walker Veraar was a fantastic read.
Reagan is newly widowed with 2 children to raise, one of these having Down syndrome and autism.
This book follows the families journey as they find their feet without their father/husband.
Reagan is spectator to a drive-by shooting and must make the hard decision to identify the shooter and put herself/her family at risk, or choose not to and watch as her safe community crumbles.
This book was gripping and heart-felt. It was easy to fall in-love with each character and so easy to stand in Reagan's shoes and to understand how big of a decision it was to make.
It kept you hooked the whole way through and left satisfied with the end result.
December 25, 2022
I received an electronic ARC from Girl Friday Productions through NetGalley.
I requested this title as soon as I saw the cover, and the interesting title - both of which drew me in right away. Then, I quickly felt a connection with each character. I loved the ending, and truly hope that readers get to follow up with Reagan, Jake, Matthew, Lizzie, and the others.
One thing I did notice was that the information provided by MetGalley at the end said that advance copies would be given to book groups that focus on thrillers. Personally, I wouldn’t call this book a thriller - it was more of women’s fiction title with thriller aspects. At it’s core, this story is about family, and community,
I requested this title as soon as I saw the cover, and the interesting title - both of which drew me in right away. Then, I quickly felt a connection with each character. I loved the ending, and truly hope that readers get to follow up with Reagan, Jake, Matthew, Lizzie, and the others.
One thing I did notice was that the information provided by MetGalley at the end said that advance copies would be given to book groups that focus on thrillers. Personally, I wouldn’t call this book a thriller - it was more of women’s fiction title with thriller aspects. At it’s core, this story is about family, and community,
January 3, 2023
No two dimensional characters here. This page turner brings Reagan and her family to life and as a reader I fell in love with the prose and the plot. Page after page, I was enthralled. The author captures Norwood, Ohio perfectly and I found myself rooting for Reagan and her children until the very end. Well written!
November 7, 2022
If you liked ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ by Delia Owens you would like ‘Owl in the Oak Tree’ by Penny Walker Veraar. You become engrossed in the everyday dramas of the characters - love, grief, patience with your children, coming of age struggles - and at the same time there is an underlying, thriller-type tension that you want to solve. I couldn’t put it down!
November 16, 2022
I really enjoyed reading Owl In The Oak Tree by Penny Walker Veraar. The book hits on so many issues such as community crime, child drug abuse, family life and lose, every day life with a special needs child and a moral dilemma between what is the safe thing to do over what is correct thing to do, all relevant in today’s society. The descriptive way she described every scene made a clear picture in my mind of what was going on, like I was there. Once I started reading Owl In The Oak Tree it was hard to put down and I found myself reading into early morning on the 3 nights it took me to read it. I was a little sad when I finished it because I wanted it to go on as it was such an enjoyable read. I highly recommend this book!
November 16, 2022
Owl in the Oak Tree by Penny Walker Veraar captivated me from beginning until the end. The author has created authentic, relatable characters. They make you feel empathy, anxiety, fear and heartbreak. She hits on issues that impact so many of us (loss, drug abuse, crime, marital conflict). The story line is suspense and mystery, with main characters that could live next door. Readers of Owl in the Oak Tree will have a new appreciation for parents of special needs children and anyone who has dealt with addiction. I highly recommend this book and look forward to more in the future!
January 22, 2023
The cover picture and name initially drew me in. Clear character development that kept me interested throughout. I enjoyed reading this book.
February 19, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, the only reason I didn't abandon this book at the 10% mark was because I saw it as my duty to complete this novel and leave a review.
I cannot recommend this novel to either a literary fiction or crime fiction loving audience. There are honestly much much better novels discussing grief, the opioid epidemic and raising a disabled child. Neither of those topics were treated with care, depth, or originality. The plot was extremely predictable, characters were superficial, their desires were barely explored, dialogue was stifled and awkward and expositional to a fault. The police procedural part read like very little if any research into police work was done. The sports discussions bored me to death and entire chapters could be entirely skipped as they added no information and depth to the characters and their actions.
Take for example the crime and its resolution: Reagan witnesses a shooting, she is interviewed at the police station, shown some pictures, the detective in charge calls her in every once in a while, and only more than a month later does he actually ask her to help create a composite sketch. The crime resolution happens off screen and then Reagan gets praised for it. Why? To me it felt like she held the investigation back. And her main emotional conflict wasn't even the crime.
Conflict and suspense in general was subpar in this novel. Part of it was the author's decision to include unnecessary scenes, and tell a lot. There is a scene close to the end where one character is severely injured and abandoned on the front steps of their home. We then switch perspective, and wake up with the characters inside the home, talking more than necessary about who should open the door. Then the injured person falls into their arms when they open the door and the other person screams. And I just rolled my eyes and chuckled. There was no tension: we already knew who was at the door, what condition they were in, and why. There is no development for the people inside the home, as their journey is already set in stone and one of them is only proven right for the upteenth time. And the screaming was very soap-opera like.
The worst offense was that I really didn't care about any of the characters. You could have killed the MC and I would have just said: okay, and turned the page.
Except I wouldn't have turned the page. I wouldn't have continued reading the book had I not had an obligation. And it's not because of the sports or the topic. I'm now reading "Heroine" which is a Young Adult novel about addiction, with an MC who is a top athlete and obsessed with sports. I don't care about sports, even less about softball, I have never ever had the ambitions or desires of the "Heroine" MC. Yet, I care about her, I am devastated by her spiraling into addiction. Because, unlike this novel, that MS was explored in detail. I care about an athlete MC more than I cared about this novel's teacher MC (even though I was a science teacher myself). And to answer the book's question at the end: I don't care about Reagan's teaching style, we spent too little superficial time with her in the classroom and I was bored the entire time.
Quick other problems I had with the book: the discussions on teaching a young boy to do "man stuff"; jumping between scenes with improper time-lapse description; the way Lizzie's disability was a backdrop to the MC's character growth, while Lizzie is not allowed any growth at all; the author's comment that she is the aunt of a child with Dawn syndrome, whose birth resulted in the family first grieving (?) but then got over it. ................... I wish I was paraphrasing, but that's what the Acknowledgement says.
In the end: this book didn't develop the owl in the tree (what a Macguffin), didn't develop the crime plot, didn't develop the characters, didn't develop a plot, or further a conversation.
If you are interested in reading about grief, drug addiction and crime I can recommend: "All That's Left Unsaid"; "Heroine", "The More They Disappear"; "Long Bright River." Novels with similar themes, but much better explored. And if you want additional non-fiction reads about addiction, you can check out: "Chasing the Scream," "Beautiful Boy," or "Tweak." You'll get a much more realistic picture of how addiction and trafficking really looks like, on how grief hits and paralyzes.
Unfortunately, the only reason I didn't abandon this book at the 10% mark was because I saw it as my duty to complete this novel and leave a review.
I cannot recommend this novel to either a literary fiction or crime fiction loving audience. There are honestly much much better novels discussing grief, the opioid epidemic and raising a disabled child. Neither of those topics were treated with care, depth, or originality. The plot was extremely predictable, characters were superficial, their desires were barely explored, dialogue was stifled and awkward and expositional to a fault. The police procedural part read like very little if any research into police work was done. The sports discussions bored me to death and entire chapters could be entirely skipped as they added no information and depth to the characters and their actions.
Take for example the crime and its resolution: Reagan witnesses a shooting, she is interviewed at the police station, shown some pictures, the detective in charge calls her in every once in a while, and only more than a month later does he actually ask her to help create a composite sketch. The crime resolution happens off screen and then Reagan gets praised for it. Why? To me it felt like she held the investigation back. And her main emotional conflict wasn't even the crime.
Conflict and suspense in general was subpar in this novel. Part of it was the author's decision to include unnecessary scenes, and tell a lot. There is a scene close to the end where one character is severely injured and abandoned on the front steps of their home. We then switch perspective, and wake up with the characters inside the home, talking more than necessary about who should open the door. Then the injured person falls into their arms when they open the door and the other person screams. And I just rolled my eyes and chuckled. There was no tension: we already knew who was at the door, what condition they were in, and why. There is no development for the people inside the home, as their journey is already set in stone and one of them is only proven right for the upteenth time. And the screaming was very soap-opera like.
The worst offense was that I really didn't care about any of the characters. You could have killed the MC and I would have just said: okay, and turned the page.
Except I wouldn't have turned the page. I wouldn't have continued reading the book had I not had an obligation. And it's not because of the sports or the topic. I'm now reading "Heroine" which is a Young Adult novel about addiction, with an MC who is a top athlete and obsessed with sports. I don't care about sports, even less about softball, I have never ever had the ambitions or desires of the "Heroine" MC. Yet, I care about her, I am devastated by her spiraling into addiction. Because, unlike this novel, that MS was explored in detail. I care about an athlete MC more than I cared about this novel's teacher MC (even though I was a science teacher myself). And to answer the book's question at the end: I don't care about Reagan's teaching style, we spent too little superficial time with her in the classroom and I was bored the entire time.
Quick other problems I had with the book: the discussions on teaching a young boy to do "man stuff"; jumping between scenes with improper time-lapse description; the way Lizzie's disability was a backdrop to the MC's character growth, while Lizzie is not allowed any growth at all; the author's comment that she is the aunt of a child with Dawn syndrome, whose birth resulted in the family first grieving (?) but then got over it. ................... I wish I was paraphrasing, but that's what the Acknowledgement says.
In the end: this book didn't develop the owl in the tree (what a Macguffin), didn't develop the crime plot, didn't develop the characters, didn't develop a plot, or further a conversation.
If you are interested in reading about grief, drug addiction and crime I can recommend: "All That's Left Unsaid"; "Heroine", "The More They Disappear"; "Long Bright River." Novels with similar themes, but much better explored. And if you want additional non-fiction reads about addiction, you can check out: "Chasing the Scream," "Beautiful Boy," or "Tweak." You'll get a much more realistic picture of how addiction and trafficking really looks like, on how grief hits and paralyzes.
March 4, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and GG Publishing for accepting my request to read and review Owl in the Oak Tree.
Published: 02/23/23
Mixed emotions on this one. The storyline had several conflicting paths. Current problems are explored from a young child with Downs Syndrome, death of a parent, illegal drugs, step-parent, and a spouse moves out secretly. All these things are happening simultaneously. The story is written well, everything is cleaned up in the end. There are moments that broke my heart, moments I laughed and moments where I was a tad angry.
I'm going 3.5 stars, and struggling on rounding up. While an interesting read. It lacked something.
I do think it is time well spent.
Published: 02/23/23
Mixed emotions on this one. The storyline had several conflicting paths. Current problems are explored from a young child with Downs Syndrome, death of a parent, illegal drugs, step-parent, and a spouse moves out secretly. All these things are happening simultaneously. The story is written well, everything is cleaned up in the end. There are moments that broke my heart, moments I laughed and moments where I was a tad angry.
I'm going 3.5 stars, and struggling on rounding up. While an interesting read. It lacked something.
I do think it is time well spent.
January 31, 2023
United States Publication: February 23, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and GG Publishing for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.
Reagan is a widow with two young children, one of which has special needs, and she has witnessed a murder. Between wrestling with her grief from the loss of her husband and the children's father, her job as a middle-school teacher, becoming an unwilling witness to a murder, and the challenges of having a child with special needs, Reagan is barely keeping her head above water. The murderer needs to be caught, can and will Reagan do her part to help? Her sister, Jordan, has introduced the idea of sending Lizzie, the special needs daughter, to a facility to live full-time and that causes stress and guilt as Reagan considers it. Her son's "big brother" has a stepson that is headed for trouble and may or may not be involved in the murder Reagan witnessed. Her community is succumbing to a massive drug problem and it's worrisome for Reagan, as she smokes weed herself. *shrug* That's kind of it as far as a summary goes.
The publisher calls this a taut thriller. It is not. In fact, it is not a thriller at all. The parts of the story that I suppose they are leaning on for the thriller parts are very anti-climatic and obvious as to who is involved and doing what. It felt very disjointed to me and I think I felt that way because it seemed like Veraar had about 3 ideas for a plot and forced them all together. The character of the owl in the tree fell very flat. I feel like there was a lot more Veraar could have done with that idea but it got sidelined for the other competing storylines. It just didn't work altogether. Parts of the story worked but not when combined with other characters and storylines.
I wanted to like this but I just didn't. The rating I did give it is a nod to the author who has a special needs grandchild pretty much exactly like the one in this book. I appreciate she wants to bring attention to these people and their families but I didn't care for the way she chose to go about it through this particular story.
Thank you to NetGalley and GG Publishing for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.
Reagan is a widow with two young children, one of which has special needs, and she has witnessed a murder. Between wrestling with her grief from the loss of her husband and the children's father, her job as a middle-school teacher, becoming an unwilling witness to a murder, and the challenges of having a child with special needs, Reagan is barely keeping her head above water. The murderer needs to be caught, can and will Reagan do her part to help? Her sister, Jordan, has introduced the idea of sending Lizzie, the special needs daughter, to a facility to live full-time and that causes stress and guilt as Reagan considers it. Her son's "big brother" has a stepson that is headed for trouble and may or may not be involved in the murder Reagan witnessed. Her community is succumbing to a massive drug problem and it's worrisome for Reagan, as she smokes weed herself. *shrug* That's kind of it as far as a summary goes.
The publisher calls this a taut thriller. It is not. In fact, it is not a thriller at all. The parts of the story that I suppose they are leaning on for the thriller parts are very anti-climatic and obvious as to who is involved and doing what. It felt very disjointed to me and I think I felt that way because it seemed like Veraar had about 3 ideas for a plot and forced them all together. The character of the owl in the tree fell very flat. I feel like there was a lot more Veraar could have done with that idea but it got sidelined for the other competing storylines. It just didn't work altogether. Parts of the story worked but not when combined with other characters and storylines.
I wanted to like this but I just didn't. The rating I did give it is a nod to the author who has a special needs grandchild pretty much exactly like the one in this book. I appreciate she wants to bring attention to these people and their families but I didn't care for the way she chose to go about it through this particular story.
January 17, 2023
This debut novel by Penny Walker Veraar is a winner for both the author and the audience. Reading a book that's hard to put down is such a gift. I could sense that the many issues and challenges the characters struggled with were close to the author's heart. This novel is true to life, full of heartwarming moments, suspense, and just plain enjoyable to read.
December 21, 2022
I loved this book! Once I started it I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend!
December 23, 2022
Reagan Ramsey is a mother, widow, school teacher and friend. She has many roles. Probably some of them are not named here. Lizzie and Matthew are her children. Matthew helps his mom with Lizzie.
Most all of us carry heavy burdens at some point in life. Lizzie's struggle is with Down Syndrome. She is a bundle of energy and curiosity. One day she leaves the porch. Missing for a few hours, town friends and Sonny, her Uncle Sonny, spread out to find her. It is a known fact no one can continue to live happily without Lizzie, least of all Reagan.
The town on the outskirts of Cincinnati is charming until a shooter makes a call. A shoe store is robbed. Then, a one time student of Ms. Ramsey's comes along making threats against her and her family. These are ordinary people leading extraordinary lives. It is Christmas time. Cincinnati has become a city with nervous energy. Suddenly a charming location on the outskirts is possessed with a mental disorder. Who will stop the madness?
Most all of us carry heavy burdens at some point in life. Lizzie's struggle is with Down Syndrome. She is a bundle of energy and curiosity. One day she leaves the porch. Missing for a few hours, town friends and Sonny, her Uncle Sonny, spread out to find her. It is a known fact no one can continue to live happily without Lizzie, least of all Reagan.
The town on the outskirts of Cincinnati is charming until a shooter makes a call. A shoe store is robbed. Then, a one time student of Ms. Ramsey's comes along making threats against her and her family. These are ordinary people leading extraordinary lives. It is Christmas time. Cincinnati has become a city with nervous energy. Suddenly a charming location on the outskirts is possessed with a mental disorder. Who will stop the madness?
January 14, 2023
I want to start this off with saying I received an ARC from Girl Friday Productions, but they in no way influenced my review.
This book is a wobbly 2.5/5 for me. To start, I wouldn’t have classified it as a thriller, it was more of a feel-good story. The drive-by shooting truly wasn’t relevant to the book, and it was obvious by how little the story actually focused on the shooting itself, there’s barely even anything to our main character being the “star witness” of the crime, they speak with her a couple of times, but between pages 30-200 it’s hardly even a relevant point to the story .
The tone of the book is very much that of a middle aged, middle-upper class, conservative, white author that doesn’t really have experience with the violent themes they depicted in the book (gang violence, drug dealers, etc) but seem more to be getting their information from sources like Facebook or Twitter, almost like the author is parroting what they believe those experiences to be like. But you can certainly tell the author has experience with raising a special needs child.
All in all, this book was about a widow raising two children alone, one with special needs, and trying to restart her life without her husband. There wasn’t anything “thrilling” about the story, and the other parallel story lines didn’t seem to add much besides a different point of view without any additional substance to the plot. The shooting seemed more for shock value to bring people in than a relevant point of the storyline.
Aside from my opinions on the story itself, the book was well written, which is why it gets a 2.5 stars from me and not just a 1 star. There’s certainly a market for this kind of story, it’s just not the book for me.
This book is a wobbly 2.5/5 for me. To start, I wouldn’t have classified it as a thriller, it was more of a feel-good story. The drive-by shooting truly wasn’t relevant to the book, and it was obvious by how little the story actually focused on the shooting itself, there’s barely even anything to our main character being the “star witness” of the crime, they speak with her a couple of times, but between pages 30-200 it’s hardly even a relevant point to the story .
The tone of the book is very much that of a middle aged, middle-upper class, conservative, white author that doesn’t really have experience with the violent themes they depicted in the book (gang violence, drug dealers, etc) but seem more to be getting their information from sources like Facebook or Twitter, almost like the author is parroting what they believe those experiences to be like. But you can certainly tell the author has experience with raising a special needs child.
All in all, this book was about a widow raising two children alone, one with special needs, and trying to restart her life without her husband. There wasn’t anything “thrilling” about the story, and the other parallel story lines didn’t seem to add much besides a different point of view without any additional substance to the plot. The shooting seemed more for shock value to bring people in than a relevant point of the storyline.
Aside from my opinions on the story itself, the book was well written, which is why it gets a 2.5 stars from me and not just a 1 star. There’s certainly a market for this kind of story, it’s just not the book for me.
January 19, 2023
Veraar's Owl in the Oak Tree centers on newly-widowed Reagan and her two children as they try to pick up the pieces after the death of their husband and father. After Reagan witnesses a shooting, strange occurrences at her home begin to occur, all as she grapples with ongoing family struggles.
I'm having a hard time with this review, as most of the others rate this novel very highly. Unfortunately, I struggled a lot with Owl in the Oak Tree. The various plots and subplots felt disjointed, and it seemed that there was an overuse of filler. NFL games and spaghetti dinners were described in extreme detail and broke the 'thriller' immersion. Some characters (Janet) were removed way too conveniently, and others (Sonny, Ron/Rob?) were thrown in so sporadically you had to go back to remember who they were. I wish the actual premise described in the summary was a stronger influence on the plot, as I feel that the foundation, characters, and writing is present for a good story but ultimately falls flat.
Note: I received a free ebook copy of Owl in the Oak Tree from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm having a hard time with this review, as most of the others rate this novel very highly. Unfortunately, I struggled a lot with Owl in the Oak Tree. The various plots and subplots felt disjointed, and it seemed that there was an overuse of filler. NFL games and spaghetti dinners were described in extreme detail and broke the 'thriller' immersion. Some characters (Janet) were removed way too conveniently, and others (Sonny, Ron/Rob?) were thrown in so sporadically you had to go back to remember who they were. I wish the actual premise described in the summary was a stronger influence on the plot, as I feel that the foundation, characters, and writing is present for a good story but ultimately falls flat.
Note: I received a free ebook copy of Owl in the Oak Tree from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2022
In her beautifully written novel, The Owl In the Oak Tree, Penny Walker Veraar weaves a tale of struggle, heartbreak, mystery and ultimate triumph that will pull at your heart strings and remain in your memory long after you’ve turned the last page. Lizzie, an adorable special needs child, along with her brother Matthew and mother Reagan, are struggling to adjust to life after the death of their beloved father and husband. Their story, told with poignancy and realism, is set against a backdrop of drugs, murder and a community fighting to survive in today’s world. The Owl In The Oak Tree is a treasure not to be missed.
February 10, 2023
Mother's Dilemma
Reagan is a mother of two and a school teacher. She just lost her husband Scott to Cancer. The family has been struggling to deal with his death. She has been doing well considering she has a young daughter with down's syndrome and autism. Her son Matthew is a big help but he is only nine.
One day Reagan goes out with the girls from the office for drinks and feeling guilty about leaving Lizzie she leaves early. As she is going to her car she witnesses a shooting and stares at the gunman before he almost shoots her. Now she can identify him.
If she identifies the shooter her children are in danger, she has already been warned. If she does not than crimes take over the neighborhood. What is she to do.
Reagan must confront her feelings and determine what is the right thing to do. As she fears for her safety and that of her children she also fears her nightmares, and how her children are handling the death of their father.
It is a thriller but it is also a story of families, of crime, addiction and the horrors of the drug trade and how it affects neighborhoods. It is a story of how families fight to help their children and do what is right for them.
It was a good book and I am glad I read it.
Thanks to Penny Walker Veraar for writing a great story, to G.G. Publishing for publishing it and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.
Reagan is a mother of two and a school teacher. She just lost her husband Scott to Cancer. The family has been struggling to deal with his death. She has been doing well considering she has a young daughter with down's syndrome and autism. Her son Matthew is a big help but he is only nine.
One day Reagan goes out with the girls from the office for drinks and feeling guilty about leaving Lizzie she leaves early. As she is going to her car she witnesses a shooting and stares at the gunman before he almost shoots her. Now she can identify him.
If she identifies the shooter her children are in danger, she has already been warned. If she does not than crimes take over the neighborhood. What is she to do.
Reagan must confront her feelings and determine what is the right thing to do. As she fears for her safety and that of her children she also fears her nightmares, and how her children are handling the death of their father.
It is a thriller but it is also a story of families, of crime, addiction and the horrors of the drug trade and how it affects neighborhoods. It is a story of how families fight to help their children and do what is right for them.
It was a good book and I am glad I read it.
Thanks to Penny Walker Veraar for writing a great story, to G.G. Publishing for publishing it and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.
January 9, 2023
The Owl in the Tree
Penny Walker Veracruz can really spin a tale! This book is funny, heartfelt, authentic and original.
I loved this book- the characters (both the lovable ones and the fear-inducing ones) the story line, the vivid descriptions of Cincinnati locations including my own downtown neighborhood, and the feelings the book evoked in me.
I related to so much. I have a blind autistic granddaughter who I love with all my heart. These kids cause a lot of worry and heartache but also create joy and depth in their innocence and vulnerability and the outrageous incidents that ensue as a result of the ways in which they are different and special. I’m recently widowed and Reagan’s response to that loss rang true for me. Crime happens to ordinary people. I found an intruder in my home (a in a lovely neighborhood!) one day and after chasing him out myself, found the police surprisingly unhelpful in tracking down the culprit. I worked in the addition field and especially teen addiction is a real problem in America. Penny’s depiction of the world of druggie kids is frighteningly real. And I have always loved owls and regard them as a kind of guardian.
I laughed (the ‘humping’ segment on sex ed is hilarious) and cried as I turned page after page. A great first novel! Congratulations, Penny. I look forward to more from you!
Penny Walker Veracruz can really spin a tale! This book is funny, heartfelt, authentic and original.
I loved this book- the characters (both the lovable ones and the fear-inducing ones) the story line, the vivid descriptions of Cincinnati locations including my own downtown neighborhood, and the feelings the book evoked in me.
I related to so much. I have a blind autistic granddaughter who I love with all my heart. These kids cause a lot of worry and heartache but also create joy and depth in their innocence and vulnerability and the outrageous incidents that ensue as a result of the ways in which they are different and special. I’m recently widowed and Reagan’s response to that loss rang true for me. Crime happens to ordinary people. I found an intruder in my home (a in a lovely neighborhood!) one day and after chasing him out myself, found the police surprisingly unhelpful in tracking down the culprit. I worked in the addition field and especially teen addiction is a real problem in America. Penny’s depiction of the world of druggie kids is frighteningly real. And I have always loved owls and regard them as a kind of guardian.
I laughed (the ‘humping’ segment on sex ed is hilarious) and cried as I turned page after page. A great first novel! Congratulations, Penny. I look forward to more from you!
