As Halloween night descends upon us, the eerie sounds of the night fill the air. Amidst the chilling noises is a repetitive tapping sound that sends shivers down one's spine. The origin of this tapping is none other than the creepy Halloween witch. With her long, bony fingers and tattered cloak, the infamous witch wanders through the dark woods, seeking mischief and mayhem. As she taps her gnarled staff against the ground, the sound echoes ominously, creating an atmosphere of fear and anticipation. The tapping serves as a warning sign to all who dare to venture out on Halloween night.
Virginia Boecker weaves a riveting tale of magic, betrayal, and sacrifice in this unforgettable fantasy debut.
THE WITCH HUNTER is a cinematic spin on Nordic Noir it s perfectly paced for a binge-read, brimming with unpredictable plot developments, and its elements of witchcraft and the occult give it an extra-chilling and unique edge. In these flashbacks, readers meet Jessica as a nineteen-year-old, on a trip to Venice where she meets a charming and charismatic man, and falls wildly in love an ill-fated romance that turns dark and dangerous.
The tapping serves as a warning sign to all who dare to venture out on Halloween night. It is said that those who hear the witch's tapping are bound to encounter an encounter of the supernatural kind. It is a chilling reminder that the line between the living and the dead becomes blurred on this fateful night.
Book Review: THE WITCH HUNTER by Max Seeck
Looking for a serial killer thriller with an extra-chilling edge this winter? Look no further than Finnish crime writer Max Seeck’s US debut, THE WITCH HUNTER. In this thoroughly entertaining—and thoroughly chilling—serial killer tale, a shadowy group is bringing the horrific crimes of a bestselling trilogy of books to life, and it’s up to a detective with secrets of her own to crack the case. Roger Koponen has made his fortune writing the Witch Hunter trilogy, a gruesome and terrifying fiction series. When Roger’s wife is found brutally murdered, her body displayed in a manner eerily similar to one of the crimes depicted in Roger’s books, investigator Jessica Niemi is assigned to the case. But the deeper Jessica digs into the murder, the more unusual the case becomes. And when more bodies start piling up, and it becomes clear there must be more than one villain responsible for these brutal acts, Jessica finds herself drawn into a web of conspiracy and sinister intrigue. THE WITCH HUNTER is a page-turning, entertaining Nordic thriller with plenty of appeal for fans of Nordic Noir and serial killer thrillers alike. Laced with elements of witchcraft and the occult, THE WITCH HUNTER delivers a seriously chilling read perfect for the winter months ahead. Max Seeck’s US debut has positioned him as an author to watch.
Plot Details:
A shocking murder in an affluent Helsinki suburb has ties to witchcraft and the occult in this thrilling U.S. debut from Finnish author Max Seeck.
A bestselling author’s wife has been found dead in a gorgeous black evening gown, sitting at the head of an empty dining table. Her most chilling feature—her face is frozen in a ghastly smile.
At first it seems as though a deranged psychopath is reenacting the gruesome murders from the Witch Hunt trilogy, bestsellers written by the victim’s husband. But investigator Jessica Niemi soon realizes she’s not looking for a single killer but rather for dozens of believers in a sinister form of witchcraft who know her every move and are always one step ahead.
As the bodies start piling up, Jessica knows they won’t stop until they get what they want. And when her dark past comes to light, Jessica finds herself battling her own demons while desperately trying to catch a coven of killers before they claim their next victim.
I’m always on the lookout for new Nordic Noir to devour, and as soon as I learned of Max Seeck’s THE WITCH HUNTER, I just knew it was something I had to read. Seeck’s crime writing career has taken off in his native Finland, where he won the Finnish Whodunnit Society’s Debut Thriller of the Year Award in 2016, among other accolades. I dove into Max Seeck’s US debut with great enthusiasm earlier this fall, and discovered within this book’s pages a creepy, original, and page-turning thriller that managed to creep me out and keep me hooked in equal measure. THE WITCH HUNTER is a cinematic blend of serial killer thriller, interpersonal drama, and creepy tale of the occult. In THE WITCH HUNTER, a shadowy group seems hell-bent on bringing to life some of the most twisted crimes from a (fictional!) bestselling trilogy of books called the Witch Hunter trilogy. True to its title, this trilogy involved (you guessed it!) witch hunts, and the crimes that are playing out in present-day Finland have creepy echoes of a time gone by. Leading the investigation into these brutal crimes is investigator Jessica Niemi, a young and brilliant police officer who, despite her close relationships with her colleagues on the police force, has much to hide from just about everyone—and has dark secrets in her past that even she doesn’t know about yet. As Jessica and her team race to uncover the connection between the crimes terrorizing the residents of Helsinki and the content of the Witch Hunter trilogy, our story’s villains are closing in on Jessica, ensnaring her in a complex and terrifying web with ties to her own personal history. THE WITCH HUNTER is a cinematic, over-the-top thriller in the best ways. This book’s ever-shifting plot will keep readers on their toes, racing to get to the bottom of the story’s complex mystery alongside its protagonists. Anyone who loves serial killer stories with a flair for the dramatic and extra-chilling elements of the occult will love THE WITCH HUNTER.
An intriguing plot might prompt me to pick up a book, but I really fall in love with a book when I find myself invested in its characters. In THE WITCH HUNTER, Max Seeck immerses readers in an eclectic, engaging cast of characters. Leading the pack is Seeck’s compelling protagonist, Jessica Niemi. Jessica is a sergeant with the police force in Helsinki, Finland. Young, brilliant, and harboring dark secrets, Jessica is a complex protagonists whose many facets will be revealed to readers over the course of the book. In the present day, THE WITCH HUNTER follows Jessica as she takes charge of the police investigation into the story’s central series of crimes. Interspersed throughout this main narrative are occasional flashbacks that give readers a better sense of just who Jessica is, and what she has endured in her young life. In these flashbacks, readers “meet” Jessica as a nineteen-year-old, on a trip to Venice where she meets a charming and charismatic man, and falls wildly in love—an ill-fated romance that turns dark and dangerous. Jessica’s family history, personal story, and present-day circumstances add layers of intrigue and mystery to this crime novel, and readers will find themselves cheering for Jessica every step of the way. Surrounding Jessica are a variety of engaging characters. In the police force, readers will meet Yusuf, Jessica’s partner who is a steady presence in her life; Erne, Jessica’s boss, and good friend and mentor; Nina and Mikael, police officers engaged in a secret office romance; and Rasmus, a bit of an outsider on the force who comes to play an important role in solving the story’s central crime. And those are just the characters in the police force itself. Seeck also does a fantastic job fleshing out a complex web of potential perpetrators, witnesses to the story’s crimes, and more. THE WITCH HUNTER is a story with a wide-ranging cast of characters, some of whom readers will find endearing, some of whom they will find suspicious, and all of whom bring entertainment value and human interest to the story. I did at times find myself having to refresh my memory on how some of these characters’ stories fit together, but this didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story in the least.
There are many specifics I could point to that I loved about THE WITCH HUNTER, from its characters, to its bookish plot and touches of the occult, to its chilling Finnish setting. But what’s perhaps stuck with me most of all was just how fun this book was to read. THE WITCH HUNTER is a cinematic spin on Nordic Noir: it’s perfectly paced for a binge-read, brimming with unpredictable plot developments, and its elements of witchcraft and the occult give it an extra-chilling and unique edge. As Jessica’s investigation twists and turns, readers will travel into a complex web of conspiracy, digging into the origins of a group who are determined to make their vision for a better future play out in real life through a series of twisted crimes. Shocking revelations and gut-wrenching betrayals lie in store for Jessica—and for readers—as this story unfurls. This book’s short chapters and troubled protagonist will appeal to fans of Lars Kepler and Soren Sveistrup, while its unique subject matter and occult-inspired series of crimes give it a focus all its own. I read THE WITCH HUNTER a couple of months ago, and I decided that I wanted to dip back into it to refresh my memory before writing this review… and I ended up re-reading the entire book in two sittings, in less than 12 hours. Anyone who knows me knows that I rarely re-read books, and I almost never manage to finish a whole book in a day, so hopefully that can illustrate for you just how much I enjoyed it. THE WITCH HUNTER certainly has darkness and gruesome crimes in store for readers, but I wouldn’t consider it as gritty or heavy as some of the other Nordic Noir books I post about here—this one has a certain “popcorn thriller” element to it, and its dramatic flair and unusual subject matter make it extremely entertaining and binge-able.
Max Seeck’s THE WITCH HUNTER is a fresh and chilling take on a Nordic serial killer thriller. Seeck brings his engaging cast of characters to life against the backdrop of a totally unique—and totally creepy—criminal investigation: a series of murders inspired by a bestselling fiction trilogy. Compelling characters, an intricate plot, and a clever premise make THE WITCH HUNTER a propulsive, up-all-night Nordic thriller.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. All opinions my own.
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The tapping also serves as a form of communication between witches. It is said that they use different rhythms and patterns to convey messages to each other. The tapping can range from slow and deliberate to fast and frenzied, depending on the urgency of the message. For those unfortunate enough to cross paths with the witch, the tapping becomes louder and more persistent. It is her way of announcing her presence and instilling fear in her victims. The sound grows closer and closer, causing one's heart to race and palms to sweat. The tapping is not only a auditory terror, but it also holds mystical powers. Legend has it that if one were to mimic the witch's tapping patterns, it would summon her to grant one wish. However, this comes at a great cost, as the witch's favor always comes with a sinister twist. So, as the creepy Halloween witch continues her relentless tapping, be wary of the hidden dangers it brings. It serves as a reminder of the supernatural powers at play on All Hallows' Eve, and the thin veil between our world and the realm of darkness..
Reviews for "The Curse of the Tapping Witch: A Spine-Tingling Halloween Mystery"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Creepy Halloween Witch Tapping". The tapping sounds were not scary at all and it felt more like someone was knocking on my door rather than a creepy witch. The audio quality was also not great, and it just didn't create the spooky atmosphere I was hoping for. Overall, it felt more annoying than creepy.
2. John - 1 star - This ASMR video was a complete waste of time. The tapping sounds were repetitive and didn't have any variety to them. There was no creativity or effort put into this video. It was just a generic tapping sound that you could find anywhere else on YouTube. I was expecting something unique and creepy, but this was just a letdown.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I didn't find "Creepy Halloween Witch Tapping" to be creepy at all. The tapping sounds were too light and subtle to create any sense of fear or unease. I was expecting something more intense and spine-chilling. The video also lacked any visual elements that could add to the creepiness. Overall, it was a forgettable and underwhelming experience.
4. Mike - 2 stars - The concept of a creepy witch tapping sounds intriguing, but the execution in this ASMR video was lacking. The tapping sounds were not consistent and didn't have a rhythm that could create a creepy ambiance. It felt more like random taps rather than a deliberate act by a witch. The video could have been improved with better sound effects and a more immersive setting. Unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations.