The Hanging Tree by Rodney Hobson is a highly recommended fast-paced police procedural set in the 1990's.

Detective Inspector Paul Amos and Detective Sergeant Juliet Swift are on the case of a middle aged man found hanging from a tree in his back yard. The two older women living next door heard noise in the night and saw a naked man walking through the backyard so the police were on the scene rather quickly and have a few clues to follow. The murdered man was Duncan Watson. He was apparently the leader of a group of protestors in the sixties who participated in a siege of historic Wykeham Hall in an attempt to save it. Their efforts resulted in failure, but the group is having a 30th reunion this weekend. Amos and Swift rely on interviews while following the various clues that lead to a conclusion.

This is most decidedly an old-fashioned police procedural that follows the clues in the case without the help of current technology or advanced forensics. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as you follow the deductions the detectives make through their interviews and investigations. It is also a simple, short, fast-paced novel. There isn't a lot of time for character development or more than one line of investigation. The Hanging Tree is definitely a novel to read simply for relaxation. It is a good story that reaches its conclusion quickly. And let's be honest, sometimes this is a nice change of pace, especially if you have had a hectic week.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Endeavour Press.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2017/05/the-hanging-tree.html

What possible reason could there be for why Duncan Watson is brutally murdered. Thirty years ago he was a leader of a group of eco-warriors trying to save a historic building. Detective Inspector Paul Amos delves into Watson's past to find the killer.
An okay story which for me didn't really capture my imagination or have any characters of interest.

3 and 1 / 2 stars

DI Paul Amos and DS Juliet Swift respond to the call of a man in his pyjamas hanging in a tree in his backyard. The man’s name is Duncan Watson.

On the case, Amos and Swift quickly discover that the man was part of a group that staged a sit-in at an old manor house that was set for demolition. An accident occurred at the site where one man fell down some stairs and was blinded. Could this group be responsible for the murder? What they discover is that he came into quite a bit of money that doesn’t seem to have come from his employment.

This is an old fashioned mystery. It is without all of the bells and whistles of forensics and so on. Amos and Swift hone in on their suspects and don’t let go. They follow the clues given by interviews with the group of demonstrators.

There are many questions to be answered.

This is a fairly well written book with just a few flaws. It was a little slow in places. Maybe I’ve been somewhat spoiled by all the flash and drama of modern day mysteries. I will look into more of Rodney Hobson’s mysteries.

I want to thank Netgalley and Endeavour Press for forwarding to me a copy of this book to read.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Endeavour Press for a review copy of The Hanging Tree, the fifth police procedural set in the 1990s to feature DI Paul Amos of the Lincolnshire Police.

Judith Crone is woken by a bump in the night. She realises it comes from next door and when she looks out the window she sees a naked man. When the police arrive they find Duncan Watson, the neighbour, stabbed and strung up from a tree in the garden. As Amos starts to investigate he finds plenty of suspects from Watson's secretive past.

The Hanging Tree is an old fashioned novel, which, with no technology or forensics, and relies on Amos conducting interviews and and formulating theories. The perpetrator is skilfully hidden and I was clueless until the dénouement. I really like the third person, linear narrative and found it refreshing to see no flashbacks or italicised thoughts of the killer, just a straightforward whodunnit.

As befits the old fashioned feel to the novel the characters are not explored in any depth, a hint of marital discord for Amos and a needy partner for DS Juliette Swift. It works well and allows the reader to concentrate on trying to identify the killer.

If I have one criticism of the novel I feel it lacks a little pizazz and the narrative is a bit flat. There is no humour and Amos fixes on a theory immediately with no deviation.

The Hanging Tree is an interesting puzzle so I think 3.5* is a fair assessment.

How long would you wait for revenge? The Hanging Tree asks just that.

A man is brutally murdered, then hung upon a tree. A quiet man who made considerable money as an estate agent, Duncan appears without enemy - at least until his role in the failed attempt to preserve Wykeham Hall comes into view. Duncan Watson was one of 12 people who attempted to preserve the hall by blocking developers. All were removed from the premises, but one fell down the stairs and tragically lost his sight.

After meeting the failed eco-warriors DI Paul Amos begins to suspect that Duncan Watson was not the man he pretended to be. How did he become so rich so soon after the failure at Wykeham Hall? Why was he making payments to one of his former group? Why is everyone so eager to have him believe they had no contact with Duncan Watson? And what is the link to the fall of Rawdon Grange?

The Hanging Tree reads much like an episode of Midsomer Murders. It is a very good novel and will definitely appeal to individuals who enjoy classic British police procedurals.

5 / 5

I received a copy of The Hanging Tree from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom