Chris Bohjalian is a master storyteller--and his gifts are on lush display in HOUR OF THE WITCH, a haunting, fierce and powerful story of a woman caught in the web of society and her passions. A rich portrait of a place and time, with whiplash pacing and finely crafted characters, this is an historical novel of the finest order--not to be missed.

Many thanks to Doubleday and to Netgalley for the pleasure of the read.

“Hour of the Witch”, a historical fiction novel, is set in Boston, Massachusetts in 1662, before the Salem Witch Trials. The tension builds in this book with an unexpected ending I never saw coming. I would definitely recommend this wonderful book.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for the free electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book is set in Puritan Massachusetts. Mary Deerfield is accused by her abusive husband of being a witch. If you’re fascinated by anything to do with witch trials then you’ll enjoy this book. It’s written in puritan prose, so be aware

Another great read by Chris Bohjalian. This story explores the role of women in Boston in 1662, the power of men, and the disregard men had for women. Mary Deerfield's character is well-developed and her inner monologue grapples with how religious beliefs fit into the realities of life. I particularly loved the way that the author included information from actual court records.

The audiobook for this story was very well done and added depth to the story.

I 've read quite a few of this author's books, this one wasn't my favorite but I still liked it. I think I connected with other ones better.

I like to thank NetGalley and Edelweiss for allowing me to read this book.

I do not doubt there is a story here, but I just don't think I can take the writing or the mixture of a modern tone with 'thee' and 'thou'. I took a look at the author's other books and realized that they wrote in a more 20th century / modern format. I'm not doubting that a writer can't write or shift time periods when it comes to stories, but it seems that he same tone of writing for those books were used for these, and to just give it that 'puritan' vibe we throw in their old archaic language / diction - constantly.

The first portion of the book you can instantly side with the poor 20 year old girl who is shackled to her absuive, mill working 40 year old husband. He was previously married, and has children of his own. Until his wife died, and his older daughter married and moved out of the house. They're not poor by any means, since she came from a family of money, but you wonder why she stays with him.

I was expecting more stronger story. Everything is told at a distance or a strange way of showing us what is happening in the story. There is no feel. The characters lack depth, and so does the setting / time period. I get this is pre-colonial, but seriously? All I really feel for and know is the house that she is in.

I got as far as 20% into this book when I realized that it was not for me. Which is fine.

Hour of the Witch has all the elements I love about Chris Bohjalian's books. The history is researched and real. Fascinating history aside, the book is at the same time fiction and tells a story that keeps me rapidly turning pages from beginning to the end. What I might expect of this book is the story of Puritan New England and a male dominated society. Yet, this book is really the story of the women - those who would tear each other down and those who would lift each other up.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2022/02/hour-of-witch.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a “witch” story that wasn’t horror or dark fantasy so it was nice getting back to puritanical times where the slightest offense could render a woman a witch and therefor hanged. However, the “witch” part of this book is minimal and instead we get the trial and tribulations of Mary Deerfield and her insufferable husband, Thomas.

You can take a lot of what the story is via the synopsis but the author selves into the mistreatment of women in 1662… as y’all can well guess how it was back then. If they fall “out of line” then clearly they are mad, in cahoots with the devil and most likely a witch. Isn’t it better to be terrorized by your husband rather than feel the roughness of a rope around your neck?

I see this as a suspenseful historical fiction that gave me a very satisfying ending. I love that the author gives us different kind of stories in each of his books. Variety is the spice of life. 😉 Would def recommend this audiobook but don’t expect a ton of action but more a character study.

I am a member of the American Library Association Reading List Award Committee. This title was suggested for the 2022 list. It was not nominated for the award. The complete list of winners and shortlisted titles is at <a href="https://rusaupdate.org/2022/01/readers-advisory-announce-2022-reading-list-years-best-in-genre-fiction-for-adult-readers/">

Normally I devour books by Chris Bohjalian; The Guest Room, Midwifes and The Flight Attendant are favorites. I eagerly anticipate starting THE HOUR OF THE WITCH, great subject matter in the hands of one of my favorite authors.

I am so sad to say this book dragged for me, boring comes to mind but I cannot believe I am saying that about a Bohjalian book.

I am a fan of Historical fiction and thought in the hands of Chris Bohjalian I would be transported to another time, engrossed in the characters and the subject matter, sadly this did not happen.

This is by no means a poorly written book, the writing is top notch as always. For me it dragged and never quite redeemed itself. I will eagerly anticipate the next Bohjalian novel but this one never quite connected for me.

I enjoyed reading the Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian. At first it was really slow going, but then the novel picked up. I certainly won't look at a fork the same way again. It was a fascinating look at divorce and witchcraft in 17th century America.

What made this novel intriguing to read was that it focused on the puritan culture in some ways which are NOT something commonly noted in the literature. It is such a fun thing to read about. It was a terrible time for many but it make such great material for fiction! I love what Bohjalian did with this! It is very good!

Hour of Witch is Salem Witch Trials-inspired historical fiction at its best, seasoned with resonant and relevant social commentary on a biased patriarchal, dogma-reliant justice system, mob mentality, and institutional sexism. In my opinion, Bohjalian is one of a handful of male authors who skillfully write deeply layered, complex, and authentic female characters, and Mary Deerfield is a heroine for the ages. Her line, "Even rocks are rubbed small by the river" encapsulates so much about this novel's overarching themes of domestic violence, child abuse, toxic masculinity, and radicalized religion. As the denouement unfolds, the pacing ramps up, and twisty resolution is both revelatory and satisfying. In the acknowledgements, Bohjalian lists the reference material he consumed while researching and writing this book, and his commitment to creating a believable, compelling story shines through.

This book was certainly an interesting recount of what Puritan women endured as they went through a divorce and was accused of witchcraft. As the usual, I found everything they went through appalling. I felt the author really provided an avid attention to detail and included many factual elements to make their point. The issue I found is that it made for a bit of a dull read. I had trouble finishing it.

I would expect no less of a great novel about Salem from Mr. Bohjalian. No one weaves a tale quite like him and Hour of the Witch does not disappoint.

In Colonial Massachusetts, laws of society were dictated by the men who seemed to be exempt from the restrictions placed upon women at that time. The story is told with excepts from the trial of Mary Deerfield being accused of being a witch. She was 19 years old when she married Thomas Deerfield, who was a 45 year old influential man. People’s lives revolved around their Separatist religion often spending hours at the church. Ironically, this practice did not ensure chastity or good will within the community. Thomas Deerfield had been married before to Anne Drury who apparently died after falling off a horse. Their daughter Peregrine was married to Jonathan Cooke, a young carpenter with whom they were blessed with children. They were close in age to Mary which presented many awkward situations. After many years of trying to be obedient to Thomas, Mary was still subjected to verbal and physical abuse especially when he was drunk. They had a live in indentured servant, Catherine, who often overlooked the abuse desiring to win favor with Thomas.

Ironically, the same religion used to govern people was always used to excuse a man’s bad behavior granting the man resolution from his sin. Women who disagreed or dared to speak their opinion were classified as witches who were then tried and hanged. This story described such a difficult journey for Mary Deerfield as she tries to divorce Thomas after he stabs a fork into her hand requiring months of disabling pain from the broken bones. Mary becomes desperate and seeks assistance from several people to support and provide refuge from Thomas’s ire. It’s a compelling story not unbelievable for the time period with an ending which gives hope for the future of women in society.


I received a complimentary digital copy from Edelweiss and NetGalley vis the publisher. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

This was the first book of Bohjalian that I have read, but it will not be the last! I have been on a puritan/witch story kick lately, and this one was immensely satisfying, creepy, historical, and utterly haunting. The dour atmosphere and subtly sinister setting did an excellent job of showing the reader how easily everyday events can be attributed to evil, when evil appears to be all around and the nights have never been darker. Chris Bohjalian made the "new world" a terrifying place, and I was captivated by Mary's story from the first page to the last.

First, readers need to know this is more historical fiction than mystery or thriller. It's a slow burn as you get to really know Mary, who is living in Boston in the 1600s. She's married to Thomas, who is nearly twice her age and not a good husband. He beats her (called "cruelty" during that time) and when she tries to petition for divorce, she has to contend with a court of magistrates, all men.

Mary is also dealing with rumblings of being accused of witchcraft. Forks - the devil's tines - are found in her garden. These are brought up many times throughout the book and lend themselves to the suspicion of witchcraft. In the 1600s, if a woman was accused of witchcraft, they were hanged. Again, appealing to a court of men didn't bode well for women. Mary has her flaws, for sure. She's attracted to another man. She distrusts her servant girl (who she believes is interested in her husband). She doesn't get along with Thomas' daughter from a previous marriage, as they are nearly the same age.

But what is done to her is frustrating. This book truly captures what it was like in the 1600s in Boston, complete with language that matches that time (I love the phrase "drink-drunk"). The book is long, but the end is worth it. Everything comes together and is resolved.

This was an exceptional story that brought modern feels to a 17th century world.
I have always been fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials, so I was excited to hear that Chris Bohjalian was tackling this era in his latest book.
What I enjoyed about this story:
-this was not set in Salem, but had the same vibe in Boston.
-Mary was a smart and modern women who really appealed to me
-the book was not set in a court room for the majority of the story. It had the perfect balance.
-the length of the book was initially brow raising, but ended up flying through it
-loved the actual quotes from the court case at the beginning of each chapter

What I didn't like as much:
-the ending. This was a bit far fetched to me and a little too happy for a Puritan story.
-the step-daughter and the fact she never told anyone or took action against her father for abusing her mother. Seemed like a hard secret to keep.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and rated it high. This was my first book by Bohjalian but it most certainly will notbe my last. Check out my IGTV review on this title @wordsandwine_bookclub

It is never easy to read about the victim of spousal abuse but step back in time to 1662 when women had very few rights and it’s easy to see that Mary Deerfield’s life is not going to be easy. The daughter of wealthy merchants, Mary is married to Thomas Deerfield, a pillar of the community. Everyone thinks that Thomas works hard and provides a comfortable home for his much younger wife. But the community doesn’t see him when he drinks. Only Mary knows what it is to suffer his rages.

One fateful day, when Thomas has had too much to drink, he grabs hold of a three-tined fork and rams it into Mary’s hand. The pain and fear of what he’s done drive Mary to seek refuge with her parents. She thinks that the best thing to do is to divorce from Thomas but unfortunately for Mary, it’s much easier for the community to point the finger and accuse her of witchcraft than to listen to her testimony of cruelty.

Why even their servant girl only speaks highly of Thomas and is quick to point out the devil’s forks and other strange things that she witnessed in the household. Mary is forced to return to her home and to Thomas but she will find a way to escape her misery.

I’ve read some reviews that thought the author’s use of language and too many “thees” and “thous” were distracting but to me, I actually felt like I was in the time period. I thought the court scenes were so interesting and the very idea of a woman seeking a divorce during that timeframe is fascinating. If there is one thing that I didn’t like as much was the ending because it did feel a bit too perfect but that said, I really enjoyed reading this book. If you are at all interested in the Puritans, a historical setting and/or witch trials, I recommend it.