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The Treehouse
‘If you aren’t reading B P Walter yet, now’s the time’ A. J. Finn
'Accomplished, dark and stylish: I will read anything B P Walter writes’ Gillian McAllister
A toxic family thriller to keep you gripped this summer. Perfect for fans of The White Lotus, Lisa Jewell and Ruth Ware.
A summer holiday. A family secret. A split-second decision that will change everything.
Twenty years ago, a summer holiday ended in tragedy for the Palmer family.
No one has spoken of it since.
Until a new TV series plays out the horrifying events of that night.
As the family are forced to relive that fateful trip, is it possible that each person is hiding their own secrets, and is someone willing to do whatever it takes to keep their past firmly in the past…
'Accomplished, dark and stylish: I will read anything B P Walter writes’ Gillian McAllister
A toxic family thriller to keep you gripped this summer. Perfect for fans of The White Lotus, Lisa Jewell and Ruth Ware.
A summer holiday. A family secret. A split-second decision that will change everything.
Twenty years ago, a summer holiday ended in tragedy for the Palmer family.
No one has spoken of it since.
Until a new TV series plays out the horrifying events of that night.
As the family are forced to relive that fateful trip, is it possible that each person is hiding their own secrets, and is someone willing to do whatever it takes to keep their past firmly in the past…
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First published July 3, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
May 22, 2025
Two brothers, a treehouse, a horrible act twenty years ago whilst the family are on holiday in Cornwall. In the present day, younger brother Robert Drinkwater works for a charity and is successful but his world implodes late one evening when he sees a trailer for a TV show “The Treehouse”. Someone knows what he and Kieran did all those years ago, but how? Robert goes into panic mode but Kieran tries to keep him calm and not become paranoid. However, it’s weird. Who knows their massive secret and why has it taken so long to bubble to the surface? The story is principally told by Rob and Kieron with occasional interjections from their mother June.
This is a fascinating character driven psychological thriller with a less than run of the mill family at the centre of it. One brother has his issues but overall is supremely confident and comfortable in his own skin whilst the other teeters on the edge, constantly needing reassurance, affirmation even, with a need to atone. As for their mother, the least that you can say about June is her snobbishness but she certainly has strong opinions and plenty of depth. The dynamics within the family are very interesting, not just between brother and brother, which constantly fluctuates but within all members of the family and they get increasingly more intriguing.
It’s an immersive read and I find it hard to put down. It’s one of those.’ stone gathering moss’ books which picks up pace, accumulating all kinds of incidents to submerge and pile upon the original act. It’s good from the start but wow, does the author ever up the ante as it gets progressively darker. There are some very good, unpredictable and suspenseful plot twists that keeps you guessing as it progresses to a cracking ending.
Finally, the treehouse itself creates an atmospheric backdrop to the event which just as the house itself is balanced and hangs within the tree, so it hangs over the family unit with varying results and ultimately serious consequences.
Overall, BP Walter continues to be a must read author for me and this has best seller written all over it.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Harper Collins, One More Chapter for the much appreciated early copy and return for an honest review.
This is a fascinating character driven psychological thriller with a less than run of the mill family at the centre of it. One brother has his issues but overall is supremely confident and comfortable in his own skin whilst the other teeters on the edge, constantly needing reassurance, affirmation even, with a need to atone. As for their mother, the least that you can say about June is her snobbishness but she certainly has strong opinions and plenty of depth. The dynamics within the family are very interesting, not just between brother and brother, which constantly fluctuates but within all members of the family and they get increasingly more intriguing.
It’s an immersive read and I find it hard to put down. It’s one of those.’ stone gathering moss’ books which picks up pace, accumulating all kinds of incidents to submerge and pile upon the original act. It’s good from the start but wow, does the author ever up the ante as it gets progressively darker. There are some very good, unpredictable and suspenseful plot twists that keeps you guessing as it progresses to a cracking ending.
Finally, the treehouse itself creates an atmospheric backdrop to the event which just as the house itself is balanced and hangs within the tree, so it hangs over the family unit with varying results and ultimately serious consequences.
Overall, BP Walter continues to be a must read author for me and this has best seller written all over it.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Harper Collins, One More Chapter for the much appreciated early copy and return for an honest review.
June 5, 2025
I received a free copy of, The Treehouse, by B.P. Walter, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Brothers Kieran and Robert have a secret, both have different versions of the secret. I did not care for this books, I did not like any of the characters. Sacrificing human or animal should not be normalized.
July 2, 2025
Brothers, secrets, a dark past, a treehouse, and a horrible tragedy! In their youth, brothers Robert and Kieran made some horrific choices and actions. Both hope that that time in their past is behind them but there is a new show coming out titled "The Treehouse" and to say that it freaked Robert out. The thought that someone out there knows what they did all those years ago, has him on edge and panicking.
What is their deep dark secret? What happened all those years ago and what happens if their secret is revealed? Those questions are what drives the plot which tells the story in past and present timelines.
This book was heavy on atmosphere and tension. I also enjoyed the twists and turns along the way. Plus, more than one shocking reveal had me thinking "holy crap!" as I did not see-that-coming-at-all. The author does a good job at showing the underlying dread and anxiety that Robert was feeling. As the book moved along, it becomes more and more evident that this family puts the dysfunction in dysfunctional family.
Overall, an enjoyable, dark and twisted tale!
Thank you to One More Chapter and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
What is their deep dark secret? What happened all those years ago and what happens if their secret is revealed? Those questions are what drives the plot which tells the story in past and present timelines.
This book was heavy on atmosphere and tension. I also enjoyed the twists and turns along the way. Plus, more than one shocking reveal had me thinking "holy crap!" as I did not see-that-coming-at-all. The author does a good job at showing the underlying dread and anxiety that Robert was feeling. As the book moved along, it becomes more and more evident that this family puts the dysfunction in dysfunctional family.
Overall, an enjoyable, dark and twisted tale!
Thank you to One More Chapter and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
May 7, 2025
Late last night as I couldn't sleep, I turned on my Kindle and started this ARC.
I was captivated and pulled in and didn't stop through the night!
The Treehouse is one of those books that sort of haunts you, and makes you wonder what you would do if this was you and your family.
When the Palmers take a little holiday to a seaside town, two young brothers and their actions create a chain reaction of trouble. The family will have to relive this experience years later, when the entire ordeal is turned into a TV series.
This is laid out in dual timelines and plot twists you don't see coming. It's a harsh look at family life, the resentment that can build and how awful people can be when presented with tragedy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the chance to read this advanced reader copy.
I was captivated and pulled in and didn't stop through the night!
The Treehouse is one of those books that sort of haunts you, and makes you wonder what you would do if this was you and your family.
When the Palmers take a little holiday to a seaside town, two young brothers and their actions create a chain reaction of trouble. The family will have to relive this experience years later, when the entire ordeal is turned into a TV series.
This is laid out in dual timelines and plot twists you don't see coming. It's a harsh look at family life, the resentment that can build and how awful people can be when presented with tragedy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the chance to read this advanced reader copy.
June 27, 2025
I wasn’t a huge fan of this one. While there were some thrills and twists, I struggled to stay engaged in the story itself.
-not a fan of the writing style/choices.
-didn’t like the main characters.
-there was too much time spent in flashbacks.
There are better books out there in my opinion if you’re looking for something more exciting to read.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and One More Chapter/ HarperCollins UK for a copy!
-not a fan of the writing style/choices.
-didn’t like the main characters.
-there was too much time spent in flashbacks.
There are better books out there in my opinion if you’re looking for something more exciting to read.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and One More Chapter/ HarperCollins UK for a copy!
June 13, 2025
Thank you so much to NetGalley, One More Chapter and B P Walter for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Firstly, I have to compliment B P Walter on his writing style. The way that the book was structured was very clever and there were plenty of plot twists.
However, when I requested this book and read the promotional description, I was not expecting it to have the content that it did. It was extremely dark and made me feel very uncomfortable as there were no trigger alerts of what was to come - a lot of the plot was about the occult. The blurb made it sound as if the book was going to be based on more of the TV show side of things and its involvement in the murder story, rather than the quite disturbing content that I found within. As someone that doesn’t read horror but enjoys thrillers, this was definitely on the border of horror rather than psychological thriller to me. It was very chilling.
Overall, it just wasn’t really my cup of tea, unfortunately. This doesn’t mean that it’s badly written - it just wasn’t the sort of book that I would’ve picked up myself and was advertised as something it didn’t feel matched to. It’s not for the faint hearted and I would definitely check the trigger warnings for this one.
Firstly, I have to compliment B P Walter on his writing style. The way that the book was structured was very clever and there were plenty of plot twists.
However, when I requested this book and read the promotional description, I was not expecting it to have the content that it did. It was extremely dark and made me feel very uncomfortable as there were no trigger alerts of what was to come - a lot of the plot was about the occult. The blurb made it sound as if the book was going to be based on more of the TV show side of things and its involvement in the murder story, rather than the quite disturbing content that I found within. As someone that doesn’t read horror but enjoys thrillers, this was definitely on the border of horror rather than psychological thriller to me. It was very chilling.
Overall, it just wasn’t really my cup of tea, unfortunately. This doesn’t mean that it’s badly written - it just wasn’t the sort of book that I would’ve picked up myself and was advertised as something it didn’t feel matched to. It’s not for the faint hearted and I would definitely check the trigger warnings for this one.
May 9, 2025
The Treehouse is about two brothers who develop some rather dark interests as teenagers, and how these obsessions affect their lives moving forward for the next twenty years. There is animal cruelty on and off-page, and this was a stressful read for me as I fought to get through it. There are also major issues with pacing - we jump back in time for twelve straight chapters or something like that. The ending felt like an attempt to shoehorn in as many twists as possible into the final forty pages. I appreciate what the author was trying to do, as well as the chance to read this early, but overall I just did not care for it.
June 28, 2025
I’d previously enjoyed a couple of the author’s novels, and this one started promisingly as I was introduced to a pair of brothers who share a dark secret. One is a rich, drug taking layabout, and the other is a self-centred, career hungry city boy. Soon, they are to discover that a television series has been launched in which the plot details a set of circumstances with a spooky similarity to events they’d hoped were buried for good.
We’re then taken back quite some years, to where the boys are both shy of eighteen years old. It’s at this point it starts to get a little weird. The older brother, Kieran, develops some radical ideas and attempts to drag younger brother Robert along with him. Robert, desperately seeking Kieran’s approval, goes with it despite some doubts. There then follows a series of events that didn’t take me with them – they didn’t feel right, they didn’t feel credible.
Add to this the fact that by this point I’d decided that the entire family were people I’d rather not spend any more time with. They’re a very unpleasant crew indeed. I abandoned ship at the halfway point.
For me, this tale has undertones of a horror novel rather than that of a pure mystery tale. This might well appeal to some readers, but not to me I’m afraid. I’ve read some positive reviews from other readers, so I might just be an outlier here.
My thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC in return for an honest review.
We’re then taken back quite some years, to where the boys are both shy of eighteen years old. It’s at this point it starts to get a little weird. The older brother, Kieran, develops some radical ideas and attempts to drag younger brother Robert along with him. Robert, desperately seeking Kieran’s approval, goes with it despite some doubts. There then follows a series of events that didn’t take me with them – they didn’t feel right, they didn’t feel credible.
Add to this the fact that by this point I’d decided that the entire family were people I’d rather not spend any more time with. They’re a very unpleasant crew indeed. I abandoned ship at the halfway point.
For me, this tale has undertones of a horror novel rather than that of a pure mystery tale. This might well appeal to some readers, but not to me I’m afraid. I’ve read some positive reviews from other readers, so I might just be an outlier here.
My thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC in return for an honest review.
June 27, 2025
THE TREEHOUSE BY B P WALTER.
Release date set for the 3rd of July 2025.
4✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
This book took me by surprise.
The pacing was perfect for me personally.
From the start this story had me hooked and held my attention till the very end.
I really hope this book does well as it's really amazing and sticks with you.
Highly recommend
Release date set for the 3rd of July 2025.
4✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
This book took me by surprise.
The pacing was perfect for me personally.
From the start this story had me hooked and held my attention till the very end.
I really hope this book does well as it's really amazing and sticks with you.
Highly recommend
May 15, 2025
I loved the premise of this book and many of the different elements, but the actual execution of the story wasn't enjoyable. I wish more time had been spent in the present day instead of the MANY chapters in 2004 when the men were children. It would have also been interesting to learn more about the parents and their secrets vs just revealing them briefly at the end.
July 3, 2025
Thank NetGalley and Harper Collins for letting me read a ARC.
I’ve not read anything by this author before so I went in as a complete novice. The writing is superb and extremely descriptive.
The book itself is a lot darker than the blurb suggests and whilst I did enjoy it at times it made feel quite uncomfortable with the content. There is depiction of animal sacrifice, occult themes and murder. None of the characters are particularly likeable and they are completely flawed and dysfunctional as a family. However I did find I was gripped to find out the ending, there are a lot of twists and some of which I really hadn’t guessed. I enjoyed this but it wouldn’t be a book I would rush to read again although it has left an imprint in my mind. I would definitely read more of the authors books as I’ve seen some good reviews of them. This book won’t be for everyone and I would definitely advise people to look at the content warnings as it is quite graphic and does border a bit on horror at times.
Good book but very dark. But the idea story is interesting and different from the thrillers I normally read.
I’ve not read anything by this author before so I went in as a complete novice. The writing is superb and extremely descriptive.
The book itself is a lot darker than the blurb suggests and whilst I did enjoy it at times it made feel quite uncomfortable with the content. There is depiction of animal sacrifice, occult themes and murder. None of the characters are particularly likeable and they are completely flawed and dysfunctional as a family. However I did find I was gripped to find out the ending, there are a lot of twists and some of which I really hadn’t guessed. I enjoyed this but it wouldn’t be a book I would rush to read again although it has left an imprint in my mind. I would definitely read more of the authors books as I’ve seen some good reviews of them. This book won’t be for everyone and I would definitely advise people to look at the content warnings as it is quite graphic and does border a bit on horror at times.
Good book but very dark. But the idea story is interesting and different from the thrillers I normally read.
July 5, 2025
“Perhaps, in a way, you were never destined for this world. Perhaps you were always meant to leave it.”
The Treehouse follows the Palmer family who, after a tragedy on a summer holiday twenty years ago, decide to never speak of it again. That is until a new TV series threatens to expose the horrifying events of that night. As the family are forced to relive the fateful trip, it becomes apparent that each of them are hiding their own secrets. But are they willing to do whatever it takes to keep their past firmly in the past?
The Treehouse is told over a dual timeline, predominantly through the alternating perspectives of brothers Kieran and Robert. The contradictions between the brothers made for an immediately compelling read, and I loved how seamlessly the narrative flowed between their perspectives. Both characters bring a haunting emotional weight to the novel, with their flaws and intricacies being gradually revealed. Their development itself is essential to the themes of loyalty, trust, and the psychological cost of keeping secrets explored throughout the book.
The plot itself is dark, twisty, and addictive to read. The gradual build up of tension is masterfully executed, with each development and explanation landing at the perfect moment. The final chapters are especially gripping, packed with disturbing revelations and further twists that left me reeling. Then, the ending is brilliantly delivered and absolutely worthy of its own applause.
Thank you so much to B.P. Walter and One More Chapter for sending me this advanced copy to read and review. My opinions are my own.
The Treehouse follows the Palmer family who, after a tragedy on a summer holiday twenty years ago, decide to never speak of it again. That is until a new TV series threatens to expose the horrifying events of that night. As the family are forced to relive the fateful trip, it becomes apparent that each of them are hiding their own secrets. But are they willing to do whatever it takes to keep their past firmly in the past?
The Treehouse is told over a dual timeline, predominantly through the alternating perspectives of brothers Kieran and Robert. The contradictions between the brothers made for an immediately compelling read, and I loved how seamlessly the narrative flowed between their perspectives. Both characters bring a haunting emotional weight to the novel, with their flaws and intricacies being gradually revealed. Their development itself is essential to the themes of loyalty, trust, and the psychological cost of keeping secrets explored throughout the book.
The plot itself is dark, twisty, and addictive to read. The gradual build up of tension is masterfully executed, with each development and explanation landing at the perfect moment. The final chapters are especially gripping, packed with disturbing revelations and further twists that left me reeling. Then, the ending is brilliantly delivered and absolutely worthy of its own applause.
Thank you so much to B.P. Walter and One More Chapter for sending me this advanced copy to read and review. My opinions are my own.
July 12, 2025
I’ve already read a few books by B P Walter and having read the synopsis, thought it would be right up my street. Sadly, this was not the case for me.
This is marketed as a toxic family thriller and it is certainly that. The story is based on what happened at a Cornwall holiday let Treehouse 20 years ago when two brothers are spending the summer with their parents there and a young girl loses her life, which comes back to haunt them years later.
I really struggled with this, in fact this took me a month to get through, which is the longest I’ve ever taken to read a single book but I felt I owed it to the author and publisher to see it through to the end. In all honestly, I just don’t think this story was for me. The way the story developed didn’t hold much interest for me and I didn’t find the characters very likeable. The longer I took to read it, the less engaged I became with it.
Having said that, the best part for me, was the last fifth of the book where everything tied together, although this still felt a little forced in places.
I definitely think this would be a good read for others, it just didn’t hit the mark for me.
I have more books to read from this author, and won’t let this one put me off reading more, as I’ve enjoyed others from this author that I’ve read previously.
Thank you to One more chapter and NetGalley who provided me with an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is marketed as a toxic family thriller and it is certainly that. The story is based on what happened at a Cornwall holiday let Treehouse 20 years ago when two brothers are spending the summer with their parents there and a young girl loses her life, which comes back to haunt them years later.
I really struggled with this, in fact this took me a month to get through, which is the longest I’ve ever taken to read a single book but I felt I owed it to the author and publisher to see it through to the end. In all honestly, I just don’t think this story was for me. The way the story developed didn’t hold much interest for me and I didn’t find the characters very likeable. The longer I took to read it, the less engaged I became with it.
Having said that, the best part for me, was the last fifth of the book where everything tied together, although this still felt a little forced in places.
I definitely think this would be a good read for others, it just didn’t hit the mark for me.
I have more books to read from this author, and won’t let this one put me off reading more, as I’ve enjoyed others from this author that I’ve read previously.
Thank you to One more chapter and NetGalley who provided me with an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 15, 2026
WTF?!
that was sooooooo confusing! won't recommend. Also der klapotext het gar nix in di richtig agiditot und ufzmal ish das so in n spirituelli opfergabe ding reingango wtfff?! und ali sind iwi psychos gsi wa hent wello killen wtf?! nei eif nei. aber iwi hani gli welo witerläso und wisso wies endo. aber hetmi während dom läso in mine träume negativ belastot drum eif nei. einzig güeta sind plottwists gsi willsh wrk unerwartot sind gsi und äsh einigermasso spannend gsi. also ha sho unbedingt welo witerläso aber storyline -1000/10
that was sooooooo confusing! won't recommend. Also der klapotext het gar nix in di richtig agiditot und ufzmal ish das so in n spirituelli opfergabe ding reingango wtfff?! und ali sind iwi psychos gsi wa hent wello killen wtf?! nei eif nei. aber iwi hani gli welo witerläso und wisso wies endo. aber hetmi während dom läso in mine träume negativ belastot drum eif nei. einzig güeta sind plottwists gsi willsh wrk unerwartot sind gsi und äsh einigermasso spannend gsi. also ha sho unbedingt welo witerläso aber storyline -1000/10
May 10, 2025
Kieran and Robert committed an atrocious act 20 years ago and a tv show has reenacted it in a fictional setting. This is impossible because they are the only ones who know what they did, or are they? This was crazy. Whether it was too crazy is debatable. I do wish the structure of the book was a little different since we spent like 15 chapters in a row in 2004. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. 3.5 stars.
August 10, 2025
2.25⭐️
Personally not my fave. The story is very slow paced and has quite a few chapters where I totally lost interest. I feel like the whole story could of been summarised in a couple chapters.
The ending… was ok, provided a good little twist but kind of came out of nowhere. I think the main reason I didn’t like the book was because the main characters are just so unlikeable. It’s told from the POV of two brothers that are just so weird.
The original story (excluding the ending) is quite believable and was good at shedding light on misogyny and the issues with teens having unlimited access to the internet which I liked. Also there are a few good shock moments that did keep me interested but there maybe wasn’t enough of these to keep me hooked consistently.
Overall not my fave :(
Personally not my fave. The story is very slow paced and has quite a few chapters where I totally lost interest. I feel like the whole story could of been summarised in a couple chapters.
The ending… was ok, provided a good little twist but kind of came out of nowhere. I think the main reason I didn’t like the book was because the main characters are just so unlikeable. It’s told from the POV of two brothers that are just so weird.
The original story (excluding the ending) is quite believable and was good at shedding light on misogyny and the issues with teens having unlimited access to the internet which I liked. Also there are a few good shock moments that did keep me interested but there maybe wasn’t enough of these to keep me hooked consistently.
Overall not my fave :(
September 5, 2025
More like a 2.5.
I really had to force myself to keep going with this book. I thought the first 3/4 of it were really boring and it took me a long time to get through and I considered DNFing it a few times. Didn't really like the characters or buy into the whole sacrificial culty part.
I did stick with it though and I'm glad I did purely for last 50 or so pages. in the end it was just a little too late for me by that point. I liked the twist and didn't see it coming, but I just wish there was more to like about this one with the characters and overall story.
I really had to force myself to keep going with this book. I thought the first 3/4 of it were really boring and it took me a long time to get through and I considered DNFing it a few times. Didn't really like the characters or buy into the whole sacrificial culty part.
I did stick with it though and I'm glad I did purely for last 50 or so pages. in the end it was just a little too late for me by that point. I liked the twist and didn't see it coming, but I just wish there was more to like about this one with the characters and overall story.
June 8, 2025
I was captivated from the second I started this. Lots of dark twists and turns and a lot I really wasn't expecting. Would 100% recommend 👌
December 4, 2025
How to start?
Okay… so I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would. The front cover caught my eye, but the story inside wasn’t what I expected. I thought it took a really dark turn leading up to the two brothers, joining a group/ cult together if that’s what you’d call it to make a sacrifice to the “dark core”.
I think it was disappointing that the main bulk of the book was about both the brothers but, you didn’t actually get to the plot till the very last 5 or so chapters, which wasted most of the storyline.
Okay… so I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would. The front cover caught my eye, but the story inside wasn’t what I expected. I thought it took a really dark turn leading up to the two brothers, joining a group/ cult together if that’s what you’d call it to make a sacrifice to the “dark core”.
I think it was disappointing that the main bulk of the book was about both the brothers but, you didn’t actually get to the plot till the very last 5 or so chapters, which wasted most of the storyline.
May 29, 2025
When they were teenagers Robert and his older brother were part of a series of events that included the death of a teenage girl.
Robert has been living with the shame and guilt of his actions ever since.
Now twenty years later things come to a head when a television show very similar to this tragedy is made.
I really enjoyed this book with all its twists and turns and will be looking out for more work from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins, One More Chapter for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Robert has been living with the shame and guilt of his actions ever since.
Now twenty years later things come to a head when a television show very similar to this tragedy is made.
I really enjoyed this book with all its twists and turns and will be looking out for more work from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins, One More Chapter for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2025
I have read multiple books by this author and in those he seemed to favor a lot of innocent characters who get caught up in a game of cat and mouse, being at the wrong place at the wrong time, or stumbling into unfortunate circumstances they had no control over but are now entangled in. This book was none of those things and I found myself loathing both the main characters.
20 years ago, Robert and his brother Kieran, murdered a young girl in a treehouse by making her drink poison (this is not a spoiler, since this is the first chapter). Robert has never been able to put it behind him, while his brother Kieran claims not to care but spends his life at 36 living at home to "help care for dad" and partying his life away drinking and using drugs and generally not acting like a grownup.
When a new TV series released in the UK bears eerie similarities to their long-ago crime, Robert starts to completely lose it as he knows they are going to get caught. Apparently, there was a witness to their madness and that person is now profiting off the TV series from it.
I won't go into further details so as not to spoil the plot, but Robert is a wanker and a weenie. He is so completely unlikeable I couldn't muster even an ounce of sympathy for him. Kieran is immediately distasteful since he does not have a job and seems to put his money up his nose. He acts like the crime is in the past and NBD but then why is he continuing to act like an overgrown child?
