{"id":524689,"url":"\/the-general-witchfinders-book-club\/","layout":"standard","version":"2026-11-06T16:22:40.000000Z","blocks":[{"id":5175716,"type":"banner","published":1,"size":{"x":12,"y":0},"order":0,"items":[],"properties":{"type":{"id":130823352,"value":"standard"},"title":{"id":130823353,"value":null},"copy":{"id":130823354,"value":null},"titleColor":{"id":130823355,"value":"#{banner.title.color}"},"titleBackground":{"id":130823356,"value":"#{banner.title.background.color}"},"copyColor":{"id":130823357,"value":"#{banner.copy.color}"},"copyBackground":{"id":130823358,"value":"#{banner.copy.background.color}"},"contentWidth":{"id":130823359,"value":"95%"},"textShadow":{"id":130823360,"value":"#{banner.text.shadow}"},"borderRadius":{"id":130823361,"value":"0px"},"buttonBorderRadius":{"id":130823362,"value":"#{button.border.radius}"},"buttonBackgroundColor":{"id":130823363,"value":"#{button.primary.color}"},"buttonStyle":{"id":130823364,"value":"secondary"},"buttonSize":{"id":130823365,"value":"standard"},"overlayOpacity":{"id":130823366,"value":"0"},"overlayColourStart":{"id":130823367,"value":"#000000"},"overlayColourEnd":{"id":130823368,"value":"#000000"},"overlayDirection":{"id":130823369,"value":"90"},"image":{"id":130823370,"value":"{\"src\":\"https:\\\/\\\/images.podos.io\\\/pdsudhtrvhhs0bffjpwph52ihwuokrd0llv5haixydluz3pq.jpeg.jpg?w=auto&h=auto\",\"alt\":\"\"}"},"video":{"id":130823371,"value":null},"videoThumbnail":{"id":130823372,"value":null},"media":{"id":130823373,"value":"image"},"align":{"id":130823374,"value":"center"},"verticalAlignment":{"id":130823375,"value":"center"},"font":{"id":130823376,"value":"#{heading1.font}"},"actions":{"id":130823377,"value":"[{\"text\":\"\",\"href\":\"\"},{\"text\":\"\",\"href\":\"\"}]"},"template":{"id":130823378,"value":"banner"},"padding":{"id":130823379,"value":"6"},"fullWidth":{"id":130823380,"value":"1"},"fullBackgroundColor":{"id":130823381,"value":"#{banner.fullBackground.color}"},"published":{"id":130823382,"value":"1"},"conditions":{"id":130823383,"value":"[]"}}},{"id":5175717,"type":"textBlock","published":1,"size":{"x":12,"y":0},"order":1,"items":[],"properties":{"html":{"id":130823384,"value":"

The General Witchfinders Book Club<\/strong><\/h3>

We want to build a community around these books. Locally, that means teaming up with our friends at Teasel & Skylark<\/u><\/a> book shop in Dorchester. Remotely, it means bringing our podcast listeners<\/u><\/a> and zine readers<\/u><\/a> into the conversation. You can read along, share your thoughts on our Instagram<\/u><\/a> and Bluesky<\/u><\/a> pages, and listen to Ross discuss each choice with special guests on a bonus podcast episode every two months.<\/p>

This is also a way to support independent bookshops. If you are close enough to Dorchester, please order your copy through Teasel & Skylark<\/u><\/a> and pop in to collect it \u2013 you will get 10% off the book. If you cannot get to West Dorset, please find your local indie store<\/u><\/a> and buy it from them instead.<\/p>

Episode 1: Starve Acre \u2013 Andrew Michael Hurley<\/strong>
On this inaugural episode<\/u><\/a>, Ross welcomes author Ray Newman<\/u><\/a>. Ray is the author of the novel The Grave Digger\u2019s Boy<\/em>, as well as three exceptional collections of short stories: Municipal Gothic<\/em>, Intervals of Darkness<\/em>, and Thin Places in Hard Concrete<\/em>. Together, they delve into Andrew Michael Hurley\u2019s acclaimed 2019 novel, Starve Acre<\/em>.<\/p>

Episode 2: Benighted \u2013 J.B. Priestley<\/strong>
On this episode<\/u><\/a>, Ross welcomes Emmy-winning producer Dylan Rees<\/u><\/a>. Dylan is a television and film line producer who writes about the history of cult screen drama, including Downtime: The Lost Years of Doctor Who and Doctor Who Myths and Legends: The Reeltime Pictures Story. He also hosts The Too Hot For TV Podcast. Together, they discuss J.B. Priestley\u2019s 1927 novel, Benighted (also known as The Old Dark House).<\/p>

