Wicked Witch

I’ll admit, I went into *Wicked Witch* expecting a light, witchy cozy—maybe some herbal tea and a cute love interest. Instead, Tess Lake handed me a psychological gut-punch wrapped in a pastel sweater. Harlow Torrent is the kind of protagonist who makes you squirm: she’s sympathetic one minute, terrifying the next, and Natalie Duke’s performance sells every contradiction. Duke’s delivery is *masterclass* level—her Harlow sounds like she’s fighting through a fog, while the supporting cast (especially the smug, gossipy neighbors) drips with venom. The production is crisp, with no distracting edits, though I’ll dock half a point for a few overly dramatic pauses that broke the tension in key scenes. The story’s real strength is its refusal to tidy up loose ends. Lake doesn’t just ask *whodunit*; she asks *what if the ‘who’ is you?* The small-town setting is cloying in the best way, with secrets oozing from every porch swing, and the mystery unfolds like a Polaroid developing—blurry at first, then uncomfortably clear. My only gripe? The midsection drags slightly as Harlow circles the same questions, but the payoff is worth it. This isn’t a cozy for the faint of heart—it’s a thriller that’ll have you side-eyeing your own reflection. If you’ve ever finished a book and immediately Googled ‘dissociative fugue,’ you’ll devour this.