Witch Hunt

Witch Hunt is the ninth Widdershins book. Unusually for Widdershins, it follows several groups of characters from previous books across several plot threads on the same day, ultimately ending with Mal accepting his role as the City Witch and Harry returning home after her disappearance at the end of Curtain Call. It introduces new reoccurring villain Pemberton Pryce and sets up the events of Sea Change.

Blurb
Where on Earth is Harry Barber?

After her part in saving the town of Widdershins, Harriet deserves a holiday... But this is definitely not what she had in mind. Trapped on the other side of the world and seemingly alone, she'll be forced to face the one enemy she is absolutely unprepared for: herself.

Back at home, Jack O'Malley the guardian and witch of Widdershins, has vanished- and that's the least of the town's incoming problems. Overeager investigators, rogue Americans and unexpected parental visits are all set to conclude in a chaotic collision. Can the witch be found before it's too late?

Plot Summary
Several weeks after the events of Curtain Call,  Jack O’Malley leaves Widdershins with the Purple Hippo of Happiness. Meanwhile, Harriet Barber is still stranded on Tapu Tohunga Motu, the Island Anchor, in the jungle, dodging a mysterious beast that seems to be following her.

Worried by Mal’s disappearance, Benjamin Thackerey and Heinrich Wolfe visit Sidney Malik to ask for his help as a hunter tracking him down. They find Sid and Harry’s office in a mess and Sid clearly close to falling apart in the aftermath of Harry being stuck on the other side of the world. Even so, he’s keen to help find Mal, but Wolfe argues with Ben about if they should even be trying to go after him, because it was his choice to go. Sid breaks up the argument by asking Wolfe to take him to the boarding house they have been staying in to get something of Mal’s for Gren to track, and they leave Ben to look after Gren alone, warning him to expect a client soon. As they head to the boarding house, Wolfe talks to Sid about how he is doing, and decides they need to go to the pub for a chat first.

In the office, Ben starts cleaning but is interrupted by the arrival of Eliza Swift, who questions what he’s doing there as he’s not a hunter. Ben doubles down that he is a hunter and asks what she’s doing there. They have a flirtatious argument, in which Ben works out Eliza is investigating without Nicola’s knowledge, and Eliza works out Ben knows who the Witch of Widdershins is. They are both interrupted by the arrival of the real client.

At the pub, Sid talks about how useless he feels unable to help Harry with anything, but Wolfe comforts him, saying nobody can be everything for another person, and he’s doing his best for her by being there when she gets herself back.

On the island, Harry discovers a boat and a path leading to a cabin, where she’s met by a strange woman with a ladle who offers her some food.

Meanwhile, in Harry’s office, Ben and Eliza pretend to the clients that they are Harry Barber and Harry’s French assistant in order to get them to leave more quickly. This immediately backfires when they are kidnapped at gunpoint and taken away in a carriage, just as Sid and Wolfe return back. They are confused to find the office empty, but before they can investigate there is a knock at the door and Sid’s parents, Rajeev and Kirti, arrive. Sid still hasn’t told them he was expelled so pretends he has a parttime job at an accountants, and Wolfe is his boss, Mr Barber. Wolfe plays along. Kirti explains they are here for Sid’s graduation.

Ben and Eliza argue on the coach ride and arrive in a meat freezer where they meet American businessman Pemberton Pryce. He says he needs them to find the Witch of Widdershins so he can offer him a job, and hands them a document with details about Mal. Eliza tells Ben to go home and she’ll sort things out, but when he admits to being friends with Mal he explains he needs to make sure Pryce doesn’t get to him, and Eliza agrees to help.

In the jungle cabin, Harry gets to know Nyree, the Island Witch. She explains she smells spirits, rather than sees them. Harry tells her about the Sins incident, and Nyree promises she can easily get her home, but Harry explains about the monster that has been following her. They set off to deal with it, but first Harry cuts her messy hair short.

Sid’s parents invite Wolfe to lunch with them and he agrees in order to help Sid. On the way, he encourages Sid to come clean to them during lunch.

Eliza and Ben stop by Swift’s Apothecary so Eliza can search her filing system for notes on Pryce. They briefly flirt over filing but Ben ruins it by insulting her Fourth Anchor theories. They decide to use Gren to try and track Mal and head out. As they go, Eliza asks Will Sharpe, now her employee, to ask Vincent Knott to find some information for her.

On the moorland, Mal and The Purple Hippo of Happiness take a rest and admire the view, and Happiness tries to convince Mal to go back to Widdershins. Mal says it’s too dangerous to other people, because of Pryce, but Happiness points out they were already leaving when they ran into him. Mal admits he doesn’t have a good reason for running away but doesn’t know what to do.

Nyree leads Harry to the door, a much easier journey thanks to Tapu Tohunga Motu clearing a path for them. Nyree is shocked to find the door has bark grown over it. The monster appears and Harry tries to shoot at it, but Nyree knocks the gun aside. She explains the monster is Harry’s ata, formed from the jumble of emotions she felt when she came through the door. If she wants to get home, they have to sort out her emotions first.

During lunch, Sidney’s parents stress how they love and support him no matter what, but despite Wolfe’s encouragement he doesn’t manage to tell them the truth.

Mal lashes out at Happiness, but realises he only ran away because he felt like he ought to and it hasn’t actually helped. He apologises and starts to consider going back, when he feels a knocking on the Witch Door in his head.

After a tricky start, Ben and Eliza manage to get Gren to track Mal to the moors. They bond on the walk, and manage to track Mal to the station in the next town. They see him boarding the train, but realise they’re being followed by Pryce’s men. They escape being tailed by pretending to get into a carriage and then sneaking out the other side, but this makes them late for the train. They run and manage to get onto the back carriage, but the door to the main train is locked. They decide to just stay there and wait until they get to Widdershins to find Mal.

