Blog Blast: Witch Bottle by Tom Fletcher

Today I’m taking part in a blog blast for Witch Bottle by Tom Fletcher! Thank you to Jo Fletcher Books and Netgalley for a digital review copy, and to Quercus Books for a spot in the blog blast. The book is out today!

Here’s the synopsis and my review:

Publication Date: 26 November 2020
Genre: Horror
Page Count: 293
Author: Tom Fletcher
Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books

Synopsis:

Daniel once had a baby brother, but he died, a long time ago now. And he had a wife and a daughter, but that didn’t work out, so now he’s alone. The easy monotony of his job as a milkman in the remote northwest of England demands nothing from him other than dealing with unreasonable customer demands and the vagaries of his enigmatic boss.

But things are changing. Daniel’s started having nightmares, seeing things that can’t possibly be there – like the naked, emaciated giant with a black bag over its head which is so real he swears he could touch it . . . if he dared.

It’s not just at night bad things are happening, either, or just to him. Shaken and unnerved, he opens up to a local witch. She can’t discern the origins of his haunting, but she can provide him with a protective ward – a witch-bottle – if, in return, he will deliver her products on his rounds.

But not everyone’s happy to find people meddling with witch-bottles. Things are about to get very unpleasant . . .

Review:

Witch Bottle is a remarkable horror story with superb worldbuilding! The first chapter alludes at the darkness that awaits Daniel, but the book takes its time exploring his solitude and troubled past. It’s a slow burn designed to settle you into his mundane life before chipping away at it. From the terrifying figure that appears in his home to the unnerving Fallen Stock delivery men, he finds himself in a mystifying situation.

I connected with Daniel’s voice and thought his personality was fully realised. While the book’s tone is pretty bleak, there’s some dark humour to offset the gloom. I enjoyed his musings about his co-workers and customers. The setting is vividly illustrated and I could easily imagine the different people on his route. There are also flashbacks to his marriage, the birth of his daughter, and his childhood. He admits that he has a tough time connecting with other people. It’s only later that we find out why. It’s a deeply sad story and shows how trauma can affect the way people live.

While I wish Daniel’s relationship with the local witch, Kathryn, was explored further, I liked their interactions and seeing her point of view. I would have loved to know more about her witchcraft. Her belief in magic lends credence to Daniel’s disturbing visions. I found the notion that there is something wrong that we can feel but cannot see to be truly frightening! But the scares don’t just come from the supernatural. The book weaves the horrors of war and climate change into the larger narrative, merging fantasy and reality. It makes for a haunting and poignant read.

Witch Bottle is an intense, atmospheric folk horror that leaves an arresting impression. Recommended!

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