When Trees Fall

by Dale Mahfood

A sweeping family saga exploring the secrets we keep and the lines we'll cross for love.

Cailin is a naïve, adventure-seeking girl living in a Jamaican Great House. Archie is a teenage boy with a chip on his shoulder. Sharpe is a young man with divided loyalties, living as an outsider in a poor hillside village. Yet, all three long for the same thing—a father’s approval. But the man who has the power to give it to them won’t…or can’t. Behind his back, his property workers call him a tyrant for allegedly murdering a worker in the past, and his family walks on eggshells when he returns home from his drunken visits with his mistress. All while Cailin, Archie, and Sharp’s unfulfilled desires spiral into rejection, mistaken affections, and murder.

Set in a seaside village during the final year of World War II and Jamaica’s first general election, When Trees Fall is the first novel in Dale Mahfood’s Wood and Water Saga. If you enjoy well-drawn, relatable characters and a compelling story you don’t want to put down, you’ll love this first installment in Dale Mahfood’s series.

Join Cailin, Archie, and Sharpe for their Caribbean coming-of-age saga.

Genres: Fiction

361 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 15, 2022

Reviews

[Harley · Rating 5 out of 5]

In September of 1968 I boarded a plane in Chicago and landed in Kingston, Jamaica several hours later where I would spend the next three months as a student. I read and studied the novels of Roger Mais. Jamaica gained its independence from England in 1962.
I fell in love with the people, the country and the culture. Unfortunately, I have never been back, but there is a soft spot in my heart for Jamaica.
When I learned that Dale Mahfood was writing a novel set in Jamaica, I eagerly waited for it to be published so I could read it. I was not disappointed.
Most of the story is set in the Jamaican countryside in 1944-45. This family saga tells the coming of age of Cailin Campbell, Archie Price and Gus Campbell as the war in Europe was winding down. The novel is the first in a series about the Campbell family. The ending touched my heart and inspired me to write a poem when I was finished reading. I highly recommend this novel.

Sing

"Write me a song,"
my father said
as he sat in the darkness
listening to the roar
of the crickets. "And
what should I say,"
I asked. "Sing about
how our family came
to be in this land
of wide open spaces
and so few trees. Sing
so those who come later
will understand the hardships
we faced and the pain
we felt. We were dreamers
who believed we could do
no wrong. We felt the power
in our hearts and tasted
the future in our memories."
I picked up the guitar and sang.

[histeriker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was interested in the book mostly because of its setting. I like visiting foreign countries while reading and I wasn’t disappointed here. Even though the concentration is on people and family relations, I also learned a lot about the country. I was a bit overwhelmed by the number of the characters, it was a bit complicated to get used to it while reading, but it was easier after some time.
I would recommend this book.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel was jam packed with family drama. We meet Cailin Campbell, the naïve and fun youngest daughter of Malcolm and Helen, whose best friend is her cousin Gus who is living with her family until his father returns from the war. She meets Archie, who has recently moved with his mother to the area and is now under her father's wing to travel to school every week. Then we're introduced to Sharpe, the foreman at the Campbell estate with a torrid past of leaving his village to reside in a community that doesn't claim him. Set in a fictional town in St. Elizabeth, readers learn of the family's secrets and the values that hold them together and tear them apart.

The characters were strong and interesting, but I thought some lacked depth and were written very predictably. I would have wanted to know more about Aunt Abum and Helen, who although central, were also side characters. I wouldn't say I was hooked but this was a pleasant read.

[Amanda Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novel, finding myself ever more deeply absorbed by the story. The eventual ending and direction of the novel surprised me but it also felt right. I loved the Jamaican patwa and the sense of being taken truly to 1940s rural Jamaica. I loved Essie's proverbs and felt the footnotes allowed for the right mix of authentic references and explanations. This novel reminded me of 'The Pursuit of Love' by Nancy Mitford because of the privileged main characters and the era, though the mood, tone and themes are strikingly different. Like Arundhati Roy's 'The God of Small Things', this is a book about trauma, partly told through the perspectives of children - which allows us such an innocent, honest view and plenty of distance from the perpetrator. The four main characters, Archie, Malcolm, Cailin and Sharpe, were all well written and memorable. I'll be following Cailin into part 2 of this series when it comes out!

[Finlay Beach · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When Trees Fall" by Dale Mahfood, the first book in the Wood and Water Saga, is an engaging read. It's well thought out and the writing is very near elegant. The story unfolds around a Great House with its own personalities and filled with its own secrets. While the core story is set in Jamaica around World War II, there are occasional pre-dated letters (the kind, written with ink pens) which add depth and context. In addition there are plenty of colloquial nuances (compete with endnotes, but not too many) which yields a vital and rich texture relative to the location and period. Despite the varied classes, natures, and personalities of the characters, they are—present: relatable, and genuine as they desire acceptance and face hardships. It's a solid read, and upon completing it, you'll join me in being eager to see what happens in the next book.

[AM ALI · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had my heart knowing that it was set in my neighboring Caribbean island, Jamaica. I am always aware that every Caribbean island has their unique traits and their own history. This debut novel is written in Standard English as well as Jamaican Patois which is so different from my native creole. This novel focuses on 3 characters and their family life on the island which seems to be the seeds of this novel. Furthermore, i enjoyed the comedic moments by particular characters as well as the minor characters and their stories. I realize the novel can get confusing by the number of characters however the writer did made sub-chapters for readers not to get confuse. I will definitely return to this novel as I have learned about some of the places in Jamaica like if i was there.

[Shannan Harper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in two different time periods, as well a countries, the book tells the story of, Callie, in the mid 1970's after the death of her father, and tells a tale of her childhood in Jamacia, as well as her family's story in Africa years earlier.

I wasn't sure if it was the right book for me at first. Although I love stories set in other countries, at the beginning, this story just didn't do it for me. As I kept reading, it did get more enjoyable and interesting. There were several times I was confused with a couple of the characters. It was just a little too many for me. You might enjoy the story.

I received a copy of the book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review of my own thoughts and opinions.

[Stacia Thelius · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful book

All the mixed up with family drama because 1 man parents abandoned him and his siblings at a young age, the ripple effect of that causes so much damage and hurt. I would definitely recommend this book. Thanks to Good Morning Barbados book club session. Looking forward to book 2.

[anonymous · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I thought the first chapters of this book started off a little slow, by the end I couldn’t put it down! I found the characters to be really well written and realistic, especially Sharpe. Additionally, each chapter being told from a different character’s perspective was something I hadn’t seen before in a book. However, it was done very well, and I thoroughly enjoyed this read!

[Nadine Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book recently and after the CAT5 hurricane Melissa devastated western Jamaica. Dales descriptions and imagery helped to take me back to the beauty of St Elizabeth and surrounding areas. I appreciate the authors effort and can’t wait to read the next books in this saga

[Alex Milton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dale pwomised to give me a 100 on my homework. But he didnt keep his pwomise. Do better, dale.

[Lynda R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When Trees Fall" by Dale Mahfood knocked me sideways with its raw emotional punch and gorgeous storytelling. I couldn't put it down as Mahfood pulled me into a world where falling trees and broken people find beautiful new beginnings. This book will stick with you like that perfect song you play on repeat when no one's watching.