The Girl at the Hanging Tree is a sharp psychological thriller by Mary Gray. The story is told from the point of view of Gemma Louise Coldiron, a woman in her mid-twenties living in a small town. But Gemma harbors a secret; controlled by a different personality, Gemma only comes out every other week. Usually, Tansy is in charge of their conscious and since she has a fear of the outside world, Tansy never leaves their seemingly abandoned mansion. On one of her infrequent trips out, Gemma is referred to as ‘Mrs. H’ at the grocer. With no memory of her past, Gemma decides to take a more confident role in her life and figure out what the ‘H’ could mean. With cross looks from her neighbors and an outright accusation of murder, Gemma begins to uncover some unpleasant truths about her past and about the town she calls home.
Part letter for racial equality and part awareness campaign for mental illness, The Girl at the Hanging Tree deals with multiple relevant issues and ties them together in an unusual thriller. Mary Gray treads gently through such sensitive issues, all while weaving a complex story. The novel itself is like dropping an ice cube in a steaming mug of strong coffee—it’s partly macabre and depressing, but it also has a strong protagonist who learns to stand up for what is right. In a heavily written genre where it can be difficult to innovate, The Girl at the Hanging Tree by Mary Gray is a rewarding change of pace.
