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Sometimes You Need a Witch to Solve a Murder
In the quiet Lancashire village of Thornhope, Detective Inspector John Spencer is investigating the gruesome and inexplicable death of Richard Thornley. On paper, it should be a simple case. But Thornhope is anything but simple.
At the heart of the village stands Edith Postlethwaite—apothecary, healer… and if the whispers are to be believed, a witch. She’s tangled up in this mess somehow, John knows it. And yet, the more he digs, the more he realises that she isn’t the danger.
Something ancient is buried in Thornhope, something dark, something that has been waiting far too long to wake. And when it does, it has Edith in its sights.
John isn’t a man who believes in magic, but magic believes in him, and now he’s standing on the edge of a world he never wanted to see, forced to confront a truth he’s spent his life ignoring. Because Thornhope has secrets. Because the dead don’t always stay buried.
And because, whether he’s ready or not, Edith is his to protect.
At the heart of the village stands Edith Postlethwaite—apothecary, healer… and if the whispers are to be believed, a witch. She’s tangled up in this mess somehow, John knows it. And yet, the more he digs, the more he realises that she isn’t the danger.
Something ancient is buried in Thornhope, something dark, something that has been waiting far too long to wake. And when it does, it has Edith in its sights.
John isn’t a man who believes in magic, but magic believes in him, and now he’s standing on the edge of a world he never wanted to see, forced to confront a truth he’s spent his life ignoring. Because Thornhope has secrets. Because the dead don’t always stay buried.
And because, whether he’s ready or not, Edith is his to protect.
459 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 11, 2025
3 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
M.W. Knox
4 books9 followersM. W. Knox is a romance author from the UK. Between dreaming up new worlds and heart-warming tales, she enjoys spending time with her two children and amazing husband,
She has always been a creator and is passionate about sharing her stories with the world. She particularly enjoys the genres of science, fantasy, and happy endings that follow rocky beginnings.
She has always been a creator and is passionate about sharing her stories with the world. She particularly enjoys the genres of science, fantasy, and happy endings that follow rocky beginnings.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 11, 2025
This book immediately gets you into the mood for cozy autumn evenings, drinking hot tea, wearing layers and eating pumpkin spiced cookies while watching a true crime series. I loved the touch of fantasy and supernatural in this one so much. My heart especially belongs to Nick didn't know a goat could be one of my favorite characters but here we are. It's definitely worth reading when you like magic, cozy autumn vibes, found family, supernatural vibes and cute and spicy moments.
July 7, 2025
Rating : ☆☆☆☆☆
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𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭-𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘺-𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦. 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳.
—————
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 & 𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 :
- 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙭 𝘿𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚
- 𝙂𝙧𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙮 𝙭 𝙎𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚
- 𝙎𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙣
- 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙁𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙧
- 𝙎𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙏𝙤𝙬𝙣 : 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚
- 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙀𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨
- 𝙈𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙈𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙮
- 𝙃𝙚 𝙁𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩
- 𝘿𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙋𝙊𝙑 (3𝙧𝙙 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣)
✔️ Available On KU
—————
This book is a fucking BANGER. I’m obsessed with the world that has been made here. I’ve had the pleasure of reading this in all its forms and god it just gets better and better each time I read it.
Dan and Kate are my absolute favourite people in this book. They bring SO much to this story. One of my favourite parts of this book is the humour. The witty banter. The one lines. Superior and that’s mostly due to Dan & Kate 🤣
The way Edie always threatens Nick is hilarious. Poor goat is threatened to become a curry 12 times a day. Justice for Nick Nack.
—————
𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭-𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘺-𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦. 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳.
—————
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 & 𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 :
- 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙭 𝘿𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚
- 𝙂𝙧𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙮 𝙭 𝙎𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚
- 𝙎𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙣
- 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙁𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙧
- 𝙎𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙏𝙤𝙬𝙣 : 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚
- 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙀𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨
- 𝙈𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙈𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙮
- 𝙃𝙚 𝙁𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩
- 𝘿𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙋𝙊𝙑 (3𝙧𝙙 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣)
✔️ Available On KU
—————
This book is a fucking BANGER. I’m obsessed with the world that has been made here. I’ve had the pleasure of reading this in all its forms and god it just gets better and better each time I read it.
Dan and Kate are my absolute favourite people in this book. They bring SO much to this story. One of my favourite parts of this book is the humour. The witty banter. The one lines. Superior and that’s mostly due to Dan & Kate 🤣
The way Edie always threatens Nick is hilarious. Poor goat is threatened to become a curry 12 times a day. Justice for Nick Nack.
July 7, 2025
A grumpy detective tasked with investigating a murder. An apothecary owner who’s rumored to be a witch. An assistant detective with a Supernatural obsession + a snarky best friend who are constantly throwing jabs at one another. A chaos gremlin goat familiar and a dark evil entity waiting to strike. Mix it all together and you’re in for a bumpy ride.
There’s something to be said about a book that’s so vividly descriptive it makes you forget reality and sucks you into its pages, making you savor every little bit while also providing a sense of calm. I loved the atmosphere and supernatural vibes of the story, John and Edith’s slowly unfurled romance, the witty banter of our side characters Dan & Kate (I need more of this stat!), and OF COURSE the beloved sassy goat familiar, Nick (because who doesn’t love a goat who headbutts your shins, eats your clothes and causes all the chaos?!) I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble everyone gets into in the next installment.
There’s something to be said about a book that’s so vividly descriptive it makes you forget reality and sucks you into its pages, making you savor every little bit while also providing a sense of calm. I loved the atmosphere and supernatural vibes of the story, John and Edith’s slowly unfurled romance, the witty banter of our side characters Dan & Kate (I need more of this stat!), and OF COURSE the beloved sassy goat familiar, Nick (because who doesn’t love a goat who headbutts your shins, eats your clothes and causes all the chaos?!) I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble everyone gets into in the next installment.
July 10, 2025
Welcome to sleepy Thornhope, well maybe not so sleepy anymore because a mysterious murder case is about to shake up this small English town.
This book was full of suspense, mystery and a cauldron full of magic and amazing and hilarious banter.
The way M.W. Knox crafted this wonderfully magical world with every bit of attention to detail and every chapter felt like a movie playing in my head. Absolutely wonderful and a freaking delight to read.
One thing I adored was the accurate depiction of the northern accents and the sheer knowledge the author incorporated when it came to the witchy stuff.
PS: Proud member of the Nick-Nack fan club, reading about him makes me really want a pet goat.
This book was full of suspense, mystery and a cauldron full of magic and amazing and hilarious banter.
The way M.W. Knox crafted this wonderfully magical world with every bit of attention to detail and every chapter felt like a movie playing in my head. Absolutely wonderful and a freaking delight to read.
One thing I adored was the accurate depiction of the northern accents and the sheer knowledge the author incorporated when it came to the witchy stuff.
PS: Proud member of the Nick-Nack fan club, reading about him makes me really want a pet goat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2025
Book 1 of the Thornhope Chronicles opens with a bang, and has a storyline that will keep you gripped until the final page. The characters are endearing, if a little bit broken (all the best people are, y'know) but their bravery and commitment to each other remains firm.
SYNAW to solve a murder couldn't be set any further away from the galaxies of this author's first novel, Intergalactic, but her writing paints a canvas that captures the very essence of this tale of supernatural. Very much looking forward to the rest of this series
SYNAW to solve a murder couldn't be set any further away from the galaxies of this author's first novel, Intergalactic, but her writing paints a canvas that captures the very essence of this tale of supernatural. Very much looking forward to the rest of this series
July 14, 2025
OMG, I LOVED this book!!
It had me cackling, crying, worrying my lips, shouting at the fictional characters!! Honestly, it was a rollercoaster ride.
From the first line to the last, this book kept my interest piqued, there are some spice scenes but they really don't distract from the plot.
It is truly northern, with accents to match. Set in the quaint village of Thornhope, Lancashire, things start to go awry when a body is found in an unusual manner outside the village church. Detectives from the local county are sent to help out the local police force. The detectives soon fall into village life and suspicions start to arise around the local apothecary owner, but can the circumstances of everything happening be explained in a police file?
The writing in this book is so descriptive I forgot I was reading! The characters are so loveable and believable (as far as witches are real). The love interests blossom beautifully, as do the friendships and there's A BLOODY GOAT SIDEKICK!!! As far as goats go, Nick is a "bloody menace" who has so much character I honestly just want a goat now!!
I would 100% recommend this book to anyone who loves a supernatural love story, with spells, potions and magic.
There are so many pop references (which is-in my eyes- refreshing to read AND understand) But fear not, if any of the sayings or colloquialisms go over your head Knox has included a handy glossary, not only with definitions, but ways of using each nuance correctly!!
It had me cackling, crying, worrying my lips, shouting at the fictional characters!! Honestly, it was a rollercoaster ride.
From the first line to the last, this book kept my interest piqued, there are some spice scenes but they really don't distract from the plot.
It is truly northern, with accents to match. Set in the quaint village of Thornhope, Lancashire, things start to go awry when a body is found in an unusual manner outside the village church. Detectives from the local county are sent to help out the local police force. The detectives soon fall into village life and suspicions start to arise around the local apothecary owner, but can the circumstances of everything happening be explained in a police file?
The writing in this book is so descriptive I forgot I was reading! The characters are so loveable and believable (as far as witches are real). The love interests blossom beautifully, as do the friendships and there's A BLOODY GOAT SIDEKICK!!! As far as goats go, Nick is a "bloody menace" who has so much character I honestly just want a goat now!!
I would 100% recommend this book to anyone who loves a supernatural love story, with spells, potions and magic.
There are so many pop references (which is-in my eyes- refreshing to read AND understand) But fear not, if any of the sayings or colloquialisms go over your head Knox has included a handy glossary, not only with definitions, but ways of using each nuance correctly!!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews