Geoff Taylor, former deputy editor of the Waikato Times and bestselling author of Goodnight Malaysian 370, is making his fiction debut with Witch Hunt. The novel, blending a love story with a political cautionary tale, is set in the fictional country of New Salem, where a rising authoritarian regime threatens freedom.
The story centers on journalist George Trainor and nurse Laura Webster, both rebuilding after failed marriages, as they navigate a society gripped by ideological extremism. As dissent is suppressed, the couple faces the loss of their livelihoods and personal freedoms.
Taylor said he turned to fiction to express his concerns about the current political climate. “It felt like watching my own country become unrecognizable,” he explained. “People were scared to speak their minds. I had to get this anger out of my system.”
Drawing parallels between modern ideological conflicts and the Salem witch trials, Taylor aims to explore the dangers of growing hysteria against differing views.
Witch Hunt will be released soon on Amazon.
About Geoff Taylor
With over 20 years in journalism and a history of political involvement as a city councillor and deputy mayor of Hamilton, Taylor brings deep insight into societal shifts and political turmoil.
