Book Review: The Fifth Witch by Graham Masterton(2008)

Haunted by the death of his wife Gayle, Dan Fisher struggles against the dark forces of four witches who protect three of Los Angeles most powerful crime lords. His conviction of guilt because of his wife’s death appears to bring her to life: a living, breathing person he struggles to recognise as nothing more than a dream, but if you can see, touch, smell and make love to a ghost, is it a dream? What is Gayle’s motivation for returning to him from the land of the dead?

Can Annie Conjure, a good witch who realises her powers have grown from an unknown source of power, help Dan struggle against the four witches, the crime lords of the city, as well as his own personal demons? Will Annie and Dan realise how to defeat the four ‘evil’ witches before more people die …

It is with great pleasure to spend my hard-earned money on yet another novel that blitzes each page with tension or suspense. In a masterfully composed timeline, Masterton proves that he can consistently deliver enthralling stories to his readers in believable places with believable people one quickly sides with.

As a fan of visceral horror, I found The 5th Witch appeals to a different palate. Although the same literary theatrics are used in the novel, the story uses a lighter shade of horror than my preference. That is not to say the book lacks the captivating prose of today’s most gripping storyteller; it may appeal to a wider audience than the more gruesome novels such as Black Angel, Ritual, and Flesh and Blood.

From the creative genius of scores of novels, The 5th Witch is well worth reading. Masterton makes the impossible plausible and the downright weird into a natural and cohesive story. His cauldron of endless ideas bubble in each chapter, leaving one wonder how the story will end. This is not a novel that will disappoint.