Blurring genre lines has become an aspiration for many authors in today’s writing world. Each is striving to make their mark with a book that will capture readers’ attention and keep them coming back for more. We’re here to tell you that The Witch Killer (The Man in Black Book 1) by Harper Carr achieves that in the most unexpected ways. The Witch Killer blends fantasy, supernatural, and mystery together into one storyline that will capture your mind and leave you speechless.
The Witch Killer draws the eyes of readers with its tantalizing cover. Front and center is a young woman. Her fiery orange hair is the first thing that you see before you’re captivated by her yellow-orange eyes staring out at you. A piece of her hair adorns her face, but her face also bears the marks of scratches that do little to dim her beauty. Her brows are slanted down, giving the look of a glare or a look of disdain, while her wine colored lips are in a more neutral state.
Dressed in a blue-black outfit, golden specks adorn her left shoulder. Behind her left shoulder stands a beautiful white horse, appearing to be heading towards her, but has stopped. Looming over her right shoulder appears an old wooden structure. It appears weathered, worn and on the verge of collapse. Surrounding all of them are flaming colors of orangey yellows. Is this fire? Plant life? You decide.
Author Carr kicks off The Witch Killer with an unknown character. We say unknown because this beginning chapter is being told from the first-person POV. Who is this mysterious character? Whoever he is (and yes, we know it’s a he by the clues author Carr gives us), he’s watching a young woman whom he is supposed to be meeting.
As you read, you’ll get the sense that whoever this individual is has done their research. They know quite a lot about Michael Stryker, but is that who he is interested in? Or is it another? The more this first chapter of The Witch Killer unfolds the more a sense of “obsession” begins to bloom. This unknown character seems to have been captivated by this Estrada, so it will be interesting to see where things go from here.
The Witch Killer moves forward and does multiple pivots. Gone is the mysterious character we started the story out with. Instead, now we are thrown into the third-person POV with Estrada and his friend Sensara. They’re out in the woods preparing to meet up with others. The banter between these two hints at friendship which is confirmed shortly by author Carr.
As this second chapter of The Witch Killer builds, there is a sense of foreboding that begins to develop. Author Carr makes a point of letting readers know that Sensara is special. She is a psychic and a strong one at that. When she gets one shiver, she shakes it off, but when they persist, she and we readers get the sense that something dangerous is looming. The question is – what all will it entail, and how many will be lost before it’s all over?
The Witch Killer moves along and shifts once again to introduce readers to another character – Maggie. Maggie’s story is a unique one, but it is one that will only unfold truly and be told when the time is right. When we readers meet her, she is just returning home to find things amiss with her father. Unfortunately, things go from bad to worse when a “family heirloom” is destroyed.
The confrontation that unfolds between Maggie and her mother speaks of a division in the family. Something has happened that has created a rift of resentment. Yes, heirlooms are precious things, but was it truly worth the heavy price that Maggie is forced to pay in her mother’s anger? Is there something more to their story? Well, we’ll have to patiently wait for those answers as The Witch Killer unfolds.
The Witch Killer alternates between Estrada, Maggie, and the mysterious character who lurks in the shadows. These characters may be the focus of this story, but we are still granted a dynamic cast of other characters to help bring this novel to life and keep readers enthralled with what plays out.
As The Witch Killer shifts back to Estrada, this is where we learn about strange happenings. Women are going missing. The connecting link between these women? They’re all witches. It’s enough to bring up a similar incident that took place years before women going missing. Their remains were discovered at a pig farm. Most of Estrada’s group mourned the tragedy, while another? Callous and indifferent. Best keep an eye on that one.
Author Carr introduces quite a cast of characters in The Witch Killer. Orbiting Maggie is a young priest who appears to hold more than a purely “innocent” interest in the teen. Initially, you’ll be dismissive of it, thinking just your imagination. Besides, the man is helping Maggie and her family with her father. But as it persists…it becomes something that becomes more and more eyebrow-raising.
Questions will pop up as The Witch Killer continues forward. What exactly happened to Maggie’s father? Why does she carry the weight of guilt concerning his condition? Who is this mysterious person prowling the outskirts of the story, but who seems to be everywhere at once?
The Witch Killer blends together the supernatural with urban fantasy with a healthy dose of mystery. A serial killer is on the loose. A young woman turns up dead, burned to death. A spell unwittingly woven in a moment of reflection and invocation. Now, all are in the path of harm.
“As one of you has spun the charm,
Now none of you are safe from harm.
One who all felt they could trust,
Breeds deception cloaked in lust.
One will gain their heart’s desire,
While yet another pays with fire.
Before the dark of winter night,
Four souls pass over into light
Once begun it cannot end,
But circles round as circles bend.”
This warning uttered by a goddess in The Witch Killer will be the spark that truly ignites the fire of this story. It will have you asking a million questions a minute. What does it mean? Who will be lost? Will it be four in this group? How will all of this end? Before you know it, you’ll be pulled to the edge of your seat, eager to devour this book as quickly as possible.
As The Witch Killer unfold,s readers will witness a transformation in Maggie. She starts out as this sweet, innocent girl, but then it’s like she feels this need to change and morph into something else. It all starts with her stumbling upon the ritual with Estrada and Sensara. There are sparks of desire unleashed in not just this priest and priestess pair, but in Maggie as well. For her, Estrada becomes the “man in black.”
She is captivated by him. Unfortunately, she’s not the only one. Author Carr writes Estrada in The Witch Killer as a man notorious for snagging people into his orbit.
“…that’s just Estrada’s way. Everyone loves him and he loves them back.”
Estrada’s a bisexual character with what he feels is enough love to share with all around him. Unfortunately, Estrada’s star shines just a little too bright and puts him in the path of danger.
Readers looking for spicy, steamy scenes in The Witch Killer will be mildly disappointed. There are sex scenes that take place in this novel, but nothing graphic. You are given enough context clues in this book to be aware that sex is taking place, but author Carr chooses to leave it vague and moves the story along quickly.
Packed with page-turning drama, The Witch Killer becomes a thrill ride for readers. Author Carr weaves in supernatural elements, Irish magic & folklore, family feuds, danger, and suspense, and so much more. All of these elements blend together to create a riveting storyline that will leave you eager for more.
The Witch Killer is part of a series, but the way that this book wraps up leads us to believe that each book will be a standalone novel. There may be some crossover, but it will be interesting to see which characters crossover to each following story in the series.
There are delicious resolutions and reveals as The Witch Killer draws to a close. Will you be able to decipher who the stalker and killer is? Brace yourself for heartbreaking revelations concerning characters you’ve come to despise. How will it all end? How deep does this go? All of these questions and more will be answered before The Witch Killer comes to a close.
Readers who enjoy dark fantasy novels will enjoy The Witch Killer. Author Carr blends a trio of genres to create a grippingly dynamic story that will stick with readers long after the last page is turned. There is no perfect ending for these characters, but the ending? Oh, it is still truly satisfying to the core. If you’re looking for a dark fantasy novel blended with supernatural elements and a healthy dose of serial killer murder mystery, then this is the book for you.
Pros:
- Gripping storyline
- Absolute page-turner
- Dynamic cast of characters
- Delicious mystery elements complete with serial killer vibes in all the right places
- Twists and surprises you won’t see coming
Cons:
- None of merit
Scribble's Worth 