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Sullivan Gray #3
The Dule Tree
How do you find someone who no longer exists?
Two years after the supposed death of his brother Sully, Dez wakes up six feet under and six inches from death. With no air remaining, he is pulled back from the brink—by Sully.
The reunion is short-lived. Sully is kidnapped by a pair of masked assailants, leaving Dez desperate to find him.
In a small cell, Sully finds himself alone, but for a disturbed man and the ghost of a teenager he has always known only as the Purple Girl. As his time runs out, he begins to piece together a past he’d rather have left in the shadows.
And Dez, with the help of his estranged wife, a wounded private investigator, a dog and a woman claiming to be Sully’s long-lost mother, races to unearth the clues that will lead to his brother—and keep him from having to bury Sully a second time.
The highly-rated Sullivan Gray Series blends mystery and suspense with the paranormal while focusing heavily on the relationship between two brothers. Think Odd Thomas meets Supernatural.
Two years after the supposed death of his brother Sully, Dez wakes up six feet under and six inches from death. With no air remaining, he is pulled back from the brink—by Sully.
The reunion is short-lived. Sully is kidnapped by a pair of masked assailants, leaving Dez desperate to find him.
In a small cell, Sully finds himself alone, but for a disturbed man and the ghost of a teenager he has always known only as the Purple Girl. As his time runs out, he begins to piece together a past he’d rather have left in the shadows.
And Dez, with the help of his estranged wife, a wounded private investigator, a dog and a woman claiming to be Sully’s long-lost mother, races to unearth the clues that will lead to his brother—and keep him from having to bury Sully a second time.
The highly-rated Sullivan Gray Series blends mystery and suspense with the paranormal while focusing heavily on the relationship between two brothers. Think Odd Thomas meets Supernatural.
- GenresParanormalMystery
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 22, 2019
327 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
H.P. Bayne
34 books115 followersRaised on a farm on the Canadian Prairies, words quickly became my means of exploring the world around me and giving life to the one created in my imagination. Fascinated by ghost stories and crime fiction, I have been writing both for well over two decades, drawing on more than fifteen years in a career in a criminal justice setting. When not putting Scrivener through its paces, I enjoy reading, portrait drawing, travel and spending time with family and friends.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
October 17, 2021
Two years have gone by after everything went down with Sully and Dez in the last book, Harbinger. The Dule Tree starts with quite a bang. Dez has been buried alive, Sully has supposedly died in a cave collapse, Sully is really on the run and homeless in order to protect his family, Eva and Dez have separated, and the villains of the last book are living their best lives.
It’s a great start to the third novel in the Sullivan Grey series. I love that so much time passes between the first and second and second and third novels. Each novel ends with a resolution of a mystery and a bit of a cliffhanger. To start each novel with a time jump is a really unique choice. The characters have had to deal with the issues revolving around the cliffhanger for several years, causing heartache. Bayne creates believable situations where the characters are troubled and dealing with loss, fear and anger in very real ways. The time jumps help to move the characters to a new place in their arc, making the readers feel like they are catching up with long lost friends who have hit hard times.
Sully and Dez are just fantastic. I loved being able to follow Dez more in this book. It’s been mostly Sully’s story in the previous two. Dez is such a great character: protective, kind, loyal. He has such a big heart. Maybe he doesn’t make smart decisions but they are decisions from the heart. He is such a lovable character and I wish he was my older brother. While I was so sad about where his life was at the beginning of The Dule Tree, it did make sense and helped to give him more layers. Sully has a bit of a different journey in this one. He normally sees ghosts - victims of terrible deaths - and then he solves their murders. In this one, he’s been kidnapped and much of his story takes place in a single room. Separately, he and Dez learn about Sully’s past and why he’s in his current predicament. The mystery is good with just the right amount of convoluted. Like the other ones, I was able to figure it out ahead of time, before the big reveal, but it’s so well written that I’m never disappointed.
I highly recommend this series but I do suggest reading in order for the overarching mystery thread. The first book is really strong. I was upset with some of the story line in the second one, but The Dule Tree hit all the right notes: great mystery, good action scenes, nice level of suspense, strong characters and impactful description.
