Another enjoyable read by Simon R Green in the Holy Terrors series. These short reads have great characters, great plot/pacing. Can't wait for the next in the series. #WhichWitch #NetGalley

Television celebrity and Bishop Alistair Kincaid is paired up again with his actress sidekick Diana Hunt to investigate supernatural events. This time they are up against the famous Scottish Play and its supposed curse.

The director is at his wit's end....whatever can go wrong with their production of the cursed play is going wrong. The supernatural sleuthing duo is on the case because the events ruining the play are escalating.

I love this series. I do have to admit some bias here, as Simon R. Green is one of my favorite authors. If he wrote the Illustrated History of Toilet Paper I would read it and love it. But I really do enjoy this new series. Alastair and Diana are a surprisingly well-matched pair when it comes to investigating weirdly dangerous supernatural shenanigans.

I eagerly await each book in this series. Simon R. Green comes up with such interesting plots (love that this one centers around Mac..... no wait....That Play)! I can't wait to find out what the duo will be investigating next!!

Which Witch by Simon R. Green, is about a production that has gone sideways with something potentially paranormal affecting everyone involved. It is up to Alistair and Diana, the Holy Terrors, to discover the secrets of the strange events that keep occurring during the production of an infamous tragedy that always comes with the implication of being cursed. But the show must go on!

The beginning of this novel sucks you in, and then abruptly rips the rug from underneath you, leaving you excited for what’s to come. I absolutely love how this started and how the fourth wall breaks apart, and this is all before the first chapter even starts!

I am a sucker for a good Shakespeare reference and Green does this with ease. The world building is thoughtful and the character pairing makes for an interesting and intriguing story.

The conversations run smoothly, with little bits of banter that leaves me chuckling as I go. With the heavy backstory needed, that part can feel a bit sluggish in comparison to the rest of the novel. However, it aligns well with a classic film noir vibe to keep readers engaged.

Overall, Which Witch is an intriguing story with engaging twists that leaves readers wanting more! It was full of hilarious moments, mixed with many scenes that had me on the edge of my seat, eager to know what happens next. I will definitely be picking up more of Green’s novels.

Thank you to Netgalley, Severn House, and the author for this ARC.

During the lead up to the play of Macbeth, the actors are plagued with many different accidents. But when one proves fatal, it is too much for the pair known as the Holy Terrors. As Diana and the Bish (I love this nickname) work to figure out what is going on, the show must go on. The practices seem to become more dangerous, and no one is sure what is going to happen next.

As the case heats up, it seems that Diana may be a target, and of course, Alistair is not going to allow that to happen.

Oh my goodness, I cannot love this book more. The entire series is just amazing, and I have recommended it to more readers than I can count. Each book builds, although they can be read as a standalone.
I am really looking forward to reading more in this series. It seems that Diana and the Bish might have something brewing, and that will be fun to watch. Their characters are so different, but they work so well together. A romance between them would be interesting.

Just get the book. Read the series. You won't be disappointed.

And the Holy Terrors at it again! This time it is Bishop Alistair coming to the rescue of Diana, who is cast as Lady Macbeth in the cursed play that actually might really be cursed! Their witty banter and lighthearted ways balance out the darkness in the supposedly haunted theater that the practicing is happening before the move to West End and while there always has to be a murdered victim or two, they do have a good track record of solving the case before everyone is dead. I did enjoy the variety of the murders which gave them the nice touch of maybe it was supernatural since Alistair tends to keep an open mind while still looking for mortal means. And it was fun to be surprised about who and why was sabotaging the play as I did not expect it!

These are fun little novellas to read, nicely entertaining and light (despite the death) and I am glad finally that something does happen at the end with Diana and Alistair! Though I hope they keep being the Holy Terrors, to be called in on cases that border on the supernatural!

There’s a curse on ‘The Scottish Play’, or so the old acting tradition goes. Part of that curse is that if any of the actors in the play utter the play’s actual title, that the production will be doomed. It’s possible that tradition arose because The Tragedy of Macbeth has the potential to be a rather expensive play to put on, and a lot of theaters that did so went out of business because they were already in financial trouble and hoping that a splashy production would rescue them.

Or it could all be the witches’ fault. There are certainly plenty of them in any production of Macbeth.

The production of Macbeth that ‘the Actress’ half of the ‘Holy Terrors’ is rehearsing seems to already be covered in the curse from every possible angle even before her partner-in-solving-crimes, ‘the Bishop’, gets called in.

The theater they’re rehearsing in may not technically be haunted, but it’s been derelict for so long that it might as well be. It’s certainly falling apart around the actors’ ears. There have been a series of spooky, mildly dangerous, plausibly supernatural events amid the rehearsals from the very first day.

Neither the director nor the money men seem willing to take those events seriously, but Diana Hunt, ‘the Actress’, certainly is. So she calls in Bishop Alistair Kincaid, her very own Bish. At least she wants him to be.

