Tree of Hands is a psychological thriller about three people, each with their own stories, but there is a small connection between them that results in an unpredictable ending.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The main story is about a child kidnapping, an act by an unstable mother to help her own daughter who lost a child.\u00a0\u00a0 In Ruth Rendell’s books there are many shades of grey and even this crime may have some redeeming aspects.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The other stories are of a love-smitten man with a woman of poor character (the kidnapped child’s mother) and of a man swindling his partner of her assets while she is away.<\/p>\n
The story is an unusual one, but the storytelling, as usual, is excellent.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The book is moody, atmospheric, and creepy, but there is also pathos, redemption, and hope.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The characters are ordinary people, but are well-developed, though not necessarily likeable.\u00a0\u00a0 In the end there are two flights from predicaments and two deaths.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The story appeared to have no possible satisfactory ending and then the\u00a0 final chapters feel somewhat contrived by the author, but even with that fault, I was happy to have read this book.\u00a0\u00a0 This is not the author’s best book, but her books meet a high standard,\u00a0 so it is the body of her work that brings me back to read one more.<\/p>\n
Recommended, but not for everyone.\u00a0\u00a0 Rating 4.3\/5 stars<\/p>\n