The Suffering Tree by Elle Cosimano - OPTIONAL

Cosimano, Elle  The Suffering Tree, 357 pgs.  Hyperion, 2017.  $17.99  Content: Language: R (46 swears; 2 “F”); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.  

Tori and her mom and brother have just inherited a house in the middle of the Slaughter family land, much to the chagrin of the Slaughters.  One night when Tori goes out for a walk she finds herself in the small family cemetery on her land.  A boy from another time, Nathanial Bishop, grabs ahold of her wrist and comes up from his grave, and he brings with him the past and secrets that affect Tori and her family.  Although at first Tori is unsure why they have been given the land, she starts to make connections to her ancestors and past with the help of Nathanial Bishop.  

This book is dark and creepy, but I liked the characters and the cover is fantastic.  The mystery is interesting and the book switches back and forth between the time periods of Nathanial’s life as an indentured servant and Tori’s life in the present.  The violence is very upsetting including branding, whipping and the removal of a runaway slave’s ear.  There is off page sex, and reference to a rape.  Most noteworthy is that the main character is a cutter and it isn’t dealt with well-almost making it feel like it’s okay.  The ending is hooky and feels like there needs to be another book, even though I can’t see where there is going to be one.  

HS – OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.