Historical

Hour of the Witch

Hour of the Witch

  • Downloads：8842
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-06-07 08:51:20
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Chris Bohjalian
  • ISBN：0385542437
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

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 historical thriller 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 finds 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 thriller from one of our greatest storytellers， Hour of the Witch is a timely and terrifying novel of socially sanctioned brutality and the original American witch hunt。

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Reviews

Bonnie Parent ，

Starts out slow and quiet， but becomes riveting in the last half。 The author has certainly done his research and it shows。

Tamara ，

Don’t expect anything similar to the Netflix rendition of Sabrina。 This is a simmer and then a slow boil。 I found it interesting and quite satisfying。

Margaret C。 Argo ，

This is the first book I have read by Chris Bohjalian。 I liked his style of writing。 This novel is set in New England during the time of the witch trails。 It deals with divorce and domestic violence during this time period。 Extremely well researched and a good read。

Andrianna ，

I liked this a lot！ Compelling characters and a persistent sense that there's more happening that we can't see。 I was very happy with the ending， too。 I liked this a lot！ Compelling characters and a persistent sense that there's more happening that we can't see。 I was very happy with the ending， too。 。。。more

Micah ，

Read it quickly and enjoyed it immensely。 I didn't guess the ending at all。 Read it quickly and enjoyed it immensely。 I didn't guess the ending at all。 。。。more

Jill Joplin ，

Much better than last years book

Jayne ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 One of the dumbest historical fiction books I’ve read。 I understand that women of this time period were often accused of witchcraft， had no standing in their society and obtaining a divorce was next to impossible but this is a ridiculous interpretation。

Sharon ，

Probably the best work of historical fiction I've read in the past five years。 Bohjalian did a phenomenal job of authentically capturing the misguided delusions of patriarchy in 17th century New England。 Reads like a contemporary psychological thriller written in the distinctive tone of colonists who settled Boston 400 years ago。 （Lest anyone think gaslighting is a modern phenomenon， the accusations and trials of the protagonist， Mary Deerfield， will ring true to victims who have been blamed for Probably the best work of historical fiction I've read in the past five years。 Bohjalian did a phenomenal job of authentically capturing the misguided delusions of patriarchy in 17th century New England。 Reads like a contemporary psychological thriller written in the distinctive tone of colonists who settled Boston 400 years ago。 （Lest anyone think gaslighting is a modern phenomenon， the accusations and trials of the protagonist， Mary Deerfield， will ring true to victims who have been blamed for egregious harm done to them by the men in their lives。） Any guy who is evil enough to bully， control， and intimidate his wife， girlfriend， and/or children--or anyone， for that matter--could and should meet the same fate as Thomas Deerfield。 And those magistrates are just as guilty。 It's difficult to read this book and not want to travel back in time and give them what they deserve。 （Yeah， it's that compelling。。。） 。。。more

Judy G ，

I Didnt expect this book to b as good as it ended up to be。 The author has written many books and for me that signals someone mediocre。 Couple of days i was ready to return it to the SFPL ebook library。 As i read this disturbing story of religious fanatics in Boston in 1800s and the violence of a young womans husband himself mill owner and wealthy and lots older a widow and a father i began to feel a connection。 This is the story of a 24 yo woman （I forget her name） fr england here w her parents I Didnt expect this book to b as good as it ended up to be。 The author has written many books and for me that signals someone mediocre。 Couple of days i was ready to return it to the SFPL ebook library。 As i read this disturbing story of religious fanatics in Boston in 1800s and the violence of a young womans husband himself mill owner and wealthy and lots older a widow and a father i began to feel a connection。 This is the story of a 24 yo woman （I forget her name） fr england here w her parents also wealthy and completely engaged in this religiosity and its also the belief that women can b witches and that women r the property of their men。 The violence Thomas subjects HIS wife to is partly condoned by this society to keep women in their place as helpmates and mothers。 The theme here is this wife after thomas stabs her hand w a fork is this wonderful woman leaves to go to parents also very wealthy and from england。 She decides to petition the （kangaroo） court for a divorce。This is court run by religious fanatic men who believe women must b helpmeets to the towering men and mothers。 There is also the understanding that the men must discipline and control their wives who r viewed as much lesser than the husbands。 。。。more

Nancy Mack ，

It was so difficult to get into this book。 The reading is slow going， and I was looking up more words than usual （but I did understand drink-drunk！）。 But I was drawn in by the characters。 Mary wants to divorce her brutal husband in 1650 （not sure of the exact date， but this is close）。 Things don't go the way she planned， but it's quite a ride until the very end。 It was so difficult to get into this book。 The reading is slow going， and I was looking up more words than usual （but I did understand drink-drunk！）。 But I was drawn in by the characters。 Mary wants to divorce her brutal husband in 1650 （not sure of the exact date， but this is close）。 Things don't go the way she planned， but it's quite a ride until the very end。 。。。more

Kierstin Carnahan ，

This book reminded me of The Crucible and The Salem Witch Trials。 It didn't end how I expected it to and for that I am glad。 It took a bit to get used to the "thee's and thou's" but it put you right into that time period/setting。 I had no idea that forks were a sign of the Devil and enjoyed those little tid bits of information。 It seemed like a thoroughly well researched book but moved a little slow for me overall。 This book reminded me of The Crucible and The Salem Witch Trials。 It didn't end how I expected it to and for that I am glad。 It took a bit to get used to the "thee's and thou's" but it put you right into that time period/setting。 I had no idea that forks were a sign of the Devil and enjoyed those little tid bits of information。 It seemed like a thoroughly well researched book but moved a little slow for me overall。 。。。more

Claudia Dursa ，

So engaging and interesting！！

Charlotte Gross ，

I am not a fan of historical fiction but thanks to the Modern Mrs。 Darcy I gave this book a try and was pleasantly surprised！

Anna ，

A thank you to Netgalley for sharing the ARC in exchange for an honest review。I have very mixed feelings about this one - hence three stars。 I wanted to like it more than I actually did as I have enjoyed several of the author's books in the past。 However， I think that I just may be the wrong audience for it - the scenes of domestic violence deeply disturbed me， and for some reason I just couldn't stop picturing the characters from the movie 'The Crucible，' which I did not like at all。 It's also A thank you to Netgalley for sharing the ARC in exchange for an honest review。I have very mixed feelings about this one - hence three stars。 I wanted to like it more than I actually did as I have enjoyed several of the author's books in the past。 However， I think that I just may be the wrong audience for it - the scenes of domestic violence deeply disturbed me， and for some reason I just couldn't stop picturing the characters from the movie 'The Crucible，' which I did not like at all。 It's also rather long if you're just not in to it。 I do think that it's well written and those who are interested in the subject matter， particularly the time period and Salem witch trials may appreciate it more than I。 。。。more

Heather Lynn ，

This is my first Chris Bohjalian read。 WHY DID IT TAKE ME SO DAMN LONG？！ this book was very good。 well researched， immersive， and captivating。 Admittedly， the speech patterns became irksome with all of the "thee" etc， but that is how Puritans spoke， and I can appreciate the historical accuracy。 I have also come to the conclusion that I would have been accused and convicted of being a witch in the 17th century， 100%。 loud， opinionated， assertive woman？？ witch all the way baby。 This is my first Chris Bohjalian read。 WHY DID IT TAKE ME SO DAMN LONG？！ this book was very good。 well researched， immersive， and captivating。 Admittedly， the speech patterns became irksome with all of the "thee" etc， but that is how Puritans spoke， and I can appreciate the historical accuracy。 I have also come to the conclusion that I would have been accused and convicted of being a witch in the 17th century， 100%。 loud， opinionated， assertive woman？？ witch all the way baby。 。。。more

Linda Ehrich ，

I “lovethed” this book。 I had no idea the intensity of these times。 What a horrible time to be a woman。 Fascinating and infuriating and intense。 Highly recommend！

Charlie Helton ，

OnceYou get past the way peopleSpoke back then haha it was excellent！！ A different kind of historical fiction than my usual and I loved it！

Jeannie Macfee ，

DNF。 I found it boring。

Yvette ，

Excellent！ I loved it！ ❤️

Paula Hess ，

Takes place in Boston in 1662。 Really a well researched novel about a young woman desperate to divorce her abusive husband。 Sadly because of this she may be hanged as a witch。

Starr ，

3。5。。。

Jane Miller ，

True to form Chris Bohjalian pulls you into the story and holds you attention。 He has researched his topic， a topic that has been the base for many books - fiction and non fiction， thoroughly and put a new twist to its telling。

Kelsey ，

I wanted to love this book since I’ve yet to be let down by any of CB’s works， but it offered nothing to me。 The plot was your standard Salem witch trial story， there was little mystery to be solved， and the book lacked much of what I’ve come to expect from CB: excitement， page turning mystery， and beautiful， rich characters。 His writing remains wondrous and beautiful and I will not hold this one against him ;）

Lisa ，

Mary Deerfield is in an abusive marriage。 When she petitions for a divorce in 17th century Boston， accusations of witchcraft are unveiled， Mary realizes she is quite literally in for the fight of her life。While I liked this book， I did have some problems with it。 Most specifically with the character of Mary， herself。 She does things that are counterintuitive and definitely not in her best interest。 She is impulsive and very short-sighted and I grew weary of her setting herself up for the next bi Mary Deerfield is in an abusive marriage。 When she petitions for a divorce in 17th century Boston， accusations of witchcraft are unveiled， Mary realizes she is quite literally in for the fight of her life。While I liked this book， I did have some problems with it。 Most specifically with the character of Mary， herself。 She does things that are counterintuitive and definitely not in her best interest。 She is impulsive and very short-sighted and I grew weary of her setting herself up for the next big problem， most of which did not enhance the plot。 There were some mysteries that I felt should have been drawn out in the plot and investigated more。Another issue for me was the exhaustive use of the word “prithee”。 I understand the use of the Puritan dialect but this word was used so extensively it was distracting。In summary， I would say the book was enjoyable but not stellar。 The storyline was engaging but had too many distractions that slowed down the flow of the story。 。。。more

Linda ，

4。5 rounding up to 5*Riveting tale of good and evil and somewhere in between。 I've always been intrigued with witch trials。 They make for fascinating reading， especially in the hands of a writer such as Bohjalian。 4。5 rounding up to 5*Riveting tale of good and evil and somewhere in between。 I've always been intrigued with witch trials。 They make for fascinating reading， especially in the hands of a writer such as Bohjalian。 。。。more

Gigi ，

Wasn't sure about this book at first， but ended up really loving it！！！ I was hoping for some more spooky/witchy content， but I see why the book was written now -- I like how it felt very realistic for the time in which it takes place。 Such a good suspenseful， thrilling book。 The last 100 pages or so I read in one sitting， I just couldn't put the book down， I needed to know how it ended。 Honestly not the ending I was expecting！ Many times throughout the story， I could not help but feel my heart w Wasn't sure about this book at first， but ended up really loving it！！！ I was hoping for some more spooky/witchy content， but I see why the book was written now -- I like how it felt very realistic for the time in which it takes place。 Such a good suspenseful， thrilling book。 The last 100 pages or so I read in one sitting， I just couldn't put the book down， I needed to know how it ended。 Honestly not the ending I was expecting！ Many times throughout the story， I could not help but feel my heart wrench for the girls who lived at this time。 I know this particular story is fiction， but it felt so real， and I'm sure is based on true events that happened during the time。 I almost grew teary-eyed at points， I just despise the self-hatred Mary felt for just being a normal person， and I absolutely despise Thomas， that vile beast of a man。 I just hate the way women were treated by （most of） the men in this novel， especially the bias during the trial， and the horrible assumptions about barren women （when Mary was only 24 years old！ what a thing to assume）。。。 I remember one line comparing a barren woman to "an owl that cannot fly， serving no purpose"。。。。 UGH。 Anyway， I felt the ending was so satisfying and Mary finally got the justice she deserved， on her own terms。 Really great book， I would recommend！ 。。。more

Readnponder ，

I respect Chris Bohjalian for trying new things with each novel。 This time， he sets a legal thriller in 17th century Boston， when women have no voice and are too easily suspected of witchcraft。 Mary's much older husband is abusive and she files for divorce on the basis of cruelty。 I was particularly intrigued by the interplay of the legal system and the church。 There were times when the storyline made me very angry--not at the author， but at the world he was depicting。 I also appreciated how the I respect Chris Bohjalian for trying new things with each novel。 This time， he sets a legal thriller in 17th century Boston， when women have no voice and are too easily suspected of witchcraft。 Mary's much older husband is abusive and she files for divorce on the basis of cruelty。 I was particularly intrigued by the interplay of the legal system and the church。 There were times when the storyline made me very angry--not at the author， but at the world he was depicting。 I also appreciated how the author portrayed the conflicted-ness common to women within the church when they contemplate divorce。 E。g。 Do I forgive and give him another chance？ Is it God's will for me to leave？ A slow burn， some surprising twists， and good writing: all that we come to expect from Bohjalian。 。。。more

Trish ，

I struggled liking this book。 I am disappointed in that I have really liked all the books of his I have read so far。 Midwives being my favorite。 This is written in circa 1650’s English style。 Spent time looking words up - which is not a bad thing！ The story is really about domestic violence and witchcraft which the author winds into a good mystery in the last 75 pages。 Up to that point， I was bored。 This is just my opinion， it may have been his style of writing fir this book！ Prithee！

Tonya ，

This is one of those books that evokes strong emotion and， in my case， incited a bit if anger。 This is set in 17th century colonial America， but its message is relevant today。 Sadly， women don’t fare much better today than they did during that time—and I think that alone is what makes me angry the most。 Bohjalian will make you think， and just when you think you know what is going on he surprises you with a plot twist。 I didn’t think he could write a book that I would like better than The Buffalo This is one of those books that evokes strong emotion and， in my case， incited a bit if anger。 This is set in 17th century colonial America， but its message is relevant today。 Sadly， women don’t fare much better today than they did during that time—and I think that alone is what makes me angry the most。 Bohjalian will make you think， and just when you think you know what is going on he surprises you with a plot twist。 I didn’t think he could write a book that I would like better than The Buffalo Soldier or The Water Witches—but he has！ And I can’t wait for you to read it。 Cruel husband？ Check。 Plotting servants？ Check。 Suspected witchcraft？ Check。 Go read this book！！！ 。。。more

Julia Alberino ，

Hesitating between 3 and 4 stars。 Domestic violence at a frightening level， suggestions of witchcraft， and an ending （not the epilogue， the ending of the storyline） that caught me entirely by surprise。 Fans of colonial historical fiction will enjoy this book。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Hour of the Witch

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Hour of the Witch&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Hour of the Witch&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0