The Torridon Witches

I love the Scottish highlands, and I've been fortunate enough to enjoy several happy holidays there.  The first were with my parents and sister, later with my wife, and more recently adding my son.  Scotland never disappoints in terms of the scenery, history/atmosphere and the highland welcome.  The region around Loch Torridon is particularly remote and stunning.

I'd always wanted to set a book in remote Scotland as a tribute to the place, and 'Witches', a contemporary horror novella, was born.  Scottish witch trials of the seventeenth century have always fascinated me so I decided that would be the subject matter.  The drawback was that while the trials are an interest, they're hardly something I'm expert on.  Neither is the period, so I decided to set the story in the present day against the backdrop of a remote community who distrust visitors and still burn 'witches'.

'The Torridon Witches' was published in 2013 by Damnation Books. 

Here's 'Witches' buy link.

And here's the blurb:

They don't burn witches any more...do they? Fiona MacLeod returns to Dunmorgan to gain revenge for Gran's burning as a witch a decade ago. Friends accompanying Fiona have a row and in their tempers use the word 'witch'. The villagers' attitudes are ancient, and the friends are soon on trial for witchcraft. To avoid the stake Fiona must confront the charismatic but brutal Blue Eyed Man. She must also take on the sadistic villagers who were responsible for Gran's death, and who are desperate for another burning.

Review

"...horror so real you're there with the characters."
Full review
Carole Ann Moleti, fiction reviewer, Tangent Online and The Portal.