The Elephant Tree
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2.9 • 12 Ratings
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- £2.99
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- £2.99
Publisher Description
Reminiscent of Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting, this debut novel, The Elephant Tree, challenges the reader’s sense of morality with shocking plot twists and vivid characters.
Mark Fallon is an overworked detective investigating a spate of attacks at a string of high profile city centre nightclubs. Scott is a dejected 24 year old struggling to make ends meet working for his brother and supplementing his income with a small-scale drug dealing operation. Angela is an attractive 23 year old, raised by her father, a career criminal and small time drug dealer who supplies Scott with cannabis.
This is a chilling tale spanning a few months in the lives of Scott and Angela, where realizations about the present combine with shocking revelations from the past leading to an apocalyptic climax where they no longer know whom they can trust.
Customer Reviews
This is a hard hitting book1
I heard about the cult following The Elephant Tree was getting from a friend of mine despite no mainstream recognition so far. Many of my all time favorite books and movies began from a point of intrigue like this so I knew I had to give it a go.
This is a hard-hitting book, and through protagonist Scott takes a satirical look at generation disaffection. It illustrates a culture where young men are tired of bland jobs and predictable lifestyles and yearn for more. Scott isn’t forced into the bad choices he makes, which I’m sure accounts for some people being turned off the book. He chooses his path become he wants more – simple as that.
There is drug taking and dealing, some brutal scenes, much (I thought) dark humor, and the disassociated, disaffected protagonist perception that would make one hell of a David Fincher movie. The Elephant Tree isn’t for everyone, but if you like the sound of my review you’re gonna LOVE the book.
Vivid, gripping and sometimes unsettling
As a fan of dark fiction I was excited by this book. The story has an engaging murder / thriller plot that slow builds through early exposition and scene setting. From the perspective of main character Scott, alongside girlfriend Angela, we follow them in a pretty gritty yet realistic tale of drugs, life choices, and a struggle to survive. Their lives are wrapped up in some seedy goings on, and we meet some rather unwholesome characters that are very well portrayed, perhaps a little too well as it can be unsettling at times. A vivid and ambitious approach to a modern genre and one I really enjoyed. I’ll be looking out for more from the author in the future.