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Witches Copse
A gripping folk-horror occult-noir thriller in the tradition of The Wicker Man, Kill List and The Witch.
It’s 1979, the Winter of Discontent, and gun for hire, Elizabeth Daton’s career ends abruptly when a job results in a young girl being hospitalized. Her luck changes when renowned barrister, Quentin Quinby hires her to travel to a remote Welsh village and escort an acquaintance of his back to London from the ominous Witches Copse.
Daton agrees, desperate to make amends, believing she’s been given a second chance. But what begins as a simple errand quickly escalates into a terrifying ordeal of possession, witchcraft, and the occult.
Can Daton triumph or is she doomed to pay redemption’s price?
166 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2024
9 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Math Bird
13 books30 followersMath Bird is a multi-genre novelist and short story writer, and his work has aired on BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio Wales, and BBC Radio 4 Extra.
He also writes and presents the BIRD's EyeView of Books Podcast.
Check out or subscribe to Math's Newsletter at mathbird.substack.com. Here, you can listen to Math's regular Podcast, access new and exclusive stories and articles and catch up on the latest book news and releases.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 23, 2023
You don't read a book about witches for a decade, then take on two at once. What's that about? Perhaps it was just my good fortune.
This time, the book came in the form of an audio version over at Audible. Listening to novels isn't my usual style. Though I love spending time with my radio, I find that the focus required to follow a longer story is something else. I've learned that the only way that I can concentrate fully on a story is to do nothing, which I managed to do on this occasion; perhaps it's a testimony to Math Bird that I did so.
There are various sections to Witches Copse that offer different angles of the piece.
Our main force in this book is Dates, a tough woman killer whose services are for hire. On this occasion, she's taken on by Quentin Quimby, an arrogant barrister with a taste for the dark arts. He sends Dates to Wales to back up the pair he's already sent down there, a researcher and a hard man. Things aren't going so well for them. The hard man has turned to jelly on account of the voices in his head, courtesy of a local woman who is in tune with nature among other things and the barman at the place where they are staying is at the end of his tether.
Dates is stubborn enough to survive the Welsh torment that unfolds and returns to Quimby to pass on the news, not that he's entirely happy about the outcome. It wasn't what was expected, after all.
Next we follow the history of the story, something that goes back through generations, the posession of women and their brutal treatment by the authorities. It's all rather spellbinding as well as being chilling.
From here, there's a turn in proceedings. Dates shifts from victor to victim and the tale is turned on its head. It enters a space familiar to me from the Hammer House of Horror films I watched as a child. It captures all the mood, pomp and ceremony along with the hammy over-playing of parts. Things don't look good for Dates until layers of personal politics come to the fore and offer her a slither of hope. As she only really knows one way of going about surviving, there's plenty of raw action to follow.
I did enjoy this one quite a lot and know that if you're more of a horror fan than I am, this will really light some candles in the pentangle. My personal preference was for the first half of the tale, driven by mystery, possession and folklore. The more it entered familiar territory, the less engaged I was, though Bird turns it all on its head in a way that I found refreshing.
If you're after something dark and spooky for Halloween and you enjoy the adrenalin rush of action stories, this one's definitely for you.
This time, the book came in the form of an audio version over at Audible. Listening to novels isn't my usual style. Though I love spending time with my radio, I find that the focus required to follow a longer story is something else. I've learned that the only way that I can concentrate fully on a story is to do nothing, which I managed to do on this occasion; perhaps it's a testimony to Math Bird that I did so.
There are various sections to Witches Copse that offer different angles of the piece.
Our main force in this book is Dates, a tough woman killer whose services are for hire. On this occasion, she's taken on by Quentin Quimby, an arrogant barrister with a taste for the dark arts. He sends Dates to Wales to back up the pair he's already sent down there, a researcher and a hard man. Things aren't going so well for them. The hard man has turned to jelly on account of the voices in his head, courtesy of a local woman who is in tune with nature among other things and the barman at the place where they are staying is at the end of his tether.
Dates is stubborn enough to survive the Welsh torment that unfolds and returns to Quimby to pass on the news, not that he's entirely happy about the outcome. It wasn't what was expected, after all.
Next we follow the history of the story, something that goes back through generations, the posession of women and their brutal treatment by the authorities. It's all rather spellbinding as well as being chilling.
From here, there's a turn in proceedings. Dates shifts from victor to victim and the tale is turned on its head. It enters a space familiar to me from the Hammer House of Horror films I watched as a child. It captures all the mood, pomp and ceremony along with the hammy over-playing of parts. Things don't look good for Dates until layers of personal politics come to the fore and offer her a slither of hope. As she only really knows one way of going about surviving, there's plenty of raw action to follow.
I did enjoy this one quite a lot and know that if you're more of a horror fan than I am, this will really light some candles in the pentangle. My personal preference was for the first half of the tale, driven by mystery, possession and folklore. The more it entered familiar territory, the less engaged I was, though Bird turns it all on its head in a way that I found refreshing.
If you're after something dark and spooky for Halloween and you enjoy the adrenalin rush of action stories, this one's definitely for you.
September 6, 2022
I love discovering new writers, especially talented horror writers!
I enjoyed this book a lot. The main character is a strong woman who is sympathetic throughout. The baddies are bad, the lead stays strong and the story is very interesting.
Some parts felt a little rushed. If this is a standalone novel it would have been great to have delved deeper with some of the backstory, history and peripheral characters. Also the ending was a little abrupt, hence dropping a star.
If the author writes a second part I would absolutely read it as the writing is fantastic and it maintains its atmosphere well. I love the concept and the different layers to the story.
I'm not sure if it falls squarely into the Folk Horror category, it certainly has elements of it and I think most horror fans will find it very enjoyable.
I enjoyed this book a lot. The main character is a strong woman who is sympathetic throughout. The baddies are bad, the lead stays strong and the story is very interesting.
Some parts felt a little rushed. If this is a standalone novel it would have been great to have delved deeper with some of the backstory, history and peripheral characters. Also the ending was a little abrupt, hence dropping a star.
If the author writes a second part I would absolutely read it as the writing is fantastic and it maintains its atmosphere well. I love the concept and the different layers to the story.
I'm not sure if it falls squarely into the Folk Horror category, it certainly has elements of it and I think most horror fans will find it very enjoyable.
August 3, 2022
Excellent piece of Folk Horror
Never heard of this author but I liked the sound of this and gave it a try. I enjoyed the 70s setting, really took me back. The characters are all believable and interesting and the pace of the story never lets up until the thrilling conclusion. Good twist at the end too. I would recommend this book and would happily read this author again
Never heard of this author but I liked the sound of this and gave it a try. I enjoyed the 70s setting, really took me back. The characters are all believable and interesting and the pace of the story never lets up until the thrilling conclusion. Good twist at the end too. I would recommend this book and would happily read this author again
December 31, 2022
Witches Copse is a short folk horror novel written by British author, Math Bird. It was a nice introduction to Math Bird’s work. Witches Copse deals with a broken Elizabeth Daton trying to pick up the pieces of her life after a job goes awry, leaving a young girl hospitalized and Daton’s career in shambles. Desperate to redeem her past mistake, she accepts a seemingly easy errand that could get her life back on track. Unfortunately for Daton, she walks into a trap contrived by an occultist group and steeped in witchcraft.
While I enjoyed the story, especially the section “The Strange Lives of Helenora Haye,” I wanted more backstory on the Order and the main characters, particularly Elizabeth Daton. Bird skirts around her past, and I wanted to get to know Elizabeth better. Some scenes felt a bit rushed, and the ending felt more like a cliffhanger. Maybe, Math Bird plans to write a sequel which I would read if it means I will get answers to the questions that are still lingering for me.
While I enjoyed the story, especially the section “The Strange Lives of Helenora Haye,” I wanted more backstory on the Order and the main characters, particularly Elizabeth Daton. Bird skirts around her past, and I wanted to get to know Elizabeth better. Some scenes felt a bit rushed, and the ending felt more like a cliffhanger. Maybe, Math Bird plans to write a sequel which I would read if it means I will get answers to the questions that are still lingering for me.
January 10, 2023
A good folk horror tale.
October 29, 2023
This just wasn’t for me in any way, shape or form. I found the tone of the book very grating from the start and there were some very off-putting parts to the writing style. As an example, I got tired of hearing about how ugly the main character, Dates, is.
I also didn’t think it was very frightening, which is what I was looking for in a horror. It was just a weird and unpleasant story. The beginning was interesting enough, and had some very atmospheric parts. The use of Wales as a setting was interesting and the scenes involving the hotel were quite eerie, but then I felt like the story took a very generic and predictable turn.
As an aside, I also didn’t think it read like it was set in 1979 - I can’t quite put my finger on why, it just felt like it was set in the present day.
Overall this book just wasn’t my cup of tea and I won’t be reading anything from this author again.
Content Notes:
Warnings: .
I also didn’t think it was very frightening, which is what I was looking for in a horror. It was just a weird and unpleasant story. The beginning was interesting enough, and had some very atmospheric parts. The use of Wales as a setting was interesting and the scenes involving the hotel were quite eerie, but then I felt like the story took a very generic and predictable turn.
As an aside, I also didn’t think it read like it was set in 1979 - I can’t quite put my finger on why, it just felt like it was set in the present day.
Overall this book just wasn’t my cup of tea and I won’t be reading anything from this author again.
Content Notes:
Warnings: .
March 4, 2023
I didn't get it actually.
After reading so many 5 star books concerning Witches were their was a human connection I honestly didn't get this one. It started out okay but then it just lost me and left me uninterested. I just could not get into the characters at all.
After reading so many 5 star books concerning Witches were their was a human connection I honestly didn't get this one. It started out okay but then it just lost me and left me uninterested. I just could not get into the characters at all.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews