The Three Witches by Elena Collins

 

I didn’t know the author but was intrigued by the blurb, and the references to the Scottish play, and I was very glad I did. Here is a book that immaculately blends fact and fiction, past and present seamlessly in a very enjoyable novel.

 

The story is told across two timelines. In 1050 AD, in a small Scottish village, three sisters live with their mother, who serves the community as a midwife and healer, using herbs and local plants to make her remedies. When she dies, the girls step into her role, with the youngest, Isobel, showing a particular gift — she can read the future in the flames. But when a run of misfortune strikes the village, suspicion turns on her, and Isobel is branded a witch with all the consequences that follow. In the present day, Ruthie is content with her life. She lives on a houseboat, works in a café, and has a supportive boss who lets her attend auditions for the acting work she loves. When she’s offered a role in a documentary about “The Scottish Play,” cast as one of the three witches, she accepts immediately. As the youngest of three sisters herself, she finds herself increasingly drawn to Isobel’s story — the youngest of the real‑life “witches.”

 

As the two timelines unfold, the links between Isobel’s fate and Ruthie’s role become more apparent, drawing Ruthie deeper into a story that feels uncomfortably close to her own. The past and present echo one another in quiet but powerful ways, and the novel brings both threads together with a sense of inevitability that works well without ever feeling forced. I didn’t know the true story behind the Shakespeare play, but I have a much better idea now. I loved it!

 

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8419405707