Before you follow the path into your family's history, beware of the secrets you may find… Before you follow the path into your family's history, beware of the secrets you may find… Ruth has returned to Edinburgh after many years of exile. Left rootless by the death of her estranged father, she is faced with the daunting task of sorting through his possessions. Amidst the dust of her old life, Ruth discovers a hidden diary from the eighteenth century, written by her ancestor, Thomas Erskine. As she sifts through the ancient pages of the past, Ruth is pulled into a story that she can't escape. As the youngest son of a noble family Thomas' life started in genteel poverty, but his extraordinary experiences propel him from the high seas to Lord Chancellor. Yet, on his journey through life, he makes a powerful enemy who hounds him to the death – and beyond. Ruth has opened a door to the past that she can't close… The inspiration for The Ghost Tree lies in Barbara Erskine's own personal history – branching back to the days of Thomas Erskine, her great grandfather, five times removed.