The Midnight Tree

by Chad Anctil

When Nine year old Tyler Dumont is suddenly forced to move cross country with his parents, from sunny Arizona to a small town in rural Massachusetts, he isn't sure what to expect. But, once settled into their new home with it's creaking floor boards and the dark, twisted tree in the middle of the front yard, Tyler begins to see and hear things that he can't explain, and soon learns that there is a lot more to the old gray house than he ever expected. Suddenly, Tyler finds himself in the middle of a hundred year old mystery, his only friend the ghost of an eight year old girl. He has to do whatever he can to find the key and save his family - and himself - before something truly terrible happens to them all.

212 pages, Paperback

First published January 6, 2010

About the author

Chad Anctil grew up in the fascinating little state of Rhode Island, birthplace of H.P. Lovecraft and his peculiar branch of fiction, where he found his love for reading and horror at a young age – probably too young, but that’s just how Generation X did it. He has always been creative, taking up both writing and DJing in his teenage years before joining the Navy as an electronics engineer on fast attack submarines through the 90s.

Moving from New England to various parts of California, Hawaii, and beyond gave Chad a view into strange underworlds of art and dance and literature, from technicolor electronic dance parties in abandoned warehouses to vampire poetry performance art held in graveyards, to crazed robot combat held in secret, under dark highway overpasses. Throughout these experiences he often imagined there were secret inhuman forces at play, and created detailed landscapes where the dark world of the supernatural brushed up against his own mundane world, driving his creativity and his writing.

Moving back to New England after leaving the military, Chad’s path has always struggled between his artistic desires and his desire to pay his mortgage and cover health insurance for his wife and son, so he has devoted his days to software engineering where he currently works in cybersecurity, and his nights to his art, where he is not only a writer of horror and urban fantasy, he is also a nationally recognized fire performer, flowarts instructor, DJ and more.

Chad is currently contracted with Perspective Publishing for the release of his urban fantasy crime series ‘Providence SCU’, with book one expected to be released in 2025.

Reviews

[Chad Anctil · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK I actually wrote this book, so my review might not count, but I do believe it's the best long form fiction I've ever written. Thanks to all who supported me on this project!!

[Melissa Bellerose-Doire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. Intense story. great read.

[Kelvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Midnight Tree perfectly blends childhood innocence with chilling suspense. Tyler is a relatable and courageous young protagonist, and the eerie old house creates an atmosphere that lingers long after you finish reading. A beautifully written ghost story with real emotional depth.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impressive work!THE MIDNIGHT TREE has a gripping story, unique style and depth.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really heartwarming book with good pacing, a few scares, and a wonderful story of love, loss, guilt, and family.