Episode 3: The Apparition Phase \u2013 Will Maclean <\/strong>
On this episode<\/u><\/a>, Ross welcomes Bront\u00eb Schiltz<\/u><\/a>. Bront\u00eb is a journalist, writer, and PhD candidate researching Televisual Gothic at Manchester Metropolitan University. Her research and writing explore gothic literature, horror film, and the uncanny, with contributions to collections including Comma Press\u2019s Monster Capital<\/em> and The Book of Manchester<\/em>. Together, they discuss Will Maclean\u2019s 2020 debut novel, The Apparition Phase<\/em>.<\/p>"},"borderRadius":{"id":130823385,"value":"#{text.border.radius}"},"textColor":{"id":130823386,"value":"#{text.color}"},"backgroundColour":{"id":130823387,"value":"#0000"},"truncateHeight":{"id":130823388,"value":null},"padding":{"id":130823390,"value":"6"},"fullWidth":{"id":130823391,"value":"0"},"fullBackgroundColor":{"id":130823392,"value":"#{text.fullBackground.color}"},"published":{"id":130823393,"value":"1"},"conditions":{"id":130823394,"value":"[]"},"template":{"id":140980188,"value":"text"}}},{"id":5175718,"type":"banner","published":1,"size":{"x":12,"y":0},"order":3,"items":[],"properties":{"type":{"id":130823395,"value":"standard"},"title":{"id":130823396,"value":null},"copy":{"id":130823397,"value":null},"titleColor":{"id":130823398,"value":"#{banner.title.color}"},"titleBackground":{"id":130823399,"value":"#{banner.title.background.color}"},"copyColor":{"id":130823400,"value":"#{banner.copy.color}"},"copyBackground":{"id":130823401,"value":"#{banner.copy.background.color}"},"contentWidth":{"id":130823402,"value":"95%"},"textShadow":{"id":130823403,"value":"#{banner.text.shadow}"},"borderRadius":{"id":130823404,"value":"0px"},"buttonBorderRadius":{"id":130823405,"value":"#{button.border.radius}"},"buttonBackgroundColor":{"id":130823406,"value":"#{button.primary.color}"},"buttonStyle":{"id":130823407,"value":"secondary"},"buttonSize":{"id":130823408,"value":"standard"},"overlayOpacity":{"id":130823409,"value":"0"},"overlayColourStart":{"id":130823410,"value":"#000000"},"overlayColourEnd":{"id":130823411,"value":"#000000"},"overlayDirection":{"id":130823412,"value":"90"},"image":{"id":130823413,"value":"{\"src\":\"https:\\\/\\\/images.podos.io\\\/n74vf98o0qqurtr0o66obvhqhkxbhkm7ifk11orvf8e1l1e9.jpeg.jpg?w=auto&h=auto\",\"alt\":\"\"}"},"video":{"id":130823414,"value":null},"videoThumbnail":{"id":130823415,"value":null},"media":{"id":130823416,"value":"image"},"align":{"id":130823417,"value":"center"},"verticalAlignment":{"id":130823418,"value":"center"},"font":{"id":130823419,"value":"#{heading1.font}"},"actions":{"id":130823420,"value":"[{\"text\":\"\",\"href\":\"\"},{\"text\":\"\",\"href\":\"\"}]"},"padding":{"id":130823422,"value":"6"},"fullWidth":{"id":130823423,"value":"1"},"fullBackgroundColor":{"id":130823424,"value":"#{banner.fullBackground.color}"},"published":{"id":130823425,"value":"1"},"conditions":{"id":130823426,"value":"[]"},"trackPromotion":{"id":140980305,"value":"0"},"promotionId":{"id":140980306,"value":null},"promotionName":{"id":140980307,"value":null},"creativeName":{"id":140980308,"value":null},"creativeSlot":{"id":140980309,"value":null},"template":{"id":140980310,"value":"banner"}}},{"id":5175719,"type":"textBlock","published":1,"size":{"x":12,"y":0},"order":4,"items":[],"properties":{"html":{"id":130823427,"value":"

Our next book is Daphne du Maurier\u2019s The House on the Strand<\/u><\/a>. Get your copy now and start reading ahead of the next local meetup and discussion episode on the General Witchfinders podcast feed.<\/h3>

\u2018Prime du Maurier \u2013 a writer of fearless originality\u2019 \u2013 The Guardian<\/p><\/blockquote>


When Dick Young is offered an escape from his troubles via an experimental drug, he finds himself transported to fourteenth-century Cornwall. Immersed in the manor of Tywardreath, he witnesses a hidden world of intrigue, adultery, and murder.<\/em><\/p>

\u2018No other popular writer has so triumphantly defied classification \u2013 Margaret Forster<\/p><\/blockquote>


The more time Dick spends consumed by the past, the more he withdraws from the modern world. With each dose, his mind becomes hopelessly addicted to this otherworld, until his obsession brings terror to the present and puts his own life in jeopardy.<\/p>

<\/p><\/blockquote>

Join us in Dorchester<\/h3>

Ross is leading the in-person discussions at the King\u2019s Arms Hotel. Spaces are limited, so sign up at the Teasel & Skylark shop<\/u><\/a>. Members of the local club get 10% off the featured books, plus 10% off all other books and gifts in-store (excluding original artwork). These discounts are only available in person at the shop.<\/p>

Join us from elsewhere<\/h3>

If you are not local, you can join in via the podcast. Read along at home and send your thoughts to generalwitchfinders@gmail.com<\/a> \u2013 audio voicemails are especially welcome.<\/p>

If you are based elsewhere, support your local independent bookshop or buy through the links below \u2013 an alternative to Amazon where independent bookshops receive a commission on online sales.<\/p>