I haven’t read a psychological thriller in a while so when the opportunity to read one presented itself, I had to take it! The promise of some witch craft helped make that decision for me too and that lovely cover! Today, I bring you my thoughts on The Witch House by Ann Rawson in the form of four things I really liked about this book! First, take a look at the blurb and we will dive in.
Who can you trust, if you can’t trust yourself?
Alice Hunter, grieving and troubled after a breakdown, stumbles on the body of her friend and trustee, Harry Rook. The police determine he has been ritually murdered and suspicion falls on the vulnerable Alice, who inherited the place known locally as The Witch House from her grandmother, late High Priestess of the local coven. When the investigations turn up more evidence, and it all seems to point to Alice, even she begins to doubt herself.
Can she find the courage to confront the secrets and lies at the heart of her family and community to uncover the truth, prove her sanity, and clear herself of murder?
Content Notes: Descriptions of animal cruelty, death in family, suicide, mental health problems.
Things I liked about The Witch House
The Witch House is told from the point of view of a 22 year old, Alice Hunter. Here are four things I liked about the story which might encourage you to pick it up too! 🙂
# 1 The Relationships
Alice’s mother, Helen, was not a positive figure when she was growing up. Helen also did not have a good relationship with Frances, her mother. There are no male figures in the family and a good chunk of the book goes into unraveling the relationship between these three women as they have grown older. They have needed each other at different points in their lives, sometimes feeling supported and other times, feeling betrayed. When Frances passes away, Helen is left with a bitter taste in her mouth and the secrets are exposed.
I liked this deep dive into family values and structures, the things that mothers do to support their daughters and how circumstances and a person’s nature can act as a hindrance.
# 2 The Archeology
Frances, during her lifetime, collected a number of items that are museum worthy. Some are replicas that she herself commissioned to be made. How Frances came across so many of these items is a mystery. This added an additional mystery to the story, while at the same time, giving me, the reader, a glimpse into who Frances was and what her interests were.
# 3 Coven and witches in a small town setting
Nowadays, so many stories are set in small towns as they are ripe for their own legends to play out in reality. I gravitate towards these kind of stories because of the setting and how integrated the people of the town and their perceptions are in the storyline. With a history of witches and covens, the murder mystery leads one down memory lane, presenting facts and information about rituals. Alice herself believes in these practices and uses them to feel safer.
I wish this aspect of the characters was emphasized and explored in more ways than presented.
# 4 Self Doubt
“Control is an illusion, and we are all subject to the whim of the forces of nature.”
Excerpt From The Witch House
This story is Alice’s journey to grasp who she is. After being accused of Harry’s murder and the evidence pointing towards her, she starts reflecting on her history of mental health issues and if she is forgetting her own actions. Is her grief manifesting in dangerous ways? I liked this narrative around self-doubt, intermingled with the desire to persevere and start a new life, no matter what people say.
Overall, The Witch House was an interesting read. All the elements above kept me engaged in it. I had a lot going on while I was reading and I suspect that is why my immersion wasn’t as high (see below) but looking at the reviews I read, most people found it quite immersive which is great!
** The Witch House is now out so grab a copy and let me know what you think! **
Many thanks to Red Dog Press for a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Find reviews of other thrillers that I have read here.
Cover image: Photo by Breno Machado on Unsplash
I’m reading it now, good review!
Hope you enjoy it too!
Great review, Kriti! A psychological thriller involving witchcraft and archaeology sounds wonderful 🙂
It was a good read! 😊