It’s a great start to the third novel in the Sullivan Grey series. I love that so much time passes between the first and second and second and third novels. Each novel ends with a resolution of a mystery and a bit of a cliffhanger. To start each novel with a time jump is a really unique choice. The characters have had to deal with the issues revolving around the cliffhanger for several years, causing heartache. Bayne creates believable situations where the characters are troubled and dealing with loss, fear and anger in very real ways. The time jumps help to move the characters to a new place in their arc, making the readers feel like they are catching up with long lost friends who have hit hard times.
Sully and Dez are just fantastic. I loved being able to follow Dez more in this book. It’s been mostly Sully’s story in the previous two. Dez is such a great character: protective, kind, loyal. He has such a big heart. Maybe he doesn’t make smart decisions but they are decisions from the heart. He is such a lovable character and I wish he was my older brother. While I was so sad about where his life was at the beginning of The Dule Tree, it did make sense and helped to give him more layers. Sully has a bit of a different journey in this one. He normally sees ghosts - victims of terrible deaths - and then he solves their murders. In this one, he’s been kidnapped and much of his story takes place in a single room. Separately, he and Dez learn about Sully’s past and why he’s in his current predicament. The mystery is good with just the right amount of convoluted. Like the other ones, I was able to figure it out ahead of time, before the big reveal, but it’s so well written that I’m never disappointed.
I highly recommend this series but I do suggest reading in order for the overarching mystery thread. The first book is really strong. I was upset with some of the story line in the second one, but The Dule Tree hit all the right notes: great mystery, good action scenes, nice level of suspense, strong characters and impactful description.
March 11, 2025
FANTASTIC!
This one was unputdownable. Fast paced, twisted, sad and so many secrets. Can’t wait to see what’s next for Sully & Dez. And both brothers need to let go of secrets.
This one was unputdownable. Fast paced, twisted, sad and so many secrets. Can’t wait to see what’s next for Sully & Dez. And both brothers need to let go of secrets.
April 7, 2024
Wow! I loved this installment so much especially because most of the story takes place from Dez's perspective. We learn a lot about Sully's past and his lineage here and the reveals were so shocking for me. You wouldn't be able to put this book down for the last 30% of the story because it was a wild ride!
January 26, 2019
Okay, first things first: if you want to truly enjoy this book, you need to read Black Candle and Harbinger first. Each of the books might have a plot by themselves, but there is a bigger arc that is developing through them.
Now, this book... this book is amazing.
Two years after faking his death, Sully is forced to face the consequences of his acts when Aiden leads him to save his brother Dez, who has been buried alive. After Sully's death, Dez lost it. He began drinking and lost his job and his wife and daughter in the process. And until he discovers his brother is alive, he's not ready to try to get out of the gutter.
But Sully is still in danger, and he's not willing to bring that danger to his brother doorstep. So he runs... right into the hands of... someone. And the only thing we know is that, whoever they are, they mean not good for him.
A desperate race begins then, and while Dez tries to find Sully while deciding if he can trust the woman who has presented to him as his mother, Sully is dealing with ghosts of his past, the real and the figurative ones.
As always, the mounting tension leads you to a breathtaking end, that will close the present plot, but not the whole story. We got a lot of info in this book, a lot of revelations on Sully's past, but they only open new questions, and the danger is never far behind.
Another magnificent story, another favourite. A very recommended series
Now, this book... this book is amazing.
Two years after faking his death, Sully is forced to face the consequences of his acts when Aiden leads him to save his brother Dez, who has been buried alive. After Sully's death, Dez lost it. He began drinking and lost his job and his wife and daughter in the process. And until he discovers his brother is alive, he's not ready to try to get out of the gutter.
But Sully is still in danger, and he's not willing to bring that danger to his brother doorstep. So he runs... right into the hands of... someone. And the only thing we know is that, whoever they are, they mean not good for him.
A desperate race begins then, and while Dez tries to find Sully while deciding if he can trust the woman who has presented to him as his mother, Sully is dealing with ghosts of his past, the real and the figurative ones.
As always, the mounting tension leads you to a breathtaking end, that will close the present plot, but not the whole story. We got a lot of info in this book, a lot of revelations on Sully's past, but they only open new questions, and the danger is never far behind.
Another magnificent story, another favourite. A very recommended series
January 7, 2020
Sully was supposed to have been killed in a cave landslide, so Dez is shocked and pleased when he comes to his rescue two years later, having been guided there by Dez’s late brother Aiden. Sully decided a cave collapse (he was in the cave at the time) two years ago went in his favour as his ‘death’ meant he could stay under the radar of the mental hospital he didn’t want to go back to. Dez is cross that he wasn’t in on the scam, as he plunged the depths of despair and lost everything because of his grief over losing another brother.
