The Last Witch

*Longlisted for The HWA Gold Crown and The Saltire Fiction Book of the Year 2026*

'Chilling, atmospheric' Sunday Times

'Vivid and haunting' Emilia Hart

'Blisteringly brilliant’ Anna Mazzola

Will she be damned by flame… or cursed by magic?

Innsbruck 1485

Helena should be doing what every other wealthy young wife is doing: keeping her husband’s house, bearing his children. But when their footman is found dead, Helena is accused of killing him. Worse, she is accused of being a witch.

Imprisoned with six other women, Helena is plunged into a world of terror. When a cursed witch totem is smuggled into the prison, the prisoners attempt to use it to escape only to unleash a malevolent spirit which places all their lives in danger.

Does Helena risk her life and the lives of others by standing up to the terrifying witchfinder and risk death at the stake if found guilty? Or is the real threat the world beyond this one…?

Readers LOVE The Last Witch:

"A phenomenal read” 5 out of 5 stars

"A magical blend of horror, psychological thriller and historical fiction” 5 out of 5 stars

"Another spellbinding masterpiece from C.J. Cooke, it is as haunting as it is heartbreakingly beautiful” 5 out of 5 stars

"I must be in my witch phase, and this author has me hooked” 5 out of 5 stars

"Another cracker by C.J. Cooke. I loved this one from beginning to end, rarely putting it down” 5 out of 5 stars

About the author

C.J. Cooke is an acclaimed, award-winning poet and novelist published in 23 languages. Born in Belfast, C.J. has a PhD in Literature from Queen’s University, Belfast, and was formerly Reader in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow, where she researched the impact of motherhood on women’s writing and creative writing interventions for mental health. She has been nominated for an Edgar Award and an ITW Thriller Award, selected as a Waterstones’ Paperback Book of the Year and BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick. She takes inspiration from real women she discovers in detailed historical research, and her books have been critically acclaimed for their atmospheric use of time and place.