The TreesThe Trees
What it's about
In Money, Mississippi, a series of brutal murders begins, and at each crime scene there is a second body: a Black man who looks exactly like Emmett Till. Two detectives from the state Bureau of Investigation arrive, facing a racist sheriff and townsfolk, in a darkly comic thriller about the legacy of lynching in America.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Booker Prize finalist. It's a wildly original, furious and funny novel from the author of James.
You'll love it if you liked
James
Erasure
The Nickel BoysGood to know
It mixes slapstick comedy with horror. It deals directly with racist violence.
By the numbers
- Readers64 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics32 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller21 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz26 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #163 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #171 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #209 of the 481 new books we rank
- #1181 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by Percival Everett
JamesErasure
Telephone
Dr. NoIf you like this, read next
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Lights Out
Piranesi
Leaving Time
Quicksilver
The Tainted CupExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Trees worth reading?
Yes. It was a Booker Prize finalist. It ranks #1,181 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 71.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Trees about?
In Money, Mississippi, a series of brutal murders begins, and at each crime scene there is a second body: a Black man who looks exactly like Emmett Till. Two detectives from the state Bureau of Investigation arrive, facing a racist sheriff and townsfolk, in a darkly comic thriller about the legacy of lynching in America.
How long does it take to read The Trees?
About 8 hours (308 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Trees?
If you liked it, try James by Percival Everett, Erasure by Percival Everett or The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead.