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The Hanging Tree
Palaeontologist Kathryn Widd is in the Kenyan wild investigating hominid skull fragments. She becomes intrigued by a 1908 safari and the British nobleman who died mysteriously. The further she probes, the more deeply she is drawn into past lives and ancient, mysterious forces of violence.
When palaeontologist Kathryn Widd is called to the Kenyan wilderness to investigate a set of hominid skull fragments, she little suspects how profoundly the journey will change her. As she studies the ancient fossils, she becomes intrigued by the tale of a 1908 safari and the British nobleman who died mysteriously near the site of her dig. The further she probes, the more deeply she is drawn into past lives and a world turned upside down by ancient, mysterious forces of violence.
Surrounded only by the vast wasteland of African desert, her forgotten sexuality is gradually reawakened - first by Marion Macmillan, the neglected wife of Kathryn's alcoholic colleague, then by the mystic nomad Daniel Tregallion. As the academic significance of the findings begins to attract worldwide attention, Kathryn finds herself drawn into a vortex of dark passion, native curses, and devastating political violence.
When palaeontologist Kathryn Widd is called to the Kenyan wilderness to investigate a set of hominid skull fragments, she little suspects how profoundly the journey will change her. As she studies the ancient fossils, she becomes intrigued by the tale of a 1908 safari and the British nobleman who died mysteriously near the site of her dig. The further she probes, the more deeply she is drawn into past lives and a world turned upside down by ancient, mysterious forces of violence.
Surrounded only by the vast wasteland of African desert, her forgotten sexuality is gradually reawakened - first by Marion Macmillan, the neglected wife of Kathryn's alcoholic colleague, then by the mystic nomad Daniel Tregallion. As the academic significance of the findings begins to attract worldwide attention, Kathryn finds herself drawn into a vortex of dark passion, native curses, and devastating political violence.
398 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 5, 2020
This is a 4.5/5 book. It's thrilling the story is captivating and reading it reminded me so much of the time when I lived in Africa. The scenery in the book is beautiful, and the 3 interconnected but at the same time, running parallel stories work well. I'll definitely read it again!
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July 12, 2024It was a good story with a number of different plot lines. Enjoyed the philosophical and archeological components. I even listened to some Bach from this book and have found that to be enjoyable too.
December 31, 2024
The writing had such descriptive power, I really felt consumed in the best way. Great plot lines, the mystery kept me so engaged. Violence, sex and archeology what else can you need?
January 22, 2018
Love this book....
August 12, 2019
An intense read. Really good, vivid imagery. Enjoyable.
May 23, 2022
I read a quarter and couldn’t finish. I liked the premise but this male writing the female view didn’t hit right and rubbed me the wrong way
August 4, 2013
This is one of the most unique books I've ever read, and something of an enigma. I've read it twice. The first time was several years ago, and I recalled it being one of the best books I'd read. Since it had been so long, I re-read it...and found to my surprise that I was much less impressed. It is still an intriguing premise, but the execution deflects involvement.
THE HEART OF DARKNESS readily came to mind as I was reflecting on it. The story centers around a paleontologist who has discovered physical evidence of murder from 4-1/2 million years ago. Issues of violence being an inherent part of human nature revolve around mystical explanations and more modern violent confrontations. The exploration is fascinating, but the focus is not consistent. Is the author tying sexuality to violence...violence to mysticism....human nature to both...or is there something else working at the center of it all? Having finished this latest reading, I just don't know. The point appears to be little more than we all stand helpless in the face of violence and death.
Characters appear to be created around existing attitudes. There aren't many rational explanations for most of the actions, even though those actions impel the story forward. It also releases key bits of information at random that would answer a number of the reader's questions...not as the result of inquiry or investigation. This "Oh, I think I'll tell you about this now" approach takes away any sense of forward momentum. Things just appear to happen.
Having said all of that, I must still give full marks for the ambitious depth of the work. The questions it raises are fascinating and stayed with me long after the reading. It is worth the journey...as long as you pack plenty of patience.
THE HEART OF DARKNESS readily came to mind as I was reflecting on it. The story centers around a paleontologist who has discovered physical evidence of murder from 4-1/2 million years ago. Issues of violence being an inherent part of human nature revolve around mystical explanations and more modern violent confrontations. The exploration is fascinating, but the focus is not consistent. Is the author tying sexuality to violence...violence to mysticism....human nature to both...or is there something else working at the center of it all? Having finished this latest reading, I just don't know. The point appears to be little more than we all stand helpless in the face of violence and death.
Characters appear to be created around existing attitudes. There aren't many rational explanations for most of the actions, even though those actions impel the story forward. It also releases key bits of information at random that would answer a number of the reader's questions...not as the result of inquiry or investigation. This "Oh, I think I'll tell you about this now" approach takes away any sense of forward momentum. Things just appear to happen.
Having said all of that, I must still give full marks for the ambitious depth of the work. The questions it raises are fascinating and stayed with me long after the reading. It is worth the journey...as long as you pack plenty of patience.
June 11, 2011
I would not have finished this but for the love I have of the recommender and her high praise.
I consider myself one who possesses a fairly decent vocabulary. I decided early to overlook the frequent use of scientific words. I still havent gotten around to looking up Miocene and Plistocene, or whatever words are close to those that are geologic time frames. But there were other descriptive words that I couldn't be bothered looking up - the word used repeatedly in the last 50 pages was contrapuntal. And now that I've looked up this last word, I think it was used incorrectly.
The author seemed to be afflicted with Attention Deficit Disorder. By that I mean there were at least three stories in the book, two of which were related, the third was not related to the others. This might have been fine except that every once in awhile the author seemed to want to go off on some sort of Kenyan travelogue. This wasn't entirely bad as some of the descriptions were good enough for me to feel the African desert heat. Still, I would have preferred sticking to the story.
I consider myself one who possesses a fairly decent vocabulary. I decided early to overlook the frequent use of scientific words. I still havent gotten around to looking up Miocene and Plistocene, or whatever words are close to those that are geologic time frames. But there were other descriptive words that I couldn't be bothered looking up - the word used repeatedly in the last 50 pages was contrapuntal. And now that I've looked up this last word, I think it was used incorrectly.
The author seemed to be afflicted with Attention Deficit Disorder. By that I mean there were at least three stories in the book, two of which were related, the third was not related to the others. This might have been fine except that every once in awhile the author seemed to want to go off on some sort of Kenyan travelogue. This wasn't entirely bad as some of the descriptions were good enough for me to feel the African desert heat. Still, I would have preferred sticking to the story.
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August 19, 2011Honestly I have to say I feel rather lukewarm about this book. The plot had a couple of layers of mysteries but I just didn't feel very compelled by any of them. The author generated some suspense but gave too many hints about the ending so when I got there I wasn't surprised. I loved the African setting and I would love to go on a photo-safari some day but I think you'd have to have an interest in anthropology, palentology and hunting (unlike me) to really like this story. Ah well, I know someone out there will like it.
June 23, 2012
I have a hard time rating/recommending this book. It was a compelling read, layered love stories/mysteries across 3 time periods, a fascinating look at an archeological dig, and vivid description of parts of Africa. It has the stain of colonialism - some AFrican characters are not even given the dignity of names - however that keeps me from recommending it more highly.
April 11, 2009
An incredible book of over 400 pages that I could not put down. It took me a day and a half to read. He cleverly interweaves stories in a way that ensures that the reader is never confused. A masterpiece Lambkin.
December 14, 2014
The worst thing is the book's dishonesty: it's as cliché ridden as any Wilbur Smith book, but filled with pretentious academic claptrap. So bad that I stopped halfway and didn't touch a novel for three years.
September 19, 2007
most unusual book I have picked up in a long time
January 23, 2011
I loved the mystery set in South Africa. Very good.
January 30, 2009
Really visual...really interesting. appeals to all five senses.
May 14, 2009
One of my all time favorite thrillers--science, the origen of man, Africa, eroticism, cruelty, and the fragility of life
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October 10, 2011Two stories combine for a most intriguing tale of paleontology, love and adventure in the African desert.
November 2, 2011
Darkly, seductive, narrative. The writer pulls you into Africa, in a manner very few authors can muster. In this book you can hear, smell and taste the Land in all its heartbreaking beauty
March 6, 2022
more like, 2.5/5
I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought, might have to re-read it in the future when I actually have a working brain cell and can focus on it.
I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought, might have to re-read it in the future when I actually have a working brain cell and can focus on it.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews