I really enjoyed this book! The story was enticing and very different than other books I have read. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

In 1662 Boston divorce is almost unheard of. But under the strain of abuse, does the impossible become the plausible? Even if under the threat of death by hanging?

Mary Deerfield notices a pattern with her husband Thomas. He drinks, he hits her, and then goes away and drinks more. When he is busy at the mill that usually puts him in good spirits. Thus, drinking “only as much cider and beer as he needed to quench his thirst.” But one day, he stabs a fork into her hand flatly placed on the table to discipline her. And he isn’t even drink-drunk. According to the law, a husband has a write to discipline his wife. He doesn’t seem to see his brutality, but Mary does, and she’s reached the breaking point. She has heard of the word before. And it’s divorce.

There are some who envy her because of her parents’ wealth and privilege “in ways that few others were in Boston.” Her father, a renowned merchant, knows the governor and the magistrates, and he would know what to do to begin this process of divorce.

Per magistrate, her parents are reputable people, but her husband is also considered a man of good standing and reputation, owner of the largest gristmill in the North End.

But there is more to the story, which may have further complications. Mary finds two forks in the ground in the walkway to her house, then a pestle. Her servant girl thinks it’s some sort of spell. Certain things could get misconstrued and be perceived as Satan’s work. It’s a time when even the most nonsensical accusations could cause grievous injury.

Mary is a very likeable character. One readers sympathize with and want to see happy and out of harm’s way. She sees other women getting pregnant and that’s what she constantly prays for. Her situation is chilling, and yet she is willing to take another risky path to get out of the current one.

Thomas turns out to be not only a brute, but also a liar. At first his abrupt behavior keeps you on edge, but then his lies put you over the edge. His temerity leaves you speechless.

The time period is intriguingly depicted, from customs through novelty of a three-tined fork to the use of old language in dialogue (thy, thou, thee).

It is a gripping page-turner, written with beautiful prose and enthrallingly developed characters.

Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com

This book is a solid entry into 17th century witch hunt historical fiction with increasingly mounting tension and an unanticipated ending.

The author gives light to the oppression and mistrust of women at the time – in particular women who did not conform or seemed “different.” He also illuminates the puritanical abuse of religion to control anyone deemed disobedient or noncompliant.

While I did not find this to be Bohjalian’s best work, it was certainly a worthwhile read that many other reviewers seem to have loved.

My thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This will be in stores on May 4, and you’re going to want to grab your own copy.

I could not put this book down! I was sent a copy through NetGalley for an honest review and was so glad to be reading on a Kindle so I could look up words. Chris Bohjalian’s use of the English language is so poetic. There were sentences I reread, not for understanding, but for the pure joy of reading them!
A novel about a very dark time in our history, (not unlike recent events). The mystery and “courtroom” drama are captivating. The realism is frightening. This story will stay with me for a very long time.

WOW! This is the book I’ve been waiting for! Such an engrossing part of American History but so many books fall short. Likeable heroine and outstanding character development! Kept me guessing right up to the end!!!

I have read a lot of other books by Chris Bohjalian. Some I loved some I liked and one I could not finish. My top three are The Light in the Ruins, The Double Bind and Hour of the Witch. I continue to be so impressed by his ability to write from the female perspective. Each of the above books were so well crafted that you become immediately absorbed in the characters and the need to find out what happens to them. It is possible that some people will overlook this book because it sounds like another story about the Salem Witch Trials. But those people would be making a huge mistake, huge. First of all, the setting is Boston just as the witch-hunt begins in Connecticut and before the Salem trials began. Mary Deerfield is conceived as a smart, strong willed woman who tries to conform to the expectation of women at that time, but still cannot understand why men are allowed so much leniency while women are held to such a high standard. The story begins quickly and sets the tone for Mary’s life with Thomas, and you can immediately see how this mirrors the life of those women stuck in an abusive relationship today. As she moves forward, she begins to realize that her world is shifting; in the way Thomas treats her, her relationship with her indentured girl Catherine and the attitude of the women like Goody Howland who believe they are godlier than Mary. And while Mary tries to follow all of the rules and be a faithful Christian, she also has more human feelings such as lust and desire – and she struggles to understand if this is normal or if she in fact is being tempted by the devil. It is refreshing to read a book that is about the witch hysteria and see that these women were not only victims, but they had “normal” urges and feelings and had only the view of the men to define what was “of God” and what was not. While it is almost impossible to imagine that any woman would have pursued a divorce at that time, it is a compelling story and highlights how women were treated then, and through the years, when they decided to stand up for themselves especially against abuse. Even her mother and father want her to fall in line before her behavior results in charges of witchcraft. Of all the women in the story, Constance stands out because she lives alone and maintains a comfortable life without a man, even though she too is persecuted and looked down on by the community. Constance understands that these men do not have her best interest in mind and charts her own path, while somehow managing to not be hanged as a witch. I read this book in one day because I simply had to find out if Mary died or if she found happiness with Henry Simmons. I encourage you to read this so you too can be transported back to a time in which women had little voice and little chance of happiness (or at least how we define happiness today) and were casually persecuted for being a nonconformist or merely standing up for themselves. I feel so very lucky to have been approved to read an ARC of this book by the publisher, Doubleday Books in exchange for an honest review.

