When Jennifer Southern is found murdered in her cottage on the outskirts of a Lancashire village, it reopens the book on a legacy of witchcraft that was thought to have ended four hundred years ago... More > when the Lancashire Witches were hanged at Lancaster Castle in 1612. But their descendents have lived on, following the old religion and keeping themselves to themselves until now it seems someone it determined to wipe them out. Jennifer’s murder is just the first, and the fact that she is found with a noose round her neck, points to the fact that that her killer considers her death an execution. While the police puzzle their way through the case, Jennifer’s husband Nicholas (a direct descendent of the original Demdike) decides to deal with things his own way but finds himself pitted against an implacable enemy. As the body count rises, the police reluctantly realise they must join forces with the modern-day witches if the killer is to be brought to book. But will they find him before he carries out his plans?< Less
When Jennifer Southern is found murdered in her cottage on the outskirts of a Lancashire village, it reopens the book on a legacy of witchcraft that was thought to have ended four hundred years ago... More > when the Lancashire Witches were hanged at Lancaster Castle in 1612. But their descendents have lived on, following the old religion and keeping themselves to themselves until now it seems someone it determined to wipe them out.
Jennifer’s murder is just the first, and the fact that she is found with a noose round her neck, points to the fact that that her killer considers her death an execution.
While the police puzzle their way through the case, Jennifer’s husband Nicholas (a direct descendent of the original Demdike) decides to deal with things his own way but finds himself pitted against an implacable enemy.
As the body count rises, the police reluctantly realise they must join forces with the modern-day witches if the killer is to be brought to book. But will they find him before he carries out his plans?< Less
About Gordon Barry Durham
I have been a writer and journalist for more than 40 years working on weekly and evening newspapers throughout Lancashire as well as a short stint on local radio. Now semi-retired, I teach newspaper and magazine design on a part-time basis at The University of Central Lancashire in Preston. I am also a photographer, web designer and video editor. I became a pagan (or witch, if you will) some 25 years ago and have been fascinated by the story of The Lancashire Witches since reading Harrison Ainsworth's novel as a teenager. My spare time is taken up with helping to maintain my home village of Chipping as the best in the North West in Bloom awards (which we have done for the last four years.) As this year of 2012 marks the 400th anniversary of the trial of the Lancashire Witches, Chipping will have a 'Witching Well' as part of our bid for a Gold Medal in the RHS Britain in Bloom.
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