Overview

The Last Witch of Scotland by Philip Paris revisits the dark history of Scotland’s witch persecutions through the story of Janet Horne—the last woman in Britain to be executed for witchcraft, in 1727. Paris brings both empathy and clarity to a harrowing chapter of history, turning archival silence into an affecting, human story of injustice and resilience.

Writing & Atmosphere

Paris writes with steady restraint, letting the cruelty of superstition and power speak for itself. The novel balances historical realism with emotional immediacy: peat smoke, stone cottages, the chill of suspicion between neighbours. There’s a quiet dignity in the prose that gives voice to women whose stories history sought to erase.

Characters

Janet emerges as both victim and witness—aged, proud, and perceptive enough to see how ignorance and fear conspire against her. Her daughter, Margaret, offers the novel’s emotional core, caught between love and survival. Supporting villagers and ministers are drawn with painful familiarity; Paris avoids caricature, showing how ordinary cruelty can bloom in tight-knit communities.

Themes

Justice, faith, and the peril of otherness drive the narrative. The book interrogates how authority weaponises belief and how women’s voices, once silenced, echo through collective memory. Though rooted in the past, its questions—about fear, blame, and societal control—feel sharply relevant.

What Worked

• Grounded authenticity: research that enhances rather than overwhelms.
• Emotional focus: a tragic story told with compassion, not sensationalism.
• Evocative atmosphere: the Highlands rendered in raw, weathered beauty.

Minor Quibbles

• The pacing softens in the middle chapters as historical context takes centre stage.
• Readers seeking courtroom drama may find the restraint more reflective than fiery.

Final Thoughts

Compassionate, unflinching, and beautifully written, The Last Witch of Scotland honours a life lost to superstition and power—a haunting reminder of how truth endures beyond fear.

Rating: ★★★★½☆ (4.5/5)