The Witch Hunter's Lie

The Witch Hunter #1

by J.L. Coulbeck

Witches burned. A village in fear. A lie waiting in the ash.

When seasoned Witch Hunter Elijah Lynton arrives in the remote town of Mullingen, he's expecting a simple case of missing heirlooms. Instead, he finds a smouldering pyre—and a stranger who wears the seal of his Order. But something doesn't add up.

Beneath the ashes lie secrets the flame was meant to erase. Justice demands answers. And not everyone claiming the light speaks the truth.

Dark, gripping, and morally charged, The Witch Hunter's Lie will keep you questioning right and wrong until the very last page.

Unknown Binding

First published April 26, 2025

About the author

J. L. Coulbeck pens gritty religious-fantasy novellas starring Witch Hunter Elijah Lynton and his orc sidekick Thrazo, blending bone-crunching action with wickedly dark humour. Brace yourself for sharp quips, brutal monsters…and more expletives than a black-market spell scroll.

Reviews

[Haly Hoards Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5☆
Quick, intriguing, taste of what could be an exciting series. This short story is easily read in under an hour. While it is short it provides great character depth and world building. Bravo, J.L. Coulbeck!

Elijah Lynton is a troubled witch hunter from the Order of Dion. Thrazo is Elijah's right-hand man, or Orc to be exact. Both are steadfast in his convictions. 

I am heading off to dive into the second installment, The Witch Hunter's Oath. I need to learn more about the Six Silences of Dion! 

Favorite Quote:
"Grief was the catalyst - the worst of human emotions. The hardest to temper. The easiest to taint." 

[Mandy Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook Review:
Compelling, dark, and utterly gripping
​This is a dark, atmospheric story that offers a fascinating look at what it truly means to belong to the Order of witch hunters—exploring both the honor and the heavy cost. The world of mystery and magic is brought to life by a Virtual Voice narrator, which delivers the story clearly and allows the gritty environment to take center stage from the very first minute.
​Elijah Lynton is a brilliantly complex lead; while he isn't always the most likable character, he is consistently fascinating and multi-layered. His intensity is perfectly balanced by Thrazo’s lightheartedness and "live in the moment" energy, providing a welcome respite from the story’s heavier themes.
​At less than an hour long, it’s a quick but high-impact listen. The story flows perfectly, delivering a "slow-burn" mystery that provides just enough crumbs to keep you thinking while leaving you craving more. If you enjoy The Witcher or similar grimdark fantasy that keeps you guessing, this is a must-listen. I’m officially hooked and will definitely be finishing the rest of the series.

[Paul Willson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Witch Hunter’s Lie is a short story about a witch hunter, Elijah Lynton, who arrives in Mullingen to investigate the burning of witches. When he arrives, he finds that the witch hunter, Cassya Veldt, is already there and was the witch hunter who passed judgment on the burned witches.

As Elijah investigates, Cassya’s story doesn’t add up.

I really enjoyed The Witch Hunter’s Lie. It is a fantasy mystery. Essentially, the question Elijah must answer is whether the burned witches are guilty while trying to determine if Cassya is telling the truth. Elijah is almost a fantasy Colombo.

My only problem is that it is too short. I was left wanting more. The story as a whole could’ve, should’ve been longer. I wanted more investigation. We conclude the story too quickly. I would have loved to know more about Elijah’s and Cassya’s backstories, which the book references. There was at least a novella in The Witch Hunter’s Lie’s story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[K.V. Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This is the second book by J.L. Coulbeck I've read, the first being The Witch Hunter's Debt (a prequel showing how human witch hunter Elijah and orc Thrazo met).

This book was darker and more thought-provoking. It gave us a glimpse into what it means to be a member of the Order of witch hunters--both the good and the bad. I can't say any more without spoiling it due to the story being fairly short (it took less than an hour to read), but I really enjoyed it and would recommend this series to people who enjoyed The Witcher or similar grimdark / dark fantasy books.

Elijah is not the most likeable character, but he's balanced out by Thrazo's lightheartedness and desire to live in the moment. I enjoyed The Witch Hunter's Debt better than this book because it (TWHD) had more humour to balance out the dark content, but regardless, I'm hooked on this series.

[Momma T's Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an intriguing start. A short introduction to this brand new world full of mystery, magic, and the hunt for the truth.

Can Elijah, a true Witch Hunter uncover what has been happening in the town of Mullingen. Who sent him? What has he seen? Why is this journey steeped with concealment and lies?

The book flows just enough to keep you thinking and ultimately leaves you with more questions than answers. I would definitely recommend it if you're into a slower burn that gives you crumbs to keep you coming back for more. I will be reading the rest.

[Marian Pattechat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Coulbeck's prose, and she delivered with this story yet again! It's dark, gritty, with an MMC that is multi-layered and complex, and with world-building that pulls you in from page one. The Order of witch hunters is a living, breathing thing, and I was well-wrapped in my warm blanket while reading. The secondary character, Thrazo, brings a welcome respite from the dark, and I'm looking forward to his own book!

[R.M. Krogman, Dark and Epic Fantasy Author · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Witch Hunter's Lie" by J. L. Coulbeck is a fantastic witch hunter short story that introduces you to a new world of pious, justice-seeking witch hunters, superstitious and desperate townspeople, and the villainy of those who seek power. As an ordained hunter, Elijah is good at sniffing out evil. His comrade Thrazo is good at helping and may have a few more people skills than Elijah. But neither is ready for what they find in Mullingen.

Coulbeck tells fun stories at a smart pace, with a tight focus. The world is well-defined and personal, sized to the story. This is a quick read and worth checking out!

[Sara Sigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Order of Dion sent Elijah to find out why there was 3 women convicted of being vampires and burned. Thrazo an orc is his right hand and both of them find the town of Mullingen is hiding things, so they start digging into finding what is wrong there.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[maltida · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping and atmospheric read! The story pulls you in with mystery, dark secrets, and unexpected twists. Elijah Lynton is a compelling lead, and the blend of suspense and intrigue kept me turning the pages.

[Dawie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novelette read like the perfect start to a series that I am interested in following. Im am interested in seeing either more back story or growing from both Elijah and Thrazo. Great job Jenn!

[Nikki reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short start to the series that keeps you wanting more!

The story keeps you guessing and hooked to find out what’s next.

This is a slow burn and can’t wait to read more.

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Won’t read

[travel_thru_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Witch Hunter’s Lie is a quick, dark fantasy read with a clear mystery at its center. A witch hunter arrives in a small village, and it’s obvious something isn’t right. The story moves fast, the atmosphere is good, and Elijah is an interesting character to follow. I was easily able to visual the backdrop of this story, as if I was walking along with the characters!

A solid, fast read for anyone who likes witch‑hunter lore and a touch of gothic suspense.

Also, I have to mention how pretty is this cover? ! I love it!

[Divya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was yet another great story in the series. The stories flow beautifully with powerful lead characters. This story follows Elijah and Thrazo as they are called to investigate missing Heirlooms in Mullingen village. However, things are not as they seem, and something sinister seems to be at play. A great story with interesting main characters.