I am a big fan of Chris Bohjalian so I was excited to get my hands on an ARC edition of his latest novel. Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free electronic ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The story takes place in 1662 in Puritan New England at a time when witchcraft pervaded everyone’s thoughts. Mary Deerfield is the 24 year old second wife of Thomas Deerfield, who is a powerful man but an abusive husband. After an extremely violent act of abuse by Thomas toward Mary, she decides that she must divorce him in order to survive. The ensuing hearing in a male dominated courtroom highlights the injustices that women faced during this time period and how their rights were viewed as inconsequential. The divorce is denied by the court and the hearing actually discusses the possibility of Mary being a witch. This plants the seed in many of the townspeople’s minds that Mary is a witch and every movement she makes here on out is scrutinized and found to be related to witchcraft. It is only a matter of time before she is arrested and put on trial for being a witch. The ensuing trial and subsequent verdict is fascinating and a real page turner!
The author did an incredible job of researching this time period and topic. The manner in which the characters spoke and acted seemed authentic as did the setting of the story. While both of the trials seemed credible, there were times that the author seemed to get too wrapped up in the judicial proceedings and those parts of the story really dragged on for me. I found myself skipping pages in order to get to the interesting parts again. That being said, overall I did enjoy the book as well as the storyline and was happy with the ending the author chose.

A very compelling story taking place in Boston during the 1660s. Truly a witch hunt from several perspectives. Having recently read Alice Hoffman’s newest on the same topic, I was concerned this wouldn’t interest me. However the writing encouraged me to want to know how it ends. So I read as fast as I could to find out. I really enjoyed the format, at the beginning of each chapter is a quote from the court case. I also enjoyed the language, such as “prithee”. Not the fault of the author, but I did not like the situation and most of the characters were not really likeable either. Overall, worth the read. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

3.5 Stars

Mary Deerfield, along with her parents, left England and travelled across the sea for a life in America, in hopes for a new land and new life which held much promise. For her father, he felt the religious call of the New World, and the chance for him to further build his established trade company. At the age of 24 Mary became the second wife of Thomas Deerfield, whose verbal, and physical, attacks have made her cautious, but not meek. Thomas is prone to drinking in excess, and taking out his foul moods on Mary, repeatedly belittling her by saying she has ‘white meat’ for a brain, as well as taunting her for her inability to conceive a child. His daughter, Peregrine, married shortly before Mary and Thomas, was close to Mary’s age, and already has children of her own, making Mary a grandmother.

Mary’s father imports items from abroad, objects not readily available in this new land. The finest lace, and the newest items making their way across the sea, along with other items not found in the colonies. Among the latest are three tined forks, which has recently become popular in England, but these puritans consider them to be the Devil’s tines, and Mary’s father has gifted her with a set of six of these forks, which doesn’t sit well with Thomas.

Suspicions and rumours abound after two of these evil forks are spotted in Mary and Thomas’ yard. One night, in a fit of drunken anger, one will become used to impale her hand and breaking bones. Although it’s no surprise by whom, Mary will have a difficult time proving it, or finding a way to prevent further abuse. Instead, her declarations of the truth cause her to be shunned, ridiculed and desperately seeking her freedom from this ungodly marriage. She is a woman, and therefore assumed to be prone to hysteria, lying and labelled a witch if she is unhappy with the physical abuse she has been forced to endure in her marriage .

While not quite what I would consider to be a ‘thriller,’ there is an ever-mounting tension in this story, with a completely unexpected ending that I didn’t see coming.


Pub Date: 04 May 2021

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Doubleday Books / Doubleday

#HouroftheWitch #NetGalley

As a lover of historical fiction and all things witchcraft, I was excited by the premise of this novel. I enjoyed the perspective of Mary, a non-conformist within a Puritanical society. It was refreshing to read a piece in which she stood up for her beliefs and triumphed. Bohjalian did a fantastic job of creating suspense regarding the outcome. I would have enjoyed more content in regards to her relationship with Henry, but overall, was very satisfied.

Chris Bohjalian is probably the most versatile author working today. He writes so well in so many different genres.

His latest, Hour of the Witch, is a blend of history and fiction as he tells the story of Mary Deerfield, a woman seeking divorce in 1660's Boston who ends up accused of witchcraft.

I loved this story and couldn't put it down! I was rooting for Mary's character and the twists and events kept me on the edge of my seat. I really liked how this novel gives one much to think about (or talk about in book group) regarding the role of women and the perception of strong women in colonial times.

Highly recommended! Thank you for my galley!

Full review coming closer to pub day at Beth's Book-Nook Blog www.drbethnolan.com

Fans of early American history will not be disappointed by the latest read from Chris Bohjalian. The novel, Hour of the Witch, begins as a slow burn detailing the horrors of Ms. Mary Deerfield’s marriage. (Trigger warning: this novel does describe domestic violence episodes throughout it’s entirety). Set in the 17th century, the book changes pace midway through the novel, when it becomes frighteningly clear that the reader is watching a potential witch hunt unfold.

The realistic nature in which the plot develops makes the novel that much more engaging and disturbing. As always, I adore the way Mr. Bohjalian built these characters, and I appreciated his fresh take on a well-known piece of American history. His female and male characters were built in such a way that the reader was easily reminded of the juxtaposed roles of women and men in the 1600’s. This constant reminder makes the protagonist’s strength in the face of antagonistic male characters that much more shocking and triumphant. I rated this one 4 stars versus my normal 5 for Bohjalian, because it did move at a slower clip. That said, as a lover of American history and Chris Bohjalian novels, I was not surprised with how much I appreciated this storyline. Thank you to Netgalley and Doubleday Books for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book, as I have enjoyed all of the author's book. While I felt there could have been a fuller back story to explain some of the character's decisions, I found the book riveting. I don't think it was quite as well done as some of the author's previous titles, it still more than held my interest. I would recommend it to my patrons, and fully expect that there will be wide interest in this title.

Mary Deerfield is a 24 year old Puritan woman and extremely attractive. When her parents choose to leave England and establish a trading business in the New World, Mary goes with them though she would have preferred to stay behind like her brothers. She soon becomes the second wife to a powerful man named Thomas Deerfield who is cruel and verbally and physically abusive behind closed doors. After he comes home one evening “ drink drunk” yet again he drive a fork through Mary’s’ hand and she becomes determined to divorce him. Mary takes refuge in her parents home but she is the object of scrutiny, gossip and plots by those who have their own reasons for want to see her downfall. When her servant girl whispers in the ear of those who wish her ill, Mary will find herself not only trying to escape her marriage but to save herself from the noose.
This author always has descriptions characters that are so striking and scenery that is do detailed and descriptive that you feel as though you can hear the horses hooves or smell the sea when she costs the docks. I felt loathing for Thomas Deerfield and disdain for the so called “ Saints” who were there to dispense justice. These books are an mesmeric experience and the reader is reluctant to turn the last page, wanting to see what is around the next corner. While you can sense the amount of research that has gone into the story it never feels bogged down or heavy.
So much more than just a story of a witch trial. Read this book, you don’t regret it.
Thank you to # netgalley and #Doubleday for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. This is due for publication on March 1, 2021.

I admit it: I have been a big fan of Chris Bohjalian, ever since I read Midwives several years ago. I have given positive reviews to The Guest Room, The Sleepwalker, The Flight Attendant, and The Red Lotus. I consider Mr. Bohjalian one of the most reliable authors I read regularly, and I always look forward to his books...but I admit, my reaction to the description of his latest, The Hour of The Witch, was hesitation -- set in the 1600s in Massachusetts, I expected a well-written but probably routine story of a woman wrongly accused of witchcraft, blah blah blah...but I’m happy to say I was pleasantly surprised (and delighted) by this book.

Mary Deerfield’s family came to Massachusetts from England, and her father established a successful business, importing a wide variety of goods needed by the settlers. As the daughter of a successful businessman, Mary was set up to marry Thomas Deerfield, a widower twice her age. He was definitely happy to have someone to take over running his household, and although he was twice Mary’s age, their marriage appeared to the outside world as a successful one. Appearances can be deceiving: Thomas was an abusive drunk and, in a classic abusive situation, Mary lied repeatedly about her bruises (clumsiness and accidents, she claimed).

Mary’s father begins importing the latest tool becoming popular in Europe: the fork. I'm not sure why forks are considered the Devil’s instrument, but they can also be weapons, as Mary learns when Thomas stabs Mary’s hand, causing serious damage. She decides that she will escape the abuse and files for divorce. Unfortunately, women could be accused of participating in witchcraft based on they word of one person and appallingly, when the court hears the case, Mary’s possible witchcraft (evidenced by owning a fork) is more serious than Thomas’s abusive behavior.

Despite the appalling attitudes of the patriarchy that ruled society, I enjoyed the look at 17th century New England and the fantastic character development. are appalling. I was surprised by the ending (no spoilers!) but not turned off by it. What can I say? I’m a sucker for Chris B!! Thanks to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for providing a copy of The Hour of the Witch in exchange for this honest review. 5 stars. Looking forward to recommending this to my book club.

A historical thriller with a unique time, place, and voice, THE HOUR OF THE WITCH will keep you in suspense, and remind you that structural misogyny and rape culture has been around for centuries. Mary Deerfield is a protagonist to root for as she tries to save herself from her husband, and from unfounded accusations of witchcraft.

While the subject of Hour of the Witch seems to be a departure for Chris Bohjalian, it still hits many of the marks of his previous novels - New England, alleged witchcraft, strong female character, twists and unforeseeable outcomes. In 1662 Boston, 24 year old Mary Deerfield is married to an older, abusive man. A heavy drinker, miller Thomas Deerfield punishes Mary for her barrenness and intellect as well as the wealth and higher standing of her parents. When her father's import business brings three-tined forks to Boston, people are put on edge: who would use the Devil's tines? For what purpose? (There were admittedly times early in the story when the people's horror and fear of forks came across as a bit comical, but as the story progresses, you learn that some characters would also laugh at their fellow townsfolk if they could have.) Thomas Deerfield decides to use the Devil's tines to stab the back of his wife's hand. Mary moves out of their home the next day and petitions for divorce; a petition that she will ultimately lose. When Mary must move back into the house with her husband, she begins to conceive of an idea to be rid of him for good. In between each chapter is a small piece of testimony from a witchcraft trial, and so readers know that it's coming - the interesting part is getting there.

From start to finish this book gets ahold of you and doesn’t let go. Boston, 1662 and witchcraft is on the minds of many. Mary Deerfield is accused of being a witch after she tries unsuccessfully to divorce her older, widowed husband. He is mean, conniving and often drinks too much but because he’s a man he’s allowed to treat her poorly. His treatment of her at times had me holding my breath. Bohjalian’s writing is so descriptive, his characters so well developed.
This is historical fiction with a who done it element. It will definitely be on my favorites of the year list.

If you're into the sad history of witchcraft in New England, and trust this author to squeeze every bit of sympathy out of the willing reader, as usual, this is the book for you . An unhappily married woman, a stern and punishing husband, gossipy neighbors, unfilled erotic yearnings, and a spirit that even the sourest circumstances can't quell, Mary Deerfield's tortuous journey from her comfortable, affluent family"s home to her conviction of witchcraft in a Massachusetts courtroom will engage you to the last page

Imagine being 24 years old and having people think you’re a witch because you can’t get pregnant. Crazy right? But probably not, I mean, it was the 1600s. Mary, our protagonist is married to Thomas, a well-to-do widow with a daughter right about the same age as Mary. Clearly, his young bride was supposed to produce more children. But it’s just not happening. And more than anything, Mary wants a child.

She’s good friends with Thomas’s daughter, who has a child and is on her way to producing a second one. What a time it must have been to live in. That if you are barren, you are clearly a witch, or interested in tempting men whose wives have had children and have lost their figure. Nevermind that all of these men are insufferable assholes.

But Mary tries to appear as the good wife, slogging through life, dealing with her emotionally abusive husband. Until one day, when he stabs her through the hand with a fork and it’s clear she needs to get out of her marriage. But what’s worse that being barren? Oh, that’s right. It’s worse to want to divorce your husband.

Hour of the Witch is a fascinating work of historical fiction that seriously made me feel trapped just reading it. A good writer can always make the reader deeply related to his characters. And while I appreciate that, I was seriously feeling for Mary throughout this book! It’s so crazy to think that there was a time that if you didn’t someone, you could just make up a crazy tale about them and it was handled.

I highly recommend Hour of the Witch to fans of Bohjahlian and lovers of historical fiction. Special thanks to Netgalley and Doubleday Books for an advanced e-galley in exchange for my honest review. This one is out May 4!