Description
'Chilling, atmospheric' Sunday Times
'Vivid and haunting' Emilia Hart
'Blisteringly brilliant' Anna Mazzola
Will she be damned by flame... or cursed by magic?Innsbruck 1485
Helena should be doing what every other wealthy young wife is doing: keeping her husband's house, bearing his children. But when their footman is found dead, Helena is accused of killing him. Worse, she is accused of being a witch.
Imprisoned with six other women, Helena is plunged into a world of terror. When a cursed witch totem is smuggled into the prison, the prisoners attempt to use it to escape only to unleash a malevolent spirit which places all their lives in danger.
Does Helena risk her life and the lives of others by standing up to the terrifying witchfinder and risk death at the stake if found guilty? Or is the real threat the world beyond this one...?
__________________________________
Readers LOVE The Last Witch:
"A phenomenal read" *****
"A magical blend of horror, psychological thriller and historical fiction" *****
"Another spellbinding masterpiece from C.J. Cooke, it is as haunting as it is heartbreakingly beautiful" *****
"I must be in my witch phase, and this author has me hooked" *****
"Another cracker by C.J. Cooke. I loved this one from beginning to end, rarely putting it down" *****
The haunting new gothic historical novel from the internationally bestselling author, perfect for Halloween 2025
About the Author
C.J. Cooke is an acclaimed, award-winning poet and novelist published in 23 languages. Born in Belfast, C.J. has a PhD in Literature from Queen's University, Belfast, and was formerly Reader in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow, where she researched the impact of motherhood on women's writing and creative writing interventions for mental health. She has been nominated for an Edgar Award and an ITW Thriller Award, selected as a Waterstones' Paperback Book of the Year and BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick. She takes inspiration from real women she discovers in detailed historical research, and her books have been critically acclaimed for their atmospheric use of time and place.
Reviews
'A chilling, atmospheric novel' Sunday Times
'A vivid and haunting portrait of a real-life heroine, told in beautifully immersive prose' Emilia Hart, Sirens
'A powerful, rage-filled novel of courage, sisterhood and female power inspired by a real witchcraft trial ... Blisteringly brilliant' Anna Mazzola, The Book of Secrets
'Utterly chilling and almost unbearably poignant ... A beautifully written book that will stay with me for a long time' Frances Quinn, That Bonesetter Woman
'C.J. Cooke expertly weaves the terrifying and real experience of witch persecution with dark magic and the power of sisterhood ... An unforgettable read' Anya Bergman, The Witches of Vardo
'Cooke is known for her ability to craft spellbinding tales filled with dread and terror, but also beauty - and she shows off these skills once again' Scots Magazine
'Dark witch stuff [and] a really great thriller ... a lot of fun' Grady Hendrix, Wtichcraft for Wayward Girls
PRAISE FOR C.J. COOKE
'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
'Rich, chilling and gorgeously gothic ... 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
'An eerie, atmospheric novel that is full of tension and suspense, this is a beautiful gothic chiller of a book' Elizabeth Lee
Book Information
ISBN 9780008656300
Author C.J. Cooke
Format Paperback
Page Count 384
Imprint HarperCollins
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Weight(grams) 260g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 28mm