Unfortunately his revisit is momentary as he is then kidnapped and held in a room he believes may be in that hospital. A purple haired ghost keeps coming to him and points him to a small gap in the wall where he finds a notebook. This diary of sorts reveals a lot to Sully about his past as well as who it is written by. He is then faced with the foster brother who survived the fire years ago that killed his foster parents and led to Sully being ‘adopted’ by the Braddocks. Meanwhile, Dez has met Sully’s real mother – or so she says. Is she who she says she is? Who is the purple-haired girl?
I am loving the Sullivan Gray series – already reading the next one as we ‘speak’, and I would definitely recommend reading the series.
Unfortunately his revisit is momentary as he is then kidnapped and held in a room he believes may be in that hospital. A purple haired ghost keeps coming to him and points him to a small gap in the wall where he finds a notebook. This diary of sorts reveals a lot to Sully about his past as well as who it is written by. He is then faced with the foster brother who survived the fire years ago that killed his foster parents and led to Sully being ‘adopted’ by the Braddocks. Meanwhile, Dez has met Sully’s real mother – or so she says. Is she who she says she is? Who is the purple-haired girl?
I am loving the Sullivan Gray series – already reading the next one as we ‘speak’, and I would definitely recommend reading the series.
August 31, 2022
H.P. Bayne may be writing in genre, namely the (partly) paranormal, but the characters and themes are so profoundly and painfully human, they will, at times, tear your guts out. Indeed, I wept at more than one scene.
Bayne’s primary hero, Sullivan Gray, has the unique and terrifying ability to see ghosts — but not just any ghosts, nor all ghosts. Complicating matters further, he cannot hear them. Who are these apparitions, and why do they appear to Sullivan?
Some answers come in this novel, Bayne’s third in her series, largely due to the extreme, valiant and death-defying efforts of Sully’s half-brother, Dez Braddock. Enormous of body and of heart, Dez’s world has fallen apart over the last couple of years due to Sully’s death. But a ghastly event in a graveyard, where Dez’s saviour proves to be . . . Sully, leads to yet another disaster. He goes missing, again. And Dez will not be stopped from finding him, danger be damned.
The answers to his disappearance hang, like dark fruit, from The Dule Tree.
Bayne weaves together a fierce, fast, heart-breaking story driven by powerful emotion, deep evil and the hell and triumph of love.
Bayne’s primary hero, Sullivan Gray, has the unique and terrifying ability to see ghosts — but not just any ghosts, nor all ghosts. Complicating matters further, he cannot hear them. Who are these apparitions, and why do they appear to Sullivan?
Some answers come in this novel, Bayne’s third in her series, largely due to the extreme, valiant and death-defying efforts of Sully’s half-brother, Dez Braddock. Enormous of body and of heart, Dez’s world has fallen apart over the last couple of years due to Sully’s death. But a ghastly event in a graveyard, where Dez’s saviour proves to be . . . Sully, leads to yet another disaster. He goes missing, again. And Dez will not be stopped from finding him, danger be damned.
The answers to his disappearance hang, like dark fruit, from The Dule Tree.
Bayne weaves together a fierce, fast, heart-breaking story driven by powerful emotion, deep evil and the hell and triumph of love.
April 29, 2025
It's been two years since Des buried his brother Sully. Des has not handled the loss well, after losing his father soon before. Des is estranged from Eva, and drinking excessively, lost his job, and taking too many risks. Des finds himself 6ft under, in a coffin, already occupied with a body, and losing air he is suddenly rescued by Sully. The brother he thought was dead. Their reunion is short lived, as Sully is kidnapped. Desperate to find out what has happened to Sully, he begins searching and finds a woman who claims to be Sully's birth mother. Sully's past is about to catch up with him, and it's more than just the Lockwood asylum and Dr. Gerhardt, after him this time. Can Des figure out the puzzle and find Sully again? I'm really enjoying this series, characters are strong, and story is fantastic.
January 25, 2019
Thank you for the ARC read, I voluntarily give this book an honest review. It's been two years since Sullys death, poor Dex hasn't done so well with the death of both his father followed by his adopted brother.
With the killers still out there sully can't come home, yet he had to to save Dex on the night he was attacked and buried in a grave. Now someone has sully can Dex save him this time?Maybe with the surprised help of a mysterious stranger who shows up from nowheres. Or will she be no help and only anger Dex more then he is already? What will happen next? I just love Sullys stories they never disappoint me, you never know where the story will lead you until next.
With the killers still out there sully can't come home, yet he had to to save Dex on the night he was attacked and buried in a grave. Now someone has sully can Dex save him this time?Maybe with the surprised help of a mysterious stranger who shows up from nowheres. Or will she be no help and only anger Dex more then he is already? What will happen next? I just love Sullys stories they never disappoint me, you never know where the story will lead you until next.
April 29, 2019
Loved it!
I am loving this series! It keeps you hooked. I feel for Sully and understand why he has to stay hidden. I also understand Dez’s trepidation and anger over Sully not letting him know he was alive for 2 years. He had just lost his father. He already lost his brother at a young age. I can totally get the anger coming from Dez. I love seeing how he brings him back into the mold and Sully helps him once again come out of his funk. So manny revelations in this series. Great read!
I am loving this series! It keeps you hooked. I feel for Sully and understand why he has to stay hidden. I also understand Dez’s trepidation and anger over Sully not letting him know he was alive for 2 years. He had just lost his father. He already lost his brother at a young age. I can totally get the anger coming from Dez. I love seeing how he brings him back into the mold and Sully helps him once again come out of his funk. So manny revelations in this series. Great read!
November 20, 2024
I took quite a break before reading this, but my, the book is the best one yet, I should have dived in quicker. It's giving all sorts of answers to Sullivan's past, although it has yet to address quite a few of the dangers he still faces, because in this one, it's his past, the one he didn't even know that matters. It's an excellent story, fast paced and lots happen that is critical to the story of Sullivan. Dez is as ever at the centre of it and his love for his brother is what helps save Sullivan, even as Sullivan saves his life too.
January 24, 2019
Dramatic
This book is another great read in the sullivan grey series that I have become addicted to. The reasons for this are the unusual characters, their only flaw being their bonds to each other, which is also their greatest strength and drives the twists, turns and outstanding drama in the book, which will leave you breathless. If you like the unusual, like to be surprised, be entertained, and have to think, I can highly recommend this book.
This book is another great read in the sullivan grey series that I have become addicted to. The reasons for this are the unusual characters, their only flaw being their bonds to each other, which is also their greatest strength and drives the twists, turns and outstanding drama in the book, which will leave you breathless. If you like the unusual, like to be surprised, be entertained, and have to think, I can highly recommend this book.
March 26, 2019
Another masterful story from Bayne, this time getting deeper into the world of brother Dez and his struggles. This book blends multiple narrators seamlessly and the vivid imagery puts you into the mind of both Sully and Dez, running the gamut of emotions through the lens of each brother's life experience. The story arc is just heating up in this novel and I eagerly await the next in the series to see where this journey will take me, Sully and Dez. Thanks H.P.!
April 12, 2019
The continuation of the Sullivan Gray series has you on the edge of your seat and answers a number of questions about Sully's past that have lingered in the background since the first book. Your heart breaks for Dez when he finds and then loses Sully and the sense of family and the slow repair of broken hearts had me in tears. A great mystery with overtones of the paranormal and above all a great book about human connection and perseverance.
April 27, 2019
This is the third book in the Sullivan Gray series
This was an amazing read so many questions where answered this book was so emotional for me . It shows how the people around you can be so affected by devastating loss that it can tear a solid family apart . I'm so glad that Sully knows the truth about his mother but I'm also dreading what his reaction will be when a learns who his dad is . Looking forward to the next book in this series .
This was an amazing read so many questions where answered this book was so emotional for me . It shows how the people around you can be so affected by devastating loss that it can tear a solid family apart . I'm so glad that Sully knows the truth about his mother but I'm also dreading what his reaction will be when a learns who his dad is . Looking forward to the next book in this series .
May 26, 2019
Amazing book. This is generally not the type of book I would read, but when I read the previous book in the Sullivan Gray series I was hooked. Now, from getting 1 free book I've purchased 2 others in the series and am catching up. I can't put these books down, and manage to read them all in 2 days, even with all the other things going on. These are must reads regardless what your favourite genres are.
January 28, 2021
Oh.My.Goodness. The twists at the end will leave your jaw on the floor. Start at book #1, Black Candle, and carry on as each builds on the previous and the story as a whole will mesh better. I have to admit that I'm hooked and moving on to #4, Crawl.
