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The Book of Witching

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The Book of Witching

By: C.J. Cooke
Narrated by: Paula Masterton
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⭐A BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick⭐ ⭐Kindle #1 bestseller⭐

'Chilling and beautifully written … C.J. Cooke's finest novel yet' Emilia Hart

'A spellbinding thriller' Scots Magazine

Four hundred years separate them.

One book binds them.

Glasgow 2024: Clem waits by her daughter’s hospital bed. Erin was found on an idyllic beach in Fynhallow Bay, Orkney, with catastrophic burns and only one memory: her name is Nyx.

But how did she get these burns? And how did her boyfriend end up burned alive?

Orkney 1594: accused of witchcraft, Alison Balfour awaits trial. The punishment? To be burned alive.

Separated by four hundred years but bound by the Book of Witching, two women stand imperilled. Can they unlock a centuries-old mystery? And will Fynhallow Bay give up its secrets before someone else dies?

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Readers have fallen to The Book of Witching:

‘My heart was in my mouth from the opening pages until the final paragraph and I couldn't guess just how events would end…’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I raced through this book in one day and absolutely recommend for anyone who loves a chilling read, especially one with a historical basis and witchy topic.’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘It’s atmospheric, witchy, magical, mysterious and thrilling and I felt compelled to read on…’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This book was both thrilling and engaging, it was written superbly, and it had me hooked from the beginning.’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Exciting, thrilling and absorbing. I loved this book from start to finish. The different timelines kept me hooked and kept the pace moving. Beautifully haunting.’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kindle #1 bestseller 31 October 2024

©2024 C.J. Cooke (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers
Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Horror Psychological Supernatural Thriller & Suspense Scary Exciting
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Critic reviews

‘Chilling and beautifully written, THE BOOK OF WITCHING gripped me from the very first sentence: I read it in one sitting. A haunting recreation of a real Scottish witch trial, this is CJ Cooke's finest novel yet’ Emilia Hart, Weyward
A fantastic blend of folklore and feminism, Cooke delicately balances terror and tenderness in a gothic, gripping tale’ Daily Mail
'A pacy, atmospheric story' Good Housekeeping
' A spellbinding thriller' Scots Magazine
'A gothic treat' Heat ​
'An atmospheric one-sitting read' Woman&Home
PRAISE FOR C.J. COOKE
‘Rich, chilling and gorgeously gothic. A Haunting in the Arctic is the kind of enchanting, terrifying mystery I just adore’ Chris Whitaker
‘Mesmerising and terrifying, this is a powerful story lovingly told … with characters that remain with me. Highly recommended’ Lisa Ballantyne
‘Evocative and chilling, an addictive piece of polar gothic’ Anna Bailey
A Haunting in the Arctic is a story of a woman haunted in every way. An eerie, atmospheric novel that is full of tension and suspense, this is a beautiful gothic chiller of a book’ Elizabeth Lee
All stars
Most relevant
The book begins with two time lines,  many Centuries apart. The story is developed into a detailed, black witchcraft driven tale.  Believable characters in what should be an unbelievable story, or is it? If you are just beginning this book, I am envious, as this book is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time.  I hope you enjoy every page 

unoutdownable, fascinating Witchcraft

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I couldn’t stop listening to this story - my first of CJ Cooke’s books. I loved the narrator’s voice - and she told the story with great passion.

Captivating story and perfect narration

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Brilliant narration, and an interesting story. Worth a listen. Quite brutal depiction of witch trials and especially as there is an element of historical truth in the story of Alison.

Enjoyable listen

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A cleverly woven tale following 2 separate storylines, which are merged at the end, lifting the fog and revealing their connection, bringing the story full circle.

Great narration and depiction of the characters, enabled great visualisation and brought the story to life. Enjoyable listen.

intriguing story and characters

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A really good story line which was linked to factual events. Could have been a bit more spooky but overall a good listen.

The story was gripping

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