I'm reviewing The Witch Club by ...

 ... Felicity Green.  Read on to find out why I think it is a perfect Hallowe'en read ...

I accepted this book for an honest review with some trepidation.  I have never been interested in the ‘dark arts’ per se, and apart from finding the history of witchcraft in the UK mildly interesting, I have never really investigated the subject any further.  Folk lore and its history has been a subject I’ve jumped into at various times since I was a teenager.  Reading this book has caused me to challenge some of the misconceptions that I have come across over time.  It proved to be a far more interesting and engaging read than I originally anticipated.

Set in and around Arrochar and Tarbet – the narrow spit of land that separates Lock Lomond from Loch Long – I felt quite at home as I was reading.  Although I am not a Scot by birth, I am a fan of that area of the northwest coast, having visited Arrochar previously.  The author uses the fabulous geography and its rural constraints to further her story and as a stunning backdrop to the main action of the plot.  As the main plotline progressed, I could see and hear the waters of the loch lapping on the shore.

Dessie, a B&B owner, is the central character in this story, and she has a fascinating backstory that drives the principal plotline.  As a character, I found her difficult to like to start with, but when the various elements of her back story began to be slowly revealed, my understanding of her actions and motivations gradually transformed.

The supplementary characters were equally as engaging – including the villain of the piece, who is hiding in plain sight throughout the book until an eventual unveiling.  As for the witch club.  Yes, there is one, and it seems to consist of most of Dessie’s friends and neighbours.  Are they really witches?  You’ll just have to read the book to find out!

An interesting story that I unexpectedly enjoyed with a narrative voice the flowed well.  The story is told from different points of view, but the device is handled very well by this author.  Although the setting is Scotland, and the text is created for an American audience, so there are a few words and phrases that English readers may find a little disconcerting.

If you're looking for something that is a little bit scary but also has a bit of magic along with a mystery that keeps you guessing, then this might be your perfect read for the coming celebration of Hallowe'en.