I was a bit put off at the outset by the opening scene of the novel - two boys engaged in the murder of a girl in the eponymous treehouse. I'm so sick of it always being women and girls whose deaths are served up as entertainment.

I did like the hook of a TV series called The Treehouse inexplicably - because no-one was supposed to know about it - telling the story of Chloe's murder twenty years later, much to the alarm of the brothers involved, Kieran and Robert. That was intriguingly mysterious - how on earth could their story, never spoken of, now be on screen? The mystery is disposed of fairly quickly, though, and we go back in time to see how the two then-teenage boys came to do something so awful.

It's all a bit far-fetched. And I don't believe something like the Dark Core movement which the boys get mixed up in could exist without the media getting wind of it, not when they're sacrificing rabbits all over the internet. I can just imagine what the Daily Mail would have to say about it all.

The whole Dark Core thing has a strong whiff of ridiculousness, it's so over the top. But I suppose I can imagine a certain type of teenage boy being enthused. They like Andrew Tate, after all. Things go pretty far here though.

It's a readable story, but I didn't really like any of the characters - poor old Chloe was probably the best - and by the end all the twists are getting a bit much. ("I'm guilty... No you're not, I am! Haha, no, it was actually ME!" etc.)

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review. The story did keep my interest, but ultimately wasn't really for me.

Kieran and Robert committed an atrocious act 20 years ago and a tv show has reenacted it in a fictional setting. This is impossible because they are the only ones who know what they did, or are they? This was crazy. Whether it was too crazy is debatable. I do wish the structure of the book was a little different since we spent like 15 chapters in a row in 2004. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. 3.5 stars.

Review of ‘The Treehouse’ by B.P. Walter due to be published on 3 July 2025 by Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter.

The story follows two brothers, Kieran and his younger sibling, Robert, who are shocked when a TV show airs, named ‘The Treehouse’ which claims to be a work of fiction - however, the storyline echoes events they do not speak about that happened 20 years previously.

In a frenzied panic, Robert seeks to find out the truth, which leads to another chain of events, deepening the mystery and truth of what happened all those years ago.

The book has several chapters set back in 2004 when the main events took place, which tied in nicely with the present day storyline.

There are some dark scenes depicted in the storyline, but all are relevant to gain an insight into the minds of the protagonists.

I’ve no doubt that this will be another bestseller for B.P. Walter!

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

This is a great thriller - gruesome, shocking, horrifying, exciting and darkly funny. I had to laugh at some of the plot twists, they were unexpected and yet somehow predictable. What a delightful family!! Great characters and a cracking good plot. I wouldn't rush to read more of this author, though.

The Treehouse is about two brothers who develop some rather dark interests as teenagers, and how these obsessions affect their lives moving forward for the next twenty years. There is animal cruelty on and off-page, and this was a stressful read for me as I fought to get through it. There are also major issues with pacing - we jump back in time for twelve straight chapters or something like that. The ending felt like an attempt to shoehorn in as many twists as possible into the final forty pages. I appreciate what the author was trying to do, as well as the chance to read this early, but overall I just did not care for it.

While I understand this entire book is based around a cult type thing and a sacrifice, I did not enjoy the chapters that talked about this. The research. The act itself. Those chapters I skimmed. The chapters set in present time, I really liked.

Kieran and Robert killed a girl when they were teenagers. Now years later, there is a show made about this exact situation. But no one knows what happened so how can this be? Started out good. Didn’t enjoy it by mid way.

Stayed up late to Read this in a night, I really enjoyed this book. I would read more books by this author

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this arc. I enjoyed this one. Although I didn’t really connect with any of the character, there were so many twist and turns that I enjoyed the book anyway! Not my fave by this author but still a book I’d recommend

It was brilliantly paced from the very first page, I found myself engrossed in the read! I had to remember to breathe, it was so gripping! UNPUTDOWNABLE!!

I read a lot and very critical! I can figure out the twists from almost the start, but not this book you will love this book!


I absolutely LOVED it!! It kept me on my toes the whole time and instantly grabbed my attention. It's definitely a must read!!

I loved all of BP Walters book and this one is no different, I think this is one of the best books I have read in a long time.. The Palmer family are so toxic and their story is dark and twisty. I cannot wait for more from this amazing writer.

Late last night as I couldn't sleep, I turned on my Kindle and started this ARC.

I was captivated and pulled in and didn't stop through the night!

The Treehouse is one of those books that sort of haunts you, and makes you wonder what you would do if this was you and your family.

When the Palmers take a little holiday to a seaside town, two young brothers and their actions create a chain reaction of trouble. The family will have to relive this experience years later, when the entire ordeal is turned into a TV series.