Hers, that is.

Not that anyone can blame her – although a few people do – for wanting his stalwart presence at her side, because there’s something terribly wrong in the wings of this old theater. So far in their adventures, the spooky and the supernatural have turned out to all be matters of misdirection and human agency, but there’s a first time for everything.

And even if there’s not, the Holy Terrors have an excellent record of finding their way to the truth – no matter how much fog – or fire – or at least smoke – gets in their eyes.

Escape Rating B: I read this author for the tone of his voice – particularly his excellent line in snark – and this latest book was no exception. What makes this series especially fun is that the Bishop and the Actress give excellent banter. The series – at least so far – rides on the coattails of their obvious attraction to each other to the point where their every interaction hints at both the double entendre of old “the Bishop said to the Actress” jokes AND the will they/won’t they? of their relationship.

So I sunk right into this third entry in the series – after The Holy Terrors and Stone Certainty – because I was having a grand time just listening to the two of them talk to each other and egg each other on. For this reader, that’s the best part of the story.

But there is also a mystery. Based on their prior outings, I was pretty sure at the outset that whatever was going on in that awful theater was awfulness of the entirely human – and living – variety. Not that someone wasn’t using the creepy atmosphere to further their aims, but that those aims were entirely among the living and so was the perpetrator – or perpetrators.

Like those previous books, this one does a terrific job in poking holes at something we’re already familiar with that affords plenty of opportunity for some sort of woo-woo trickery to ooze right into everyone’s subconscious. In The Holy Terrors it was reality TV, Stone Certainty featured a stone circle, while this time around its the shenanigans and superstitions of an acting troupe. The internal squabbles of this intimate group of frenemies certainly added to the rising tide of red herrings in solving the mystery.

In the end, this turned out to be a bit of Noises Off set backstage of the creepiest play to ever creep in a haunted theater filled with backstabbing personalities on all sides. I came into this one expecting to be entertained – possibly more than any audience this production might ever have – and that’s exactly what I got.

I was not expecting there to be a supernatural element in the actual mystery – and there wasn’t. The hint of the supernatural that the story did have was JUST the right touch.

What I did hope for was to see a bit of how the UST between the Bishop and the Actress was – or was not – going to resolve. I left the story thinking that they believe it did – but I’m not certain at all that it will work out. We’ll see whether it does for the book or the characters – or possibly but not likely both – if/when the series continues. Because this could be the end – but I kind of hope it isn’t.

Third in a crime solving duo series. Very different from the author’s fantasy series that I’ve read, but enjoyable. A very artsy themed crime mystery. I hadn’t read the previous books, but managed to pick up the threads. Enough red herrings to keep you guessing. Thank you to Severn House and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

I never would have guessed the ending. I had thought we already cleared this person. The book was a little long winded at times but the story is worth sticking it out. So many twists. Alister and Diana will keep you guessing. As a person that has worked in theatre I loved all the references to this profession.

I've been a fan of Simon R. green for quite a few years and love encountering his new works. With that being said, I found this book to be a bit lack luster with regards to the contents of this story. I thought the first two books were intriguing and engaging with a bit of paranormal and supernatural since this seems to be intended to be a "paranormal mystery" series. Where the other two hit that mark, for me, I do not feel this one really did.

There was something about the way the mystery was surrounding an already "cursed" play which didn't lend to the spooky vibes I love encountering. We were situated in a theater where props and special effects are fairly common place so I didn't feel the "spooky" element was there.

However, we do get a pretty decent story where Diana and Alistair work together to solve the mystery of what is going on with this particular production of Macbeth. Props seem to be sabotaged and people are being targeted by "accidents". There is one particularly interesting moment towards the end that I don't think I saw coming, but it did feel separate from the story rather than a part of the story.

Overall, I would probably give this story a 3.5* but I will round up since I can't give half stars. It's not a bad urban fantasy series and I will cotinue to read his works as they are usually very entertaining.

Not my fav in this series but Diana and Alistair are as likeable as usual. A twisty and surprising plot, a lot of theatre behind the scenes, murders, scary moments.
Enjoyable and gripping
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Holy Terrors series blends comedy, horror, thriller, and mystery. While you could jump in here, I’d recommend starting at the beginning to fully enjoy Alistair and Diana’s dynamic. The first two books were both fun reads for me, and this third entry keeps the same theatrical flair.

In this book, Alistair and Diana step into the world of theatre, and it’s every bit as dramatic as you’d expect with actors squabbling, sleeping their way toward roles, and plenty of backstage gossip. The atmosphere is great, with characters that feel deep enough, varied, and very much in keeping with the theatrical setting.

Alistair and Diana remain a fantastic pairing. They're sharp, charismatic, and still the main reason I enjoy this series. They play off each other wonderfully, and their dynamic carries the story.

The main drawback for me was the ending. The mystery felt like it wrapped up too quickly, and the leap from investigation to conclusion was a bit of a jump in logic. I would have liked a few more breadcrumbs leading to the final reveal.

Even so, this was a fun, entertaining read. I hope it’s not the last in the Holy Terrors series. I’d happily spend more time with these characters.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The new book was a fun and wild ride! The story was well done and very interesting, with lots of great twists! The characters were entertaining and just fun to get to be with! I would recommend this book to everyone!

This is not the same type of writing from Simon Green that I read years ago!

I wish that I had read the first two books in the series, but I will rectify that soon. I enjoyed this book. It was clever and funny, with a nicely developed plot. Characters are likable, though not deep (maybe that deepness came in the first two books).

Well done!

I enjoy Green's books. Which Witch was an interesting read. I have enjoyed the character development between Alistair and Diana. 10/10 the last few sentences of the book, no spoilers for those who haven't read it.

I have to say that I was disappointed in this one. I had to DNF it. The premise was a great one. I loved the idea of an actress and a handsome bishop working together to solve a series of misfortunes plaguing a production of the Scottish Play. However, I did not find the characters engaging. It could be because this is the third book in the series and I haven't read any of the previous books, so, am unfamiliar with the characters and their backstory. But they just seemed sort of one dimensional to me. I also didn't feel like much detecting was going on once Alistair arrives on scene after being summoned my Diana to investigate what's happening. Diana has been cast as Lady Macbeth in the show. I made it through the first two chapters, which given their length put me a third of the way into the story. All that happened was Alistair talking to people, conferring with Diana and then watching bad things happen. Once something bad did happen, he'd talk to people some more and then confer with Diana again. There was not looking at things or searching actively for clues as to why the bad thing happened in the first place. Just some surmising from a distance. It just made the whole mystery much less compelling. I am sure there are others out there who are more invested in this story and these characters. But this one just was not for me. I would still like to thank NetGalley and Severn House for giving me the opportunity to read an eARC of this novel. I'm just sorry I could not give it a better review.

Someone is messing with the production of Macbeth, currently in rehearsal with Diana playing one of the witches in the hopes that the role will boost her flagging career. She calls on Alasdair, with whom she has solved paranormal mysteries in the past, to figure out what's going on and why. I missed the first books in this series and felt a little confused here. I liked that these two are mature and their banter but there are too many characters and things felt a bit muddled. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Over to those who read the earlier installments.

Simon Green continues his Holy Terrors mysteries in Which Witch. Actress Diana Hunt calls in her friend Bishop Alistair Kincaid to identify what is happening in the trouble plagued Macbeth production. Is it supernatural? Is it criminal? Alastair has barely arrived when bodies start dropping. Three actors turn up murdered. Why? Follow the characters to find out why revenge? Did it end with anything supernatural? Interesting read.

I’ve been a fan of Simon Green’s books since I stumbled across the Nightside series a lifetime ago, and I’m just as big a fan now as I was back then. The Holy Terrors series is a little bit different in that it’s a modern style series with only hints of supernatural. A bit like a modern and realistic Scooby Doo. (I mean that with all the respect in the world. I love Scooby Doo, and this is what I would imagine it like were it just Fred and Daphne.) In any case, Diana and Alistair are back at it again with saving everyone’s bacon in yet another mystery. And in this one, there are more deaths than usual! And they also have to contend with a full cast of people, all of whom are suspects! Like many other reviewers said, there were a lot of characters, but I didn’t have any trouble keeping them starlight. Maybe it’s the disconnect between the play and the actors for some people, but it wasn't an issue for me. There is one thing that I felt odd though. During the previous stories, the relationship between Diana and Alistair is more implied than anything. More flirtations that hinted at something, but I don’t recall it ever being said that they were in a relationship. So when I got to the end and THE THING happened, I was kind of shocked, on a multitude of levels. I won’t give anything more than that away, but suffice it to say that I think fans of this series will get something they’ve been waiting a while for!

Huge thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

Being a fan of Simon R. Green for a long time, I was rather underwhelmed by the first book in this series; I gave it only two stars. The second one earned three stars because it was a lot more fun to read. We’re at book three in the series now and although I gave it three stars, it was an entertaining read and exactly as I thought it would be after reading the first pages.
Diana is casted for the role of Lady MacBeth when things start to go wrong during the rehearsals. Who else to call than her trusted friend Alistair? Together they dive into the case and succeed in finding out where the slightly paranormal events come from.
Fast and funny, not too much depth in the characters but overall charming!
Thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this review copy.

The Holy Terrors is another fun series by Simon R. Green, and Which Witch? continues the sleuthing team of The Actress and The Bishop. Not literary fiction, for sure, but Green's books are a guilty pleasure!