Pine

Title: Pine

Author: Francine Toon

Published in: 2020

Date read: 13th February 2026

Score: 4/5

Genre: Mystery, Horror, Fiction, Crime

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
Published in 2020, "Pine" is an atmospheric gothic thriller set in a remote, claustrophobic village in the Scottish Highlands. It blends folk horror with a chilling mystery, focusing on the deep-seated secrets of a small community.

The Plot:
The story follows ten-year-old Lauren and her father, Niall, who live in isolation on the edge of a dense forest. Lauren’s mother, Christine, disappeared years ago under mysterious circumstances, leaving a void filled by Niall's heavy drinking and the village’s suspicious whispers.

The tension breaks when Niall and Lauren encounter a strange, disoriented woman in white on a desolate road. After they take her home, she vanishes without a trace. Shortly after, a local girl goes missing, and Lauren begins to experience eerie, supernatural occurrences that suggest the forest—and the town—are hiding something malevolent.

Key Elements:
Lauren: A sensitive, observant child who uses "charms" and nature to cope with her mother's absence and her father's erratic behaviour.
Niall: A man burdened by grief and suspicion, struggling to protect his daughter while being haunted by his own memories.
The Setting: The Scottish Highlands serve as a character itself—misty, dark, and filled with "pine" trees that seem to watch the inhabitants.
Folk Horror: The novel utilizes local superstitions and the feeling of "the uncanny" to build dread.

The Resolution:
As the mystery unfolds, the "ghostly" elements are revealed to be intertwined with a very human evil. It is discovered that Lauren's mother didn't simply leave; she was murdered by a member of the community. The "woman in white" and other sightings serve as a psychological and perhaps spiritual catalyst that forces the truth to the surface, finally exposing the predator hiding in plain sight and providing Lauren with a grim form of closure regarding her mother's fate.

Comments:
I get a recurring drive to avoid sticking to the same authors and last week, I was about to return to another of my favourite authors and I made myself try this. I searched for a horror novel and I discounted so many and this one jumped out. I litterally judged this book by its cover in a positive way. The cover matched my hopes and I really enjoyed it and it was different from others that I have read which helped in my enjoyment of it. I have recently found that some books are "samey". The whole book felt cold and run-down. Excellent mood setting throughout. I look forward to reading another by this author soon.

Books that we've read by Francine Toon (1):
Pine (2020)