The Witch
What it's about
After losing her job and her apartment, Julia Barlow retreats to Pemberton, her family's sprawling 17th-century estate in rural Massachusetts, officially to check on her aging grandmother. But every night the grandfather clock stops at exactly 3:41 a.m., the lights flicker and a voice cries for help outside her bedroom door. As Julia digs into the house's dark history, the past refuses to stay buried.
Why it's worth reading
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list in 2026. Freida McFadden adds a gothic, haunted-house chill to her trademark twists.
You'll love it if you liked
The Housemaid, Dear Debbie or The Haunting of Hill House
Good to know
It's fast and twisty, so avoid spoilers. It stands alone.
Quick answers
Is The Witch worth reading?
Yes. It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list in 2026. It ranks #1,896 of the 2,819 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Witch about?
After losing her job and her apartment, Julia Barlow retreats to Pemberton, her family's sprawling 17th-century estate in rural Massachusetts, officially to check on her aging grandmother. But every night the grandfather clock stops at exactly 3:41 a.m., the lights flicker and a voice cries for help outside her bedroom door. As Julia digs into the house's dark history, the past refuses to stay buried.
How long does it take to read The Witch?
About 9 hours (352 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Witch?
If you liked it, try The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden or The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson.
By the numbers
- Readers53 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller32 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
#1 New York Times bestseller (1 week at #1).
Where it ranks
- #322 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #325 of the 481 new books we rank
- #1896 of the 2,819 books we rank
Bestseller
- #1 New York Times bestseller (1 week at #1)
Reads as
Gripping, Moving
More by Freida McFadden
The Housemaid
The BoyfriendIf you like this, read next
The Correspondent
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty
Remarkably Bright Creatures
The Tainted Cup
The Frozen River
The Will of the Many