If a Tree Falls in the Forest

by H. Dair Brown

Can justice be served across timelines?

Fans of Gillian McAllister's "Wrong Place, Wrong Time" and the chilling Sally Field classic film, "An Eye for an Eye" will enjoy this gripping psychological thriller that explores the complexities of grief, the power of nature, and the unexpected ways justice can be served.

Lisa Bates, a renowned String Theorist, stands in the wake of her daughter Amalie's brutal murder. Grief gives way to a chilling resolve—Lisa will face Amalie's killer, David Rucker Leeds, not for forgiveness, but for a far more intricate plan.

Regular visits to Leeds on Death Row become a twisted dance.

As Lisa delves into his past crimes, she conceals her true intentions beneath practiced stoicism and feigned friendship. She harbors a forbidden knowledge, a scientific theory about the manipulation of time itself that remains to be tested.

Can Lisa rewrite the past, rewind fate, and bring her daughter back?

Beneath the ominous shadow of a fallen wolf tree in the Appalachian wilderness, the scene of Leeds' crimes, a dark secret waits to be unearthed.

Will the unforgiving hand of fate rewrite history in a way Lisa can't control?

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A version of this story originally appeared in the Still of Winter anthology (Inky Bones Press). Following is a review of this story from that

"'If a Tree Falls in the Forest' by H. Dair Brown - I picture a random person saying, "I bet nobody can curate and edit a short-story collection and also have time to contribute a solid story to it." Then of course Dair would be like, "Hold my beer." She seems dead set on delivering one of the best stories in every collection she releases and I think this was my favorite story she's written. At every step, I could feel how meticulously the story was crafted with callbacks, parallels, and just damn great turns of phrase. It felt like every element of this story pulled double duty as the plot advanced and it all felt organic instead of on the nose. I'm also a big fan of figurative language fitting with the characterization and Dair gave it in spades. A physicist sitting across from a murderer and considering, "Leeds was an intricate piece of math that made up life. Him, a motherless, unloved boy. Her, a mother without a child. They made their own sort of equation, she supposed." Chef's kiss, right there. That's the sort of writing that great stories are made of."

-Russell G

26 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 4, 2024

About the author

H. DAIR BROWN writes books and stories for people who like to read in that scary place where quiet, often supernatural horror and psychological thrillers overlap.

You can find some of the wiliest characters from MOLLY BRIGHT, her award-winning novel-in-stories, resurfacing in SUMMER BLUDGEON and AUTUMN NOIR (Disturb Ink Books). The stories in HOPE SCREAMS ETERNAL and STILL OF WINTER (both from Inky Bones Press) veer a little more horror.

For a quick sip of scary, check out the SINISTER CENTURY SERIES in the 90-minute reads category! Each collection in the series delves into the dark underbelly of a specific decade, bringing to life the horrors that lurk beneath the surface of nostalgic eras. From the eerie silence of early cinema to the ever vigilant (always listening) AI of today, these chilling tales explore how technology and culture intertwine to create nightmares tailor made for each generation.

ESCAPE - Explore the shadowy world of cinema in the 1920s

LISTEN - Succumb to the eerie whispers of radio during the 1940s

WATCH - Uncover the haunting secrets of television in the 1960s

CAPTURE - Experience the chilling grip of VCRs & camcorders in the 1980s

HOST - Navigate the dangerous territories of the internet in the 2000s

LURK - Confront the malevolent forces of social media & AI devices in the 2020s


You can also find her active on Goodreads and BookBub under "H. Dair Brown."

For more Dairlirious Rantings, visit www.HDairBrown.com or look for her on Instagram (@dairlirious).

Reviews

[PageWhisper · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If a Tree Falls in the Forest" grips readers with its emotional power. H. Dair Brown crafts a story that blends darkness and empowerment. A grieving mother changes history, not to get revenge, but to find redemption and express love. Lisa Bates, a physics genius, does more than mourn her daughter—she becomes her protector. Lisa identifies a crucial moment and steps in altering reality to stop a serial killer from reaching her child. The story unfolds with lyrical words, gut-wrenching specifics, and a movie-like pace. Few stories balance sorrow, terror, and scientific optimism so well. Lisa's journey from quiet mourner to subtle defender touches hearts and raises ethical questions. The conclusion brings great satisfaction without relying on make-believe—it achieves its victory through smarts and spirit. A must-read for people who love time-bending suspense novels fictional crime stories, and tales where women reclaim their strength.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[LaReinaDeLosMuertos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for a book series to keep me busy and I throughly enjoyed this first book. I'm looking forward to the rest.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[AMBER CLARK · Rating 3 out of 5]

At only 26 pages this is a true Horrors d'oeuvres. Amalie is brutually murdered. Can Lisa rewrite the past and bring her back? Interesting idea but far too short for me.