Duncan Ralston is an author I’ve been reading for a while now, mixed results but enough potential to merit an interest each time. From the good to the mediocre to the horrendously disturbing to the recent overbloated Ghostland, there has been plenty of entertaining value, but it’s always such a pleasure to witness an author finally come into his own, finally reach all the promise of previous works and so on…finally write something as good as Midwives. This was actually a book I first found on GR, the cover is difficult not to notice, in fact it’s the most strikingly terrifying female with scissors image since the movie Us posters. So when the book showed up on Netgalley, I requested it immediately and read it shortly after and…wow. Very good, very good indeed. Something of a proper genre epic, actually. The basic premise of witches in a small town (in this case to maximize the isolation) a small island is familiar enough, but Ralston really develops the story so well, from character building to cranking up the claustrophobic atmosphere…it’s so well done. In fact, what makes it work so nicely is the dramatic writing, the mother/son relationship at the center of it all is as messed up as any Psycho style scenario. Mind you, genre fans need not be afraid, while this is definitely a work of literary frights, there’s plenty of guts and gore and…well, afterbirth for the toughest most discerning fans. There’s a serial killer too. There’s a lot going on. The main protagonist is an author (I do like stories featuring authors) who comes back to the small insular island community he’s originally from to avoid a serial killer who has recently sprung himself free and might be coming after him. And you know what they say…you can’t go back to the small creepy island and a largely looming exceptionally creepy mother figure again…or something like that. So at any rate, you don’t need a plot summary, I read it without one and was all the more pleased with the plot’s twists and turns for it. Check it out for yourself. This is Ralston at his best with a novel that took nearly three decades and tons of rewrites to finally become the author’s magnum opus to date. And yes, it’s on the longer side, but (unlike Ghostland) it’s actually well worth the time and you get a lot for the page count. Quite possibly the best witch story since Grimm fairy tales. Let’s hear it for a scary folk tale every ounce as creepy as its awesome cover. Now go read the book. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.