Book Review: The Which Way Tree by Elizabeth Crook

Rating: 4.25⭐️

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of reading Elizabeth Crook’s The Madstone, which features then nineteen-year-old Benjamin Shreve as he recounts the sixteen-day odyssey across Reconstuction-era Texas and the perils he faces in his efforts to assist a stranded traveler and a pregnant woman and her young son. I found Benjamin to be an endearing character and was thrilled to find out that the author had previously penned a novel featuring Benjamin and his half-sister. I was eager to read The Which Way Tree and I’m glad to say that I was not disappointed!

The narrative is presented in epistolary format through letters written by seventeen-year-old Benjamin in 1866, addressed to Judge E. Carlton, as a part of his testimony against one Clarence Hanlin, believed to be responsible for the murder of eight travelers.

In the course of his testimony on his several encounters with Hanlin, Benjamin, excited to be able to share his story, drafts a series of long letters detailing the story of his family and the tragedies that befell them. Of particular significance was how three years ago was his then twelve-year-old half-sister Samantha “Sam” ’s quest to exact revenge on a panther (referred to as El Demonio de Dos Dedos“The Demon of Two Toes” by the locals) that killed her mother Juda (Benjamin’s stepmother) and left Sam disfigured, when she was six years old child, resulted in several encounters between Hanlin and themselves.

Well-paced with vivid descriptions and a cast of interesting characters, this is an engaging read that had me glued to the pages. Elizabeth Crook is a master storyteller who writes with a keen sense of time and place. The depiction of the hardships of life in Civil War-era Texas, the rustic landscape and the wilderness, and the dangers of the wild compounded further by roaming murderers, highway robbers and outlaws will transport you to Texas Hill Country with our characters. Though a tad far-fetched, this is an immensely enjoyable story of family, friendship, adventure, bravery and vengeance. Benjamin is an endearing character and I thoroughly enjoyed following him, Samantha and their friends Preacher Dob and his aging yet alert tracker dog Zechariah and Mexican outlaw Lorenzo Pacheco on their adventures through the wilderness of Texas Hill Country.

Benjamin’s narrative voice draws you in, his enthusiasm and excitement in being able to pen his story is palpable and despite his tendency to go into minute detail, there is not a boring moment in this tightly-woven novel. I loved how the author depicted Benjamin’s bond with Sam, his frustration with her utter disregard for his admonishments but always concerned for her well-being. Sam is a fascinating character – brave, obsessed with revenge and willing to take on the panther irrespective of whether anyone comes with her. The author’s portrayal of an enraged and traumatized twelve-year-old who lives with a constant reminder of a violent episode that forever changed her life in more ways than anyone could imagine is convincing and though she might appear stubborn and reckless, you will want to root for her. The secondary characters are also well fleshed out and the author infuses the narrative with a healthy dose of humor into the narrative to balance the hardships, loss, grief and violence.

Overall, with the author's masterful storytelling, exquisite writing and superb characterizations, I found this novel to be an immensely satisfying read. I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

I paired my reading with the audiobook narrated by Will Collyer, whose expert narration breathed life into the characters and the story, making for an enjoyable immersion-reading experience.

Though this novel predates The Madstone, I am glad to have read it after, as the novel also gives us a glimpse into Benjamin's life decades after the incidents described in both books. However, Sam’s story remains a mystery (a few hints are dropped in this novel) and I would love to know what became of the young girl I admired for her bravery and determination.