The Omen Tree by Fredrick Niles is a powerful story with memorable characters. The narrative takes readers into an idyllic setting, a calm and seemingly peaceful place to be: Poplar. But the serenity of this town is threatened when young Ian Whelan sees something moving in the backyard. The fact is that he just wanted a good place to see the stars. The town quickly gets embroiled in a tale of murder. Bodies begin to surface and a killer has been lurking in the town. Suddenly, this seemingly beautiful and welcoming place has been a hide-out for hideous crimes. Can things ever get back to normal?

I immediately noticed the strong narrative voice and the gorgeous writing in the skillful way the author describes the disruption of the wonderful dream young Ella was having when her father wakes her up. A small girl dreams that she is a bird, an angel with huge feathers, beating her wings against the tar-black darkness, free as the wind, and who suddenly becomes a victim of her father’s anger at not finding what he is looking for. In the same style, the author describes life in the small town of Poplar; idyllic but in a disturbing kind of way. It isn’t long before the facts begin to surface. Things are not always what they seem and this author knows just how to make the reader experience the creepiness of it all. Gorgeous prose, wonderful characters, and a plot twist that is hard to see coming. The Omen Tree is a great story that explores the theme of reality versus appearance, a transporting story told in a voice that is smooth and engrossing and with characters that stay in the reader’s memory.

In The Omen Tree by Fredrick Niles, Poplar is a normal town. Children head off to school every day and families are home for dinner with one another. Yet something sinister is happening in the shadows of the night and behind closed doors. Ella Windthrope knows this unfortunate truth all too well. Her father is a bitter, hate-filled man with no regard for others, including the life of his daughter. Ella’s done well at hiding the bruises and wounds until Ian Whelan starts to befriend her. However, he has his own reasons for seeking a friend – he swears he saw something mysterious outside his window in the dark. Soon, the two become the catalyst in a series of events that show Poplar isn’t as normal as it seems. What will be uncovered when people start to look into the dark corners of this little town?

The Omen Tree by Fredrick Niles is a fast-paced, somewhat dark read. The book starts with the reader living through Ella Windthrope and her home troubles. I have to say, this really drew me in. I thought I felt her pain at times and I surely felt for her. I also found the other characters rather interesting, as well as how they all related to one another. What was different for me, however, was that the main characters were in their early teens, which I am unused to, though it was done very well. This is certainly a good book for those who want something a little spooky and to uncover hidden secrets.