B.P. Walter’s novel The Treehouse examines the complex consequences of a traumatic family event that continues to affect the Palmer family two decades later. When a television show chooses to reenact the events of that long-ago night, the Palmers are forced to face painful secrets and fractured relationships that have quietly shaped their lives. Walter uses this setup to shed light on the lasting impact of unresolved issues within families, especially focusing on the interplay of guilt, resentment, and denial.

Central to the suspense in The Treehouse are brothers Kieran and Robert, whose choices years ago haunt every member of the Palmer family. Walter uses their relationship to highlight the fragile balance between family loyalty and personal truth, reflecting how painful memories and hidden realities can damage even the closest bonds. The novel’s portrayal of the Palmers, caught between guilt and the denial of past events, echoes observations in psychological research about the way ongoing silence can affect mental health and family functioning.

The story’s narrative structure moves seamlessly between past and present, letting the reader gradually piece together the details of that tragic night. This technique sustains tension and illustrates how the burden of secrecy can become heavier over time, negatively influencing choices, behaviors, and self-perception.

Walter incorporates the motif of a media reenactment to examine how public retelling of private trauma can reopen old wounds. The revival of the Palmers’ memories through a true crime television show intensifies existing emotional distress and forces each character to confront their own version of events.

The delicate emotional atmosphere in The Treehouse is carefully shaped by the characters’ efforts to manage their roles in the family narrative while wary of public exposure. Tension is sustained by slow revelations that balance suspense with a sense of impending upheaval, demonstrating the wider consequences of unresolved trauma and silence.

The novel pays significant attention to how each Palmer family member copes with personal responsibility and the way trauma shapes identity. The experience of the Palmers draws attention to the lasting effects of emotional wounds and the heavy cost of avoiding uncomfortable truths.

The evolving relationship between Kieran and Robert illustrates the complicated ties between siblings marked by both conflict and care. The story’s emotional honesty and attention to character depth contribute to its place among psychological thrillers, prompting readers to reflect on the subtle narratives in their own families.

The Treehouse provides a nuanced depiction of family trauma, secrets, and the enduring influence of past events. Walter’s careful use of suspense, emotional insight, and narrative structure keeps readers invested while raising questions about healing and the stories families choose to tell or conceal.

The novel stands out for its balanced portrayal of the chaos that silence can foster and urges reflection on forgiveness and the possibility of growth after tragedy.

This author has quickly became an *auto-buy* fictional writer. The stories are crafted with such precision and execution that the reader becomes utterly immersed in the characters’ world. I really enjoyed the prolonged periods of flashbacks, this helped develop the understanding of the gravity of the events unfolding later in the book. A slow burn, pulpy thriller- full of moments of awe and shock!

Two brothers committed a terrible act 20 years ago as kids and thought the secret would last forever. However, when a new tv series comes out and tells a story too familiar for comfort for the brothers they must face the reality of their secret past. What really happened back then and will their secret be unearthed? I enjoyed this book for the most part but I had a hard time getting into it at first. The beginning is pretty dry and I felt like it could have been developed better. The rest of the book was great and had some excellent twists and turns. I enjoyed the darkness of the characters and the plot itself. I recommend this to people who enjoy dark thrillers with a twist and suggest to power through the beginning as it picks up as it goes on.

The Treehouse by B.P. Walter is a dark, atmosperic thriller that grabs you from the start. Walter expertly weaves a tale where the past haunts the present for brothers Kieran and Robert, and their secrets have serious consequences.

The novel's strength is its dual timelines, which heighten suspense as the story unfolds. The characters are complex and flawed, their motivations murky, creating a compelling sense of unease.

The Treehouse is a chilling exploration of the past's power, fragile family bonds, and hidden darkness. I highly recommend this immersive and unforgettable thriller.

Publishing Date: July 3, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins, and One More Chapter for this ARC. My thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

Let my start my being completely honest, the first half of this book had me almost ‘DNF’ng’ the whole thing, it dragged, it was boring, the characters were unlikable and I didn’t care about the story. HOWEVER, the second half of the book is where it all kicks off (this is way too far into a book to start liking in imo).

The characters were still unlikable but there were suddenly twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat, I found myself trying to piece every thing together and for the first time, I was outsmarted. I normally guess and ending and I did guess one or two things about the book but I never would have guessed that there would be a bigger plot twist at the end and what is was!

If you can push through the first half, I fully recommend this book. A lower rating just because of how long it took me to get into it but the last quarter of the book, saved it.

Okay..... I am sat. Wow. This book was absolutely incredible. I was absolutely captivated by The Treehouse. There were twists, turns, shocks, horrors, and that ending... just wow.

I have never read anything by this author before, but I am absolutely a fan now. The narrative, the pacing, the storytelling, the backstory - it was all excellent. I was quite literally sat on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what happened next. If you are looking for a thriller that will keep you on your toes, The Treehouse is the perfect read.

This dark toxic, mysterious, family thriller has the reader guessing what is coming next. Will they get our and survive? Or what will happen to them?

Many thanks to netgalley, the author and Harper Collins for approving my request to read this book.

The Treehouse is a dark, creepy and twisty thriller in which we meet brothers Kieran and Robert whose shady past is coming back to haunt them. The story unfolds from dual timelines switching between the past and present day seamlessly and the plot is well crafted.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to others.

I loved the premise of this book and many of the different elements, but the actual execution of the story wasn't enjoyable. I wish more time had been spent in the present day instead of the MANY chapters in 2004 when the men were children. It would have also been interesting to learn more about the parents and their secrets vs just revealing them briefly at the end.

Sorry, but this book just wasn’t for me. I was enjoying the flow of the story until it went back to 2004 for so long and then it just lost me.

*Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for a free copy of this book in return for an honest review*
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The premise of this story was really intriguing. We follow two brothers, Robert and Kieran, who did something awful 20 years ago and find themselves horrified to find that ITV's newest drama, The Treehouse, seems to be based on what they did.
The story jumps between the past and present, which I normally love, but in this book the different times seemed to drag; I feel as though it would have benefited from alternating between past and present.
I enjoyed the development of the characters and felt as though Walter did a fantastic job at showing the bickering that happens between siblings and how the younger one often strives for the approval of an older sibling.
I didn't particularly enjoy the ending - I was waiting for a huge twist to come but what I assume was supposed to be the big twist in the epilogue felt flat and underwhelming. Also I wouldn't have been surprised if the prison guard decided to confess to murder because everyone else was.

All in all, a decent, quick read but overall was lacking the 'nail-biting' factor.

This book was quite dark, with twists & turns throughout. Some parts were predictable, other parts caught me off guard and I did find it slow in some parts hence the low star review.
All in all it was a decent read, I just wish it was a bit more faster paced. Don't let my review put you off though, because you may really enjoy this one.

This felt like a very topic read, young boys getting sucked into things they see on the dark web and their misogynist views towards women.

A difficult and dark read at some points. It wasn't an easy read.

Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to review this book, this is my honest opinion.

The Tree House by B.P Walter
⭐ ⭐⭐

What would you do if something you did 20 years ago comes back to haunt you, in the form of a TV Series.
Well brothers Robert and Kieran are about to find out.

Initially going into the book I was looking forward to a thriller that had me gripped from the very beginning. The plot of this book was intriguing and was the reason I wanted to pick it up the second I got my copy. Unfortunately for me the book was very slow to get going, this could be down to the writing style or longer length chapters.

I didn't see the twist at the end coming and I really like when a thriller does that. However I did find it to miss the mark a little on being called a thriller.

I like when a book jumps from present to past meaning you get to experience the story building. This book did need to have some parts condensing down to make it flow more. Again this could just be the writing style

Overall I enjoyed this one in places, especially the plot twist. I definitely think this would appeal to people who like a more in-depth thriller book.

Thank you to @Netgalley, @onemorechapter and @harpercollins for a Copy of The Tree House, in return of a honest review

I think dark and creepy best describes The Treehouse.
Interesting storyline if a little far fetched.
What a family!!
The only parts i struggled with was the animal cruelty which i had to skip through.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

I very much thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, twisty, and “unputdownable”. This was my first book by this author and it will not be the last!

I honestly think it's criminal how underrated BP Walter is. This is such a dark, twisty thriller with a knockout ending. I flew through this one and you will too

hank you, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, for providing the copy of The Treehouse by B. P. Walter. I loved the premise, but the story itself was implausible. The Dark Core made no sense to me, and it was never explained why people were so drawn to it. I loved the idea of the TV show that had supposedly mirrored the past events, but it wasn’t handled or conveyed very well. The long stretch of the past timeline wasn’t interesting at all to me, and I kept waiting for the parents to explain what they knew/had done. Readers who love a surprise reveal will love this book, but I needed more substance and to be able to believe in the characters and events! 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars!

The Treehouse is a dark, twisty gem of a book. At times I was almost as anxious as Robert that everything was about to fall apart for him. Just when you think you have this story figured out, another twist will prove you were way off track.

This book will appeal to anyone who loves read it in a weekend page turners and dark flashback filled mysteries like Donna Tartt’s “The Secret History”.

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this ARC.

(slight spoiler)
This depraved I Know What You Did Last Summer meets MidSommar was so scary I physically jumped when the doorbell rang while I was reading it.
The tone and pace are so intense I was scrolling quickly to find out how everything resolved.
It started off so good, but at the last 20% the twists were so unbelievable-almost silly- and unnecessary that it brought down the rating from 4 to 3 stars. Many thrillers nowadays are now adding so many twists and extra accomplices and it rarely works.
Thank you HarperCollinsUK and NetGalley for the digital review copy.