{"id":524689,"url":"\/the-general-witchfinders-book-club\/","layout":"standard","version":"2026-09-10T12:08:18.000000Z","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>

LISTEN TO THE FIRST EPISODE OF THE BOOK CLUB PODCAST HERE<\/strong><\/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>"},"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":136416906,"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\\\/acq5qzfnbxzghtxh5gheihcpfzmmquafs4fdhharwwioavub.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":"[]"},"template":{"id":136417639,"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 Will Maclean\u2019s The Apparition Phase. Get your copy now and start reading ahead of November, when the next local meetup takes place and the discussion episode drops on the General Witchfinders podcast feed.<\/h3>

\u2018A wild rural gothic with some slick plotting \u2013 the perfect novel for our phantom present\u2019 \u2013 The Guardian<\/p><\/blockquote>


Twins Tim and Abi have always been different from their peers, spending their evenings in the attic of their parents\u2019 suburban house, poring over reports of the unexplained. Obsessed with photographs of ghostly apparitions, they decide to fake their own, and use it to frighten a girl at school.<\/em><\/p>

\u2018Clear your diary, switch off your phone, and get lost in this atmospheric and madly gripping ghost story\u2019 \u2013 Daily Mirror<\/p><\/blockquote>


What was only supposed to be a harmless prank sets in motion a terrifying chain of events that neither of them could have predicted. Set in the 1970s, Will Maclean\u2019s debut is a chilling, atmospheric tale of disturbed teenagers, malevolent spirits, and the haunting power of belief.<\/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>