
A Witch's Lament
The Salem Witches Book 1
by Cathy Walker
Pub Date 01 Dec 2015
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Talking about this book? Be sure to tag it using #AWitchsLament #NetGalley |
Description
Salem, Massachusetts has managed to build a thriving industry of tourism on the foundations of its dark past. But, beneath the seaside charm, bewitching shops, and seasonal surge of wannabe-witches and thrill seekers, the ancient darkness still lurks.
Oblivious to the brewing danger, Skye Temple buys a historic house in the witch capital of the world and on her first day uncovers a skeleton and ancestral diaries in her new home's library. In escalating events of magic and murder, Skye discovers her true bloodlines and a familial birth-task which involves guarding a powerful knife.
Police officer, Jerome Phips, has been searching for answers to his mother's disappearance for 30 years. She'd vanished during a ritual and none of the other coven members had information about that night. So, when he receives the phone call about a skeleton and its location, his heart beats with hope and fear that he might finally know the truth.
As information unfolds and danger heightens, Jerome discovers Skye's relationship to one of the people present during the disastrous ritual. Though anger and blame make it difficult to work together, Jerome and Skye must overcome emotions to prevent the darkness from returning and fulfilling its own long-awaited task.
Salem, Massachusetts has managed to build a thriving industry of tourism on the foundations of its dark past. But, beneath the seaside charm, bewitching shops, and seasonal surge of wannabe-witches...
Description
Salem, Massachusetts has managed to build a thriving industry of tourism on the foundations of its dark past. But, beneath the seaside charm, bewitching shops, and seasonal surge of wannabe-witches and thrill seekers, the ancient darkness still lurks.
Oblivious to the brewing danger, Skye Temple buys a historic house in the witch capital of the world and on her first day uncovers a skeleton and ancestral diaries in her new home's library. In escalating events of magic and murder, Skye discovers her true bloodlines and a familial birth-task which involves guarding a powerful knife.
Police officer, Jerome Phips, has been searching for answers to his mother's disappearance for 30 years. She'd vanished during a ritual and none of the other coven members had information about that night. So, when he receives the phone call about a skeleton and its location, his heart beats with hope and fear that he might finally know the truth.
As information unfolds and danger heightens, Jerome discovers Skye's relationship to one of the people present during the disastrous ritual. Though anger and blame make it difficult to work together, Jerome and Skye must overcome emotions to prevent the darkness from returning and fulfilling its own long-awaited task.
Advance Praise
"""...a brilliantly written story of witches...""
""The plot was intense and kept me on the edge of my seat...characters were strong and vibrant...""
""The language was beautiful, and the two main characters well fleshed out."""
"""...a brilliantly written story of witches...""
""The plot was intense and kept me on the edge of my seat...characters were strong and vibrant...""
""The language was beautiful, and the two main...
Advance Praise
"""...a brilliantly written story of witches...""
""The plot was intense and kept me on the edge of my seat...characters were strong and vibrant...""
""The language was beautiful, and the two main characters well fleshed out."""
