50 pages • 1 hour read
Tana FrenchThe Witch Elm
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2018A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Witch Elm by Tana French is a psychological crime thriller that follows Toby Hennessy, who, after surviving a brutal assault that leaves him with PTSD and memory loss, moves to his family's ancestral home to recuperate. There, he discovers a human skull in a wych elm, unearthing dark family secrets and confronting issues of privilege and identity as he delves into his past to uncover the truth about the murder and its connection to his own assault. Death by suicide, sexual assault, and the effects of PTSD appear in the book.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Tana French's The Witch Elm has been praised for its atmospheric writing and complex characters, especially the morally ambiguous protagonist. Critics appreciate the novel's exploration of identity and memory. However, some find its pacing slow and the plot twists predictable. Overall, it is a compelling read for fans of literary thrillers.
Who Should Read The Witch Elm?
Readers who delight in psychological thrillers imbued with rich character development and atmospheric suspense will relish Tana French's The Witch Elm. Fans of Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl and Donna Tartt's The Secret History may find themselves captivated by French's intricate plotting and exploration of identity, memory, and morality.