Chris Bohjalian has again amazed me with his ability to write knowledgeably about just about ant topic. I loved the characters and plot in this book. I especially enjoy how I feel the urge to research the backgrounds of his books. This novel is a winner and is sure to be a book group favorite.

Boston , 1662. A young Puritan woman, Mary Deerfield is the second wife to Thomas Deerfield. Thomas is powerful, wealthy and full of drunken rage. When Thomas stabs Mary in the hand with a devils thine (fork) she swears she will no longer be subjected to his abuse and divorce him to save her life.

In a world where gossip and God rule, Mary has to be careful not to let her desires, strong will and mind get her in trouble. People are easy to throw around words that she may be a witch when tainted objects show up in her front lawn, her servants brother dies and she is accused of adultry. Mary needs to not only fear her husbands fists, but the gallows.

Well, with Chris Bohjalian you never know what you are going to get! Every book is different and is never remotely close in subject. This novel is VERY Puritan feeling. It is written precisely and without much detail. You feel for Mary and the development of the characters are done well. It was slightly frustrating to me. If you have strong feminists feelings this book will infuriate you ! The ideals of the town, the men and even the husbands is ridiculous but, I see the point.

It was realistic and had some witty moments too however, it was very slow moving. All in all, it was not my favorite Bohjalian but, I would recommend it. Definitely has a very Handmaidens Tale vibe.

Thank you to Netgalley and Doubleday for the chance to read this early copy in exchange for my honest review.

Gotta say, Bohjalian never disappoints! Hour of the Witch was creepy, engaging, frustrating, and emotional. I loved it!

Horrible practices existing in the United States during early periods of colonization included the prosecution of some women accused of witchcraft. The most famous, or should I say infamous location was in Salem, Massachusetts. Women could be accused of being witches based only on the word of a person hating them and declaring that they were seen practicing witchcraft. Punishment was death by hanging or being burnt at the stake. Chris Bohjalian has written an extremely engrossing novel about such a case that he sets up in Boston, Massachusetts towards the end of the 1600s.
Mary Deerfield, a young English born girl has immigrated into the Boston area with her parents. Her father saw his way clear to doing better in business operating out of Massachusetts and had the good fortune to be proven correct when his importing company grew to become one of the leading businesses in the area. Settled in permanently Mary's parents set her up with a man who had lost his first wife in an accident and gladly married Mary to take over running his household. Thomas Deerfield, now her husband was also successful in the mill that he owned and the match appeared successful in spite of the fact that Thomas was twice Mary's age.
It developed that Thomas was also a drunk and spent a good amount of his time drinking. Probably due to this he began abusing Mary both mentally and physically but constantly stating that he is sorry and will stop. The abuse reaches a point where Mary is physically hurt by her husband's actions but lies about it stating that she fell or in the final analysis she had an accident. The situation reaches a critical point when Thomas grabs a newly designed fork just imported into the colony and shoves it into Mary's hand causing permanent damage as well as a great deal of pain. She decides that she can only stop his abuses by divorcing her husband.
When Mary sues her husband for divorce she runs into the prevalent situation of that time where women were not considered on a level with men, and it was always the woman's obligation to obey her husband. Where the situation moves forward from the attempt to divorce her husband is the highlight of the book. The damage done by hearsay on the part of people interested in harming Mary, coupled with the attitudes of male leaders of the community becomes a situation that is not readily fathomable to today's reader. it does, however, bring out quite clearly that events can be shaped by nothing more than descriptions of people either inimical to the target of their remarks or simply in error with no correction attempted. The author's development of characters and their interactions in the times of 400 years ago is a major plus factor in understanding the colonial world of 17th century New England.

I thought this book would be more interesting, but I found it a bit dull. Feel like I have read similar stories in the past Writing was fine. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Chris Bohjalian is a must-read author for me. I devoured this book in a weekend. Hour of the Witch begs the question: What are you able to endure to get away from an abusive relationship? To further complicate this, this book takes place in colonial times when new interpretation of laws were being founded, women had very few rights. If anyone were to tackle this topic, it's Chris. If you enjoy reading things in the vein of the Salem Witch Trials, colonial time period, this book is a MUST read.

This is stunning, thought provoking and intense! A book keeps you on your toes, fists are clenched, your heart rates are skyrocketing, tension is building higher, you get more agitated at each moment to know what’s gonna come next!

This is truly twisty, disturbing ride and not for everyone!

Let’s take a closer look to understand the intense, dark, claustrophobic premise of this story:
It takes place in Boston, 1662. Young, innocent, beautiful Mary, only 24, taking eyes of people with her porcelain skin, penetrating blue eyes. But this is not historical romance story. Nothing in this story is about love. With her beauty, she can have so many suitor candidates but in this new world order, she is forced to become second wife of a Thomas Deerfield, a powerful, dangerous man who is abusive scumbag. Yes, he doesn’t resist to use his violent tendencies against his new wife.

Mary needs to do something urgently to get rid of this marriage. But it’s not quiet simple because she already gave so much wrong impressions to the people in the community. The tainted objects are found buried in the garden already earned her more scrutinizing, prying eyes of people.

And the boy’s tragic fate she tried to heal with herbs and special blend, a frightened girl’s running away from her house verify the suspicions that she might be a dangerous witch! Is she really? Now she doesn’t only have to run away from her abusive monster at the home, she also needs to prove her innocence not to be burned at the stake!

The book starts a little slow to give detailed picture about the psychological background and realistic approach of the surroundings, community life, introducing characters. But second half, it turns into something
breathtakingly sinister that you cannot put it down! And that meaningful, satisfying ending sealed the deal! I’m sold!

I’m giving four witchy, dazzling, heart pounding, dark, bleak, twisty stars!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for sharing this digital copy of riveting book with me in exchange my honest opinions.

What a book! I was wholly engaged in this novel from the beginning. The entire Puritan colonial Boston societal outlook was really informative and well researched by the author Mr. Bohjalian. The domestic abuse perpetrated upon the main character Mary by her husband Thomas that went ignored almost completely was shocking. Then the addition of possible witchcraft charges later on from the divorce prceeding which naturally under pressure from legal and political forces was denied leading to actual withcraft charges later in the novel was very exciting and fast paced writing. All in all without giving too much away it is a very exciting novel and a pleasure to have read. Thanks to Net Galley and Doubleday for allowing me to have such a wonderful and sad excursion into the past.

In 17th century Boston, an independent, free thinking woman is a dangerous creature. Mary Deerfield is a beautiful young woman, but she’s married to a monster. Thomas Deerfield is a drunken, abusive lout, and when he stabs Mary with a fork, she vows to divorce him. But in a time when people are looking around every corner for witches and the devil himself, Mary, with her ideas of independence and refusal to follow her neighbors’ blind hysteria, is dangerous. She is a woman who must be destroyed