Set in 1662 Boston, 'Hour of the Witch' follows Mary Deerfield, a young woman trapped in an abusive marriage with Thomas, a respected man with a dark side. As Mary seeks a divorce, she faces suspicion and accusations of witchcraft in a society where every action is scrutinized. The novel delves into themes of abuse, hypocrisy, and the struggles of women in Puritan Boston, with unexpected twists and courtroom drama keeping readers engaged.
Chris Bohjalian's writing style captivates readers with meticulous historical details and well-developed characters, particularly Mary, a flawed yet relatable protagonist. The plot unfolds against the backdrop of the Salem witch trials, blending elements of mystery and drama as Mary fights for her freedom and survival in a society rife with suspicion and misogyny.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include domestic violence, abuse, and themes of misogyny.
Has Romance?
There are romantic elements present, particularly the hint of attraction between Mary and another character.
From The Publisher:
NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER
"Absolutely riveting historical fiction that reads like the most page-turning of thrillers." -Lisa Scottoline, bestselling author of Eternal
One of the Washington Post's 20 Books to Read This Summer
A Real Simple Best New Book
A young Puritan woman-faithful, resourceful, but afraid of the demons that dog her soul-plots her escape from a violent marriage in this riveting and propulsive novel of historical suspense from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Flight Attendant.
Boston, 1662. Mary Deerfield is twenty-four-years-old. Her skin is porcelain, her eyes delft blue, and in England she might have had many suitors. But here in the New World, amid this community of saints, Mary is the second wife of Thomas Deerfield, a man as cruel as he is powerful. When Thomas, prone to drunken rage, drives a three-tined fork into the back of Mary's hand, she resolves that she must divorce him to save her life.
But in a world where every neighbor is watching for signs of the devil, a woman like Mary-a woman who harbors secret desires and finds it difficult to tolerate the brazen hypocrisy of so many men in the colony-soon becomes herself the object of suspicion and rumor. When tainted objects are discovered buried in Mary's garden, when a boy she has treated with herbs and simples dies, and when their servant girl runs screaming in fright from her home, Mary must fight to not only escape her marriage, but also the gallows.
A twisting, tightly plotted novel of historical suspense from one of our greatest storytellers, Hour of the Witch is a timely and terrifying story of socially sanctioned brutality and the original American witch hunt.
Ratings (11)
Incredible (3) | |
Loved It (4) | |
Liked It (1) | |
It Was OK (2) | |
Did Not Like (1) |
Reader Stats (26):
Read It (11) | |
Want To Read (12) | |
Not Interested (3) |
1 comment(s)
Could have been much shorter. It took til half way through to get going, and it REALLY took its time explaining itself.
What can you read after
Hour of the Witch?
About the Author:
CHRIS BOHJALIAN is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of twenty-two books, including The Red Lotus, Midwives, and The Flight Attendant, which is an HBO Max limited series starring Kaley Cuoco. His other books include The Guest Room; Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands; The Sandcastle Girls;…
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
