The Hanging Tree – A Rivers of London Novel by Ben Aaronovitch is an action-packed and thrilling novel in the Rivers of London series. Set in the backdrop of modern day London, PC Peter Grant and his sidekick, Nightingale, must investigate a string of mysterious deaths and unravel the secrets of a mysterious tree.
Chapter 1: The novel begins with PC Peter Grant and his colleague O’Leary attending a call in an abandoned church, where they discover the body of an unknown man in a tree. The man is later identified as the missing professor Mensah. While Peter and O’Leary investigate the tree for clues, Peter notices a mysterious ring which leads him to believe that the professor was murdered.
Chapter 2: Peter and O’Leary visit the professor’s home in search of clues. They meet the professor’s maid, Ethel, who gives them a description of a man who she saw with the professor the night before he disappeared. This leads Peter to discover that the professor’s murderer was an ex-soldier who had served in Afghanistan.
Chapter 3: With the help of Nightingale, Peter and O’Leary trace the soldier’s movements to a remote village in rural England. When they arrive, they discover that the villagers have been terrorized by a mysterious figure in a red mask. Peter suspects that the masked figure is connected to the professor’s death and the mysterious hanging tree.
Chapter 4: Peter and O’Leary investigate further and discover that the tree has been the source of many unsolved deaths, including those of Professor Mensah and the soldier. As they delve deeper into the mystery, Peter discovers an ancient ritual that may provide him with the answer to the mystery of the hanging tree.
Chapter 5: Peter and O’Leary make a deal with an old woman to use her land in order to continue their investigation. Peter and his team discover evidence that the hanging tree is a portal to an otherworldly realm, which is controlled by an ancient druid-like figure known as the Watcher.
Chapter 6: Peter and his team embark on a journey through the otherworldly realm in an attempt to find out the truth about the hanging tree and its connection to the mysterious deaths. During their journey, they encounter a host of otherworldly creatures and must face a number of deadly obstacles before finally reaching their destination.
Chapter 7: At long last, Peter and his team reach the hanging tree and discover that it is the source of a powerful magic, but they must take great precaution to choose their side wisely before they can get the answers they need. With the help of the powerful beings they have encountered on their journey through the otherworldly realm, they work together to figure out a way to put a stop to the Watcher’s reign of terror.
Chapter 8: After a raging battle with the Watcher and his minions, Peter and his team are successful in defeating the powerful being and his forces. Finally, they can unlock the Source of the Hangman’s Tree and use its power to protect London from any other evil forces seeking to bring it down. After their long journey, Peter and his team are finally able to rest in peace, knowing that they have succeeded in stopping the Watcher.