This is laid out in dual timelines and plot twists you don't see coming. It's a harsh look at family life, the resentment that can build and how awful people can be when presented with tragedy.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC.

A summer holiday. A family secret. A split-second decision that will change everything.

Twenty years ago, a summer holiday ended in tragedy for the Palmer family.

No one has spoken of it since.

Until a new tv series plays out the horrifying events of that night.

As the family are forced to relive that fateful trip, is it possible that each person is hiding their own secrets, and is someone willing to do whatever it takes to keep their past firmly in the past…

I had a difficult time relating to the main characters in the book. They all seemed disconnected to me. The storyline didn't really draw me in. I'd give this book a pass. 2.5 out of 5 ⭐️

A truly exceptional thriller with twists and turns that I didn't see coming.
Such a unique concept pitting siblings against each other while creating a dual sense of distrust and codependency.
Brilliant characters that were simply captivating and such accomplished prose.
An immersive setting that drew the reader in especially when set in the seaside town.
And a well executed dark thread that shows how easily young vulnerable men can be drawn into dangerous territory when they have little to believe in.
I'm not sure which character I'm most scared of! - this would make a fabulous film.

5 Stars from me ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Climb on up to The Treehouse. But be warned, because there's dark, and then there's deliciously, decadently, sinfully, salaciously, dark!

B P Walter has created a hideously toxic family, the Palmers, with burgeoning brothers Kieran and Robert who are about to begin a chain of events that will reverberate throughout their entire lives.

There is a split timeline with some current day scenes and some from back in 2004 when the family had an ill-fated holiday in a house near the sea, filled with teenage dreams, local kids, first crushes, and just a touch of the macabre.

The story is delivered beautifully by B P Walter who manages to capture family moments, jealously, love, neglect, guilt and regret - all alongside a subtle thread of nature vs nurture.

I was hooked by this book - and heartily recommend it! 💙📚

The Treehouse by B P Walter, published by Harper Collins UK/ One More Chapter is a thriller that had me in knots.
I'm a fan of the author's writing, I love his previous books, but I couldn't really warm up to the Treehouse.
I had a hard time connecting with Kieran, June and Robert. Btw, Robert is the best of the whole family imo. The storyline wasn't credible, the characters were cold, desinterested or just bored of it all. I was confused more times than not - don't get me wrong, the writing is good, but this book is a miss for me.

Wow! So many twists and turns in this I had no idea who to trust!!

I was instantly hooked from the prologue, it was really gripping. I think the story and plot line was clever and I enjoyed a new style of thriller with this.

The 2 person POV kept me on my toes with the main characters making some very questionable decisions (I feel that’s a staple in any good thriller😂). All the characters in this book were a little unhinged and unpredictable which kept up the feeling of uncertainty at where this book was going.

I also enjoyed the flashback parts of the book as it helped me to understand the story better. The last quarter of the book was FULL of plot twists, right until the last page!! For me, that is a sign of a great thriller - I had no idea what had happened until the very end. I will definitely be looking to read more B.P. Walter books in the future💚

Wow! This is mindblowing. It gives a whole new take on the concept of mindfulness. A truely amazing read, regarding the repercussions for brothers Robert and Kieran who, after committing murder have thus far got away with it. They are now having to live with the consequences of what they did and it is all coming back to haunt them. I found it creepy, suspenseful and very dark at times, with an ending that you won't want to miss. Highly recommended.

Sharp and sinister, The Summer Holiday is B.P. Walter at his most devious. What begins as a detached viewing of a murder-themed pseudo-documentary soon turns into a reckoning for two brothers, Keiran and Robert — because the fictional story being aired to millions? It’s uncomfortably similar to something they were part of. Something buried. Something real.

Walter cleverly uses the true-crime docuseries format to frame this chilling tale, blurring the lines between scripted drama and lived horror. As the layers peel back, we see just how far Keiran was willing to go in his ambition — with Robert always a step behind, a reluctant witness to what ambition and pathology can breed.

The brilliance of the book lies not in shock value (though there’s plenty of that), but in the slow realization that nothing, and no one, is as innocent as they seem. Every memory is suspect. Every family story has its cracks.

If you love thrillers that twist your expectations and leave you questioning who the real victims are, The Summer Holiday delivers in spades.

#HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter #theTreehouse #BPWalter

I'm a huge fan of Walter's books and was delighted with this one! Robert and Kieran are brothers whose parents rent a house each summer for vacation and the one they go to this year has a great treehouse. What fun they will have! But the summer turns out to be anything but fun as they succumb to their darkest desires after seeing R.R. Dread whose face makes Robert uncomfortable. Blackmail, sacrifice, creepy woods...what's not to love?!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!