A wonderfully atmospheric, twisty and hugely entertaining read
As well as being a psychological thriller, The Witch blends historical fiction with horror and a chilling ghost story, making it quite different from the kind of book we usually expect from Freida McFadden. She absolutely nailed it, though.
The story unfolds across two timelines. In the late seventeenth century, we follow Caroline, who begins her story by telling us that she always knew she would die young, but never imagined she would end up hanging from the gallows, condemned as a witch.
In the present day, Julia returns to the same creepy old mansion where Caroline once lived after her parents ask her to look after her elderly grandmother. Julia hasn't forgotten the terrifying experiences she had in the house as a child, and when she begins hearing the same disembodied voice at night, she starts to wonder whether Caroline's ghost is still there, and whether she's unhappy about the family's plans for the home that has been passed down through generations.
This was the perfect read for Halloween season: creepy, atmospheric and compulsively readable. If you enjoyed Weyward or The Familiars, I think this will be right up your street.
And, as you'd expect from Freida McFadden, nothing is quite what it seems. In the final third, everything begins to come together in the most unexpected of ways, with the twists, turns and revelations I've come to love from her books. I really love Freida McFadden's sense of humour, and certain moments are such a fun reminder that she knows exactly how to play with her readers' expectations.
I'm a die-hard Freida McFadden fan who's read all her books, but even by her standards this was a standout for me and easily one of my favourites. I listened to the audiobook which is brilliant and a great way to enjoy the story.
I've read many of Freida McFaddens books and enjoyed them all but I really believe this is one of her best. I loved it.
Don't be fooled by the title of this book into thinking that it's just another ghost story. It's much more than that. It's a family story, a mystery story and yes a ghost story with a great twist at the end. The characters are all believable and fortunately not so many of them that you become lost. The shorter chapters help you keep track as it goes back and forth between the past and present. As for the past, it brings home the cruelties of the witch hunts. I finished this book in 2 days. I just couldn't put it down.