The two detectives who are assigned to his case, Detectives Martin and Bannon (Bannon is exclusively referred to as “Flashy Suit” in Toby’s narration), have no leads (59). The night in question takes place the same day that he manages to regain his boss’s favor, after a suspension which lasted four days. Detective Martin visits Toby in the hospital to tell him that he found one of the men who attacked Toby in his apartment, and adds that Tiernan was likely involved as well. He is tried for Rafferty’s death and is sentenced to two years in a mental hospital followed by ten years in prison; this sentence is light thanks to his brain damage, which is played up for the court. The Witch Elm. Toby’s time at Ivy House with Melissa and Hugo is idyllic, but this peace only lasts for a month. This study guide contains the following sections: This detailed literature summary also contains Quotes and a Free Quiz on 18 discussion posts. He completes Hugo’s project and emails Mrs. Wozniak, but does not read her response. You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with This Study Guide consists of approximately 70 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - The whole family, with Rafferty lurking in the background, ends up in the hospital for the last few days of Hugo’s life. When he returns to his own apartment, he is attacked by two burglars who severely beat him. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. The narrator, Toby Hennessy, is also the main character. Because the novel begins with Toby in the present calling his cousins about the past, it is clear that Toby is reflecting in the present on events that have already occurred; this is reflected in the tenses, as the bulk of the novel is narrated in the past tense, but begins and ends with the present tense. After Rafferty’s implicit accusation, Toby asks Susanna and Leon to come over for dinner; he convinces Melissa to help pry details out of them, but as things get more tense, Melissa one again asks him to leave it alone. Hugo’s health begins to decline noticeably during this period. The narrator, Toby Hennessy, is also the main character. During this time, Susanna calls him to tell him that their uncle Hugo is dying of brain cancer. It ends when Zach, one of Susanna’s children, discovers a human skull in the wych elm in the back garden. You also agree to our Terms of Service. 'The Witch Elm' Starts Slow, Then Sucks You In Tana French's new standalone novel packs a lot of character and background information into the first … Hugo, a genealogist, is working on a project to uncover the family history of a woman named Amelia Wozniak, and enlists Toby’s help upon his arrival. By clicking “I agree” below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The Witch Elm takes place in Ireland, and is narrated in the first person. In “The Witch Elm,” French reverses her usual allegiances: The police investigators here are the interlopers; in fact, they’re regarded by our unreliable narrator as more foe than friend. After Hugo’s death, Toby returns to Ivy House. Other than the introduction, which takes place after the events of the novel, the novel follows a linear timeline. First I couldn't believe why he doesn't stop the fight at some point. At this point in the narrative, readers do not know what Ivy House is, but they know that he considers himself lucky to have had it, even though his cousins advise him to forget about it. During this conversation, Toby punches Rafferty, sparking a fight which results in Rafferty’s death. We are learning more and more about this as a precursor for erratic and violent behavior, probably via lack of impulse control etc. Viking, 2018. [**********SPOILER ALERT*******************. By clicking “I agree” below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. The Witch Elm Summary & Study Guide includes comprehensive information and analysis to Toby realizes that these emails must have been him, and that they inadvertently encouraged Dominic’s harassment of Susanna. The Witch Elm. Rafferty finds him at the house and reveals that someone sent Dominic anonymous emails pretending to be a girl who was secretly interested in him. Toby begins to hunt for answers, despite Melissa’s warnings to leave it alone. Toby thinks about that a lot, and tragically, he get's into the same mania and can't stop himself. The narrative reveals that Toby worked in public relations at an art gallery, where he committed fraud by helping his coworker Tiernan pass his work off as that of an underprivileged 18-year-old named Gouger. Toby’s uncle Oliver finds him an easy job in a public relations firm, and his parents rent out his old apartment. After he is released from the hospital, Toby spends a few months living in fear in his own apartment. After they leave the pub, Toby calls his girlfriend Melissa, but does not go over to her apartment because he worries that he might drunkenly admit what happened at work. Other than a slow start, which Tana French makes up for and then some, The Witch Elm twists and turns its way to a shocking ending that most readers will never see coming. But it’s also a scathing and insightful deconstruction of social privilege, coming from a master of the form at the height of her powers.” help you understand the book. Crime scene investigators enter the garden. would make him less beleavalbe in front of a jury compared to his cousins. After this brief introduction, Toby begins to recount one night at a pub, which he spent with his friends from high school, Sean and Declan. They cut down the wych elm and lift up the entire garden. Toby refuses and returns to his cousins, but just as Toby begins to accuse Leon of sending the two burglars after him, a long-eared owl flies down at them, terrifying Toby and Leon so much that the conversation ends abruptly. The protagonist of The Witch Elm, Toby Hennessy, has been lucky his whole life.A young good-looking white man, he’s got money, a loving family, a girlfriend he … The Witch Elm by Tana French. Welcome back. Refresh and try again. ORDER NOW Toby tells no one and returns to Hugo’s genealogy project as Ivy House falls into disrepair around him. Error rating book. Toby convinces himself that he must have been the killer and that he simply forgot. The tenth chapter ends with Hugo’s death. Toby experiences serious brain damage due to the attack. See our, Read a limited number of articles each month, You consent to the use of cookies and tracking by us and third parties to provide you with personalized ads, Unlimited access to washingtonpost.com on any device, Unlimited access to all Washington Post apps, No on-site advertising or third-party ad tracking. The answer provided below is all helpful context, and here's an additional reminder: Toby has suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury. He calls his cousins, Susanna and Leon, to talk to them about Ivy House. Ask the Author. or ask your favorite author a question with This content is currently not available in your region. Susanna and Leon admit to Toby that they killed Dominic together because he harassed and assaulted Susanna, completely without Toby’s involvement. The novel is divided into 13 chapters. The first chapter begins with a short monologue about Toby’s own luck. Toby has been mulling over who he is and how the injury changed him, and the unfairness of it all just let't him loose it when Rafferty admits to using exactly that.