"This thrilling and unsettling tale features two time frames, two resilient women, allegations of witchcraft, and a house in Massachusetts that carries secrets across the centuries."
Crossing multiple genres this novel captivates as a supernatural thriller, historical story of alleged witchcraft, family drama, and relationship tale. It’s oh-so readable and features two resilient women.
In the past Caroline steps onto a dangerous path when she tries to protest the innocence of a woman accused of being a witch, while in the present Julia returns to help care for her Grandmother and rediscovers the chilling presence that so frightened her as a child.
Set in 1692 and the present, the house of Pemberton in Massachusetts bridges the gap between the two time periods. Pemberton feels real, solid, very much in each moment, and as the constant link it more than maintains its sense of place and becomes a character within the story. Each time frame stands in its own right yet perfectly partners with the other.
I became engrossed, and as each story moved forward secrets began to form, dwell, and damage as they twisted ever tighter. While this is very much about the two women, the other characters more than hold their own.
Themes of greed, trust, survival, and fortitude span the pages. The supernatural element doesn’t overpower the story in the present, I was carried into the words and I believed. This is clever writing as it evoked my emotions, particularly during the allegations of witchcraft.
I loved the ending and it felt extremely satisfying as it was revealed. Compelling and unsettling, The Witch is a story of women, secrets, resilience, and survival.

| Primary Genre | Thriller and Suspense |
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Closing date: 15/10/2026
the best psychological thrillers · the best thriller audiobooks
Named one of the TIME100 Most Influential People of 2026 *** From #1 Sunday Times bestselling author Freida McFadden comes a sharp, unsettling thriller about two women, past and present, united by the grounds of an estate and one deadly question: is the danger that haunts them magic-or madness? Some secrets don't die-they wait.
The Witch features in the following genres: Books of the Month, Historical Fiction, Horror and Supernatural Fiction, Thriller and Suspense, Fiction, Witchcraft, Historical Fiction, Narrative theme: Sense of place, Horror and Supernatural Fiction, Psychological thriller
Hardback, Paperback. £19.80, down from the £22.00 cover price. Pre-order. 6th October 2026.
The Witch was written by Freida McFadden and published by Poisoned Pen Press an imprint of Sourcebooks
The Witch has 320 pages
£19.80, reduced from £22.00. Pre-order. 6th October 2026.