Title: WITCH Trial
Author: HARRIET TYCE
ISBN: 9781035411924
Publisher: Headline
Pages: 383
Source: Private Copy
Two teenage girls. One murdered classmate.
And a modern-day witch trial that will divide the nation.
When 18-year-old Christian Shaw is found dead in an Edinburgh park, the city reels – and the shock only deepens when police charge her best friends, Eliza Lawson and Isobel Smyth, with her murder.
As social media explodes and headlines scream for justice, rumours of bullying spiral into something whispers of rituals, obsession, and a teenage pact gone wrong.
Matthew Phillips, a respected heart surgeon, is reluctantly called for jury duty on the case. But as the trial unfolds – and the girls reveal a chilling defence no one saw coming – he begins to question the motives, the evidence, even his own judgement.
Who’s telling the truth? Who can be trusted?
And what really happened to Christian Shaw?
Let the Witch Trial begin . . .
Official Summary
17 August 2026
I have been wanting to share this review for ages. I actually read this book back in May and have fallen a little behind in getting my reviews onto the blog. It was one of the most unique and thought-provoking thrillers I have read in quite some time.
The story centres on two schoolgirls standing trial for the death of a classmate. Technically, they didn’t kill her, but through relentless bullying and intimidation, they caused the heart attack that took her life. Rather than being told through the eyes of the accused or the investigators, the story unfolds from the perspective of a member of the jury—a man who gradually proves to be deeply unstable and increasingly unreliable.
Harriet Tyce tackles a remarkable range of themes with confidence and skill. The novel explores historical beliefs surrounding witchcraft, Scotland’s dark history of witch trials, the flaws within the legal system, mental health, prejudice, and, perhaps most powerfully, how quickly people are judged based on appearances and preconceived ideas.
Almost from the very beginning, you can see Matthew Phillips slowly unravelling. His growing paranoia, delusions, and self-doubt make him a fascinating unreliable narrator. At the same time, Eliza is presented as the perfect, wholesome teenager, while Isabel is labelled the troubled girl who claims to be a witch and says she can speak to the Devil. From that moment, it feels as though Isabel never really stood a chance.
At its heart, this is a story about the cruelty of teenage bullying and the devastating consequences it can have, especially when fear, superstition, and public perception become intertwined. The conclusion was outstanding, and I particularly loved the way Harriet Tyce subtly writes herself into the story—it was an unexpected touch that left me smiling.
Matthew’s eventual breakdown is handled brilliantly. As more of his personal struggles and mounting stress come to light, his increasingly erratic behaviour begins to make sense. What initially felt almost unbelievable gradually reveals itself to be an incredibly clever and carefully constructed piece of psychological fiction.
Witch Trials is intelligent, original, and completely unlike anything I have read before. It is one of those books that lingers in your mind long after you’ve turned the final page, and I absolutely loved it.
Also By Harriet Tyce
A LESSON IN CRUELTY
WHAT PRICE WOULD YOU PAY FOR THE PERFECT LIFE?
They say you can’t always get what you want. But you can take it.
Anna wants a fresh start. She doesn’t believe she deserves it, but after three years behind bars she has finally paid her dues. Most of them, anyway.
Lucy craves the attention of the only man she can’t have, her alluring Oxford professor. He’s married – not for the first time. Maybe she should be next in line?
Marie the recluse has been locked up for too long. She’s not ready to be free, but some rules are meant to be broken.
Everyone wants a perfect life. But not everyone is prepared to take it.
Unless someone decides to teach them a lesson.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Harriet Tyce was born and grew up in Edinburgh. She graduated in 1994 with a degree in English Literature before working as a criminal barrister for nearly a decade.
Having escaped law and early motherhood, she started writing and completed the MA in Creative Writing – Crime Fiction at the University of East Anglia. She has written three novels to date, the Sunday Times bestsellers Blood Orange and The Lies You Told. It Ends At Midnight was published in April 2022 to critical acclaim. She lives in north London with her husband and children, and two very nice dogs.
This was a truly unique read, I hope you enjoy it. As always, thank you for visiting the blog and reading my review. Until next time… Happy Reading!
