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Which Witch?
208 pages, Hardcover
Published August 5, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 21, 2025
More crime than supernatural
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In the third book in this new series, Bishop Alistair Kincaid and actress Diana Hunt are brought back together when the production of Macbeth that Diana’s in as Lady Macbeth begins to suffer the curse of the Scottish play, with props catastrophically falling apart, scenery and tech falling on the cast, blunted knives turning out less blunt than expected. It’s all (almost) fun and games until someone gets hurt, and it’s up to Alistair and Diana to investigate, even as the hapless police fail to stop the bodies piling up.
You want your detectives to be the smarter person in the room, to find the clues that lead to the killer before things go too far. This book takes place over a few hours and the bodies literally can’t stop coming to light as the two amateurs and what appears to be a whole police force fail to catch any clues or spot someone who might have a motive to destroy the production. It’s all competently written, a relatively short read, but a heck of an expensive book given its run-of-the-mill plot and lack of narrative tension. The first problem is setting it around a Macbeth production; any Shakepeare play has a large cast and these are all introduced within the first few pages, a slew of names and dialogue, that aren’t really used to the best effect as red herrings, as foils, rivals or enemies of the amateur sleuths, as impediments to the development of the plot, or even as colour and background. Sadly, it’s all much of a muchness: these are theatrical people, apparently, but act more like sheep.
There’s a strange interlude in the middle where the narration flips from third person focused on Alistair and Diana to third person with the cast and crew members, which wasn’t telegraphed beforehand, and I don’t think it adds anything to the narrative. The supernatural element is a mere wisp and again adds nothing to the narrative, being neither red herring nor part of the denouement, and barely helps to make the book fantasy. There are better crime novels out there and better supernatural crime novels, so borrow this from a library if you must read it.
Two and a half stars
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In the third book in this new series, Bishop Alistair Kincaid and actress Diana Hunt are brought back together when the production of Macbeth that Diana’s in as Lady Macbeth begins to suffer the curse of the Scottish play, with props catastrophically falling apart, scenery and tech falling on the cast, blunted knives turning out less blunt than expected. It’s all (almost) fun and games until someone gets hurt, and it’s up to Alistair and Diana to investigate, even as the hapless police fail to stop the bodies piling up.
You want your detectives to be the smarter person in the room, to find the clues that lead to the killer before things go too far. This book takes place over a few hours and the bodies literally can’t stop coming to light as the two amateurs and what appears to be a whole police force fail to catch any clues or spot someone who might have a motive to destroy the production. It’s all competently written, a relatively short read, but a heck of an expensive book given its run-of-the-mill plot and lack of narrative tension. The first problem is setting it around a Macbeth production; any Shakepeare play has a large cast and these are all introduced within the first few pages, a slew of names and dialogue, that aren’t really used to the best effect as red herrings, as foils, rivals or enemies of the amateur sleuths, as impediments to the development of the plot, or even as colour and background. Sadly, it’s all much of a muchness: these are theatrical people, apparently, but act more like sheep.
There’s a strange interlude in the middle where the narration flips from third person focused on Alistair and Diana to third person with the cast and crew members, which wasn’t telegraphed beforehand, and I don’t think it adds anything to the narrative. The supernatural element is a mere wisp and again adds nothing to the narrative, being neither red herring nor part of the denouement, and barely helps to make the book fantasy. There are better crime novels out there and better supernatural crime novels, so borrow this from a library if you must read it.
Two and a half stars
April 3, 2025
I was instantly captivated by the opening, which evoked a sense of Sherlock Holmes. "Which Witch?" by Simon R. Green, the third book in the "Holy Terrors" series, is a clever and eerie paranormal mystery featuring actress Diana and young bishop Alistair as they unravel a series of supernatural occurrences related to a Macbeth production. Diana Hunt stars as Lady Macbeth in what may be a cursed version of the Scottish play, set to premiere in a West End theater. As harmless pranks escalate in intensity, a mishap involving an exploding cauldron prompts Diana to seek help from Bishop Alistair Kincaid. Together, they form the Holy Terrors, a dynamic duo that has successfully tackled two previous horror-laden cases. However, as they delve deeper into the investigation, the threats intensify, culminating in the death of a cast member.
The chemistry between Diana and Alistair is evident, showcasing their shared dedication to their professions and each other. Supporting characters like Jenny, Chris, and Mark are also vividly portrayed. My only concerns is that the supporting female characters feel very formulaic as the supporting male characters get more depth.
The chemistry between Diana and Alistair is evident, showcasing their shared dedication to their professions and each other. Supporting characters like Jenny, Chris, and Mark are also vividly portrayed. My only concerns is that the supporting female characters feel very formulaic as the supporting male characters get more depth.
May 10, 2025
As all of Mr Green's book there is snark, fun, mystery and solutions. By the end of the book I wondered how the play will go on, but as the saying goes, the show must go on.
As the third installment, I think this might have been the best one. All takes place In a very old theater with a more dilapidated hotel attached, all action takes place here. Lots of characters, but all are easy to separate and lots of happenings as they try to rehearse Macbeth, many mysterious things happen until, murder brings in the police. At this point our duo need to solve the mysteries taking place. Loved the ending! This review is based on an advance copy that I received for free.
As the third installment, I think this might have been the best one. All takes place In a very old theater with a more dilapidated hotel attached, all action takes place here. Lots of characters, but all are easy to separate and lots of happenings as they try to rehearse Macbeth, many mysterious things happen until, murder brings in the police. At this point our duo need to solve the mysteries taking place. Loved the ending! This review is based on an advance copy that I received for free.
April 13, 2025
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. My review is entirely my own. This is the third book in the “Holy Terrors” series about Diana, a famous actress, and Alistair, a Bishop who work together to solve crimes with a supernatural element (that often is not supernatural in origin). Diana is playing Lady Macbeth in a production that seems cursed. She brings in Alistair to help her figure out what is happening, and then, the murders begin. This was a fun, cozy mystery. 3.5 stars.
August 21, 2025
Another enjoyable read by Simon R Green in the Holy Terrors series. These short reads have great characters, great plot/pacing. Can't wait for the next in the series. #WhichWitch #NetGalley
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews