
Titles in This Set:
The Book of Witching
A Haunting in the Arctic
Format: Hardcover (The Book of Witching) / Paperback (A Haunting in the Arctic)
Overview:
Two gripping novels from C.J. Cooke form a powerful, watchful book collection that blends historical intrigue with contemporary suspense. The Book of Witching binds centuries to a single, ominous object, weaving together a present-day mystery with a 1594 Orkney tale of accusation and survival. In Glasgow 2024, Clem sits by her daughter’s hospital bed while a woman named Erin surfaces with devastating burns and a single, haunting memory: Nyx. Across the sea and centuries, Orkney’s old charge of witchcraft resurfaces, as Alison Balfour faces a cruel rite of punishment. Meanwhile, A Haunting in the Arctic follows Nicky Duthie aboard the Ormen in 1901, where danger lurks in every gale and the crew’s secrets threaten to tear them apart. Decades later, the drifting ship yields only questions and a body, sealed within a cabin that refuses to open. Together, these novels deliver atmospheric, spine-tingling fiction that lingers long after the final page.
What This Collection Covers:
This two-book collection offers a seamless pairing of historical mystery and maritime suspense, anchored by strong, resourceful protagonists and a shared fascination with memory, belief, and the consequences of hidden truths. The Book of Witching uses a luminous, cross‑temporal structure to examine how the past can bind families and shape present choices, while A Haunting in the Arctic leverages isolation, brutal weather, and psychological tension to drive a propulsive, twist-filled narrative. The settings—ancient Orkney and the perilous North Sea—provide distinct moods: the eerie, intimate dread of a homegrown legend versus the stark, cinematic scale of a voyage that ends in unanswered questions. Readers who enjoy character-driven plots, folklore-tinged horror, and meticulously crafted atmosphere will find both novels equally compelling, each offering its own memorable peak moments and satisfying payoffs.
Book-by-Book Guide:
The Book of Witching
Across two timelines, this novel binds past and present with a single, enigmatic book. In 1594 Orkney, Alison Balfour stands accused of witchcraft, facing a brutal, public verdict. In modern Glasgow, Clem endures a watchful vigil by her daughter’s hospital bed, while Erin wakes on a sunlit Orkney shore with devastating burns and a name she cannot fully recall—Nyx. The narrative threads these lives together through the mysterious text that seems to pull memory, danger, and fate toward one another. Cooke’s prose crafts a moody, atmospheric puzzle that explores persecution, resilience, and the resilience of love under pressure. The result is a haunting, carefully paced thriller that rewards attentive readers with layered revelations and a quietly devastating emotional arc.
A Haunting in the Arctic
In 1901, Nicky Duthie finds herself aboard the Ormen, a whaling ship battling the North Sea’s merciless elements and perilous secrets. She’s dragged into a voyage fraught with tension, where every crew member carries a motive and every corridor hides a memory that refuses to stay buried. When the Ormen is later found drifting with one body and a sealed cabin, the mystery intensifies across decades, forcing a confrontation with what was done, what was forgotten, and what must be told. Cooke’s storytelling melds maritime folklore with taut psychological suspense, delivering a chilling, cinematic experience that digs into grief, guilt, and the costs of survival. This is a story that rewards patience and revisiting the page for the clues tucked in the wind and the waves.
Who This Set Is Perfect For:
This collection is ideal for adult readers and mature thriller fans who crave intelligent, atmosphere-forward narratives. It appeals to those who enjoy literature that treats history as a living presence and who relish plots that unfold through memory, character choices, and twisty reveals. It’s a thoughtful gift for readers who appreciate Scottish coastal settings, chilling seafaring atmospheres, and stories that linger after the last page. Perfect for book clubs exploring themes of fate, memory, and the price of secrets, as well as individuals expanding a personal library with compact, highly re-readable reads from a single author.
Key Benefits:
About the Author:
C.J. Cooke is known for crafting atmospheric, character‑driven thrillers that fuse historical resonance with contemporary tension. Her work spans haunting small-town or coastal settings and global passions for mystery, memory, and the unknown. In this collection, Cooke demonstrates a deft command of mood—whether navigating the claustrophobic corridors of a ship at sea or the intimate pressures of a family at a hospital bedside. Her storytelling shines in the way she grounds uncanny or extraordinary elements in emotional truth, inviting readers to care about the protagonists’ fates while tracking intricate plot threads. With a clear eye for detail and a patient, suspenseful tempo, Cooke’s voice remains a standout for readers who love immersive, twisty fiction rooted in human experience.
Why You’ll Love This Set:
Owning this two-book collection offers a complete reading experience from a single author’s distinctive voice. You’ll enjoy the contrast between the historical and the contemporary, the quiet menace of folklore, and the stark propulsion of maritime suspense, all wrapped in elegant packaging that makes it a practical gift for birthdays, anniversaries, or simply to treat yourself. The combination of hardcover and paperback provides a tactile, collectible feel while ensuring flexible reading options. For fans of atmospheric thrillers, this set delivers a cohesive, immersive escape that invites reflection and repeated reading.
Please Note: The individual books included in this listing will be dispatched as per the original UK ISBN and UK edition cover image shown in the image.
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