The Hanging Tree by Michael Phillip Cash Review

Reviewed by David Savage

The Hanging Tree by horror / ghost story writer Michael Phillip Cash is a short novella, about 75 pages, about revenge and destiny – is our future pre-determined or are we in control of our destiny?

Seventeen year old Arielle has been dating 18 year old Chad, who her father detests. This causes a heated argument and to rebel against her father she meets Chad at an old oak tree that is named “The Hanging Tree”.

The Hanging Tree is home to five spirts including a 300 + year old witch who won’t leave until she seeks revenge on all the descendants of the priest that wronged her and hanged her and her cat from the tree all those years ago.

Arielle is a very distant relation of the infamous priest and because of the curse placed on his descendants her future seems to be taking a pre-determined course, but does she have the ability to change the course of her future and end the curse?

Overall I found The Hanging Tree to be a delightful short story that flicks between the present and the past explaining the stories behind the characters and how they met they fate and why.

An excellent story spanning 300 years, curse and a witch seeking revenge told in masterful short stories about the colourful characters, all knitting together into this short novella. With enough suspense to keep you trying the page The Hanging Tree was a joy to read.

Rating: 5/5

RRP: £4.99 (paperback), £0.99 (Kindle)

Available to buy from Amazon here.