Family curses don't exist. Sure, some families seem to suffer more pain than others, but a curse? An actual curse? I don't think so.
A family tragedy was the catalyst for Ian Perkins to return to the isolated cottage with his wife and young son. But now they are back, it seems yet more grief might befall the family.
There is still time to act, but that means Ian must face the uncomfortable truth about his past. And in doing so, he must uncover the truth behind the supposed family curse.
What did I think?
Whoa! What have I just read? Part ghost story, part psychological thriller - it certainly kept me on my toes right to the very end. Welcome to the Perkins family, who appear to have a curse hanging over them which takes their first born sons. Only by investigating the family tree will Ian Perkins get to the root of the curse and save his family from certain doom.
Ian inherited Cobweb Cottage under unfortunate circumstances. Being back at the cottage with his wife and young son brings back memories of his youth. A youth where he had a brother and an uncle, both since erased from the family tree. The only constant being the sycamore tree that looms menacingly on the front lawn, seeing everything but not revealing its secrets. The tree plays such a pivotal role in the story that it's almost a character in its own right, and is it wrong of me to say that it was my favourite character? Even thinking of it now gives me goosebumps!
Broken Branches really plays with your mind as you see the curse being played out in front of your eyes. Ian is frantically researching the family tree to get to the root of the problem, but can he save his own son from the destiny that awaits him? I called Ian's sanity into question many a time, as his wife has a lock on her bedroom door and he sees strange apparitions in the night. How much is real and how much is insanity? That's for the reader to decide, after you release the breath you didn't realise you had been holding throughout the last few paragraphs. Broken Branches is one mighty fine book and I heartily recommend it, as I flick through M. Jonathan Lee's back-catalogue wondering what to read next. This is Quality writing with a capital 'Q'!
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
My rating:
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