The Ravenswood Witch – Jenni Keer | Book Review | #TheRavenswoodWitch | @JenniKeer @BoldwoodBooks @rararesources

Publisher: Boldwood Books
Format: ebook, audiobook, paperback (30 September 2024)
Source: Copy via Netgalley for review

‘There are a lot of shadows at Ravenswood, so you will need to be strong…’

The year is 1885 and a young woman is on the run, knowing if she’s caught, she’ll be hanged for murder. Moments from a safe haven, she collides with a gruff stranger, falling and breaking her ankle.

To her surprise, the man – Marcus Greybourne – convinces the local constable that she is his reclusive wife of ten years, Luna. He carries her back to the neglected and crumbling Ravenswood Hall, promising if she agrees to maintain this charade, he will keep her safe until her injuries have healed.

But the house is haunted by shadows and secrets. What’s more, the real Luna Greybourne is missing, without trace. Scratches and marks made by her around the house suggest witchcraft; and indeed Luna is known locally as the Ravenswood Witch; her reputation in tatters, like the wallpapers of the padlocked rooms she’d destroyed.

As strange happenings in the house continue, outside the screech of a raven echoes across oppressive woods that seem alive with dark magic. And the woman who is now pretending to be Luna can’t help but fear she’s escaped the noose for a far more terrible fate…

A completely compelling and unforgettable historical bookclub read – fans of Jane Eyre, Weyward and The Binding will be utterly spellbound.


MY THOUGHTS

My thanks to Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources for the tour invite and to the publisher for the ebook to review via Netgalley. The Ravenswood Witch is the third book I’ve read by Jenni Keer – No 23 Burlington Square, At the Stroke of Midnight being previously reviewed here. As soon as I saw the word ‘Witch’ I was there, especially as it’s from Jenni, I didn’t need any persuading at all to say please to reviewing this.

This historical fiction with its setting in 1885 has as its background a rather neglected big old house, suspicious characters and chilling supernatural elements. On the run from the police during which she injures herself, a young woman takes refuge at Ravenwood at the invitation of its brooding owner Marcus Greybourne, the only other occupants being his housekeeper and her husband – the latter whose behaviour is rather disturbing and unfriendly. In return, she will publicly pretend to be Greybourne’s missing wife Luna. I was intrigued from the beginning and had questions – where was the real Luna and would she return to find an imposter in her place – despite the likeness between the two women surely people would realise? Further what was the real identity of the ‘imposter’ and who had been killed to result in such a desperate escape.

There is a smallish cast of characters here with the setting mainly in Ravensbourne House and its grounds but the story is no less disturbing. There is significant internal destruction and witchcraft and occult symbols are everywhere – presumably made by the real Luna, who was viewed with much fear and distrust by the villagers for they perceived her as the Ravenswood Witch. There are two strands to the story, one of which initially led me down a different garden path. The eventual blending of the two stories results in a shocking revelation. With ghostly apparitions and witchcraft tokens, this is a superbly creepy and mysterious story with rather dark characters committing evil deeds.

The supernatural element and that constant feeling of foreboding kept my interest throughout and for much of the book I was never quite sure which events were true or a manifestation of imagination or even who could be trusted. Much like the pretend Luna, I was never sure of Marcus’ role in his wife’s disappearance although that didn’t stop her developing a sympathetic attachment. The atmospheric setting of the old house and surrounding forest certainly had that sinister factor – and I haven’t mentioned the Ravens!

I’ve said before that Jenni Keer has become a must read author. I love her style of writing with the ability to immediately hook me into a story. This is a book that could be read at any time but with Halloween fast approaching, it would be superb candidate for a spooky read.


Jenni Keer is the well-reviewed author of historical romances, often with a mystery at their heart. Most recently published by Headline and shortlisted for the 2023 RNA Historical Romantic Novel of the Year.

Follow the author: Website | X/Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | AmazonUK

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JenniKeerNews

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/RavenswoodWitchSocial

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