The Poinciana Tree

by Rita Lee Chapman

This story is set around the beautiful Poinciana tree, with its amazing red flowers. Suzanne Matthews arrives home from work to find the kitchen in disarray and her daughter missing. After searching the house, her eyes turn towards the garden, drawn to the Poinciana tree. Underneath its canopy she sees her daughter, slumped against its trunk. When the police are unable to identify Jennifer’s killer, they turn their attention to her husband, Mark. Whilst trying to cope with her grief, she finds herself fighting to prove her husband’s innocence, as her world is turned upside down. She is inspired by another woman, who went with her husband to the Sudan as medical volunteers for a charity organisation.A tale of raw emotion, desperation and acceptance.

355 pages, Paperback

First published September 23, 2019

About the author

Born in the UK, I migrated to Australia in my early twenties. It was only when I retired to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland that I wrote my first novel.

The Anna Davies Mystery series comprises five books, Missing in Egypt, Missing at Sea, Missing in London, Missing in France and Missing in Australia.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083RQ2QDG/

Dangerous Associations is a crime mystery
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PPRY9FU/
as is
The Poinciana Tree
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XGGY2PZ

Winston - A Horse's Tale, is for horse lovers from teenagers upwards,
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G9QOZGE

The DI Mark Williamson Detective series comprise
Murder at the Tennis Club
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DBGC8L4L
and
Murder at the Yacht Club
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQK1QB5Y
Murder at the Golf Club
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HJFBYNN1

I have also written three children's books,
The Unicorn Angel
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BC54TL2S
My Very Naughty Pony.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQPRYTZN/
Frankie - The Unicorn Who Couldn't Fly
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNZV5J52

Reviews

[Joni Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read about not only a terrible crime but the impact on the family of the victim. I feel this latter discourse dominated for me which was fine as crimes affect many and too sadly the family of the deceased. The mother s journey to peace and acceptance after her teenage daughter’s murder was well presented by Rita. Like many crimes the loss was so senseless. I have read other books by Rita and found this one very different. No one went missing to be found alive and well, the crime was more savage than others and the story is set in my local area. I found this disappointing as I like to travel via books, not stay at home. Also there is a strange monologue story set in Africa which did not resonate with me but think was an attempt to include another woman s loss into the plot. Never mind plenty more to choose from in exotic locations but another reader will enjoy Australian setting.

[Victoria Zigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an enjoyable read. It’s well-written, has an intriguing plot, and contains a cast of interesting characters. However, while it was a wonderful read in many ways, it didn’t grip me the way this author’s previous mysteries have. Maybe it’s just me, and has nothing to do with the book. I don’t know. I mean, it was a great book, with plenty of twists in the plot, etc. But it didn’t grip me the way the author’s previous books have. I still thoroughly enjoyed it though, and would still recommend it to mystery lovers.

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennifer had found some keepsakes at the house & began to investigate them.
19 months ago. Suzanne Matthews (wife/mother) had just gotten home & the kitchen was in shambles.
Jennifer Matthews (16, daughter) was nowhere to be found.
Suzanne went outside there under the Poinciana tree was Jennifer’s lifeless body.


911. She was already dead.
Mark Matthews (husband, Harris & Co. Dental equipment salesman) arrived & learned of the horrible news.
The couple rented a room so the CSI could comb the house.
DS Bill Jenner & PC Elizabeth Connor came to interview them.
Suzanne called Peter (brother) & Jacky (BFF) to let them know what had happened.

Jennifer’s eulogy was read, the funeral was held, followed by the burial & dinner was served by the

White Ladies. Everyone gave their condolences to Mr. & Mrs. Matthews.
The weeks rolled on by & no murderer had been apprehended.
1-day Mark was taken down to the Maroochydore police station for integration for the murder of his daughter.
Suzanne called John Mason (solicitor) right away. He referred her to Paul Mahoney.

The bail was denied & Mark would not be going back home but housed in the Brisbane Correctional Facility.

Suzanne visited Mark regularly.
Caloundra SE Queensland, Australia. Mr. Phillip Henshaw (55+) hired Suzanne (44) to do legal documentation.
Brisbane Supreme Court. The jury went out to consider their verdict.

The civil war between the Islamic regime in North Sudan (National Islamic Front, NIF) & the black
Africans in the South (Sudan People’s Liberation Army, SPLA) was in full force.
Dr. Jeff had volunteered for the Doctors Caring for Humanity. Fiona (nursing student) bid him goodbye.

Bryce Courtenay, Wilbur Smith, James, Julie, & Nurse Maureen O’Hanlon (Irish lass) welcomed him.
There were 3 wards at the hospital; the war torn sick/wounded men, a women’s ward: those going to give birth & the children’s ward.
Patients from the refugee camp suffered from malaria or malnutrition.
Dr. Cranbourne had been kidnapped by the African Liberation Soldiers.

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written who-dunnit murder mystery book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great murder mystery movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free author (s); Goodreads; MakingConnections; Making Connections discussion group talk; Author; PDF; book.
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Sarah Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suzanne believes her world has ended with her daughter Jennifer’s brutal murder, but worse is to come. Her husband, Mark, gets permission to see her body, provided her doesn’t touch it, but he can’t resist a farewell kiss on her cheek. In the absence of another suspect, DNA from his saliva sees him jailed for so long he’ll be an old man when he’s released, if he survives – prison inmates have no sympathy for child abusers.

Ms Chapman weaves a tapestry of threads, filling Suzanne’s lonely years, and triggering her determination to prove Mark’s innocence, with the horror volunteer doctors and nurses face in war-torn Sudan.

Will this man kill again? Could it have been a woman? Why did the parents of one of the boys who went to school with Jennifer move away so soon after the killing?

Suspects abound, but the police case is firmly closed. Can Suzanne discover the truth?