ABOUT THIS EPISODE
What happens when a town turns a family's tragedy into a tourist attraction? And what if the hysteria surrounding three missing teenage girls wasn't so different from the witch hunts of centuries past?
This week on Dreadfully Yours, author J.L. Hyde joins me to discuss her newest mystery series, beginning with Witches of Westridge and continuing with The Widow Nora.
Inspired by an overheard conversation during a visit to Salem, Massachusetts, Jamie created Westridge Cove—a fictional Michigan town where three sisters vanished in 1993 after being accused of practicing witchcraft. Decades later, their disappearance has become the foundation of a thriving Halloween tourism industry, while the family they left behind continues living in its shadow.
Jamie shares how the real-life Satanic Panic and the West Memphis Three influenced her story, and why criticism of the word witch inspired her to embrace actual witchcraft in the sequel and turned her into a "witch ally." We also dive into her writing process, including a surprising confession about how she develops her infamous plot twists.
Whether you're a longtime J.L. Hyde reader or you're just discovering Westridge Cove, come hang out with us for a little mystery, a little magic, and a whole lot of storytelling. 🖤🔮
Find J.L. Hyde and explore her books:
Mentioned in this episode:
The Darkest Season
Find The Darkest Season: True Crime in the American South from Halloween to Christmas anywhere you get your books. Releasing mid-October 2026.
