The Witch of Lagg

Dark Powers #3

by Ann Pilling

Ann Pilling manages to combine fascinating historical detail with mysterious and compelling ghost stories, and THE WITCH OF LAGG is no exception. Now available as an ebook for the first time, it is sure to attract a whole new wave of fans. Ever since Ann Pilling’s debut novel, BLACK HARVEST, now a Collins Modern Classic, she has built her reputation into one of our best-loved and most talented contemporary writers for children. She won the Guardian Fiction Award for HENRY’S LEG. THE WITCH OF LAGG follows the same children who appear in BLACK HARVEST – Colin, Prill and Oliver. Here they are staying in Laggs Castle, a truly creepy place, and as they begin to explore the old house and the dark woods surrounding it, they find themselves becoming the victims of some evil force… Could it be some kind of vampire? Surely only something really terribly could make a loaf of bread taste of bones and blood…
Ann Pilling has managed, yet again, to create a mysterious, compelling and gripping tale.

Genres: Horror, Childrens, Fiction, Young Adult

Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Born in 1944 in Lancashire, British poet and children's author Ann Pilling read English at King’s College, London, where she wrote her thesis on C.S. Lewis' fiction. She has published over thirty books for children, one of which - Henry's Leg - won The Guardian Prize for Children’s Fiction. She has two sons, six grandchildren, and currently lives in the Yorkshire Dales. Since 2003, she has concentrated on writing poetry, rather than fiction.

Reviews

[William Stafford]

For a story aimed at young readers, this book pulls no punches. Three kids are spending their summer in rural Scotland. There's plenty to explore: a big house and its estates, a forest, an island on a loch... Before long, strange and scary things are happening. An evil entity from the past has been disturbed and is out to make things horrible for everyone. Writer Ann Pilling weaves an intriguing mystery and is not shy of including gruesome details. Suspense and terror are excellently crafted, making for one of the scariest books I've ever read. Wonderful!

[Tashy Jones]

I have no idea how to rate this book. I read it when I was younger and it scared the living daylight scout of me. Years later I couldn't even look at the cover without getting freaked out. I have no idea whether I liked it or not, but this was the scariest thing I think I have ever read.

[Colette]

I'd read this as a wean, and it terrified me at the time. I remembered this recently and decided to track a copy down. I can remember why 10 year old me found it creepy and would hide under my covers after reading a bit before bed. Gives a bit of history at the back, I didn't realise I'd visited the same graveyard in Wigtown.

Apologies, this isn't a review, but wanted to note this down. I'd recommend this to any young adult.