Book Review: Witch Among Us

Witch Among Us by K.T. Carlisle

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Witch Among Us is a horrifying, yet surprisingly heartfelt spin on the classic “one of us is a killer” tale that will keep you guessing right up to the gasp-inducing conclusion.

The story takes place at Salem State and is told by newly-arrived Freshman Eliza Loft, in first person present tense, placing the reader right next to Eliza. We are privy to her feelings, fears, expectations, and confusion as she tries to make sense of all the events, clues, and people swirling around her.

I appreciate that the author is comfortable letting her characters show genuine affection for one another. Best friends regularly hold and comfort each other without any suggestion of sexual innuendo. This is a genuine, grounding force in light of all the horrific stuff going on.

The LGBT+ community is well represented. In fact, many types of diversity can be found in the large cast of characters. None of it feels as if it has been forced into view. Everyone simply experiences events as their authentic selves.

The author’s done her homework regarding the history and practices of witchcraft. It’s released into the story so effortlessly one might think that author is a witch herself. Is she? I don’t know. Hmmm.

Much of the story is relayed through conversations among the teenagers. These aren’t rushed. They play out in detail at a pace that feels real, yet never sinks into boring babble. The plot moves forward at a satisfying pace with each chapter revealing something new while advancing the plot. Clues, news, and events are given to us at every turn, making it fun to try to figure out who the murderer is. Did I manage that? Nope, I thought I knew who it was, but was quite impressed at the reveal.

The author’s love of writing and word crafting is evident throughout the story. Her sentences are expertly, lovingly crafted. The mystery itself is well thought out. Tension builds slowly, there’s plenty of surprises. Readers will be constantly on the verge of thinking they might have the mystery figured out, only to run headlong into yet another delicious twist.

Read this book in a dimly lit room, preferably with a cup of herbal tea or a deep red wine. Candles would be nice, but be mindful of open flames. It’s probably not the best idea to start reading on a night when you need to get enough sleep for school or work the next day. And when the story is done, lean back, close your eyes, and think about those friends and family that are near and dear to you. Fling out a text to remind one of them that they are loved. Now that is not the takeaway you’d expect from a murder mystery, is it?