Post by Joanna on Jan 6, 2015 23:30:12 GMT -5
The Witch Hunter's Tale
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland author Sam Thomas has created one of the most unique sleuths in modern mystery fiction. Her name is Bridget Hodgson, and she's a wealthy, gentlewoman midwife – yes, a midwife who delivers babies – in war-torn 17th-century York, England. As a midwife, her job is also to report crimes against women and children, and as a gentlewoman she is respected by the community, so she is in an ideal position to detect.
Thomas, a history teacher at University School, first introduced readers to Bridget in 2013 with his debut novel, The Midwife's Tale, a thrilling story of a woman wrongly accused of murder whom only Bridget could help. Bridget and her spirited birthing/sleuthing assistant Martha returned in last year's The Harlot's Tale, which, alas, was far more gruesome and not nearly as interesting as the first book.
But Thomas – and Bridget – have returned to strong form in the third book in his series set in York's strife-torn, Puritanical 1600s, The Witch Hunter's Tale. This time, winter has come to York, now ruled by Parliament. Though the Civil War is no longer raging, Puritanical passions are stronger than ever. A religious tyranny has gripped the city's rulers, and suspicion and gossip are running rampant. It's little surprise this stew of judgment and suspicion is the perfect breeding grounds for a witch hunt. This is especially the case as York is experiencing its harshest winter in memory, causing crops to fail and many deaths.
The novel begins with one hanging – but many more are on the horizon. In her role as midwife, Bridget is reluctantly pulled into the witch hunt – midwives are assigned to look for devil's secret teats on the accused. She is also called to testify about mysterious baby deaths. It's a role she resists – "Why would I want to be involved with such a bloody business? I am a midwife ... my job is to bring young souls into the world," she says. But she cannot refuse. Soon, though, her arch enemy Rebecca Hooke and estranged nephew Joseph Hodgson begin to lead the hunt, and it seems no one in York is safe from their wrath – including Bridget, Martha, and her young wards Tree and Elizabeth.
Fascinatingly, Thomas, a historian who based Bridget on a real gentlewoman of the same name and has done extensive research on York in the 1600s, does not give Bridget an anachronistic point of view. Like an educated, wealthy, religious woman of her era, she does believe witches are real – and even that those who are witches should be hanged for consorting with the devil. However, she also believes in the abuse of power of humans and fears Joseph and Rebecca will accuse many women, children and men wrongly.
When her good friend George Breary, who is allied with her in keeping the witch hunts under control, is murdered, Bridget and Martha set out to investigate the brutal killing. But as York's witch hunt spirals out of control, they join those in danger in this spellbinding historical tale of intrigue and murder.
Source: Laura DeMarco, The Plain Dealer, January 6, 2015.
