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Grace O'Malley #1
Witch Hunt
Not yet published
Expected 5 May 26336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 5, 2026
11 people want to read
About the author
Richard O'Rawe
9 books33 followersRichard O'Rawe was born in Belfast. His first book, Blanketmen, published in 2005, was a political book about the 1981 IRA/INLA hunger strike and was an Irish best-seller. His second book, Afterlives, was published in 2010. His third book, In the Name of the Son, a biography of his life-long friend, Gerry Conlon (of the Guildford Four), was published in 2017. The first two novels of his 'Ructions O'Hare' series, Northern Heist and Goering's Gold, were published in 2018 and 2022 respectively. He is currently working on his third novel of this series. His sixth book, Stakeknife's Dirty War, another bestseller, was published in 2023.
This current book Witch Hunt is the first collaboration with his daughter, Bernadette.
source: Amazon
This current book Witch Hunt is the first collaboration with his daughter, Bernadette.
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Detective Superintendent Grace O'Malley, of London's Met Police, is not going to feature in a Sunday evening TV prime time cosy crime series any time soon. She rides a Harley, is rude and abrasive and, for good measure, her husband has a penchant for BDSM sex with students looking to supplement their income. In another part of the city (it is Halloween) we have Juliette Boucher, a TV journalist. She receives a bizarre phone call from a man who calls himself the Witchfinder General. He tells her to be on Westminster bridge just before midnight, where she will witness something beyond newsworthy.
And spectacular it is. And gory. A motor launch comes into view, and it is on fire. On it is standing a woman. She burns, too. Then, there is a series of explosions, and the boat sinks. Here's the thing. It was the so-called Witchfinder General who phoned Grace to tip her off about her husband's sexual proclivities. When the police try to trace the owner of the boat, they find that it was sold by a retired civil servant to a man called - wait for it - Matthew Hopkins.
For younger readers, the real Matthew Hopkins was a Protestant zealot who, around the time of the English Civil War, toured the eastern counties of the country - Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire - in search of those he called witches. It is estimated that he had over two hundred women - mostly guilty of nothing more than being herbalists or natural healers - violently put to death.
The man who has named himself after this monster is clearly very clever, has sources inside the police force, and is hell-bent on recreating a reign of terror. His first victim, the woman in the boat? Veronica Crosse, a TV medium and celebrity speaker. The authors have added another (potentially corrosive) spice to their recipe, and one that is not directly connected to the man who has modeled himself on a 17th century serial killer. Grace's husband Dominic is himself a copper, but not just any old plod. He is Assistant Commissioner Dominic Boswell, of New Scotland Yard.
The authors introduce us to a bizarre clergyman named Moses Blackmore, who is the incumbent of a tiny parish near Yeovil. He wears a long black coat, a string tie and has a long silver beard. His human flock (he is also a farmer) are less of a congregation than a cult, and are in thrall to Blackmore's fire and brimstone brand of protestant fundamentalism. While the police procedural aspect of the book had, this far, been impeccably convincing, I realised that there would be a horror-fantasy element to the narrative, too. That is not a problem. I am a huge fan of John Connolly's Charlie Parker novels, in which he effortlessly blends the PI genre with the supernatural. It's just that these days, the Church of England simply does not allow an old fashioned vicar to run a single parish. In real life, Moses Blackmore would be in charge of at least four or five other nearby parishes. And, most likely, he would be a woman.
A little over a third of the way through, there is a dramatic raid and arrest in an upmarket London hotel but, of course, it's the wrong man, and yet another example of the WFG playing the police like a Stradivarius. There is a second murder, this time of another elderly woman spiritualist, hanged from a church tower and then burned. The WFG (and his associates) cause the filmed scene to be played out on a big screen at a huge public gathering in London on Bonfire Night.
Grace eventually cracks the case (or so she thinks) and finds that the perpetrators are connected to some of the most powerful and influential people in government and public service. There is the mother of all twists in the final pages, but I don't do spoilers, so you will have to find out for yourself. Witch Hunt is an imaginative and energetic canter through the fields of corruption, revenge, and madness, and it will be published by Severn House on 5th May.
And spectacular it is. And gory. A motor launch comes into view, and it is on fire. On it is standing a woman. She burns, too. Then, there is a series of explosions, and the boat sinks. Here's the thing. It was the so-called Witchfinder General who phoned Grace to tip her off about her husband's sexual proclivities. When the police try to trace the owner of the boat, they find that it was sold by a retired civil servant to a man called - wait for it - Matthew Hopkins.
For younger readers, the real Matthew Hopkins was a Protestant zealot who, around the time of the English Civil War, toured the eastern counties of the country - Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire - in search of those he called witches. It is estimated that he had over two hundred women - mostly guilty of nothing more than being herbalists or natural healers - violently put to death.
The man who has named himself after this monster is clearly very clever, has sources inside the police force, and is hell-bent on recreating a reign of terror. His first victim, the woman in the boat? Veronica Crosse, a TV medium and celebrity speaker. The authors have added another (potentially corrosive) spice to their recipe, and one that is not directly connected to the man who has modeled himself on a 17th century serial killer. Grace's husband Dominic is himself a copper, but not just any old plod. He is Assistant Commissioner Dominic Boswell, of New Scotland Yard.
The authors introduce us to a bizarre clergyman named Moses Blackmore, who is the incumbent of a tiny parish near Yeovil. He wears a long black coat, a string tie and has a long silver beard. His human flock (he is also a farmer) are less of a congregation than a cult, and are in thrall to Blackmore's fire and brimstone brand of protestant fundamentalism. While the police procedural aspect of the book had, this far, been impeccably convincing, I realised that there would be a horror-fantasy element to the narrative, too. That is not a problem. I am a huge fan of John Connolly's Charlie Parker novels, in which he effortlessly blends the PI genre with the supernatural. It's just that these days, the Church of England simply does not allow an old fashioned vicar to run a single parish. In real life, Moses Blackmore would be in charge of at least four or five other nearby parishes. And, most likely, he would be a woman.
A little over a third of the way through, there is a dramatic raid and arrest in an upmarket London hotel but, of course, it's the wrong man, and yet another example of the WFG playing the police like a Stradivarius. There is a second murder, this time of another elderly woman spiritualist, hanged from a church tower and then burned. The WFG (and his associates) cause the filmed scene to be played out on a big screen at a huge public gathering in London on Bonfire Night.
Grace eventually cracks the case (or so she thinks) and finds that the perpetrators are connected to some of the most powerful and influential people in government and public service. There is the mother of all twists in the final pages, but I don't do spoilers, so you will have to find out for yourself. Witch Hunt is an imaginative and energetic canter through the fields of corruption, revenge, and madness, and it will be published by Severn House on 5th May.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Richard O’Rawe had some success a couple of years back with two quite good thrillers featuring ex-IRA soldier and professional thief Ructions O’Hare. Now he has teamed up with his daughter, Bernadette, to produce an even better crime novel about a killer who claims to be the reincarnation of the Witch Finder General Matthew Hopkins.
Witch Hunt opens with Detective Superintendent Grace O’Malley of London’s Metropolitan Police receiving a dubious phone call that leads to a shocking personal revelation and a horrific murder. A self-proclaimed witch hunter, using the alias of Matthew Hopkins: the notorious seventeenth century witchfinder general who is reputed to have killed over two hundred poor women who were thought to be witches, is leading her to his first victim. Someone is exploiting the bloody history of the witchfinder to start a modern-day witch hunt, making sure their debut murder of a TV-medium is broadcast worldwide during Halloween night on Westminster Bridge. With the clock ticking, and under pressure from her bosses and the media, Grace needs to find out who is behind the premeditated crime before the witch hunter can strike again. But the more she investigates, the more she finds herself caught in an intricate web of lies, deceit and threats, and always one step behind a very clever killer.
This is a fast paced and totally engrossing crime thriller. The historical elements nicely bleed into the storyline and London serves as a great, atmospheric backdrop to the plot. There are plenty of twists and turns, and the book builds to a tense conclusion and a shocking final twist.
There are some good secondary characters, including Moses Blackmore a fire and brimstone Protestant preacher who plays an important part in the story. Grace is an engaging detective, sharp, grounded and tough when needed. However, she does have terrible taste in men, as witnessed by her sleazy husband, Dominic Boswell, an Assistant Commissioner in the police force and Grace’s boss. In fact, Grace’s relationship with her husband is the only bit that does not ring true, especially the weird opening scene involving him. The ending requires a grain of salt, or more, but is satisfying.
Probably better than a 4 but not quite a 5
See full review at: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/2...
Witch Hunt opens with Detective Superintendent Grace O’Malley of London’s Metropolitan Police receiving a dubious phone call that leads to a shocking personal revelation and a horrific murder. A self-proclaimed witch hunter, using the alias of Matthew Hopkins: the notorious seventeenth century witchfinder general who is reputed to have killed over two hundred poor women who were thought to be witches, is leading her to his first victim. Someone is exploiting the bloody history of the witchfinder to start a modern-day witch hunt, making sure their debut murder of a TV-medium is broadcast worldwide during Halloween night on Westminster Bridge. With the clock ticking, and under pressure from her bosses and the media, Grace needs to find out who is behind the premeditated crime before the witch hunter can strike again. But the more she investigates, the more she finds herself caught in an intricate web of lies, deceit and threats, and always one step behind a very clever killer.
This is a fast paced and totally engrossing crime thriller. The historical elements nicely bleed into the storyline and London serves as a great, atmospheric backdrop to the plot. There are plenty of twists and turns, and the book builds to a tense conclusion and a shocking final twist.
There are some good secondary characters, including Moses Blackmore a fire and brimstone Protestant preacher who plays an important part in the story. Grace is an engaging detective, sharp, grounded and tough when needed. However, she does have terrible taste in men, as witnessed by her sleazy husband, Dominic Boswell, an Assistant Commissioner in the police force and Grace’s boss. In fact, Grace’s relationship with her husband is the only bit that does not ring true, especially the weird opening scene involving him. The ending requires a grain of salt, or more, but is satisfying.
Probably better than a 4 but not quite a 5
See full review at: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/2...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Witch Hunt is one of those crime thrillers that grabs you by the collar from page one and refuses to let go. The O’Rawes blend a gritty modern police procedural with a deliciously eerie thread of historical horror, and the result is a story that feels both fresh and unsettling in all the right ways.
DSI Grace O’Malley is a fantastic lead—sharp, grounded, and carrying just enough emotional weight to make her compelling without ever slowing the pace. When a self‑styled “witchfinder” starts staging murders inspired by 17th‑century witch hunts, Grace is thrown into a case that’s as theatrical as it is terrifying. The opening murder on Westminster Bridge during a Halloween broadcast is exactly the kind of bold, cinematic hook that sets the tone for the rest of the book.
What really works is the atmosphere: London becomes a character in its own right, with its ever‑watchful cameras, its shadows, and its history bleeding into the present. The investigation twists in ways I didn’t see coming, and the authors manage to keep the tension high without ever tipping into the unbelievable. It’s dark, clever, and surprisingly layered.
Fans of British crime fiction—especially those who enjoy a touch of the macabre—will find this a highly bingeable read. It’s the kind of thriller you pick up for “just one chapter” and suddenly realise you’ve devoured half the book.
A gripping start to what promises to be a standout series. I’ll definitely be following Grace O’Malley’s next case.
with thanks to Richard O'Rawe, Bernadette O'Rawe, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
DSI Grace O’Malley is a fantastic lead—sharp, grounded, and carrying just enough emotional weight to make her compelling without ever slowing the pace. When a self‑styled “witchfinder” starts staging murders inspired by 17th‑century witch hunts, Grace is thrown into a case that’s as theatrical as it is terrifying. The opening murder on Westminster Bridge during a Halloween broadcast is exactly the kind of bold, cinematic hook that sets the tone for the rest of the book.
What really works is the atmosphere: London becomes a character in its own right, with its ever‑watchful cameras, its shadows, and its history bleeding into the present. The investigation twists in ways I didn’t see coming, and the authors manage to keep the tension high without ever tipping into the unbelievable. It’s dark, clever, and surprisingly layered.
Fans of British crime fiction—especially those who enjoy a touch of the macabre—will find this a highly bingeable read. It’s the kind of thriller you pick up for “just one chapter” and suddenly realise you’ve devoured half the book.
A gripping start to what promises to be a standout series. I’ll definitely be following Grace O’Malley’s next case.
with thanks to Richard O'Rawe, Bernadette O'Rawe, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Exciting police procedural set in London as a murderer impersonating a 17th C witch hunter, Matthew Hopkins, is in the loose targeting witches. Hold onto your seats.
This is also the first in a series centered on DS Grace O’Malley of the London Metropolitan Police as well as the first collaboration for father and daughter Richard and Bernadette (job well done).
An impersonator is in the loose to kill modern day witches- his determination! He calls reporter, Juliette Bouchet, to come to London Bridge ten minutes before midnight on Halloween to witness an event - and what a fiery event witnessed by Oxford students , revelers on the bridge. The victim is a famous medium. The death was carefully and technically planned. Pressure is intense before another victim is murdered and when that happens and a clue points a high level person the tension is over 150% to find the impersonator. Lots of great historical data accompanies this story.
I love British police/crime dramas - my Acorn and BritBox subscriptions are sacred - so this book was an added treasure to my love of the British crime shows and novels. Don’t miss this one. It’s a keeper.
My thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for allowing me to read this ARC.
This is also the first in a series centered on DS Grace O’Malley of the London Metropolitan Police as well as the first collaboration for father and daughter Richard and Bernadette (job well done).
An impersonator is in the loose to kill modern day witches- his determination! He calls reporter, Juliette Bouchet, to come to London Bridge ten minutes before midnight on Halloween to witness an event - and what a fiery event witnessed by Oxford students , revelers on the bridge. The victim is a famous medium. The death was carefully and technically planned. Pressure is intense before another victim is murdered and when that happens and a clue points a high level person the tension is over 150% to find the impersonator. Lots of great historical data accompanies this story.
I love British police/crime dramas - my Acorn and BritBox subscriptions are sacred - so this book was an added treasure to my love of the British crime shows and novels. Don’t miss this one. It’s a keeper.
My thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for allowing me to read this ARC.
April 19, 2026
This is definitely not a cosy mystery - this is a dark crime drama with a twisted perpetrator. I really liked Grace, who was really going through it at the best of times! She is forthright and committed to her work, and I really liked the way that she stood up for herself. Drawing in the dark history of the Witchfinder General made for a very interesting mystery, with a lot of layers. The nods to historical events were very clever, as Grace scrambled to try and get ahead of the crimes. There are some decidedly unlikable characters scattered throughout this book, which added to the tension.
Where I struggled was with some of the jumping around between different characters - at times it flew from Grace sitting on the sofa at home suddenly swapping to the POV of a suspect on the steps of the police station, and perhaps I would have preferred if chapters were limited to one character instead of moving about so quickly. It was sometimes hard to fix on one line of thought or investigation. I also struggled a little with the way that some of the characters spoke, and the way that sentences flowed.
That said, overall this was an interesting read which I would recommend to fans of police procedurals and mysteries.
Where I struggled was with some of the jumping around between different characters - at times it flew from Grace sitting on the sofa at home suddenly swapping to the POV of a suspect on the steps of the police station, and perhaps I would have preferred if chapters were limited to one character instead of moving about so quickly. It was sometimes hard to fix on one line of thought or investigation. I also struggled a little with the way that some of the characters spoke, and the way that sentences flowed.
That said, overall this was an interesting read which I would recommend to fans of police procedurals and mysteries.
