Drown the Witch

By: Michael Coolwood

Narrated by: Sohm Kapila

Susan Fletcher has been hired to infiltrate a secret society of witches. Her contact promises fame, fortune, and protection from the fallout. Now, Susan’s contact is dead, murdered by one of the people she threatened to expose.

Can Susan uncover the murderer, escape the mansion of monsters, and above all, keep the witches from discovering she's not one of them?

©2018 Michael Morwood (P)2019 Michael Morwood

Engaging supernatural mystery

This is a review of the audiobook, narrated by Sohm Kapila, which runs 10 hours and 3 minutes.

I really enjoyed this book,which was an engaging supernatural steampunk mystery. I'm going to start with the narration, and then move on to book features.

The book was definitely suited to being made into an audiobook. It was written in first person, and it felt like it was being read by the main character. When characters spoke, it was extremely clear who was speaking. Each character was read with their own different vocal characteristics. Accents were used for some characters, most memorably the second most important character, Alison. None of the accents or other voices were stereotyped or irritating.

The book built tension well. The narrator conveyed that tension well. I felt emotionally invested in the characters as they experienced their adventure.

The worldbuilding was very well done. You step into a world that is distinct from our own, built with elements that are familiar. There is steam-based technology and magic. Both are well developed. There isn't an information dump for any element of the world, you get small pieces of information over time, as you need them. You never feel lost.

One feature of the book that I liked was it's progressive view on gender and same-sex relationships. The book doesn't have romantic elements. But it's clear, as the book progresses, that some characters are in same-sex marriages and it's considered so normal that it's not worth discussing.

The plot isn't predictable. You move between settings as it progresses. I found myself surprised at multiple points of the book, but never felt that the story had jumped off the rails. I don't want to go into details of the plot, as my own enjoyment was increased by not knowing what was coming. The two main characters, Susan and Alison, grow and develop over the course of the book, with distinct personalities. You come to identify with Susan especially.

I did find that the book seemed to be written to be book one of a series, or at least I think so, from the ending. There were elements that were less resolved than I would expect otherwise.

Overall, this book was very enjoyable with a narration that really contributed to my enjoyment of the story.

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Steampunk style and very original

This is the first book I’ve read/listened to by this author and I would listen to another. I love her version of “witches”. The story takes place in the year 700...no reference is given to where this takes place. The society seems to be steampunkish- people have old style guns, swords, Zeppelins, gas lamps, steam tunnels, and coaches with steam tanks. It’s reminiscent of England’s social hierarchy in the early 1900s with maids, butlers and upper class. I really enjoy this world. It adds a flair I’ve not gotten before from a mystery/witchcraft story. So original- wonderful!! I hope there are more books in this world. I’m writing this review while I’m still listening to this book (I’m enjoying it so much).

This is the first book I’ve listened to by this narrator ( Sohm Kapila ) and I would gladly listen to another. She did a great job narrating this book so it felt like I was listening to the main character retelling her account of what happened. Her accents and voices were great and diction clear.

There are no explicit sex scenes, excessive violence or swearing.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review.
Please feel free to comment on whether you found my review helpful.

Clue meets Nightbreed with a steampunk twist

So if you have ever played clue or watched the movie (Tim curry was great in that!) imagine combining that with the movie Nightbreed (Clive Barker). And you would have this great story here. A secret society that a member of hires a regular human to expose. They arrive at the house to find murder has been committed. I spent the majority of the story with my mind playing the music and shoring them
Running room from room like in clue as they attempted to solve the murder. The story has some great character development both in mythos and depth of individuals, wonderful narration and voices and some good plot twisting reasons for the murder. Enjoy this modern mystical version of clue. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator or publisher

Wonderfully Witchy

Drown the Witch is a great who-dun-it with a paranormal twist. Susan's jpurney as a new operative is filled with action, adventure, magic and murder! The narrator is fantastic with perfect pacing and distinguished character voices. This stroy is very well written with in depth relatable characters and desciptve world building. I look forward to more from this author

Steampunk vintage and awesome!

Susan is an aspiring reporter in a steampunk victorian universe with some slight role reversals. She is hired by an aristocrat to infiltrate a secret society and report back and eventually publish her reports exposing the group. Little does Susan know what she is getting into. Literally a world of magic and monsters. After infiltration Susan’s aristocrat is found dead...now what? Susan is stuck, an infiltrator in a locked mansion with a murderer and people who will kill her if the knew who she really is. I loved this book. Steampunk is not usually my thing but I really enjoyed the plot and characters. Magic monsters and murder mysteries! I hope there is another book in the works! I must know how it all ends up! The narrator did an amazing job with all the characters and various accents! I received a free review copy of this book at my request and have voluntarily left this review!

Supernatural mystery

The cover does not do the book justice. I would have not picked up the book based on the cover. It was the title that made pause and read the blurb.
This is a mystery book with a paranormal twist to it. Two of the ingredients that I love in a book.
I would highly recommend it.