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Beyond the Yew Tree
Whispers in the courtroom.
Only one juror hears them.
Can Laura expose the truth before the trial ends?
In an old courtroom, a hissing voice distracts reluctant juror, Laura, and at night recurring nightmares transport her to a Victorian gaol and the company of a wretched woman. Although burdened by her own secret guilt, and struggling to form meaningful relationships, Laura isn’t one to give up easily when faced with an extraordinary situation.
The child-like whispers lead Laura to an old prison graveyard, where she teams up with enthusiastic museum curator, Sean. He believes a missing manuscript is the key to understanding her haunting dreams. But nobody knows if it actually exists.
Laura is confronted with the fate of two people – the man in the dock accused of defrauding a charity for the blind, and the restless spirit of a woman hanged over a century ago for murder.
If Sean is the companion she needs in her life, will he believe her when she realises that the two mysteries are converging around a long-forgotten child who only Laura can hear?
Only one juror hears them.
Can Laura expose the truth before the trial ends?
In an old courtroom, a hissing voice distracts reluctant juror, Laura, and at night recurring nightmares transport her to a Victorian gaol and the company of a wretched woman. Although burdened by her own secret guilt, and struggling to form meaningful relationships, Laura isn’t one to give up easily when faced with an extraordinary situation.
The child-like whispers lead Laura to an old prison graveyard, where she teams up with enthusiastic museum curator, Sean. He believes a missing manuscript is the key to understanding her haunting dreams. But nobody knows if it actually exists.
Laura is confronted with the fate of two people – the man in the dock accused of defrauding a charity for the blind, and the restless spirit of a woman hanged over a century ago for murder.
If Sean is the companion she needs in her life, will he believe her when she realises that the two mysteries are converging around a long-forgotten child who only Laura can hear?
- GenresHistorical Fiction
282 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 27, 2020
19 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Walkley
4 books17 followersBorn in the Midlands, I grew up in East Anglia and am now firmly lodged in the North West of England. My first writing achievement was my Brownie badge and after that I've never let go of the dream of becoming of an author. Once a librarian and caretaker of books, I'm now a teller of tales and want to share with you the secrets that hide in the pages of my books.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 28, 2020
Laura is a sensible, well organised young woman. Setting out for her first day of jury service she is well prepared with a flask full of coffee.
“Laura preferred a predictable, uneventful day to exciting unplanned crises or emotional meltdowns. No surprises, no sudden happenings.”
So, she hopes for structured, uncomplicated days at the law court next to Lincoln castle. But listening to the barristers, she is aware of a hissing noise, of soft whispers disturbing her concentration. And then when she returns to her empty home at night, her sleep is disturbed by distressing dreams of a woman imprisoned in a Victorian gaol. It can’t be the fraud case which is causing her dreams, but strolling through the castle she spots the gravestones of those who had been executed for murder. Needing answers, Laura seeks the help of the museum curator, Sean.
Laura is also distressed by the long absence of her lover, Marco, who has been visiting his family in Italy for some time while maintaining very little communication with her. Determined to seek out the source of her nightmares and come to a fair judgement on the court case, Laura’s calm demeanour conceals deep guilt about an event in her past.
Having endured jury service personally, I found Laura’s experience locked in a room with 11 disparate people very familiar. Keeping alert during a complex case can be difficult and barristers are often very persuasive. Luckily Laura’s intelligence and financial background help her detect weaknesses in the evidence, but does she have the confidence to speak up?
The threads of guilt and justice entwine between the present day and the past and as the trial comes to an end, Laura must also decide the path her life should take. A very rewarding read.
“Laura preferred a predictable, uneventful day to exciting unplanned crises or emotional meltdowns. No surprises, no sudden happenings.”
So, she hopes for structured, uncomplicated days at the law court next to Lincoln castle. But listening to the barristers, she is aware of a hissing noise, of soft whispers disturbing her concentration. And then when she returns to her empty home at night, her sleep is disturbed by distressing dreams of a woman imprisoned in a Victorian gaol. It can’t be the fraud case which is causing her dreams, but strolling through the castle she spots the gravestones of those who had been executed for murder. Needing answers, Laura seeks the help of the museum curator, Sean.
Laura is also distressed by the long absence of her lover, Marco, who has been visiting his family in Italy for some time while maintaining very little communication with her. Determined to seek out the source of her nightmares and come to a fair judgement on the court case, Laura’s calm demeanour conceals deep guilt about an event in her past.
Having endured jury service personally, I found Laura’s experience locked in a room with 11 disparate people very familiar. Keeping alert during a complex case can be difficult and barristers are often very persuasive. Luckily Laura’s intelligence and financial background help her detect weaknesses in the evidence, but does she have the confidence to speak up?
The threads of guilt and justice entwine between the present day and the past and as the trial comes to an end, Laura must also decide the path her life should take. A very rewarding read.
March 30, 2020
Beyond the Yew Tree is an intriguing mix of ghost story, historical fiction, mystery and romance, with even a little legal thriller action thrown in there too!
I liked the main character Laura. She’s a little blunt but honest and level headed, not the kind of person you’d think would even entertain the notion of being haunted! But she hides a secret pain in her past, a mistake that’s troubled her for years. Sean was also a very sweet character who compliments Laura’s bluntness well.
The ghost of the story also has a compelling and tragic tale to tell, expertly woven throughout the novel.
I did find the trial aspect a little tedious at times (it was to do with fraud, not a subject I find that interesting) but that didn’t spoil my overall enjoyment of the novel.
Beyond the Yew Tree blends several genres together to make a sweet and satisfying read.
I liked the main character Laura. She’s a little blunt but honest and level headed, not the kind of person you’d think would even entertain the notion of being haunted! But she hides a secret pain in her past, a mistake that’s troubled her for years. Sean was also a very sweet character who compliments Laura’s bluntness well.
The ghost of the story also has a compelling and tragic tale to tell, expertly woven throughout the novel.
I did find the trial aspect a little tedious at times (it was to do with fraud, not a subject I find that interesting) but that didn’t spoil my overall enjoyment of the novel.
Beyond the Yew Tree blends several genres together to make a sweet and satisfying read.
April 1, 2020
At first I thought it started a little slow and started to question if it was the right book for me however I persevered and WOW am I glad I did!!! .
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, full of twists which I could not guess and suspense that kept me hooked.
.
I love how this story flits between the main character Laura in the current day and Emma back in 1872.
It’s an absolute must read!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, full of twists which I could not guess and suspense that kept me hooked.
.
I love how this story flits between the main character Laura in the current day and Emma back in 1872.
It’s an absolute must read!
March 27, 2020
This story perfectly captures the atmosphere and the dark vibrations that haunt ancient buildings, especially those where terrible events took place. I know the setting for this story, and it's well-described.
Laura is on jury service and the story follows the case she is hearing, day by day. The other characters on the jury, add to the story's authenticity. When Laura realises, only she can hear the noises in the jury room and court, she sets out to find out why. A chance meeting with Sean gives her an ally in more ways than she first expected.
The gentle pacing and the increasing timeslips into the past reveal a poignant and terrible story.
The final chapters show that Laura's slips into the past reveal an unknown truth. There is a twist you may not expect and a positive romantic ending.
I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
Laura is on jury service and the story follows the case she is hearing, day by day. The other characters on the jury, add to the story's authenticity. When Laura realises, only she can hear the noises in the jury room and court, she sets out to find out why. A chance meeting with Sean gives her an ally in more ways than she first expected.
The gentle pacing and the increasing timeslips into the past reveal a poignant and terrible story.
The final chapters show that Laura's slips into the past reveal an unknown truth. There is a twist you may not expect and a positive romantic ending.
I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
March 28, 2020
This is the first novel I have read written by Rachel Walkley and what a great introduction to an author's work.
