- Mystery
- Thriller
- Supernatural
- Satire
- Racism
- America
- Historical
The Trees is set in the small town of Money, Mississippi, where a disturbing series of murders begins to unfold. Each white victim is found alongside a second body that appears to be Emmett Till — the real-life Black boy who was brutally lynched in 1955. Just as suddenly as he appears, the body disappears, only to turn up again at the next murder scene.
Two detectives are tasked with investigating the killings, but their efforts are constantly obstructed by the local sheriff, his deputy, the coroner, and a hostile mob of racist white townsfolk determined to protect the town’s version of events.
Everett’s novel confronts the legacy of racial violence in America, particularly the history of lynching, while exploring themes of reckoning and revenge. What makes it unusual is its satirical tone — these heavy subjects are handled with dark humour, which at times feels sharp and intentional.
Set in the modern day, with Donald Trump as president, the novel includes a strange and unexpected monologue from Trump himself. While it was amusing and clearly political, it felt slightly random and oddly placed within the wider narrative.
I found the book confusing at times, with the story often feeling scattered. It begins by raising questions but leaves many of them unresolved by the end.
I was also unsure how to categorise the book genre-wise. It seems to sit uncomfortably between thriller, mystery, supernatural fiction, historical commentary, and satire — and there doesn’t appear to be a clear consensus.
Overall, The Trees succeeds in highlighting deeply important issues surrounding racism, both past and present, and draws attention to real historical atrocities through a strange, often darkly comic lens. Its odd character names and surreal humour will work for some readers, but for others, the unconventional approach may overshadow the story itself.
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