Technically, this whole series has been well edited and well written. No alternating first person POV. No incorrect words or weird sentence structure. Characters are well developed and story line is believable.
Technically, this whole series has been well edited and well written. No alternating first person POV. No incorrect words or weird sentence structure. Characters are well developed and story line is believable.
March 12, 2023
I think I held my breath in anticipation immediately, and didn’t breathe again until I finished this book. If I had the habit of chewing my fingernails, I wouldn’t have any left by the time I finished the last word. This book was the continuation of the previous book two, but built upon book one. I think a person would miss too much if the series were to be read out of order. I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars.
July 14, 2020
I don't seem to be able to get enough of these Sullivan Grey books. I am reading them at a pace of 1 per day or so.
I enjoy the plots, the twists and turns and the fast pace of the books.
They always seem to be cliff hangers, which is unfortunate as it becomes expensive, when you are hooked.
H.P. Bayne seems to have the formula for a great series.
I enjoy the plots, the twists and turns and the fast pace of the books.
They always seem to be cliff hangers, which is unfortunate as it becomes expensive, when you are hooked.
H.P. Bayne seems to have the formula for a great series.
April 6, 2021
Sully and Des start out separate, then meet in a bad situation.
This case has more twists and turns then a Texas tornado. Surprises crop up constantly along with a few shocks. Life has changed completely for both brothers. They work the case from opposite sides, but come together to solve it in the end.
This case has more twists and turns then a Texas tornado. Surprises crop up constantly along with a few shocks. Life has changed completely for both brothers. They work the case from opposite sides, but come together to solve it in the end.
August 30, 2024
These books are really brilliant and so are the characters, Des and Sully being the main ones, once I start reading I just don't want to put the book down, not only are the stories great they are also gripping, I've just started the next one "Crawl" this is the forth in the series and every one has been a winner.
February 2, 2019
Best read yet!!
He'll of a ride! I really could not see what was going to happen next. So many twists and turns and excitement all the way!! Cannot wait for the next instalment, hurry up Mr Mayne lol your readers need you!!.
He'll of a ride! I really could not see what was going to happen next. So many twists and turns and excitement all the way!! Cannot wait for the next instalment, hurry up Mr Mayne lol your readers need you!!.
October 7, 2019
This series has me completely captivated!
Each book brings me so much deeper into the drama that I go from one story to the next immediately. I enjoy the paranormal aspect as much as the characters in each plot. Great writing, well done!
Each book brings me so much deeper into the drama that I go from one story to the next immediately. I enjoy the paranormal aspect as much as the characters in each plot. Great writing, well done!
December 25, 2019
Such an excellent and enrapturing story
This second book was as good as the first. I still didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed this book. The author was creative and witty. I look forward to reading more written by this author.
This second book was as good as the first. I still didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed this book. The author was creative and witty. I look forward to reading more written by this author.
January 30, 2020
Another action packed rollercoaster of thrills. Book starts with spine-tingling and goosebumps with Dez. Then you are crying over the characters. You love the friendship and love between the brothers. This series is one of the finest I have ever read.
March 25, 2020
Wow!
This series just gets better and better. There are so many twists and turns that catch the reader unaware until they are revealed. Ever onward to the next in the series, Crawl!
This series just gets better and better. There are so many twists and turns that catch the reader unaware until they are revealed. Ever onward to the next in the series, Crawl!
February 12, 2019
Fascinating Dark story! Evil all around and a brothers love trying to win over it. Starts out strong and continues throughout!
April 24, 2019
Sully
A great series. Can’t put it down. Just finished number three. I think there is already another one available in the series. Going to get that now.
A great series. Can’t put it down. Just finished number three. I think there is already another one available in the series. Going to get that now.
September 11, 2019
Where do we go from here?
The story line was good but unexpected. It really leaves you wanting more. I can’t wait to pick up the next one.
The story line was good but unexpected. It really leaves you wanting more. I can’t wait to pick up the next one.
February 17, 2020
Wow, another excellent book from beginning to the end. You never know where the author will take you on a wild ride. Their were so many different emotions you feel as you read each page.
February 26, 2020
Great Read
Exciting story and wonderful dynamics between the brothers. Great mystery that kept me guessing to the very end. Can't wait for the next one.
Exciting story and wonderful dynamics between the brothers. Great mystery that kept me guessing to the very end. Can't wait for the next one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews