The Witch's Orchard
- Judith D Collins
- Oct 1
- 7 min read
Updated: Oct 5
Series: PI Annie Gore #1
By: Archer Sullivan
Narrator: Emily Pike Stewart
Macmillan Audio
ISBN: 9781250338686
Publisher: St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books
Publication Date: 08/12/2025
Format: Other
My Rating: 4.5 Stars (ARC)
A ninth generation Appalachian herself, Archer Sullivan brings the mountains of North Carolina to life in The Witch’s Orchard, a wonderfully atmospheric novel that introduces private investigator Annie Gore.
Former Air Force Special Investigator Annie Gore joined the military right after high school to escape the fraught homelife of her childhood. Now, she’s getting by as a private investigator and her latest case takes her to an Appalachian holler not unlike the one where she grew up.
Ten years ago, three little girls went missing from their tiny mountain town. While one was returned, the others were never seen again. After all this time without answers, the brother of one of the girls wants to hire an outsider, and he wants Annie. While she may not be from his town, she gets mountain towns. Mountain people. Driving back into the hills for a case this old—it might be a fool’s errand. But Annie needs to put money in the bank and she can’t turn down a case. Not even one that dredges up her own painful past.
In the shadow of the Blue Ridge, Annie begins to track the truth, navigating a decade’s worth of secrets, folklore of witches and crows, and a whole town that prefers to forget. But while the case may have been buried, echoes of the past linger. And Annie’s arrival stirs someone into action.
My Review
Archer Sullivan's captivating debut novel, THE WITCH'S ORCHARD, is an atmospheric gothic-horror murder mystery that immerses readers in the haunting beauty of the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina.
With its strong sense of place, this well-plotted mystery introduces a new series featuring PI Annie Gore, who navigates a small rural town landscape rich with mystery, folklore, myths, legends, struggles, and dark secrets. As she delves into a chilling cold case, readers will find themselves eagerly turning the pages, hungry for the next installment in this thrilling saga.
This book is the ideal companion for the upcoming Halloween season!🎃
About...
-The Setting & Folklore:
The investigation takes Annie to Quartz Creek, a run-down mountain town shrouded in secrets and local folklore, including the legend of the "Witch of Quartz Creek" and the mysterious "Witch's Orchard" deep in the NC Appalachian mountains.
-The Cold Case:
Ten years ago, three little girls disappeared in Quartz Creek, North Carolina: Jessica Hoyle, Molly Andrews, and Olivia Jacobs. Applehead dolls were left in their place. Olivia was returned, but traumatized and mute. The other two were never seen again.
-Applehead Dolls:
Both times an appliehead doll was left in their place. What is the significance?
-The Client:
Max Andrews hires Annie Gore, a private investigator, to finally find his sister, Molly, who was one of the missing girls.
-The Investigator:
Annie Gore, a former Air Force investigator with a difficult past from the same mountain region, feels compelled to take the case despite her misgivings.
-A New Missing Girl:
As Annie digs into the past, another little girl goes missing, raising the stakes and revealing the possibility that the old legend holds the key to the ongoing mystery.
-The Mystery Unfolds:
Annie must sort through town gossip and myths, uncover the truth about the disappearances, and confront the echoes of the past that the town prefers to forget.
These young girls are all part of something sinister, eerie, strange, and horrific. Annie must navigate a decade of secrets and uncover the truth behind the cold case.
Reflecting on my thoughts...
THE WITCH'S ORCHARD is a captivating and chilling Southern narrative crafted by Acher Sullivan, an author whose ninth-generation Appalachian roots lend a remarkable authenticity and depth to the story.
Annie emerges as a compelling protagonist, reluctantly returning to her mountain hometown, a place she never wished to revisit.
As her investigation unfolds, she discovers the haunting legend of a local witch who supposedly bartered her two daughters for apples, ultimately transforming them into birds. The townspeople are guarded and often unfriendly, with Annie encountering resistance from the sheriff, who happens to be Olivia Jacobs's uncle.
Intriguing, isn’t it? And this is just the tip of the iceberg!
With the urgency escalating, the plot thickens when another girl, Lucy, mysteriously disappears during a town festival. In a chilling echo of past events, an applehead doll is ominously left in her absence.
With sharp, dynamic dialogue, wit, and unforgettable characters, this small town thrives on familiarity, yet the question remains: do they truly know each other when confronted with the unsettling realities of their community?
As the clock ticks, Annie finds herself navigating a landscape filled with potential suspects, racing against time to uncover who is responsible for these abductions, their motives, and the whereabouts of the missing girls before it’s too late.
Who might the perpetrator be?
As the layers of malevolence are gradually peeled away, readers will be astonished by the unexpected twists and revelations, encountering a complex villain in this psychologically rich thriller that delves into generational traumas, abuse, and grief.
Annie’s quest for justice places her in peril, yet her determination to solve the mystery in her hometown fuels her resolve. Resilient and cynical, she stands as a formidable heroine shaped by a challenging upbringing and military experience, embodying the courageous, tough private investigator we come to admire. I absolutely loved her!
Archer Sullivan masterfully weaves together themes of love, madness, desperation, and family, with a story that subverts reader expectations about the folklore and the kidnappings.
This debut is nothing short of spectacular, and I eagerly anticipate what Annie will bring us next.
Upcoming 2026...
Brimstone Hollow
Coming 08/11/2026,
PI Annie Gore #2
Following her impactful debut in The Witch’s Orchard, private investigator Annie Gore is set to return in Brimstone Hollow, inviting readers back into the mountains that Acher Sullivan, a ninth-generation Appalachian, so vividly portrays.
I can hardly wait!
The audiobook...
I recently had the delightful experience of both reading the book and immersing myself in the audiobook, expertly narrated by the incredibly talented Emily Pike Stewart. Her voice truly brings the story to life! Emily delivered a remarkable performance, skillfully embodying each character while capturing the essence of the tone and setting with genuine authenticity.
As a Grammy and Audie Award-winning creator in the audiobook realm, Emily boasts a wealth of experience in the spoken word industry. Hailing from Louisville, KY, she now calls New York home, where she excels as a Producer, Director, Narrator, and expert in Post-Production and Audio Originals.
Recs...
If you are a fan of Southern narratives and have an appreciation for folklore intertwined with small-town mountain mysteries, and a flawed, sharp female PI, THE WITCH'S ORCHARD is a must-read.
This captivating tale resonates with the works of esteemed authors such as Kim Michele Richardson, Michelle Collins Anderson, David Joy, Ron Rash, Wiley Cash, Silas House, Stacy Willingham, Laura McHugh, Mark de Castrique, Julia Keller, and Emily Carpenter.
Dive into a story that will not only entertain but also inspire and evoke a sense of connection to the rich tapestry of Southern storytelling.
Many thanks to Minotaur Books, St Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and #MacAudio2025 for sharing an advanced reading and listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pub Date: Aug 12, 2025
Praise
“The narrative is linear, relatable and revealing… And the ending, just―wow!” –BookPage (starred review)
"This gothic-horror story–murder mystery offers a chilling look at dark secrets in a small, poverty-stricken Appalachian town. Full of suspense, shocking twists, and a healthy dose of Appalachian folklore and traditions, it's guaranteed to keep readers spellbound from first page to last."
–Booklist
“A mesmerizing mystery that blends small-town secrets with ominous folklore. . . Delivering intrigue, atmosphere, and well-shaded characters with the efficiency of a seasoned pro, Sullivan knocks it out of the park on her first try.”
–Publishers Weekly
“A tough heroine who refuses to quit uses her own troubled background to crack the case.”
–Kirkus Reviews
“A wonderful combination of mountain lore and history, false heroes and major new friends. . . authentic and engaging.”
–first CLUE
"A riveting mystery, weaving together the darkest secrets of a small community with a beguiling thread of folklore and local legend. Sullivan has crafted a compelling and complex heroine in Annie Gore, whose wits, compassion, and grit are the beating heart of this tense and layered thriller―I couldn’t put it down."
–Kate Alice Marshall, author of What Lies in the Woods and A Killing Cold
“Meet Annie Gore–tough, funny, stubborn, nosy, flippant, and highly efficient at her job: solving a mystery in a scruffy patch of Appalachia. This is a dandy tale, with crackling dialogue and unforgettable characters, all served up at a breakneck pace and dusted with the dark, gritty poetry of the hills.”
–Julia Keller, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the Bell Elkins mysteries
“An enthralling trip through the twisting byways of small-town Appalachia, where everyone knows everyone―or do they? P.I. Annie Gore is a delight–tough, cynical, and determined to find the truth behind the tantalizing story of the witch's orchard―a story that changes with each teller. I read this in one satisfying gulp.”
–Vicki Lane, author of the Elizabeth Goodweather Appalachian Mysteries
About the Author
ARCHER SULLIVAN is a ninth generation Appalachian. She’s moved thirty-seven times and has lived everywhere from Monticello, Kentucky to Manhattan, New York and from Black Mountain, North Carolina to Beverly Hills, California. Her work has appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Tough, Shotgun Honey, Reckon Review, and Rock and a Hard Place Magazine. She is the author of The Witch’s Orchard, first in the Annie Gore PI series, coming soon from Minotaur.