I have found out recently that I quite enjoy books that this dual timeline, because I love historical fictions as much as I love contemporary ones, so this kind of genre ends up being perfect to me. When I read the blurb and saw that element of the story, I got really excited. Truth be told, as I was reading, it was one of the things I loved the most about the story.
We follow Laura in her journey to uncover a mystery, while still being conscious about her role as a juror. I loved getting to know the characters, present and past, and see the changes in Laura through out the book.
Chapter after chapter, I felt as if I was truly involved in the story. Getting to know the setting and the characters, getting to go after the truth and sometimes finding more questions than answers, and getting to see another time period and learning the history of that moment and place.
Overall, it was a beautiful and well developed plot, that took us on a paced adventure that grabbed my attention to the fullest. I will keep my eyes open for more books this author my write, and I will definitely check out her other works. This novel, like I said previously, is a good start if you don't know this dual timeline plot, and a fantastic way to met an author, since it left me curious about her books.
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Rachel Walkley for the eCopy of this book and for allowing me to join in the fun and by being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book.]
I have found out recently that I quite enjoy books that this dual timeline, because I love historical fictions as much as I love contemporary ones, so this kind of genre ends up being perfect to me. When I read the blurb and saw that element of the story, I got really excited. Truth be told, as I was reading, it was one of the things I loved the most about the story.
We follow Laura in her journey to uncover a mystery, while still being conscious about her role as a juror. I loved getting to know the characters, present and past, and see the changes in Laura through out the book.
Chapter after chapter, I felt as if I was truly involved in the story. Getting to know the setting and the characters, getting to go after the truth and sometimes finding more questions than answers, and getting to see another time period and learning the history of that moment and place.
Overall, it was a beautiful and well developed plot, that took us on a paced adventure that grabbed my attention to the fullest. I will keep my eyes open for more books this author my write, and I will definitely check out her other works. This novel, like I said previously, is a good start if you don't know this dual timeline plot, and a fantastic way to met an author, since it left me curious about her books.
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Rachel Walkley for the eCopy of this book and for allowing me to join in the fun and by being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book.]
May 12, 2020
I loved the Women of Heachley Hall, so I jumped at the chance to read another mystery by Rachel Walkley. I enjoyed this one just as much, probably because I like books with women protagonists, and especially if they are a little flawed.
For Beyond the Yew Tree, the author has created Laura Naylor, who has been called for jury duty and who reluctantly shows up on the appointed day. Having been on juries, I immediately related to the descriptions of the process, the jurors, and Laura’s experience. In this case, the man in the docket is accused of defrauding a charity fort the blind.
It all seems very mundane, as is Laura’s life, until she begins to hear a hissing sound in the courtroom, one that no one else hears. At the same time she begins to have recurring nightmares of a Victorian jail and a suffering woman somehow connected to it. Laura thinks it’s related to the fact the court is actually within the walls of an old castle, which also houses an ancient prison and an equally old cemetery, where people who had been executed or died in prison were buried.
The author cleverly compounds Laura’s growing misery with anxiety of another sort: her Italian, live-in boyfriend, Marco, left suddenly for Italy because of an unexplained family matter, and his communication with her has dried up.
When the hisses resolve into a child-like whisper, Laura is lead to the prison graveyard and a spot near an old yew tree and also to the site of a long-gone bakery, where she experiences the smell of freshly baked bread. Assistance comes in the form of Sean, the curator of the prison museum, who helps her discover that her dreams and the whisper are related to a woman hung for murder a century earlier.
I won’t say more other than the fate of the man in the docket and the child of the hanged woman converge. Will Marco ever come back? Is Sean a serious match for Laura? Who is the wretched woman and who is the child only Laura can hear? You will love following the twists and turns of this story to discover the answers!
The intertwining of history with the present is a skill of this author and one again she has made a place, in this case the castle, a character in her story. Her characters are interesting and believable, with good depth, and the descriptions of places are clear and crisp.
I recommend Beyond the Yew Tree as a satisfying and enjoyable read, especially as a diversion from world events.
For Beyond the Yew Tree, the author has created Laura Naylor, who has been called for jury duty and who reluctantly shows up on the appointed day. Having been on juries, I immediately related to the descriptions of the process, the jurors, and Laura’s experience. In this case, the man in the docket is accused of defrauding a charity fort the blind.
It all seems very mundane, as is Laura’s life, until she begins to hear a hissing sound in the courtroom, one that no one else hears. At the same time she begins to have recurring nightmares of a Victorian jail and a suffering woman somehow connected to it. Laura thinks it’s related to the fact the court is actually within the walls of an old castle, which also houses an ancient prison and an equally old cemetery, where people who had been executed or died in prison were buried.
The author cleverly compounds Laura’s growing misery with anxiety of another sort: her Italian, live-in boyfriend, Marco, left suddenly for Italy because of an unexplained family matter, and his communication with her has dried up.
When the hisses resolve into a child-like whisper, Laura is lead to the prison graveyard and a spot near an old yew tree and also to the site of a long-gone bakery, where she experiences the smell of freshly baked bread. Assistance comes in the form of Sean, the curator of the prison museum, who helps her discover that her dreams and the whisper are related to a woman hung for murder a century earlier.
I won’t say more other than the fate of the man in the docket and the child of the hanged woman converge. Will Marco ever come back? Is Sean a serious match for Laura? Who is the wretched woman and who is the child only Laura can hear? You will love following the twists and turns of this story to discover the answers!
The intertwining of history with the present is a skill of this author and one again she has made a place, in this case the castle, a character in her story. Her characters are interesting and believable, with good depth, and the descriptions of places are clear and crisp.
I recommend Beyond the Yew Tree as a satisfying and enjoyable read, especially as a diversion from world events.
April 19, 2020
Beyond the Yew Tree is an absolutely stunning, all-encompassing read!
I never knew I could read close to 400 pages in a 24-hour period, but I did. I couldn’t swipe the pages fast enough. It had all the ingredients I love in a really good book...a good story, likeable characters, and a plot that really moves the book along. This one hit on all three for me.
The synopsis itself caught my attention...a good ghost story. How could I resist? I was right. The story was incredible. It had romance, a ghost or two, mystery, and really two storylines told many, many, many years apart. Every single element in the story connected seamlessly!
Laura was a great character, very complex and complicated. As I continued, the author revealed another layer to her. She evoked such emotion in me. An incident in her past was threatening to determine the rest of her life. She was honest and could be blunt, yet she has serious self-confidence issues. She wanted to love someone and be loved but was afraid to open that part of herself up. It was lovely watching her change.
Sean, her love interest, was such an amazing guy. He had the ability to get her to open herself in ways no one else had. He believed her story of her dreams and visions, and he genuinely wanted to help her solve the mystery.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the two ghosts of the book. I won’t give you their names as that is part of the mystery. They had their own story to tell just like Laura did. Like Laura, I completely connected with them.
There really was never a dull moment in the book. The dreams and visions, and the ingenious part was including the ghosts’ stories. Rachel Walkley included their story right alongside Laura’s which just made the book even better.
Authors come in all shapes, sizes, genres, etc. and many can write a good book. However, it takes a talented writer to tell his or her readers a good story which, of course, makes a great book! Rachel Walkley is an incredibly talented storyteller!!!! Beyond the Yew Tree is a book not to be missed!!!!!
I never knew I could read close to 400 pages in a 24-hour period, but I did. I couldn’t swipe the pages fast enough. It had all the ingredients I love in a really good book...a good story, likeable characters, and a plot that really moves the book along. This one hit on all three for me.
The synopsis itself caught my attention...a good ghost story. How could I resist? I was right. The story was incredible. It had romance, a ghost or two, mystery, and really two storylines told many, many, many years apart. Every single element in the story connected seamlessly!
Laura was a great character, very complex and complicated. As I continued, the author revealed another layer to her. She evoked such emotion in me. An incident in her past was threatening to determine the rest of her life. She was honest and could be blunt, yet she has serious self-confidence issues. She wanted to love someone and be loved but was afraid to open that part of herself up. It was lovely watching her change.
Sean, her love interest, was such an amazing guy. He had the ability to get her to open herself in ways no one else had. He believed her story of her dreams and visions, and he genuinely wanted to help her solve the mystery.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the two ghosts of the book. I won’t give you their names as that is part of the mystery. They had their own story to tell just like Laura did. Like Laura, I completely connected with them.
There really was never a dull moment in the book. The dreams and visions, and the ingenious part was including the ghosts’ stories. Rachel Walkley included their story right alongside Laura’s which just made the book even better.
Authors come in all shapes, sizes, genres, etc. and many can write a good book. However, it takes a talented writer to tell his or her readers a good story which, of course, makes a great book! Rachel Walkley is an incredibly talented storyteller!!!! Beyond the Yew Tree is a book not to be missed!!!!!
April 20, 2020
Beyond the Yew Tree is a dual-timeline story that jumps between nineteenth-century and present-day Lincoln. The pace is a bit slow at the start as we are given the background to the trial, and introduced to the main characters.
Laura is on jury service, in a case involving financial fraud at a charity for the blind, but keeps her accounting background to herself to avoid questions from the other jurors. As she gradually comes out of her shell, she grows more confident about expressing her opinions, and, by the end of the trial, is happy to give the others the benefit of her expertise.
While listening to the evidence, Laura is distracted by strange sounds only she can hear. They become the whispers of a child, and her sleep is disturbed by nightmarish visions of a Victorian gaol. Keen to discover the identity of the woman in her nightmares, Laura enlists the help of the museum curator, Sean, after a chance encounter brings them together. As it is obvious to the reader that Laura’s boyfriend, Marco, is not intending to come back, will she and Sean become more than just friends?
What seem like unconnected strands are skillfully woven together in this book which is a wonderful mixture of historical fiction, mystery, ghost story and romance. The characters are well drawn, offering fascinating insights into life in Victorian Lincoln; in some respects life now is so very different, but in others (such as the domestic abuse suffered by Bronte and her child) nothing much has changed.
The area of Lincoln around the castle and cathedral is vividly brought to life, and makes for an unusual and atmospheric setting. I had not read any of Rachel Walkley’s books before but will definitely look out for them in the future, as I found Beyond the Yew Tree to be a very enjoyable read that I would definitely recommend.
Thanks to the author for a copy that I review on behalf of Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT
Laura is on jury service, in a case involving financial fraud at a charity for the blind, but keeps her accounting background to herself to avoid questions from the other jurors. As she gradually comes out of her shell, she grows more confident about expressing her opinions, and, by the end of the trial, is happy to give the others the benefit of her expertise.
While listening to the evidence, Laura is distracted by strange sounds only she can hear. They become the whispers of a child, and her sleep is disturbed by nightmarish visions of a Victorian gaol. Keen to discover the identity of the woman in her nightmares, Laura enlists the help of the museum curator, Sean, after a chance encounter brings them together. As it is obvious to the reader that Laura’s boyfriend, Marco, is not intending to come back, will she and Sean become more than just friends?
What seem like unconnected strands are skillfully woven together in this book which is a wonderful mixture of historical fiction, mystery, ghost story and romance. The characters are well drawn, offering fascinating insights into life in Victorian Lincoln; in some respects life now is so very different, but in others (such as the domestic abuse suffered by Bronte and her child) nothing much has changed.
The area of Lincoln around the castle and cathedral is vividly brought to life, and makes for an unusual and atmospheric setting. I had not read any of Rachel Walkley’s books before but will definitely look out for them in the future, as I found Beyond the Yew Tree to be a very enjoyable read that I would definitely recommend.
Thanks to the author for a copy that I review on behalf of Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT
April 6, 2020
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I really enjoyed this story and it was one that had me gripped to the very end, I loved the mix of ghost story and historical fiction, it was the perfect mix of genres for this story to work and I loved the little bit of romance that was thrown in too!
I thought that the storyline was well developed and I loved the suspense that the author built up as the book progressed. The pace for the book was great and the writing style was perfect too for the book and the setting for the story was spot on – it all worked really well and as soon as I started reading I know it was a book that I would want to carry on reading and stay up late to finish off!
I thought that the characters were well developed, and they worked well with the story too, I enjoyed Laura’s character too.
I found the book to be a great read and it is 4.5 stars from me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon - I really enjoyed the plot and thought that it was well written – very highly recommended!!
I really enjoyed this story and it was one that had me gripped to the very end, I loved the mix of ghost story and historical fiction, it was the perfect mix of genres for this story to work and I loved the little bit of romance that was thrown in too!
I thought that the storyline was well developed and I loved the suspense that the author built up as the book progressed. The pace for the book was great and the writing style was perfect too for the book and the setting for the story was spot on – it all worked really well and as soon as I started reading I know it was a book that I would want to carry on reading and stay up late to finish off!
I thought that the characters were well developed, and they worked well with the story too, I enjoyed Laura’s character too.
I found the book to be a great read and it is 4.5 stars from me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon - I really enjoyed the plot and thought that it was well written – very highly recommended!!
June 17, 2020
I’ve read a few of Rachel Walkley‘s novels and am always impressed. Beyond The Yew Tree is no different. I’m really enjoying historical fiction with dual timelines lately, so this was right up my alley.
I love the journey this novel takes us on. A gentle pace with increasing dips into the past start to reveal this poignant novel. I was drawn in by this beautiful writing and story.
Overall, Beyond The Yew Tree was a fantastic story that kept me invested throughout. I love Rachel Walkley‘s writing. I recommend checking it out!
4/5☆
*I received a free copy of this book from Rachel’s Random Resources in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
I love the journey this novel takes us on. A gentle pace with increasing dips into the past start to reveal this poignant novel. I was drawn in by this beautiful writing and story.
Overall, Beyond The Yew Tree was a fantastic story that kept me invested throughout. I love Rachel Walkley‘s writing. I recommend checking it out!
4/5☆
*I received a free copy of this book from Rachel’s Random Resources in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
May 2, 2020
Laura has just started jury duty for a trial of defrauding a charity for the blind. While in court, she starts to hear mysterious buzzing and hissing, which change into whispering voices as the days pass. She is haunted by terrible nightmares of a Victorian gaol which force her to learn more about the mysterious woman. On her way home one evening from the court, Laura bumps into Sean, who works for the museum. He offers to help her find out who this woman is and uncover her story.
Beyond the Yew Tree has so many layers — I really enjoyed how everything unravels throughout the story. Laura alludes several times to things from her past that affect her now. There is also the story of Craig Brader, who is on trial for defrauding a charity for the blind. Finally, there is the mystery surrounding the ghost who is haunting Laura at court, in her visits to Lincoln castle and in her nightmares.
All three are expertly twisted together by Rachel Walkley. I loved how this was done and how the threads of justice, honesty and guilt are woven together. This book is the perfect balance of historical fiction, mystery and the supernatural (with a dash of romance for good measure!).
The pacing is quite slow, especially at the beginning, but this builds up the atmosphere around the historic buildings in the story. Rachel’s writing really brings Lincoln to life — I visited a few years ago and was instantly transported back. I also really enjoyed the dual timeline, as the book transports the reader to a blind woman’s experience in the 1800s. All of the characters feel so realistic and all of the conversation flowed really naturally. I could picture all of Laura’s fellow jurors!
At the start of the book, Laura describes her life, her career and her relationship with her absent boyfriend, Marco. She describes how he just got up and left for Italy to be with family during an emergency several months ago — and has barely spoken to her since. I was screaming at her internally to just accept that it was over as text messages went ignored. I loved her transformation into someone who is more confident and sure of herself, and who is willing to be more flexible and accept other people’s opinions. She also gains the confidence to speak up at the end of the trial, and ensure that justice is done.
I have never done jury service but have always wanted to, and Laura’s experience in this book made me want to even more! Rachel captures what it’s like so well that I was not surprised to see in the Afterward that the story was inspired by her own jury service experience.
Beyond the Yew Tree has so many layers — I really enjoyed how everything unravels throughout the story. Laura alludes several times to things from her past that affect her now. There is also the story of Craig Brader, who is on trial for defrauding a charity for the blind. Finally, there is the mystery surrounding the ghost who is haunting Laura at court, in her visits to Lincoln castle and in her nightmares.
All three are expertly twisted together by Rachel Walkley. I loved how this was done and how the threads of justice, honesty and guilt are woven together. This book is the perfect balance of historical fiction, mystery and the supernatural (with a dash of romance for good measure!).
The pacing is quite slow, especially at the beginning, but this builds up the atmosphere around the historic buildings in the story. Rachel’s writing really brings Lincoln to life — I visited a few years ago and was instantly transported back. I also really enjoyed the dual timeline, as the book transports the reader to a blind woman’s experience in the 1800s. All of the characters feel so realistic and all of the conversation flowed really naturally. I could picture all of Laura’s fellow jurors!
At the start of the book, Laura describes her life, her career and her relationship with her absent boyfriend, Marco. She describes how he just got up and left for Italy to be with family during an emergency several months ago — and has barely spoken to her since. I was screaming at her internally to just accept that it was over as text messages went ignored. I loved her transformation into someone who is more confident and sure of herself, and who is willing to be more flexible and accept other people’s opinions. She also gains the confidence to speak up at the end of the trial, and ensure that justice is done.
I have never done jury service but have always wanted to, and Laura’s experience in this book made me want to even more! Rachel captures what it’s like so well that I was not surprised to see in the Afterward that the story was inspired by her own jury service experience.
September 12, 2020
Really enjoyable
Whilst I enjoyed this book I really struggled until I got about 60% of the way in but was determined to finish it and glad I did because it was well thought out and all the strands connected. It was probably the trial elements that I found boring and actually difficult to follow and not making much sense at all. But I recommend reading Beyond the Yew Tree and stay to the end.
Whilst I enjoyed this book I really struggled until I got about 60% of the way in but was determined to finish it and glad I did because it was well thought out and all the strands connected. It was probably the trial elements that I found boring and actually difficult to follow and not making much sense at all. But I recommend reading Beyond the Yew Tree and stay to the end.
May 2, 2020
When being in a jury is suddenly about finding out the truth about 2 people…
Laura is a member of a jury deciding the fate of a man accused of fraud. But when the process starts, she suddenly starts hearing whispers from a child. She is the only one who hears them, but doesn’t make any sense out of them. She doesn’t hear actual words, but more sounds. Even more, she starts having nightmares each night about a woman hanged over a century ago for murder. When she meets Sean, he teams up with her to find out what is happening and what actual happened with the woman. Being a museum curator, he has more possibilities to dig deeper in the past.
Together they slowly are uncovering the truth. And a friendship is being built. But Laura herself is having a few dark secrets of her own.
This is seriously one intriguing story! Having 2 different mysteries surely kept me reading. The ‘real’ case of fraud already was something not clear to me what actually happened. Add the mystery of a family living a century ago haunting Laura, made it even better. Laura is a shy woman, not someone who asks for attention. But she knows her world and when she speaks up, she knows what she is talking about. She is also not someone that give up easily. She has a hunger for the truth, wants to know what truly happened.
When she meets Sean, at first she is a bit distant, but the mutual interest in the past makes sure that a friendship is born and they both open up. Sean appears to be a true friend, understanding Laura and not thinking she is just a crazy woman. He doesn’t understand how it is possible, but believes Laura and what is happening to her. He supports her the best he can.
The more we get to know about the woman and girl in the past, the more we realize their lives were a tragic one. The extend of it, is heart – breaking. They both deserved so much more and the consequences somehow are still reflected in the present.
A story that keeps you on the edge on your seat. Beautifully written about how the truth is the most important thing and understanding one’s action without condemning them. And also that the truth will always come out, even if it may take a longer time than predicted…
Laura is a member of a jury deciding the fate of a man accused of fraud. But when the process starts, she suddenly starts hearing whispers from a child. She is the only one who hears them, but doesn’t make any sense out of them. She doesn’t hear actual words, but more sounds. Even more, she starts having nightmares each night about a woman hanged over a century ago for murder. When she meets Sean, he teams up with her to find out what is happening and what actual happened with the woman. Being a museum curator, he has more possibilities to dig deeper in the past.
Together they slowly are uncovering the truth. And a friendship is being built. But Laura herself is having a few dark secrets of her own.
This is seriously one intriguing story! Having 2 different mysteries surely kept me reading. The ‘real’ case of fraud already was something not clear to me what actually happened. Add the mystery of a family living a century ago haunting Laura, made it even better. Laura is a shy woman, not someone who asks for attention. But she knows her world and when she speaks up, she knows what she is talking about. She is also not someone that give up easily. She has a hunger for the truth, wants to know what truly happened.
When she meets Sean, at first she is a bit distant, but the mutual interest in the past makes sure that a friendship is born and they both open up. Sean appears to be a true friend, understanding Laura and not thinking she is just a crazy woman. He doesn’t understand how it is possible, but believes Laura and what is happening to her. He supports her the best he can.
The more we get to know about the woman and girl in the past, the more we realize their lives were a tragic one. The extend of it, is heart – breaking. They both deserved so much more and the consequences somehow are still reflected in the present.
A story that keeps you on the edge on your seat. Beautifully written about how the truth is the most important thing and understanding one’s action without condemning them. And also that the truth will always come out, even if it may take a longer time than predicted…
May 30, 2020
I have a fondness for books with dual timelines, and Beyond the Yew Tree has only added to that.
As always with dual timelines, no matter how much I enjoy the modern parts of the story, it is always the slow unravelling of long forgotten stories and secrets that really capture my imagination. Emma’s tale, however tragic, was fascinating, and offered an insight into the history of a communication method that I had previously never considered, but now am interested to find out more about.
Whilst I will confess to finding the details of the trial and Laura’s experiences as a juror a little less intriguing than the rest of the book, it was touching watching Laura grow as she was pushed out of her comfort zone in every way imaginable. The subtle changes that she goes through amalgamate to create a character who seems much more comfortable in her own skin by the end of the book than she does at the beginning.
As the court case and Laura’s nightmares developed, I loved the delicate way that the puzzle pieces slipped into place, aided by chapters from history, to slowly form a full picture. The resolution, although it did not come as a complete surprise to me, was beautifully developed, and really rather touching.
Beyond the Yew Tree is an enjoyable read that has left me wanting to explore Lincoln’s historic sites for myself.
As always with dual timelines, no matter how much I enjoy the modern parts of the story, it is always the slow unravelling of long forgotten stories and secrets that really capture my imagination. Emma’s tale, however tragic, was fascinating, and offered an insight into the history of a communication method that I had previously never considered, but now am interested to find out more about.
Whilst I will confess to finding the details of the trial and Laura’s experiences as a juror a little less intriguing than the rest of the book, it was touching watching Laura grow as she was pushed out of her comfort zone in every way imaginable. The subtle changes that she goes through amalgamate to create a character who seems much more comfortable in her own skin by the end of the book than she does at the beginning.
As the court case and Laura’s nightmares developed, I loved the delicate way that the puzzle pieces slipped into place, aided by chapters from history, to slowly form a full picture. The resolution, although it did not come as a complete surprise to me, was beautifully developed, and really rather touching.
Beyond the Yew Tree is an enjoyable read that has left me wanting to explore Lincoln’s historic sites for myself.
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