Book Club Discussion Guide

Novel Overview

Why Did God Make the Tree? follows Dr. Patrick Denny’s return to psychiatry after abandoning his successful career as a horror novelist. In the seemingly quaint New England town of Waylingbrooke, New Hampshire, he takes a position at Everston Psychiatric Hospital where his unorthodox methods challenge the institution’s rigid reliance on medication. He works to guide three troubled souls through the labyrinth of their own minds—an insomniac haunted by the town’s looming tower, a schizophrenic who believes he’s living inside one of Patrick’s horror stories, and a catatonic woman lost in the dark forest of her psyche. As Patrick attempts to untangle the mysteries of their troubled minds, his own tormented past begins to surface.

1. What was your first impression of Dr. Patrick Denny? How did your view of him evolve throughout the novel?
2. Compare the three patients–Samantha, Michael, and Amelia. Which patient’s story resonated most with you and why?
3. The novel explores various power dynamics through relationships–Patrick and Helen, Patrick and Anderson, Dilby and his patients. How do these relationships reflect larger themes about control and manipulation?

4. The novel blends psychological thriller, gothic horror, and literary fiction. Which genre elements were most compelling to you?
5. How does the novel explore the complex landscape of mental health treatment and institutional care?
6. Trauma seems to be a central theme. How do characters’ past experiences shape their present actions and relationships?

7. The novel’s structure (The Tower, The Monster, The Tree) seems intentional. How do these sections mirror the characters’ psychological journeys?
8. Natural elements play a significant role throughout the novel–from storms and changing seasons to forests and fungi. How do these elements contribute to both the atmosphere and deeper meanings in the story?

9. The epilogue suggests a cyclical narrative. What do you think this implies about the characters and Waylingbrooke?
10. If you could ask the author one question about the novel, what would it be?

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