The Witchfinder's Sister

Goodreads Description

The number of women my brother Matthew killed, so far as I can reckon it, is one hundred and six... 1645. When Alice Hopkins' husband dies in a tragic accident, she returns to the small Essex town of Manningtree, where her brother Matthew still lives. But home is no longer a place of safety. Matthew has changed, and there are rumours spreading through the town: whispers of witchcraft, and of a great book, in which he is gathering women's names. To what lengths will Matthew's obsession drive him? And what choice will Alice make, when she finds herself at the very heart of his plan?

My Review

This book is ultimately a tale of fiction but it is based on real life events, to the extent that they are known. The witch hunter, Matthew Hopkins, actually existed and he is responsible for sending over 100 woman to their deaths. Some speculate that it was actually many more than that, perhaps as many as 300.

It would seem that it was very easy to be labelled as a witch in 1645. Any woman who didn't fit squarely into society's expectations of them was not safe. Perhaps a woman had had a miscarriage, or someone had been injured in their presence, or even injured after being in their presence, or even a woman who was slightly mentally challenged, any of these things could see you hang.

I've always had a fascination with the Salem witch trials and with the whole concept of witch hunting. It's always seemed so bizarre and so totally barbaric, even for those times. But few people actually know that before the infamous Salem witch trials, many woman were slaughtered in Manningtree, in Essex. This is a book about that time.

I really enjoyed this read. I thought that it was well written and although a little slow at times, it never drew to a grinding halt. I was always interested in the story. I was really keen to get to the heart of the book, being the actual witch hunting and trials, and that didn't happen until quite near the end. The book focuses more on the characters and the reasons for their actions, rather than the actual witch hunts and trials.

It is clear that the author did a lot of research before writing this book. Her descriptions of the settings, the houses, the clothes, the living conditions and even of people's responsibilities and their places in society, seemed to be spot on. I felt myself transported back to that time and place, enduring the hardships that the characters endured. It also made me feel what it must have been like to be a woman living in those times, never sure if the next knock at the door would be some pompous man hurling allegations of witchcraft around.

This book is a good mix between history and fiction, but there is also an element of suspense involved. I wanted to turn the page to find out what was going to happen next. As I mentioned earlier, do not expect the rollicking pace of a traditional thriller or suspense novel, but rather the slow turning of a wheel, enabling the reader to savor and enjoy the story. For anyone with an interest in history, and / or witch hunting, then this is a must. But because the story is more about people, I think this book will appeal to a wider audience as well. I thought it was great.

My Rating: * * * *

Publication Date: May 2017 (South Africa)

Genre: Historical fiction

Format: Trade paperback

Source: Review copy received from the publisher. Many thanks to author, Beth Underdown and Penguin Random House SA for my copy. It was my pleasure to read and review this book.