March 25, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for this arc!
I need more Grace O’Malley and I need it now! This book had me absolutely gripped from the start and the ending did not disappoint.
Grace O’Malley is a wonderful female lead, who doesn’t take anything from anyone and I really enjoyed this as I don’t always find it to be the case in thrillers. We follow her investigation of an interesting and somewhat bizarre case. I also really enjoyed the way that she interacted with the press, especially journalist Juliette Bouchet. Every character was fleshed out so well that is made for such an entertaining read and it was hard not to feel connected to the story.
The links between the crimes and the real history of the witch trials in England made for a great story I found this completely compelling. I also really enjoyed the different aspects of the main characters lives and learning how these were all intertwined and connected.
I really enjoyed the writing style and found it super easy to read. Probably the best thriller I’ve read in a long time and I’ll be coming back for future instalments in the series.
I need more Grace O’Malley and I need it now! This book had me absolutely gripped from the start and the ending did not disappoint.
Grace O’Malley is a wonderful female lead, who doesn’t take anything from anyone and I really enjoyed this as I don’t always find it to be the case in thrillers. We follow her investigation of an interesting and somewhat bizarre case. I also really enjoyed the way that she interacted with the press, especially journalist Juliette Bouchet. Every character was fleshed out so well that is made for such an entertaining read and it was hard not to feel connected to the story.
The links between the crimes and the real history of the witch trials in England made for a great story I found this completely compelling. I also really enjoyed the different aspects of the main characters lives and learning how these were all intertwined and connected.
I really enjoyed the writing style and found it super easy to read. Probably the best thriller I’ve read in a long time and I’ll be coming back for future instalments in the series.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Witch Hunt is the first in a series featuring Detective Superintendent Grace O'Malley of the Met. London finds itself facing murders carried out very publicly by a self proclaimed witch hunter, using the name of Matthew Hopkins, a notorious seventeenth century figure.
Grace has little to go on, as the killer is a master of planning and leaves few clues. But eventually the detectives find links to some very influential families. That's when politics kicks in and things become even more difficult.
The novel is a mixture of horror, police procedural and ritualistic terror. It is well written and engaging, with several sub plots around Grace's family and personal life. A good start to the series.
Grace has little to go on, as the killer is a master of planning and leaves few clues. But eventually the detectives find links to some very influential families. That's when politics kicks in and things become even more difficult.
The novel is a mixture of horror, police procedural and ritualistic terror. It is well written and engaging, with several sub plots around Grace's family and personal life. A good start to the series.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
The description of this book appealed to me, but when I got into it, at first I was a bit confused, and then, when Detective Grace found her husband in a compromising position, I was flabbergasted! It seemed such a strange situation, I couldn't figure out how Grace could focus on her job from then on...
As the story went on, I found myself getting bored and skipped through to the end. I don't think I'll read no. 2 in the series. It looks like I'm in the minority here, as the other reviews were quite good. Sorry!
The description of this book appealed to me, but when I got into it, at first I was a bit confused, and then, when Detective Grace found her husband in a compromising position, I was flabbergasted! It seemed such a strange situation, I couldn't figure out how Grace could focus on her job from then on...
As the story went on, I found myself getting bored and skipped through to the end. I don't think I'll read no. 2 in the series. It looks like I'm in the minority here, as the other reviews were quite good. Sorry!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Overall a gripping start to what will surely be a great series full of mystery and suspense. Recommended to readers of police procedural with a bit of horror and crime fiction.
The writing style is gripping, the setting in England mixed with inspiration from historical witch hunts is captivating and perfect for this novel. The investigation takes many twists and turns and is deeply layered to keep you turning page after page.
Thank you to the authors and NetGalley for the early copy of this book!
The writing style is gripping, the setting in England mixed with inspiration from historical witch hunts is captivating and perfect for this novel. The investigation takes many twists and turns and is deeply layered to keep you turning page after page.
Thank you to the authors and NetGalley for the early copy of this book!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews