⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 Stars – The best one so far!
Format: Audio (BorrowBox)
Read: July 2025
There seems to be a pattern in this series of alternating loving or hating the books! I didn’t really enjoy Foxglove Summer all that much because it focused on the aspects of the series I dislike, and I was starting to question giving up… but then The Hanging Tree gets things back on track again! Dare I say, I think this one is the best in the series to date!
First of all, Peter is actually back in London now! Hurrah! I was also treated to a decent amount of Nightingale, which included some very exciting magical battles. There were quite a few magic fights in this, and we meet yet more magical practitioners (as Peter calls them) who are not associated with The Folly.
The main plot is set up in the upper echelons of society. Peter is called in to investigate an apparent drug overdose in an exclusive flat only accessible to the super-rich and connected that has a whiff of “weird bollocks” to it. Lady Tyburn’s teenage daughter, Olivia, is implicated, and he has to navigate political and familial tensions in his investigation.
I liked that this book gave Lady Tyburn some character development, as she’d been rather cartoonish up to this point (as are most of the characters in this, honestly). I can see that this is clearly done to lay the groundwork for Peter and Beverley’s relationship, but I appreciated seeing a new side to Lady Ty all the same. It was nice to see her as a mother and a wife, not just a snobby Goddess and a ruthless political business bitch.
The Faceless Man’s identity is revealed in this one, which I found a bit anti-climactic. I didn’t even really follow how Peter figured it out, but I think I was scrubbing the shower at this point and zoned out! Lesley May also returns and has a cool new ability to change her face. I enjoy the tension between Peter and Lesley, and I do hope we get to learn more about her motivation for switching sides.
Guleed returns as well, I believe she was introduced in Whispers Underground (another favourite), and now it seems like she’ll be sticking around The Follow as Peter’s new partner. I am all for that! I need Peter to have a sensible professional by his side; otherwise, he does stupid stuff that drives me insane (Moon Over Soho, Foxglove Summer).
I really loved in this that there was no Male Gaze shit to endure, aside from maybe one description of Beverley in her wetsuit. No mention of Peter’s penis, no sex scenes, no head-to-toe descriptions of every woman Peter encounters. Hallelujah! Can we keep it like this, please? It’s so much more enjoyable to read.
I’ve got the next one on the go at the moment (Lies Sleeping), and I’m hoping it keeps up the standard of this one.
REVIEW SUMMARY
I LIKED
- The main series plot with The Faceless Man #2 finally moves!
- Lesley returns.
- Some very exciting and cool magical battles.
- No mention of Peter’s penis and no Male Gaze to cringe through!
- Guleed is cemented in as Peter’s new partner.
I DIDN’T LIKE
- The uncovering of The Faceless Man felt a bit anticlimactic.
- I do think that Kobina Holdbrook-Smith is often doing the heavy lifting with characterisation for side characters, which is what makes the autobooks so great…but I’m less sure it’d work as well on the page.