March 20, 2023
I love this title. The owl is not mentioned many times, but it has a special significance to Reagan.
This book is two stories. One story is about a family who has lost their husband and father to cancer, and the impact of his loss on the family. It is a story of grief, adaptation and resilience. The other story is about the drug trade and the damage it does to individuals and communities.
Reagan Ramsey's husband has died from cancer. He had been the principal caregiver for their younger child, Lizzie, who has a dual diagnosis of autism and Down's syndrome and who can be violent. Their older child Matthew is about to enter middle school, and his two best friends are going to a different school. Then he made a new friend, one who already had his own car, a gun, and always had money.
The second story is about drug use and its impact on the community. One thing that surprised me in this book is that we are shown two views of drug use: casual use by people we would consider upstanding citizens, and then the other side where people are willing to kill for it.
I received a review copy of this book from GG Publishing via NetGalley. It was my pleasure to voluntarily read and review this book.
This book is two stories. One story is about a family who has lost their husband and father to cancer, and the impact of his loss on the family. It is a story of grief, adaptation and resilience. The other story is about the drug trade and the damage it does to individuals and communities.
Reagan Ramsey's husband has died from cancer. He had been the principal caregiver for their younger child, Lizzie, who has a dual diagnosis of autism and Down's syndrome and who can be violent. Their older child Matthew is about to enter middle school, and his two best friends are going to a different school. Then he made a new friend, one who already had his own car, a gun, and always had money.
The second story is about drug use and its impact on the community. One thing that surprised me in this book is that we are shown two views of drug use: casual use by people we would consider upstanding citizens, and then the other side where people are willing to kill for it.
I received a review copy of this book from GG Publishing via NetGalley. It was my pleasure to voluntarily read and review this book.
January 2, 2023
I love this book! Penny and I are members of the Cincinnati Writers Project so I first read this book as submitted chapters in weekly meetings and liked it. Now that I've read the whole published book, I am delighted to say that it's even better. Penny has knowledge and experience in some of the aspects of this book and did a lot of research when she didn't know about the subject, such as the police department. She was able to convey the emotions of raising a family that included a special needs child, adapting to widowhood, and branching out to new friendships. She kept it exciting with teenagers getting into trouble as well as personal relationships. I can't say enough about how great this story is. I hope you'll read it!
March 23, 2023
This novel has many interesting storylines that kept me reading. The situations that the main character, Reagan, finds herself involved in as a single mother of a child with special needs are very real and help readers understand how challenging life can be with a child who requires more attention. I also enjoyed the portrayal of Reagan as a well loved and truly dedicated teacher trying to handle all that comes with working full time and raising a family. The character, Jake, and his dedication to helping in the Boys Club was also a beautiful piece of this novel. The drug problems and teenage issues woven into this book are, of course, disturbing to read about, but this book could definitely be one for some unique book club discussions.
May 11, 2023
An intense and rewarding experience -
Veraar's characters are created with tender loving care, even the wicked minded ones. Authentically and meticulously portrayed, they invite us to dwell inside them – mind, body, and spirit. Disturbing as a thriller, it is also a gentle love story with heartbreaking revelations caused by family loss from death or neglect. It is painful to watch these lives driven to insanity by drug abuse. Yet, it is inspiring to watch Reagan reach deep within herself to find the hope and the fearlessness she didn’t know she had. In this carefully thought out story, the struggles through this miracle called life are real, not clogged with fantasy or whitewashed to lead the reader astray. They will undoubtedly speak to many.
Veraar's characters are created with tender loving care, even the wicked minded ones. Authentically and meticulously portrayed, they invite us to dwell inside them – mind, body, and spirit. Disturbing as a thriller, it is also a gentle love story with heartbreaking revelations caused by family loss from death or neglect. It is painful to watch these lives driven to insanity by drug abuse. Yet, it is inspiring to watch Reagan reach deep within herself to find the hope and the fearlessness she didn’t know she had. In this carefully thought out story, the struggles through this miracle called life are real, not clogged with fantasy or whitewashed to lead the reader astray. They will undoubtedly speak to many.
November 2, 2022
Owl In The Tree, the debut novel by Penny Walker Veraar, is a well-written, fast-paced tale for lovers of Women’s Fiction. Themes of love, loss, and commitment take center stage in this riveting story that explores marriage, death, drug-abuse, and the challenges of raising special needs children. Walker Veraar’s three-dimensional characters are vivid and relatable. Her genuine love of the Cincinnati, Ohio area shines through. This book is a two-thumbs up for readers who like a side of mystery and intrigue baked into heartfelt stories of home, family, and community. Well done, Ms. Walker Verrar! Looking forward to reading more of your work.
November 25, 2022
Authentic, tense yet heartwarming. They say you should write about what you know and Penny Walker Veraar has done just that.
I was intrigued when I heard that the setting for this book was Cincinnati and Norwood, Ohio. Owl in the Oak Tree was all I hoped for and more. The stage was set in the first few pages and I couldn't put it down. Beyond the vivid description of the setting was the captivating plot and believable characters.
I'm a fan of Jessica Strawser's novels with the similar mix of contemporary thriller, family loyalty through struggles, in authentic settings. Hopefully there will be many more books coming from this talented author.
I was intrigued when I heard that the setting for this book was Cincinnati and Norwood, Ohio. Owl in the Oak Tree was all I hoped for and more. The stage was set in the first few pages and I couldn't put it down. Beyond the vivid description of the setting was the captivating plot and believable characters.
I'm a fan of Jessica Strawser's novels with the similar mix of contemporary thriller, family loyalty through struggles, in authentic settings. Hopefully there will be many more books coming from this talented author.
January 6, 2023
A well written book with complex characters. For those people who are looking for a simple story with an uncomplicated plot, this is a perfect find. I appreciate the fact that the author managed to include the character of Lizzie and also portrayed beautifully the nuances of handling a special child and the effects it have on the other members of the family.
Not only the book dealt with lives of people with special children in it, but it also focussed on drug addictions and the consequences.
All the characters are beautifully written and though I enjoyed the read, I found the pace slow in a few places.
Thanks to Netgalley and GG publishers for letting me read this
Not only the book dealt with lives of people with special children in it, but it also focussed on drug addictions and the consequences.
All the characters are beautifully written and though I enjoyed the read, I found the pace slow in a few places.
Thanks to Netgalley and GG publishers for letting me read this
January 28, 2023
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of Owl In the Oak Tree by Penny Walker Veraar
I enjoyed this novel, it was an easy read, story line easy to follow, characters well developed and introduced during well spaced intervals.
Written from a few characters perspectives, Reagan is the main character and the story revolves around her and her family, she is recently widowed and is finding she needs help with kids, nine year old son who is needing a father figure and younger daughter with special needs.
So many aspects of this story hit home whether it's loss of a family member, drug dependent, adolescence, adulthood, morals...
Hoping to see this author write more novels, it was well done
I enjoyed this novel, it was an easy read, story line easy to follow, characters well developed and introduced during well spaced intervals.
Written from a few characters perspectives, Reagan is the main character and the story revolves around her and her family, she is recently widowed and is finding she needs help with kids, nine year old son who is needing a father figure and younger daughter with special needs.
So many aspects of this story hit home whether it's loss of a family member, drug dependent, adolescence, adulthood, morals...
Hoping to see this author write more novels, it was well done
March 12, 2023
I loved this book! The book addresses current societal issues involving every day people.
Reagan is a not so extraordinary woman doing the extraordinary. Her unconditional love, special gifts and sense of humor make her “real” even in the most challenging circumstances. She brings to life the reality of being a caregiver of a severely disabled child.
I thought the author described well the grieving of a young widow and the essential support needed.
Reagan is a reminder of the potential good in all of us , and the courage to do what is not always comfortable or popular. Thank you Penny for sharing Reagan’s story of true grit.
Reagan is a not so extraordinary woman doing the extraordinary. Her unconditional love, special gifts and sense of humor make her “real” even in the most challenging circumstances. She brings to life the reality of being a caregiver of a severely disabled child.
I thought the author described well the grieving of a young widow and the essential support needed.
Reagan is a reminder of the potential good in all of us , and the courage to do what is not always comfortable or popular. Thank you Penny for sharing Reagan’s story of true grit.
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