At the Anchor, Wolfe leaves Sid’s family, and Sid begins to try and tell them the truth.

As Ben and Eliza get off the train, a big crowd of passengers stop them reaching Mal. They see one of Pryce’s men guarding the station, and go over to distract him, but end up getting captured and taken to Pryce again. He locks them in the deep freezer while he goes to check out reports of Mal being seen at the Anchor.

Wolfe is about to leave the Anchor, when he spots Mal going inside. He follows him and considers shouting out, but draws back. Mal tries to get through a locked door that finally opens when he asks it to.

Nyree starts to talk Harry through the emotions she was feeling when she went through the door. The monster disappears as they realise the bravery and fear she was feeling, but it leaves a large bud in its place. When she starts to talk about Sid, Harry realises she loves him, and the flower unfurls and the door is unsealed.

In the freezer, Ben asks Eliza on a date while Gren manages to dig out the emergency lever and free them both.

Mal enters the Witch Space to find Arpana, the mountain Witch, sat on a chair knitting. She welcomes him and explains she can hear spirits, and she was the one to leave him the music box and scarf. She explains the difficulty of being a Witch, but Mal decides he wants to stay this time and do his best. Behind him, the Island door opens.

As Sid is about to tell his parents the truth, he sees Pryce and his men running past with guns, and sprints after them to see what’s happening. His parents wonder if he was about to tell them the truth.

Nyree leads Harry into the Witch Space and she immediately asks Mal for details about her family and what happens. He reassures her they’re all fine. Arpana asks Nyree to go with Mal for a few days to help him settle into his role as Witch. Before they set off, Nyree asks Arpana how her music box was able to open all the doors, and Arpana is alarmed, saying it shouldn’t be able to do that and she’ll investigate. Mal leads them all through his door.

Wolfe waits in the Anchor for Mal to come back, but is found by Pryce and his men. Sid shows up and warns him they’re armed, and Pryce asks if Wolfe knows the Witch. Sid’s parents show up and Rajeev gets ready to fight Pryce’s men for pointing a gun at Sid. Pryce demands to know if Wolfe is Harry Barber, and Ben shows up declaring that neither of them are. Everyone starts arguing about who Harry is, until Mal opens his door and steps out. He’s captured by Pryce’s men, but Harry punches Pryce through the door. Rajeev punches one of Pryce’s men, causing him to drop his gun, which Sid throws to Harry and she holds Pryce’s remaining goon at gunpoint until the police arrive. Mal, Wolfe, and Ben reunite and Ben asks Wolfe for advice on his upcoming date with Eliza.

Sid finally comes clean to his parents, who explain they knew all along and they were just sad that he didn’t feel like he could tell them. Harry and Sid reunite with a hug.

Some time later, Wolfe, Ben and Mal go to the city hall so Mal can come forwards as the Witch to Mayor Yasmina Rana. The council lawyers present him with contracts about his duties, but Eliza brings in Vincent Knott who offers to represent Mal for free as a law student. Vincent explains the Witch gets paid and gets a house to live in, though the house was turned into a museum so will need some renovations. As they talk details, Nicola explains to Eliza that Pryce has paid bail and left the country, but she’s going to entrust her with figuring out what he wanted the Witch for.

Sid says goodbye to his parents, who are proud of him for becoming a bounty hunter, while Harry has a tearful reunion with her sisters Florence de Montfort and Nora Fenton.

The boys meet Nyree and Nicola outside the huge Witch house. Nicola is outraged by Nyree’s clothing and Nyree enjoys flirting with her. Inside, the Witch House is dirty, and full of historical anti-Witch propaganda, but everyone likes it anyway. Mal offers Wolfe and Ben a floor of the house each to live on and says they’re family.

With everyone finally gone, Harry and Sid take Gren on a walk. They go past the alleyway where they first met and reminisce about it, before talking about wanting a future together. They kiss in the rain. The End.

Characters

 * Jack O'Malley
 * The Purple Hippo of Happiness
 * Harriet Barber
 * Heinrich Wolfe
 * Benjamin Thackerey
 * Gren
 * Sidney Malik
 * Eliza Swift
 * Nyree
 * Kirti Malik
 * Rajeev Malik
 * Pemberton Pryce
 * Arpana Sherpa

Cameos / Minor Role

 * William Sharpe
 * Nicola Barber
 * Mayor Yasmin Rana
 * Vincent Knott
 * Florence de Montfort
 * Nora Fenton
 * Parsley (Eliza's cat)

Locations

 * The Island Anchor
 * H Barber Office
 * The Fiddler's Elbow pub
 * Nyree's house
 * Pryce co. Goods & Imports warehouse
 * Swift's Apothecary
 * Moorland around Widdershins
 * unnamed resturant
 * North Stallbridge Station
 * The Widdershins Anchor
 * Witch Space
 * Widdershins Town Hall
 * Widdershins Museum / The Witch House

Website
The post-book bonus content for Witch Hunt was 6 pieces of fanart by various artists.

Book
The print and PDF releases of Witch Hunt included 2 pages of Nyree going clothes shopping with the Barber sisters and trying on various outfits.

Release
Witch Hunt was released on a roughly twice a week schedule between September 20th 2019 and October 16th 2020.

The Kickstarter campaign for the print release ran from October 16th 2020 - November 15th 2020 and £19,608 was pledged by 686 backers. The rewards were bookplate sketches, copies of the books, or A5 sketches.

Easter Eggs

 * Will's classmates who attacked him in Hangman's Knot are at the graduation ceremony.
 * Also at the graduation ceremony is one of the students who was stuck in a mirror in the great hall during Curtain Call, and is later found unconscious at the Anchor. She's seen talking to someone in the gateway entrance.