Featured Reviews

My Recommendation
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This is the first I’ve read from Cathy Walker and I wasn’t disappointed, I was hooked from the very first chapter. This was quite an enjoyable read, with magic, ancient evil, and family bloodlines all coming together in an intriguing novel. |
My Recommendation
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My Recommendation
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I saw this book, and I hadn’t read the author before but was intrigued by the premise to give it a go. It didn’t take me long, probably only a page or two, to get hooked into the story. Skye is an interesting protagonist, and I liked how she came to Salem. I also quite enjoyed the plot, and the writing is excellent. I only had one thing bother me, and it’s a personal preference; I can’t stand when information is kept from people to keep them safe. Ugh. Anyway, it didn’t take me long to guess who the villain was in the story, but it was a wild ride to the end anyway. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed. |
My Recommendation
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My Recommendation
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Thank you to Netgalley, Cathy Walker and BooksGoSocial for the chance to read this ebook. I completely devoured this book; or rather, it devoured me. I planned on reading a few chapters and wound up finishing it at 4am! Skye Temple is a travel writer who always felt held back by her mother, Flora. But Skye and Flora are no ordinary mother and daughter. They are witches. From being a child, Flora watched over Skye's every move and made her swear a blood oath to never practise magic alone. Not knowing why, and feeling like her mother had been overbearing for too long, when Skye finds herself in Salem for work and feels the pull of a magnificent old house for sale, she decides to do her own thing for the first time and buys the house without telling Flora. Once settled in Salem, Skye learns of a serial killer who has been picking off young women for half a decade, and is yet to be caught. The local police - or one in particular - distrusts Skye from day one and feels that she or her family may be involved in these murders, as well as the thirty year old case of his missing mother. After an eventful first night in her new home, Skye finds officer Jerome Phip at her door, informing her that her parents were involved in a car accident and are in the local hospital. Upon arriving, Flora is not happy that Skye moved to Salem without letting her know, but is oddly even more concerned about the specific house that Skye has purchased. When Skye and Flora eventually sit down and talk, Skye learns just why her mother was so insistent on her never practising magic alone and that she is far more powerful than she ever could have imagined. Flora also tells Skye about a knife. A vastly powerful magical object that cannot fall into the wrong hands and must be found by their family at all costs. The problem is, the Temples are not the only ones hunting for the knife. Skye must do her best to navigate her newfound power, a conflicting love interest and a crazed serial killer, in order to find the knife and fulfill her family's destiny. This book is unputdownable and excellently written. I love anything relating to Salem and witches in general which is why I chose this book, but I never expected to love it quite so much. This is book one in a series and I will absolutely be purchasing the rest as they are published. The pull that Skye felt to Salem transcends through this book and into the reader, leaving you wishing to be back in the Good House where faeries dance and secrets are hidden. I'd recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the Salem Witch Trials or witches in general, and readers who love to be swept up in a thriller. Cathy Walker's work reminds me of Adriana Mather's, although aimed more towards adults. Id highly recommend to any older fans of Adriana's, such as myself. Thank you again to Netgalley, BooksGoSocial and Cathy Walker for the chance to read this incredible story. |
My Recommendation
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My Recommendation
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What I liked about this book: - The blend of past and present. - A great story filled with well-written magic and witches. - It is a book that is very captivating and addicting. This was an enjoyable read from start to finish. |
My Recommendation
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My Recommendation
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A Witch’s Lament By: Cathy Walker As someone who grew up in the NorthEast not far from Salem, this book intrigued me from the beginning. It didn’t take long to become hooked on this story about Salem witches. The way the past and present are intertwined in this book was well done. It is a wild ride to find out the truth behind the rituals and disappearances. I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of tales about the Salem witches and past evils being brought to light. The tone and style of this author are different than what I am used to. There is no complicated plot with many unexpected twists and turns, so there was some room for improvement, but I enjoyed the book overall. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity. |
My Recommendation
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My Recommendation
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I loved the blurb for this book and was looking for something different to read so picked this one up and I have to say that I thought it was brilliant! The book was really well written and I found it really addictive. I loved the mix of old and new, the balance was just right for me and I thought that the characters were superb, really well developed and they worked really well together too. I did guess who was responsible but that did not detract from the story at all and there was plenty going on in each chapter of the book too. There were well developed backgrounds to the characters too which gave them an added depth and feelings. It is 5 stars from me for this one, well written and an additive story – very highly recommended and I am off to get the second book in the series now! |
My Recommendation
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My Recommendation
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Good storytelling, interesting world building and character development. It’s an engrossing and entertaining story. Recommended Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this arc, all opinions are mine |
My Recommendation
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My Recommendation
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I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. Thanks, Netgalley and BooksGoSocial. I enjoyed this book. It was a fast-paced witchy thriller based in Salem, MA. The book was well-written and the characters were well-developed. I'll definitely be checking out the next book in the series. |
My Recommendation
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My Recommendation
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A Witch’s Lament is the first in a new series from a relatively new author. If you like a good mystery, with a mix of history, romance and witch craft, then this book is for you. I will definitely be looking for book 2. Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC. #Netgalley #AWitchsLament |
My Recommendation
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My Recommendation
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This is a solid story about the witches in Salem, Massachusetts. I’m always interested in reading these type of cozy mysteries, so I was really looking forward to reading this book. While I found a tiny bit of it stale, most of it was well written and it kept me engaged until the end. |
My Recommendation
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My Recommendation
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This was a quick and interesting story. It flips around from timelines but it’s easy to follow. The chapters aren’t terribly long. I look forward to the second book in the series. Skye buys a house in Salem not realizing it’s “calling” her home. As the days pass the urgency of finding out about her powers and her past become more relevant as someone who’s been missing is found in her newly acquired house. Time is not on her side as she becomes friendly with Jerome the son of the person found in Skye’s home. Together they must figure out what happened to his mother and other happenings around Salem. |
My Recommendation
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My Recommendation
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Personally I love books about witch craft and things of that nature. Overall , the characters in the book were great. I liked the story line a lot but it definitely got a little long at times. I think that they could have shortened some parts of it to keep the story line and mystery moving faster. However, it was a good read and I look forward to the next book. |
My Recommendation
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My Recommendation
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I did enjoy this book. It is very well written. It is a good story that I didn't want to put down. If you like a good mystery this is a good one.. |
My Recommendation
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My Recommendation
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A fantastic story about how the past can affect the present with a bit of magic thrown in. Set in Salem the descendants of those involved in the witch trials discover how life is interlinked and now they need to stop a twisted murderer bent on revenge for past deeds. A great read and now have to go and find the next book in the series as I am hooked. |
My Recommendation
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Featured Reviews

My Recommendation
|
|
This is the first I’ve read from Cathy Walker and I wasn’t disappointed, I was hooked from the very first chapter. This was quite an enjoyable read, with magic, ancient evil, and family bloodlines all coming together in an intriguing novel. |
My Recommendation
|

My Recommendation
|
|
I saw this book, and I hadn’t read the author before but was intrigued by the premise to give it a go. It didn’t take me long, probably only a page or two, to get hooked into the story. Skye is an interesting protagonist, and I liked how she came to Salem. I also quite enjoyed the plot, and the writing is excellent. I only had one thing bother me, and it’s a personal preference; I can’t stand when information is kept from people to keep them safe. Ugh. Anyway, it didn’t take me long to guess who the villain was in the story, but it was a wild ride to the end anyway. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed. |
My Recommendation
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My Recommendation
|
|
Thank you to Netgalley, Cathy Walker and BooksGoSocial for the chance to read this ebook. I completely devoured this book; or rather, it devoured me. I planned on reading a few chapters and wound up finishing it at 4am! Skye Temple is a travel writer who always felt held back by her mother, Flora. But Skye and Flora are no ordinary mother and daughter. They are witches. From being a child, Flora watched over Skye's every move and made her swear a blood oath to never practise magic alone. Not knowing why, and feeling like her mother had been overbearing for too long, when Skye finds herself in Salem for work and feels the pull of a magnificent old house for sale, she decides to do her own thing for the first time and buys the house without telling Flora. Once settled in Salem, Skye learns of a serial killer who has been picking off young women for half a decade, and is yet to be caught. The local police - or one in particular - distrusts Skye from day one and feels that she or her family may be involved in these murders, as well as the thirty year old case of his missing mother. After an eventful first night in her new home, Skye finds officer Jerome Phip at her door, informing her that her parents were involved in a car accident and are in the local hospital. Upon arriving, Flora is not happy that Skye moved to Salem without letting her know, but is oddly even more concerned about the specific house that Skye has purchased. When Skye and Flora eventually sit down and talk, Skye learns just why her mother was so insistent on her never practising magic alone and that she is far more powerful than she ever could have imagined. Flora also tells Skye about a knife. A vastly powerful magical object that cannot fall into the wrong hands and must be found by their family at all costs. The problem is, the Temples are not the only ones hunting for the knife. Skye must do her best to navigate her newfound power, a conflicting love interest and a crazed serial killer, in order to find the knife and fulfill her family's destiny. This book is unputdownable and excellently written. I love anything relating to Salem and witches in general which is why I chose this book, but I never expected to love it quite so much. This is book one in a series and I will absolutely be purchasing the rest as they are published. The pull that Skye felt to Salem transcends through this book and into the reader, leaving you wishing to be back in the Good House where faeries dance and secrets are hidden. I'd recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the Salem Witch Trials or witches in general, and readers who love to be swept up in a thriller. Cathy Walker's work reminds me of Adriana Mather's, although aimed more towards adults. Id highly recommend to any older fans of Adriana's, such as myself. Thank you again to Netgalley, BooksGoSocial and Cathy Walker for the chance to read this incredible story. |
My Recommendation
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My Recommendation
|
|
What I liked about this book: - The blend of past and present. - A great story filled with well-written magic and witches. - It is a book that is very captivating and addicting. This was an enjoyable read from start to finish. |
My Recommendation
|

My Recommendation
|
|
A Witch’s Lament By: Cathy Walker As someone who grew up in the NorthEast not far from Salem, this book intrigued me from the beginning. It didn’t take long to become hooked on this story about Salem witches. The way the past and present are intertwined in this book was well done. It is a wild ride to find out the truth behind the rituals and disappearances. I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of tales about the Salem witches and past evils being brought to light. The tone and style of this author are different than what I am used to. There is no complicated plot with many unexpected twists and turns, so there was some room for improvement, but I enjoyed the book overall. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity. |
My Recommendation
|

My Recommendation
|
|
I loved the blurb for this book and was looking for something different to read so picked this one up and I have to say that I thought it was brilliant! The book was really well written and I found it really addictive. I loved the mix of old and new, the balance was just right for me and I thought that the characters were superb, really well developed and they worked really well together too. I did guess who was responsible but that did not detract from the story at all and there was plenty going on in each chapter of the book too. There were well developed backgrounds to the characters too which gave them an added depth and feelings. It is 5 stars from me for this one, well written and an additive story – very highly recommended and I am off to get the second book in the series now! |
My Recommendation
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My Recommendation
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Good storytelling, interesting world building and character development. It’s an engrossing and entertaining story. Recommended Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this arc, all opinions are mine |
My Recommendation
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My Recommendation
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I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. Thanks, Netgalley and BooksGoSocial. I enjoyed this book. It was a fast-paced witchy thriller based in Salem, MA. The book was well-written and the characters were well-developed. I'll definitely be checking out the next book in the series. |
My Recommendation
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My Recommendation
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A Witch’s Lament is the first in a new series from a relatively new author. If you like a good mystery, with a mix of history, romance and witch craft, then this book is for you. I will definitely be looking for book 2. Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC. #Netgalley #AWitchsLament |
My Recommendation
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My Recommendation
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This is a solid story about the witches in Salem, Massachusetts. I’m always interested in reading these type of cozy mysteries, so I was really looking forward to reading this book. While I found a tiny bit of it stale, most of it was well written and it kept me engaged until the end. |
My Recommendation
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My Recommendation
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This was a quick and interesting story. It flips around from timelines but it’s easy to follow. The chapters aren’t terribly long. I look forward to the second book in the series. Skye buys a house in Salem not realizing it’s “calling” her home. As the days pass the urgency of finding out about her powers and her past become more relevant as someone who’s been missing is found in her newly acquired house. Time is not on her side as she becomes friendly with Jerome the son of the person found in Skye’s home. Together they must figure out what happened to his mother and other happenings around Salem. |
My Recommendation
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My Recommendation
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Personally I love books about witch craft and things of that nature. Overall , the characters in the book were great. I liked the story line a lot but it definitely got a little long at times. I think that they could have shortened some parts of it to keep the story line and mystery moving faster. However, it was a good read and I look forward to the next book. |
My Recommendation
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My Recommendation
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I did enjoy this book. It is very well written. It is a good story that I didn't want to put down. If you like a good mystery this is a good one.. |
My Recommendation
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My Recommendation
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A fantastic story about how the past can affect the present with a bit of magic thrown in. Set in Salem the descendants of those involved in the witch trials discover how life is interlinked and now they need to stop a twisted murderer bent on revenge for past deeds. A great read and now have to go and find the next book in the series as I am hooked. |
My Recommendation
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