I usually find BP Walter to be quite the creator of suspense with characters you can empathize with, or at least even one character you might actually like. This one fell completely short of those attributes. I'll try again with the next book.
Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this ARC.
20 years ago, Robert and his brother Kieran, murdered a young girl in a treehouse by making her drink poison (this is not a spoiler, since this is the first chapter). Robert has never been able to put it behind him, while his brother Kieran claims not to care but spends his life at 36 living at home to "help care for dad" and partying his life away drinking and using drugs and generally not acting like a grownup.
When a new TV series released in the UK bears eerie similarities to their long-ago crime, Robert starts to completely lose it as he knows they are going to get caught. Apparently, there was a witness to their madness and that person is now profiting off the TV series from it.
I won't go into further details so as not to spoil the plot, but Robert is a wanker and a weenie. He is so completely unlikeable I couldn't muster even an ounce of sympathy for him. Kieran is immediately distasteful since he does not have a job and seems to put his money up his nose. He acts like the crime is in the past and NBD but then why is he continuing to act like an overgrown child?
I usually find BP Walter to be quite the creator of suspense with characters you can empathize with, or at least even one character you might actually like. This one fell completely short of those attributes. I'll try again with the next book.
Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this ARC.
July 14, 2025
Two brothers, with opposite personalities, find their lives turned upside down when a television series starts causing major buzz. The issue? The show chronicles a murder the brothers committed, supposedly in secret, 20 years before, and recounts their actions word-for-word. The death was blamed on someone else and the pair supposedly got away with it. So who could know what happened that fateful evening? And why were two teenagers committing a murder in the first place?!
The book is told from mainly the boys’ POVs, along two timelines: the present-day, and 20 years ago.
The last two questions there are at the crux of the book, and there are plenty of twists and turns as we get to the answer of what really happened on that night 20 years ago. This book is almost a story-within-a-story, as we start in the present day with the series, then switches to the events of the summer 20 years before, then back to the present. But I didn’t hate that format. It kept things neatly balanced so that the story played out well.
I don’t want to give too much more away, but there’s some interesting stuff that plays out with the brothers in the past and present. It’s creepy and atmospheric and I really enjoyed it.
And those twists mentioned earlier were really good. Like really good. I did not see them coming, and had to pick my jaw up off the floor a couple of times. This author really has the element of surprise nailed.
If you’re looking for something unique and surprising, I recommend this one!
The book is told from mainly the boys’ POVs, along two timelines: the present-day, and 20 years ago.
The last two questions there are at the crux of the book, and there are plenty of twists and turns as we get to the answer of what really happened on that night 20 years ago. This book is almost a story-within-a-story, as we start in the present day with the series, then switches to the events of the summer 20 years before, then back to the present. But I didn’t hate that format. It kept things neatly balanced so that the story played out well.
I don’t want to give too much more away, but there’s some interesting stuff that plays out with the brothers in the past and present. It’s creepy and atmospheric and I really enjoyed it.
And those twists mentioned earlier were really good. Like really good. I did not see them coming, and had to pick my jaw up off the floor a couple of times. This author really has the element of surprise nailed.
If you’re looking for something unique and surprising, I recommend this one!
July 6, 2025
Well, this one had me glued! The Treehouse is the kind of twisty, secret-filled family drama I love sinking my teeth into. Twenty years ago, something awful happened on a family holiday… and no one’s spoken about it since. But now it’s being dragged back into the spotlight thanks to a new true-crime TV show, and let’s just say—everyone’s got something to hide.
It’s creepy, it’s tense, and it slowly unravels in the most addictive way. I was second-guessing everyone! The characters are messy, complicated, and so believable—it felt like watching a car crash in slow motion (in the best way). And the ending? Oof. Did not see that coming.
If you love a dark, twisty domestic thriller with long-buried secrets and plenty of family drama, this one’s for you.
It’s creepy, it’s tense, and it slowly unravels in the most addictive way. I was second-guessing everyone! The characters are messy, complicated, and so believable—it felt like watching a car crash in slow motion (in the best way). And the ending? Oof. Did not see that coming.
If you love a dark, twisty domestic thriller with long-buried secrets and plenty of family drama, this one’s for you.
June 22, 2025
I really struggled to make it thru this book.
It had nothing to do with the sacrifices animal or human. I can chalk that up to it’s just a story.
I just found it to be a very long and drawn out story. The characters weren’t very interesting at all. Robert was just this baby even as a man and Kieran was just a bully.
The twist at the end was good. You kind of knew something was going to change in the story. But unsure of what it was.
I guess for me it was just not something I enjoyed at all. I’m sure if you’re more into the occult it might be something you would enjoy. But for me it fell flat.
It had nothing to do with the sacrifices animal or human. I can chalk that up to it’s just a story.
I just found it to be a very long and drawn out story. The characters weren’t very interesting at all. Robert was just this baby even as a man and Kieran was just a bully.
The twist at the end was good. You kind of knew something was going to change in the story. But unsure of what it was.
I guess for me it was just not something I enjoyed at all. I’m sure if you’re more into the occult it might be something you would enjoy. But for me it fell flat.
June 25, 2025
thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC!
idk. this had the lower-tier thriller thing where everything is soooo flatly written. I don't know how else to describe it, but if you've read a lot of thrillers, you know what I'm talking about. honestly... I was going to give this one star, honestly, but then the end had some legitimately crazy twists. like I was like uh BP (can I call you BP) where was this before??? it did make the end perk up quite a bit for me. but it was way too little too late.
idk. this had the lower-tier thriller thing where everything is soooo flatly written. I don't know how else to describe it, but if you've read a lot of thrillers, you know what I'm talking about. honestly... I was going to give this one star, honestly, but then the end had some legitimately crazy twists. like I was like uh BP (can I call you BP) where was this before??? it did make the end perk up quite a bit for me. but it was way too little too late.
June 28, 2025
I have to confess, I didn’t enjoy this as much as the authors previous novels. After an explosive start I was eager to read but for some reason, the novel just didn’t grab me. It focuses on two brothers and a terrible act they carried out as children. Yes the book needed to revisit the past but I felt this was overdone and wanted more of the ‘current’ plot line. I’m glad I stuck with it for the revealing secrets at the end, but would have preferred these to have been explored more. Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and the author for the chance to review.
September 21, 2025
This all begins with a teenage boy having an eye opening moment in an otherwise end of year somewhat uninteresting school lesson. And from this internet searches of ‘restricted age limited’ sites take place of the ‘dark core’ and how through sacrifice your world can be enhanced.
Ok, exciting and scary enough… all leading to events during what should have been a blissful summer beach holiday with freedom for two teenage brothers to explore….
Fast forward 20years and what perhaps happened that sunny summer is surprisingly accurately portrayed in a TV drama.
How do the brothers revisit their past and deal with the waves of horror that this drama brings…
Good, somewhat horrible, thought the involvement of the parents, particularly the Mother somewhat unbelievable, though maybe a clever distraction saved till the end…
Ok, exciting and scary enough… all leading to events during what should have been a blissful summer beach holiday with freedom for two teenage brothers to explore….
Fast forward 20years and what perhaps happened that sunny summer is surprisingly accurately portrayed in a TV drama.
How do the brothers revisit their past and deal with the waves of horror that this drama brings…
Good, somewhat horrible, thought the involvement of the parents, particularly the Mother somewhat unbelievable, though maybe a clever distraction saved till the end…
August 19, 2025
I didn't want to like this book. The characters were dreadful people, there was never going to be a redemption for them. You know they've done something truly terrible and as you read on through the flashbacks it's like watching a scary film through your fingers, waiting for the terrible thing to play out.
But, what you don't know, is the way the story will twist and turn. You might think you are going to guess what happens...but you won't!
A truly great twisty thriller.
But, what you don't know, is the way the story will twist and turn. You might think you are going to guess what happens...but you won't!
A truly great twisty thriller.
July 8, 2025
Family drama meets psychological thriller. If you are looking for a dark and twisted thriller with an intense mystery backstory, then this might be for you. Some interesting family dynamics and character development, but overall was a little dark for my reading preference.
Huge thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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