The Witch’s Orchard Review

I know I said I was going for cozy this month, but I can’t be trusted to stick to a tbr. So, let’s get to my review of The Witch’s Orchard.

Synopsis

Former Air Force special investigator Annie Gore joined the military right after high school to escape the fraught homelife of her childhood. Now, she’s getting by as a private investigator, and her latest case takes her to an Appalachian holler not unlike the one where she grew up.

Ten years ago, three little girls went missing from their tiny mountain town. While one was returned, the others were never seen again. After all this time without answers, the brother of one of the girls wants to hire an outsider, and he wants Annie. While she may not be from his town, she gets mountain towns. Mountain people. Driving back into the hills for a case this old—it might be a fool’s errand. But Annie needs to put money in the bank and she can’t turn down a case. Not even one that dredges up her own painful past.

In the shadow of the Blue Ridge, Annie begins to track down the truth, navigating a decade’s worth of secrets, folklore of witches and crows, and a whole town that prefers to forget. But while the case may have been forgotten, echoes of the past linger. And Annie’s arrival stirs someone into action.

My Thoughts on The Witch’s Orchard

I finished this in two days. I couldn’t put it down. It was fast-paced and action packed, but it still kept that Appalachian lore that drew me in at the beginning.

I really have very few notes on the first half of this book. I liked the character though I do wish we could have explored more of her backstory. I’ve heard rumors that this is the start to a series so there will be time for that.

Where it went off the rails for me was the ending. It felt super rushed and it was a mess. The twist happened in a weird way that just didn’t make a ton of sense. It could have used a little extra editing. Ultimately, I liked The Witch’s Orchard, but I didn’t love it.

My Rating: 3/5