The Witch's Orchard

A Novel

By: Archer Sullivan

Narrated by: Emily Pike Stewart

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.

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books

©2025 Archer Sullivan (P)2025 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"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

Great twisty story.

I loved the twists and turns as well as the folklore story adding to the feel.

Enjoyable

This was a very enjoyable book that kept my attention throughout. I didn’t find the ending to be all that surprising, but that didn’t lower my opinion of the book. The character development and folklore were excellent. Looking forward to the rest is the series!

Good emotion

Great emotion and not just simply reading the story out loud. Terrible country accent though lol.

Great story

I enjoyed the folktale woven into the main story line and the different versions characters recited of the tale.

A fantastic story, beautifully told!

I know an amazing new character when I hear one. I first started reading Ms. Marple, Spenser, and Philip Marlowe when I was a teenager. Since then, I’ve read hundreds of books by dozens of noir authors. Annie Gore, welcome to the party! The story is great, and the narration is simply stunning. Emily Pike Stewart clearly took the time not to simply replicate the generic southern accents heard all over film, TV, and other audiobooks. Instead, she actually took the care to learn the dialect of where the characters were from, most notably Appalachian North Carolina. I am frankly astounded by the skill she displays, and her deep emotional connection with the work shines through in every scene. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

The originality of the story

Beautifully written, captivating book-far exceeded my expectations. Loved the Appalachian setting. The narrator was excellent.