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The Witch of Benbar's Cross
Morgan Cadogen’s twin sister, Juliet, has disappeared in a desert town at the far end of the world. All Morgan knows for certain is that Juliet went to Benbar’s Cross chasing a theory about shamanism.
But when she arrives in the near-deserted settlement, she makes an unsettling discovery: not only is there no sign of Juliet, but according to the last few locals, she was never there.
With nothing to go on but her intuition and a few shreds of evidence, Morgan follows the crumbs that lead her to the horrifying truth about Juliet’s disappearance—and what she will have to sacrifice to get her sister back.
But when she arrives in the near-deserted settlement, she makes an unsettling discovery: not only is there no sign of Juliet, but according to the last few locals, she was never there.
With nothing to go on but her intuition and a few shreds of evidence, Morgan follows the crumbs that lead her to the horrifying truth about Juliet’s disappearance—and what she will have to sacrifice to get her sister back.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2026
About the author
Tanya Meeson
6 books21 followersTanya Meeson is a writer, editor and author coach based in Cape Town, South Africa. Her novels include The Witch of Benbar’s Cross (2026), The Akashic Records of the Last People as Written by Neko (2024), and The Fulcrum (2022), which was finalist in the 2024 18th annual The National Indie Excellence® Awards (NIEA). She is also the creator of Otherworld, a speculative fiction gathering for authors and readers in Cape Town.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 26, 2026
At the risk of sounding cliche, I could not put this down, because I could not figure out what the hell had happened to Juliet.
This, to me, is the best. When someone is truly able to surprise me and keep me hanging on their every word to see what happens I am in heaven.
Morgan was irritable, frustrated and totally relatable.
The town, landscape and tangible atmosphere were characters in the story themselves. I loved the teasers that had me constantly trying to place the town in the real world !
There were moments when I had to slam the book shut and remind myself to breath as I was so scared for Morgan… I don’t think that happens very often in books, it certainly doesn’t for me.
I absolutely loved the two different timelines, the strong female characters (this is a story about women, strong women, angry women ) in each, facing different yet equally frustrating realities. The other thing I loved about this was getting to experience the historical progression of the town and how that is connected to the journey the characters are on.
So often magical elements in this kind of book can end up feeling shallow or hum drum. That was not the case here, it felt like a lived experience… scepticism, fanaticism, and every experience in between had their place. It was believable, terrifying and beautiful in its way and called on ancient and what felt like very feminine magics to make sense of the world.
Bravo for writing a book that left me feeling thourougly entertained ! Looking forward to your next one already.
This, to me, is the best. When someone is truly able to surprise me and keep me hanging on their every word to see what happens I am in heaven.
Morgan was irritable, frustrated and totally relatable.
The town, landscape and tangible atmosphere were characters in the story themselves. I loved the teasers that had me constantly trying to place the town in the real world !
There were moments when I had to slam the book shut and remind myself to breath as I was so scared for Morgan… I don’t think that happens very often in books, it certainly doesn’t for me.
I absolutely loved the two different timelines, the strong female characters (this is a story about women, strong women, angry women ) in each, facing different yet equally frustrating realities. The other thing I loved about this was getting to experience the historical progression of the town and how that is connected to the journey the characters are on.
So often magical elements in this kind of book can end up feeling shallow or hum drum. That was not the case here, it felt like a lived experience… scepticism, fanaticism, and every experience in between had their place. It was believable, terrifying and beautiful in its way and called on ancient and what felt like very feminine magics to make sense of the world.
Bravo for writing a book that left me feeling thourougly entertained ! Looking forward to your next one already.
June 24, 2026
Thank you to the author, Tanya Meeson, for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Some places feel wrong the moment you arrive.
From its opening pages, The Witch of Benbar's Cross wraps itself around the reader with an overwhelming sense of foreboding. There is something deeply unsettling about Benbar's Cross, a near-deserted settlement perched at the edge of nowhere, and Tanya Meeson captures that feeling with remarkable skill. Every encounter, every conversation, every clue carries the weight of something hidden beneath the surface, creating an atmosphere of constant unease that never lets up.
When Morgan Cadogen arrives in Benbar's Cross searching for her missing twin sister, Juliet, she expects answers. Instead, she finds a town that seems determined to erase her sister's existence altogether. What follows is a gripping mystery that gradually transforms into something far stranger, darker, and more fascinating than it first appears.
The setting is one of the novel's greatest strengths. Benbar's Cross feels vividly real despite its isolation, and Meeson uses the harsh landscape and eerie emptiness to create a palpable sense of dread. The town becomes a character in its own right—hostile, enigmatic, and filled with secrets waiting to be unearthed.
The characters are equally compelling. Morgan is an engaging protagonist whose determination and vulnerability make her easy to root for, while figures such as Isobel and Elspeth add further depth and intrigue to the story. Every character feels fully realised, each carrying their own history, motivations, and mysteries.
What impressed me most was how seamlessly Meeson blends genres. At its heart, this is a mystery, but it is also a work of speculative fiction that explores ideas of belief, identity, sacrifice, and the unknown. The speculative elements are woven into the narrative with confidence and purpose, elevating the story into something genuinely memorable.
Richly atmospheric, deeply unsettling, and packed with fascinating characters, The Witch of Benbar's Cross is speculative fiction at its finest. It is a novel that lingers long after the final page, leaving readers questioning what is real, what is possible, and how far we would go for the people we love.
A haunting and immersive read that I absolutely loved.
Some places feel wrong the moment you arrive.
From its opening pages, The Witch of Benbar's Cross wraps itself around the reader with an overwhelming sense of foreboding. There is something deeply unsettling about Benbar's Cross, a near-deserted settlement perched at the edge of nowhere, and Tanya Meeson captures that feeling with remarkable skill. Every encounter, every conversation, every clue carries the weight of something hidden beneath the surface, creating an atmosphere of constant unease that never lets up.
When Morgan Cadogen arrives in Benbar's Cross searching for her missing twin sister, Juliet, she expects answers. Instead, she finds a town that seems determined to erase her sister's existence altogether. What follows is a gripping mystery that gradually transforms into something far stranger, darker, and more fascinating than it first appears.
The setting is one of the novel's greatest strengths. Benbar's Cross feels vividly real despite its isolation, and Meeson uses the harsh landscape and eerie emptiness to create a palpable sense of dread. The town becomes a character in its own right—hostile, enigmatic, and filled with secrets waiting to be unearthed.
The characters are equally compelling. Morgan is an engaging protagonist whose determination and vulnerability make her easy to root for, while figures such as Isobel and Elspeth add further depth and intrigue to the story. Every character feels fully realised, each carrying their own history, motivations, and mysteries.
What impressed me most was how seamlessly Meeson blends genres. At its heart, this is a mystery, but it is also a work of speculative fiction that explores ideas of belief, identity, sacrifice, and the unknown. The speculative elements are woven into the narrative with confidence and purpose, elevating the story into something genuinely memorable.
Richly atmospheric, deeply unsettling, and packed with fascinating characters, The Witch of Benbar's Cross is speculative fiction at its finest. It is a novel that lingers long after the final page, leaving readers questioning what is real, what is possible, and how far we would go for the people we love.
A haunting and immersive read that I absolutely loved.
April 5, 2026
Loved this read.. it was beautiful and surprising. The characters drew me in and took me on a wonderful journey. Not quite a traditional witch story, not quite a ghost story but this amazing mix of humans and witches and old stories and things not quite what you think they are.
I can highly recommend it. 💜
I can highly recommend it. 💜
July 16, 2026
Disclaimer: The author Tanya Meeson kindly sent me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Morgan's twin sister Juliet is missing. The last her family heard were descriptions of the town of Benbar's Cross, a place she hoped to find remnants of shamanism. Now she's disappeared, and Morgan is the only one who can find her.
Morgan arrives in the barely-there town, checks into the Barbican Hotel (where Juliet claimed to also be staying) and discovers that not only is she the only guest, but no one seems to have seen her sister at all. In fact, according to people in both Benbar's Cross and the neighboring town Calgurry, Juliet was never there to begin with. The only staff member, Carlos, doesn't seem to speak, and insists through handwritten notes that Juliet was never there. Within the hotel's shabby interior of peeling wallpaper, decorated in the 1940s, the entire hotel is dusty and covered in sheets, begging the question as to why it would even bother to stay open.
The rest of Benbar's Cross is a ghost town, with the only constant an elderly woman and a dog, just as feeble, walking through the twilight streets from early evening until dawn every single day. This in itself is strange, but Morgan has bigger problems, and finding her twin is the most important one. Keeping her parents happy is another one, and it doesn't help that there's no reception in Benbar's, so she has to drive to the outskirts of town every time she wants to connect to the outside world.
In Benbar's she meets Missy who owns the keys to the town hall where history is stored and secrets have been abandoned. In Calgurry she meets Jedda and her nephew Lenny who also claim to know nothing but are more willing to help Morgan discover the truth - even if that truth is not what she wants to hear. Even the local police chief seems reluctant to help with the search.
Alternate chapters follow the diary entries of Isobel, a woman who moved to Benbar's Cross with her husband Hamilton in 1888, 40 years after Robert Blackwood and his wife Elspeth. In this newly developing town, Isobel describes the struggles of moving from the city to the dust, and trying to raise her daughter Adelaide amidst the dirt and the rough. When Isobel arrived in the twin, Blackwood was already dead, and Elspeth was living on the outside of town with a group of young women, who were seen as her acolytes. To the townsfolk, Elspeth was a witch, and Isobel was forbidden from visiting her.
Back in the present day, someone is still living on Elspeth's land. There are also stories of the surrounding mountains with mysterious paintings that date back centuries. Paintings attributed to ancient magic.
Morgan is convinced that Juliet is still alive—call it twin intuition—and will not leave Benbar's until she finds Juliet or dies trying. As a woman alone, it's not easy convincing the few people left in the town, and even those in the surrounding Calgurry, to not only believe her story but also help her find a sister who supposedly was never there in the first place.
The Witch of Benbar's Cross is a phenomenal story. From the multiple timelines, the intricate plot, the fascinating characters, and the location, this novel is damn near perfect. In the lonesome evenings as Morgan made her weary way to the Barbican Hotel, the scene is set and the deserted streets call to the lost traveler. Isobel's diary entries are a refreshing meander into the past and the dawn of a new town.
Call it historical, paranormal, and a mystery, this novel is also about sisters and the bonds of sisterhood, blood be damned. From the desert to the lonesome hotel, the past, the present, and believing in the unbelievable, this novel is a pirate's chest of adventure, ghosts, and a heroine who never gives up.
Morgan's twin sister Juliet is missing. The last her family heard were descriptions of the town of Benbar's Cross, a place she hoped to find remnants of shamanism. Now she's disappeared, and Morgan is the only one who can find her.
Morgan arrives in the barely-there town, checks into the Barbican Hotel (where Juliet claimed to also be staying) and discovers that not only is she the only guest, but no one seems to have seen her sister at all. In fact, according to people in both Benbar's Cross and the neighboring town Calgurry, Juliet was never there to begin with. The only staff member, Carlos, doesn't seem to speak, and insists through handwritten notes that Juliet was never there. Within the hotel's shabby interior of peeling wallpaper, decorated in the 1940s, the entire hotel is dusty and covered in sheets, begging the question as to why it would even bother to stay open.
The rest of Benbar's Cross is a ghost town, with the only constant an elderly woman and a dog, just as feeble, walking through the twilight streets from early evening until dawn every single day. This in itself is strange, but Morgan has bigger problems, and finding her twin is the most important one. Keeping her parents happy is another one, and it doesn't help that there's no reception in Benbar's, so she has to drive to the outskirts of town every time she wants to connect to the outside world.
In Benbar's she meets Missy who owns the keys to the town hall where history is stored and secrets have been abandoned. In Calgurry she meets Jedda and her nephew Lenny who also claim to know nothing but are more willing to help Morgan discover the truth - even if that truth is not what she wants to hear. Even the local police chief seems reluctant to help with the search.
Alternate chapters follow the diary entries of Isobel, a woman who moved to Benbar's Cross with her husband Hamilton in 1888, 40 years after Robert Blackwood and his wife Elspeth. In this newly developing town, Isobel describes the struggles of moving from the city to the dust, and trying to raise her daughter Adelaide amidst the dirt and the rough. When Isobel arrived in the twin, Blackwood was already dead, and Elspeth was living on the outside of town with a group of young women, who were seen as her acolytes. To the townsfolk, Elspeth was a witch, and Isobel was forbidden from visiting her.
Back in the present day, someone is still living on Elspeth's land. There are also stories of the surrounding mountains with mysterious paintings that date back centuries. Paintings attributed to ancient magic.
Morgan is convinced that Juliet is still alive—call it twin intuition—and will not leave Benbar's until she finds Juliet or dies trying. As a woman alone, it's not easy convincing the few people left in the town, and even those in the surrounding Calgurry, to not only believe her story but also help her find a sister who supposedly was never there in the first place.
The Witch of Benbar's Cross is a phenomenal story. From the multiple timelines, the intricate plot, the fascinating characters, and the location, this novel is damn near perfect. In the lonesome evenings as Morgan made her weary way to the Barbican Hotel, the scene is set and the deserted streets call to the lost traveler. Isobel's diary entries are a refreshing meander into the past and the dawn of a new town.
Call it historical, paranormal, and a mystery, this novel is also about sisters and the bonds of sisterhood, blood be damned. From the desert to the lonesome hotel, the past, the present, and believing in the unbelievable, this novel is a pirate's chest of adventure, ghosts, and a heroine who never gives up.
June 1, 2026
I was so moved by The Witch of Benbar's Cross - a book that is very difficult to review without spoiling it.
For me, the book is about reclamation, the power of community (and finding one's own identity in that community without being subsumed by it), and in a way also an exhortation of climate activism and stewardship of the land.
The characters are intriguing, the setting is eerie and well-rendered, and this would be such a good limited series. I was particularly fond of Elspeth and Isobel, and the witch in me recognised things that only another witch would know... Tanya, I have questions!
All things considered, a fun, creepy, fast-paced mystery with many layers of meaning waiting to be unearthed by the reader. Highly recommend.
For me, the book is about reclamation, the power of community (and finding one's own identity in that community without being subsumed by it), and in a way also an exhortation of climate activism and stewardship of the land.
The characters are intriguing, the setting is eerie and well-rendered, and this would be such a good limited series. I was particularly fond of Elspeth and Isobel, and the witch in me recognised things that only another witch would know... Tanya, I have questions!
All things considered, a fun, creepy, fast-paced mystery with many layers of meaning waiting to be unearthed by the reader. Highly recommend.
May 17, 2026
Does anyone still say the vibes are immaculate? Because THE WITCH OF BENBAR'S CROSS has immaculately gothic vibes. Reading about this crumbled, failed town encroaching on the desert, I felt like I was breathing in the stultifying heat, exhaling despair and decay. This is off the charts atmospheric both in the tense present day timeline and the excerpts from Isobel's 1800s diary. That every character we meet is complex and relevant to the plot impressed me. There are no throwaway bystanders in this tragedy. Everyone has a part to play in the reckoning.
THE WITCH OF BENBAR'S CROSS blends a woman's desperate search for her sister with a haunted town's unspeakable history.
THE WITCH OF BENBAR'S CROSS blends a woman's desperate search for her sister with a haunted town's unspeakable history.
April 28, 2026
This absorbing and tantalising book deftly leads the reader along totally unexpected and sometimes unnerving paths, both in time and place. I felt my own surroundings disappear as I became immersed in a strangely compelling but distinctly disquieting world. Depictions of place are brilliant - vivid, colourful and powerful almost like watching a beautiful panoramic film shot.
The plot plays with time and place. It has 2 worlds, one rich in reality, the 'here and now' if you like, and another world that far transcends this. Unsettling moments arrive unexpectedly, thrusting you from the refuge of your 'here and now' comfort zone and giddily spinning you into the unfamiliar and chilling world of the paranormal. I loved this constant emotional movement. Strongly drawn characters are another huge part of this rollercoaster of movement - they are real, normal, with strengths and flaws but evolve in ways I could never have imagined.
This thought provoking and many layered book takes you on a profound, emotionally taut and ultimately very satisfying ( if scary!) journey. I absolutely recommend it.
The plot plays with time and place. It has 2 worlds, one rich in reality, the 'here and now' if you like, and another world that far transcends this. Unsettling moments arrive unexpectedly, thrusting you from the refuge of your 'here and now' comfort zone and giddily spinning you into the unfamiliar and chilling world of the paranormal. I loved this constant emotional movement. Strongly drawn characters are another huge part of this rollercoaster of movement - they are real, normal, with strengths and flaws but evolve in ways I could never have imagined.
This thought provoking and many layered book takes you on a profound, emotionally taut and ultimately very satisfying ( if scary!) journey. I absolutely recommend it.
April 1, 2026
Well, for me, this was perfect.
This story flowed so well and was completely riveting. I got so sucked in, moreso as the story progressed, and the rhythm accelerated... and I had absolutely no idea what might happen next. Truly. No clue!
Such a rewarding read, creative and well-written. I was completely absorbed, by the landscape, the locations, the PEOPLE.
While it is described on the back cover as a ‘paranormal mystery’ I found it to be so much more, and what really appealed to me were the characters, their relationships, and how they evolved and grew (so many rich and interesting individual human journeys intertwined in this story). Each character was so real and absorbing, so familiar, and relatable in their own ways.
What a journey… of light and dark, growth, emotion, the real world and others, family, friends, relationships. I feel like I have been on this weird holiday in Benbar’s Cross for the past two weeks and it’s been a rather fascinating time, left me feeling quite in awe!
One of my favourite authors for sure.
This story flowed so well and was completely riveting. I got so sucked in, moreso as the story progressed, and the rhythm accelerated... and I had absolutely no idea what might happen next. Truly. No clue!
Such a rewarding read, creative and well-written. I was completely absorbed, by the landscape, the locations, the PEOPLE.
While it is described on the back cover as a ‘paranormal mystery’ I found it to be so much more, and what really appealed to me were the characters, their relationships, and how they evolved and grew (so many rich and interesting individual human journeys intertwined in this story). Each character was so real and absorbing, so familiar, and relatable in their own ways.
What a journey… of light and dark, growth, emotion, the real world and others, family, friends, relationships. I feel like I have been on this weird holiday in Benbar’s Cross for the past two weeks and it’s been a rather fascinating time, left me feeling quite in awe!
One of my favourite authors for sure.
April 10, 2026
A terrific fantasy novel, set in the real world, that has more than a hint of horror about it. Morgan arrives in the middle-of-nowhere town of Benbar's Cross to try to track down her missing twin sister, Juliet. What she uncovers may demand an immense sacrifice from her, and in doing so she unveils some frightening truths about the town where her sister was last seen. It zips along at a tremendous pace, touches on themes of women's rage and loss, and there are strange, surreal scenes and ideas that will linger long in the memory. A terrific novel, well worth your time.
April 23, 2026
If you have ever experienced enlightenment through a shamanic journey, delved into the metaphysical and experienced the oneness of creation, then this book will hit differently. There were times things seemed too convenient (a toolbox in the town hall ready to pry open the cellar door, or the missing pages of Isobels journal and its short backstory conveniently holding the key to a ritual), but that was quickly forgiven because the writing was so good and overall story was gripping. Well done Tanya Meeson.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2026
This was a page-turner precisely because the characters drove the story - faster and faster - through different timelines, to a surprising conclusion. I was fascinated by the ties that bind, and those that release... The strongly-drawn women were very relatable, though their circumstances were unfamiliar. The novel is set in an abandoned landscape (but can anyone truly leave?) that was as much of a character as the leads themselves.
The author has a very deft hand with story and characterisation and this work makes me eager for more. Can't wait!
The author has a very deft hand with story and characterisation and this work makes me eager for more. Can't wait!
April 6, 2026
Wow! What a journey! I had no idea what to expect from The Witch of Benbar’s Cross and unwittingly fell into a story that I couldn’t get out of until it was over. I wanted to linger longer with each character - every one holding a beautiful, captivating, sometimes heartbreaking story. This book was full of life, and heart, and loss, and courage, and light, and darkness, and mystery. I loved it!
June 13, 2026
I enjoyed this book. I found myself invested in the main character and felt that the author did an excellent job with character and plot development. I Love how there was an element of the paranormal involved with the crime thriller. It was effective and believable to the storyline.
April 12, 2026
Riveting and unpredictable! The suspense was palpable: the characters - including the landscape - were fascinating and relatable. Another goodie from Tanya Meeson!
March 29, 2026
I went into this book having no idea what to expect….well, I devoured it! I was hooked from the beginning and heavily invested in the twists and turns.
Tanya Meeson’s gift for layered storytelling and descriptions of evocative environments is immense, and this story has that in multiples. The writing flows in an effortless way allowing you to become immersed in the rich story. I’m terribly sad I’ve finished it.
Tanya Meeson’s gift for layered storytelling and descriptions of evocative environments is immense, and this story has that in multiples. The writing flows in an effortless way allowing you to become immersed in the rich story. I’m terribly sad I’ve finished it.
April 2, 2026
This beautiful, affecting novel is like the journey undertaken by its main character: you’re fairly sure you know where you are, where you’re going and why you’re going there, and then…
The world of Benbar’s Cross is both uncanny and deceptively familiar, featuring characters that will fascinate and confound, and the climax is transcendent, moving and completely surprising. I don’t want to spoil anything, but this a resolution in the truest sense.
The world of Benbar’s Cross is both uncanny and deceptively familiar, featuring characters that will fascinate and confound, and the climax is transcendent, moving and completely surprising. I don’t want to spoil anything, but this a resolution in the truest sense.
May 7, 2026
It's one thing coming to your sister's aid and quite another volunteering to do so for the twin sister who has stolen the limelight and been everyone's favourite since day one. Maybe Morgan was trying to prove something to herself, or to her family and the world? Be that as it may, she sets out on her solo mission only to be faced with one dead end after another. But that lingering sense that her sister - Juliet - is alive and in the town of Benbar's Cross keeps her on the sleuthing trail. What prompted me to give this book five stars isn't just the author's ability to weave a mystical tale across timelines that keeps you hooked until the last page, it was the revelation of where her sister was - or rather what she was - that brought it altogether. It's not so much an aha as an ahaaaaa moment.
I enjoyed the fact that the women were the main characters of this story. That the ancients were called upon to help. And that Morgan was able to walk back into her old life a different, wiser, validated person.
I enjoyed the fact that the women were the main characters of this story. That the ancients were called upon to help. And that Morgan was able to walk back into her old life a different, wiser, validated person.
March 27, 2026
I can't tell enough people to read this book. I don't want to tell you anything in case I let something slip and ruin the experience of reading, discovering, marvelling and often staring wide eyed at the page and thinking what the actual...?
Just read the book.
Just read the book.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews