The Hare and the Gallows Tree

by L.K. Jay

What does a hare, a large tree and a long dead witch have to do with a disgraced teacher? Adele has hit rock bottom; she’s lost her job, her lover and her reputation. So when she’s given the opportunity to house sit in a Fenland village, she jumps at the opportunity to escape from her problems for a while. Within a few hours of arriving, Adele has made a new friend and lined up a date. Things are starting to look up, but then she sees a hare in the back garden staring at her. Is it a warning of things to come or just a large rabbit sitting under a tree? One thing is for sure, Adele is going to find out.

Genres: Supernatural

124 pages, Paperback

First published September 5, 2012

About the author

I first started writing fiction during the summer holidays in 2009 whilst working in education. During the evening I am a martial artist where I am currently a 2nd Dan black belt in taekwondo. Prior to 2009 I spent several years writing for martial arts websites and magazines interviewing some of the country's most prominent martial artists but made the switch over to fiction after several hundred articles and having several ideas for fiction I wanted to explore.

I love a classic ghost story as you will read in 'The Listening Post' but I like to keep my tongue in my cheek as well in 'Two Penny Blue'.

New novel just out, 'The Policeman Who Was Afraid of the Dark'

Also, a full length novel where three women hunt for spooks, men and a few other spirits besides in 'The Ghost Hunters Club'.

Reviews

[Kath Middleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adele, escaping from scandal at work, takes over caretaking duties at the country home of a couple who have left the Britian for a few months. She meets and gets to know some local people and begins to feel optimistic. She sees a hare, sitting under the tree in the garden, staring straight at her. There are supernatural overtones to this book, a past story connected to the tree in the garden, and a situation dangerous to Adele is in the making.

The story is very well told and although we, and her young neighbour, catch on before Adele, the ending becomes tense and the denoument satisfying. I enjoyed this novella and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good evening's entertainment.

[Mari Biella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read The Hare and the Gallows Tree while I had a steaming cold. The house was freezing, the weather outside was dismal, and the kitchen cupboards were all but bare. I thought nothing could cheer me up; and then L.K. Jay did just that, with this lovely short story. Cheers, L.K.!

The Hare and the Gallows Tree follows a disgraced ex-teacher, Adele, who has taken a temporary housesitting job in a Fenlands village while she attempts to put her life back together. However, despite the surface tranquillity of her new surroundings, a nasty event from history is still reverberating in the locality, and Adele soon finds her life being tied up with that of an accused witch from centuries ago.

This is a wonderful read, with an intriguing plot, sympathetic and well-rounded characters, and an underlying cheerfulness that is irresistible. My only criticism - and it's a slight one - is that I think this is a short story that could easily have been longer. I wanted to find out more about Charity's life centuries before, and the ways in which she as a character related to Adele. Still, that's a very minor point indeed, and probably just reflects my own personal tastes. If you fancy an intriguing supernatural story with a warm heart, read The Hare and the Gallows Tree.

[Booksutd · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Hare and the Gallows Tree was a random free choice on my Kindle. This delightful short story follows Adele, a disgraced ex-teacher who takes refuge in a remote Fenlands village, house-sitting for friends of her aunt. However, this quiet country area is not as serene as it seems. Adele's problems are far from over, and her predicament finds a curious echo in the life of an accused witch, Charity, who lived in the area centuries before.

This is a lovely, quick read which I would recommend to anyone who enjoys supernatural tales. There are a couple of typos, e.g. 'creek' instead of 'creak', but they didn't interfere with my enjoyment of the story, which is well-told and engaging.

My only real criticism is that the ending seems a bit rushed. Indeed, I think this story would have worked well as a full-length novel, so that the characters and the life of Charity centuries before could have been more fully explored. However, if you want a quick, fun read, this is for you.

[Sarah Haddington · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good little short story