| 9781250045751 |
| (hardback) |
| 1250045754 |
Available:*
Library | Material Type | Call Number | Shelf Location | Status | Item Holds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Searching... Ruth Holley Library | Book | THOM | Mystery | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
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Summary
Summary
Sam Thomas's The Witch Hunter's Tale takes readers back to Puritan England with midwife Bridget Hodgson, hailed by the Cleveland Plain Dealer as "one of the most fascinating detectives in contemporary mystery fiction."
Winter has come to the city of York, and with it the threat of witchcraft. As women and children sicken and die, midwife Bridget Hodgson is pulled against her will into a full-scale witch-hunt that threatens to devour all in its path, guilty and innocent alike.
Bridget--accompanied once again by her deputy Martha Hawkins and her nephew Will Hodgson--finds herself playing a lethal game of cat and mouse against the most dangerous men in York, as well as her sworn enemy Rebecca Hooke. As the trials begin, and the noose begins to tighten around her neck, Bridget must answer the question: How far will she go to protect the people she loves?
Author Notes
SAM THOMAS teaches history at University School near Cleveland, Ohio. He has received research grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Neweberry Library, and the British Academy. He has published academic articles on topics ranging from early modern Britain to colonial Africa. Thomas lives in Shaker Heights, Ohio, with his wife and two children.
Reviews (3)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Starred Review. Set in 1645, Thomas's outstanding third mystery featuring midwife Bridget Hodgson (after 2014's The Harlot's Tale) offers a powerful portrayal of collective madness. York has been plagued by harsh weather, providing an opening for fanatics to allege that the extreme summer heat and winter cold are divine punishments for the city's toleration of witches among the populace. The first victim, an impoverished elderly woman, Hester Jackson, is hanged for causing the death of a mother and child. Bridget is unsettled to learn that the evidence against Hester comes from Rebecca Hooke, Bridget's arch-enemy, who was once a midwife. The malicious Rebecca teams with Bridget's ambitious Puritan nephew, Joseph, who hopes to gain power by stirring up anti-witch hysteria. To add to Bridget's problems, Joseph's brother, Will, is accused of murder and faces execution. Her efforts to clear Will test the limits of what Bridget is willing to do to protect her own. How she handles tough moral choices helps make this entry the best to date. Agent: Josh Getzler, Hannigan Salky Getzler. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Thomas (The Harlot's Tale, 2014) takes readers back to seventeenth-century York, where Puritans and Royalists vie for power. Midwife Lady Bridget Hodgson and her deputy, Martha, are doing their best to tend to laboring women during a very harsh winter, which has caused a scarcity of food and brought high prices. How to account for the harshness of nature? Witches, of course. An old woman named Hester Jackson is arrested and the authorities ask Bridget to examine her for signs of witchcraft. As more women and children become ill and die, Bridget and Martha, along with Bridget's nephew, Will, find themselves ensnared in a full-scale witch hunt and forced to go up against the most powerful and dangerous men in York. With trials beginning and her own family in danger, Bridget must decide what she is willing to do to save those she loves. History-teacher Thomas brings Puritan England to life with meticulous research, colorful characters, and a compelling story.--Bibel, Barbara Copyright 2015 Booklist
Library Journal Review
Starred Review. In the city of York, winter is settling in, but the cold is not the only threat. As women and children die, the accusations of witchcraft begin. Midwife Bridget Hodgson, along with her deputy Martha Hawkins and nephew Will Hodgson, attempt to discern the truths behind the massive witch hunt. Facing off against Joseph, her brother-in-law, and her nemesis Rebecca Hooke, Bridget must decide what she will do to protect her family and how much she is willing to give up. VERDICT Thomas's follow-up to The Harlot's Tale does not disappoint. With authentic historical details and fascinating characters, this book will draw readers deep into the elaborate world of 17th-century England, midwives, and witch hunts. (c) Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
