The Ward Witch by Sarah Painter

The ward witch is an easy-to-read cosy fantasy/mystery, the first in the Unholy Island series. Esme Gray, a young woman hiding from a violent past, runs a guest house on an isolated island in the North Sea. She also protects the wards that guard the island, the wards that ensure that visitors only remain for a couple of days and forget the island when they return to the mainland. When Luke Taylor arrives on the island looking for his missing twin,  the island allows him to stay but the residents are very suspicious especially when a body is found on the shore. Esme is drawn to Luke but her past experiences have left her lacking confidence in her judgment. What connection has Luke to the murder? What secrets are the islanders hiding?

The mysterious setting of the island, with its ruins, cliffs and rocky shorelines is vividly described. I enjoyed the idea of tourists and the police arriving but only staying for a brief time and then forgetting what they done. It is easy to imagine the guest house that Esme runs, the magical bookstore and the storms that rage in. The main characters are well developed. The reader can guess some things about Esme’s past and relate to her fears and lack of self-esteem. Luke’s search for his brother and his need to find him is also relatable.

The combination of cosy fantasy with a mystery plus a slow burning romance is likely to appeal to fans who enjoy an escape from reality. The book keeper is the next in the series.

Themes: Murder, Islands, Supernatural, Fantasy.

Pat Pledger