Mindy's Book Journey

  Title: The Witch in the Well Author: Camilla Bruce Genre: Thriller/horror Published: Oct.2, 2022 by Macmillan Publishing I received a copy for review through Netgalley. Ilsbeth Clark is accused of witchcraft after children turn up drown in a well in their small Norwegian town. Centuries later, Elena and Cathy are caught up in the mystery of the well and determined to write Ilsbeth's story.  This horror/thriller story takes place in rural Norway. The small town combined with a crumbling manor house, the woods, and a creepy well with a lot of history combine to create the best dark dreary atmosphere. This story is told through journals, book entries, and blog posts to create a picture of the folklore surrounding the well and the alleged witch Ilsbeth Clark. I found that there were too many different characters and POV's to keep track. I would recommend this story to those that to dive into the history surrounding folklore. In this story the folklore really comes to life in

  Title: Daphne Author: Josh Malerman Genre: Horror Published: Penguin Random House on 9/20/22 I received a copy through NetGalley. The last thing Kit and the rest of her basketball teammates expected after hearing a spooky story about a local urban legend is that it is true. If you think about Daphne then she comes from beyond the grave to kill you.  This book is a great mix of coming of age, supernatural, and serial killer novel. It captures the feeling of dread and anxiety that the characters would be feeling with such a formidable opponent. And Daphne is definitely and unforgettable antagonist at seven feet tall with murderous tendencies, not to mention how do you kill she who is already dead. Since so much of the novel is the anticipation of attack, those sections got a little repetitive. However, there were great kills, and the backstory for Daphne was wonderfully heinous. This fast paced take on a serial killer novel is one to check out this spooky season.  My Rating: 4 stars o