"Horrible Histories meets Shirley Jackson
A luxurious gothic horror with stunning prose and a propulsive plot, really enjoyed this one!"

""The wood was stained in splotches of unnatural colors, the surrounding plaster absorbing the hues—purples, reds, yellows fading out from the doorway as if it were a portal to another world."

House Aldane is a manor with a dark history. When Lord Aldane passes, the family is now all gathered in the manor. Alrick is under the impression that he will now be Lord of the manor, but his older stepbrother, Aemon, has other plans. He has gone to great lengths to ensure he will be Lord, and he uses his position of power in an unkind manner.

Tredan is Alrick and Aemon's uncle who is also the alchemist of House Aldane. He works hard to save many ill orphan children, and he is now teaching Alrick the craft.

Alrick is a gentle soul and only wants what is rightfully his. He also wishes to help as many people as he can while keeping the family together and peaceful.

"No healing could occur with Aemon in power—he was a hot infection keeping the wound open. Alrick would be the medicine. If necessary, the scalpel."

Nelda is Aemon and Alrick's sister. She is fascinated with nightshade and belladonna, and the trees such as laurel and oleander. Her mother's garden is filled with poisonous plants which she indulges in to open the door to the other side.

As Tredan and Alrick work together to prove he is the rightful Lord, many hidden secrets become known.

"There was duty to consider. And not all of the voices in the Aldane halls were happy. Frightened maids. Cries of anger. And the dead. So many voices out of their bottles."

The Atropine Tree is a wonderfully written dark gothic horror novel. Fascinating characters and an engaging plot. Questionable practices, shattered lives as well as a decaying manor. Trapped souls, some hateful, and some that are favorable. Sickly scenes of death. Deeply buried secrets to unveil. A dark manor full of deceit, tension, danger, and adventure.

I really enjoyed reading this one, just fabulous!

**Thank you Bad Hand Books for the complimentary copy!"

"Review in the October 1, 2023 issue of Booklist and on the blog: (link live 10/3/23)

Three Words That Describe This Book: Sinister, discomfort, immersive

But I can get this book to 1 word-- sinister!

Each story is original, terrifying, and compelling but when Read pits what readers think is coming against the extremely sinister tone at the heart of each tale, it is as if she is stabbing their tender spots with a knife, twisting it, and leaving it to dangle long after the last page is turned.

Suggest freely to those who enjoy dark, immersive, and character driven speculative fiction that firmly grabs its readers as written by Pelayo, Khaw, and Beukes.


Another readalike� Shirley Jackson winning Hideous Book of Hidden Horrors edited by Doug Murano which includes a story from this collection. “Wish Wash.""