The Hollow Tree

In Brogden’s eerie supernatural tale, an woman learns that her injury allows her to access another dimension. After Rachel Cooper loses her left hand in a boating accident while with her husband, Tom, her sense of humor and Tom’s support get her through recovery. She’s alarmed when she starts feeling things with her missing hand that are not of this world. Drawn to an oak tree in England’s Lickey Hills where a skeleton was discovered, Rachel pulls a young woman out of the tree and into her world with her phantom hand. The woman is called Mary, but her identity is uncertain, though Rachel’s dreams may provide clues. There are powerful unearthly beings interested in Mary, but Rachel is determined to protect her. The mechanics of Brogden’s dual worlds are carefully crafted, and the mystery is wrapped in rich folklore and urban myth. Brogden (Hekla’s Children) paces the story like a thriller, but its foundations lie in its realistic portrayal of Rachel’s postinjury life; Tom’s obvious delight in his resilient, self-reliant wife; and the poignancy of Mary’s story. This elegant horror story has deep psychological and emotional roots. (Mar.)