"Season of the Witch" By Natasha Mostert

"Season of the Witch" delves into several complex issues—memory, magic, parapsychology…. but maintains its readability in the face of the accurate, quite detailed information it exposes the reader to. In other words it does not get “bogged down” when explaining the necessary background facts and history the reader may not be familiar with. Gabriel—an electronic scam artist—is asked to investigate the disappearance of an old flame’s stepson. It is soon apparent to Gabriel that the sisters Monk, the deceased’s friends, are somehow involved in his murder. But all Gabriel’s original reasons for meeting the sisters are thrown aside as they become thicker and thicker friends. I’ve been searching for a book with a “sexy” feel to it for a long time, and this has been the first one to hit the mark—it has enough suggestion in it without any of the downsides you thought of when you saw the word “sexy”. The sisters are enticingly but not overtly creepy, and never failed to send a frisson down my spine or make my blood rush. The closest comparison that can be drawn has in fact been quoted in the book itself—the vampires that seduce Harker in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The intrigue is sustained throughout most of the book—partly through Gabriel’s past traumas only being hinted at, partly due to the inclusion of the occasional pre-chapter diary entry by a mysterious woman. I found these entries to be the most intriguing parts of the book, but unfortunately after a certain event they become part of the narrative. Although I can see why this was done, I’ve yet to be convinced it was for the best. At that point the focus of the tension switches from intrigue-based to situation-based. It’s still reasonably effective, although I have a preference for intrigue and psychological tension than event-based terror. Perhaps that is why the conclusion felt slightly anti-climactic. Despite the minor complaints, I still derived a lot of enjoyment from “Season of the Witch” and it is by no means a badly written book—au contraire. Score: 8/10 Rationale: Sexy and readable, with a lot of class. It’s well written and has me paranoid I’m getting aneurisms every time I have a headache. Spooky!