The Witch by Freida McFadden * * * * *
The Witch is a mystery thriller told across two timelines, one set in the present day and the other in seventeenth-century Massachusetts. Both stories revolve around Pemberton Manor, an old house with a rather disturbing history, and the women whose lives become entangled with it.
In the present-day timeline, we follow Julia Barlow, a young woman who has fallen on hard times and moves into Pemberton Manor with her grandmother and great-aunt. The house has been in the family for generations, and it certainly has its share of secrets. Strange things begin happening around Julia, and she soon becomes interested in the history of the manor, particularly the portrait of Archie Aldrich hanging in the parlour. Archie was once the master of the house, and his third wife, Molly, is the woman shown in the portrait. His second wife, Caroline, was accused of witchcraft and burned as a witch. Could Caroline be the one haunting Pemberton Manor? Or is something else responsible for the increasingly unsettling events?
As Julia begins investigating the history of the house, she meets Henry, the curator of the local museum, who helps her uncover more about its past. He's also quite obviously going to be her love interest, which becomes apparent almost immediately. Not that I'm complaining, because I really liked Henry. He's charming, helpful, and shares my interest in history. He's also interested in the 1950s and likes Frank Sinatra, which I can certainly appreciate, although I'm personally more of a Gene Kelly girl. Just putting that out there in case any gentlemen with an appreciation for the 1950s happen to be reading this. I could definitely use a Henry in my life!
The historical timeline follows Caroline, whose story takes place in the seventeenth century. We already know that she will eventually be accused of witchcraft, but the circumstances surrounding that accusation unfold gradually, alongside other events in her life. I particularly enjoyed the way McFadden wrote these chapters. Caroline's narration has a distinctly historical quality, with language and expressions that make her sound like someone living in the seventeenth century rather than a modern woman transplanted into the past. It gave her chapters a different atmosphere from Julia's and helped distinguish the two timelines.
One of the things I appreciated most about this book was that both timelines were genuinely interesting. Quite often, when a novel alternates between the past and the present, I find myself becoming more invested in one story than the other. I end up wanting to rush through the less interesting chapters to get back to the characters I actually care about. That never happened here. I was equally curious about the strange events unfolding at Pemberton Manor in the present and Caroline's increasingly dangerous situation in the past. Both narratives had their own mysteries, developments, and revelations, so switching between them never felt like an interruption.
The two timelines also create different kinds of suspense. In Julia's chapters, the central question is what exactly is happening inside the manor. Is the house haunted? Is there something supernatural at work, or is there another explanation for the strange occurrences? In Caroline's chapters, we know that an accusation of witchcraft is coming, but we don't know precisely how events will lead to it or what else might be happening behind the scenes, not how it will eventually unfold. That combination kept me engaged throughout the novel, because there was always something I wanted to find out.
And then there are the twists! From what I've gathered, Freida McFadden is rather famous for her plot twists, and now I can see why. There are several revelations towards the end of this book, and I thought they were excellent. I genuinely enjoyed the way they changed my understanding of what had been happening in both timelines. The story had already been entertaining, but those final twists were what really pushed it into five-star territory for me. They made the mystery feel even more satisfying and gave me that wonderful feeling of discovering that there was more going on than I'd realised.
I also enjoyed McFadden's writing style. I'd heard that her books were easy to read, and that certainly proved true here. Her prose is accessible, the pacing is brisk, and the story moves forward without getting bogged down in unnecessary details. There's always another question to answer, another strange occurrence to investigate, or another piece of the past waiting to be uncovered. I never felt bored, and I never found myself wanting to skip ahead, which is quite an achievement for my ADHD brain!
Another thing I appreciated was the length. This isn't an especially long novel, and it doesn't need to be. The plot is tight and focused, with enough room to develop both timelines without stretching the mystery beyond what it can comfortably sustain. I've read quite a few mysteries that could have benefited from being considerably shorter, particularly when they introduce too many characters, unnecessary subplots, or endless red herrings simply to keep the story going. The Witch doesn't have that problem. It knows what story it wants to tell, and it tells it efficiently.
What impressed me most was how consistently entertaining the whole experience was. I enjoyed the historical setting, the atmosphere of the old manor, the mysteries surrounding its inhabitants, and the gradual revelations that connected the two stories. I liked the characters, particularly Henry, and I appreciated that neither timeline felt like filler. The book maintained my curiosity from beginning to end, and the conclusion delivered exactly the kind of excitement I want from a thriller.
So, my first experience with Freida McFadden was an unequivocal success! I went into The Witch not knowing whether I'd enjoy her writing, and I came out of it with a five-star read and a definite interest in exploring more of her books. I'll probably pick up another one whenever I have a suitable opening in my reading schedule, because if her other thrillers are anywhere near as entertaining as this one, I think I'm going to have a very good time.
I absolutely recommend The Witch to readers who enjoy mysteries with dual timelines, historical secrets, creepy old houses, accusations of witchcraft, and some genuinely satisfying twists. It was an excellent choice for my October reading, and a wonderful introduction to an author I'd been meaning to try for ages.
Five stars, and I'm officially interested in reading more Freida McFadden! If you're already a fan, let me know which of her books I should try next. I'd love to hear your favourites!
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