A review by evitaveda
The Book of Witching by C.J. Cooke

4.5

“People have secrets. Especially our children.” 

The Book of Witching is a historical fantastical mystery about a woman accused of being a witch in the 1500s and a woman fighting to protect her daughter in the 2020s. 

This was a really engaging story with a mystery I was desperate to unravel. Alison was a woman living in the Orkneys in the 1500s and she was a known healer and practitioner of magic. Her storyline was really interesting and so frustrating to read about. It really made me think about witch trials and how many women were wrongfully accused and pressured/tortured into confessing. Alison’s story was truly rage inducing! 

Clem, meanwhile, was living in the present day. Her daughter’s hiking trip to the Orkneys with her friends ends in a tragedy. While her daughter heals, Clem and her ex-husband try to unravel what really happened. I was so curious about Erin’s secrets and enjoyed reading about how Clem dealt with it all. 

Cooke’s writing is, as always, captivating and made me want to read “just one more chapter.” Although Alison’s story definitely stirred up the most emotions in me, I found Clem and Erin’s storyline more mysterious and captivating. I was really trying to figure out how it was all connected (because I know it always is connected somehow!) I think this book was a perfect mysterious Påskekrim (easter crime) read. I won’t say more. You must unravel it yourself.