The Witch Hunter's Tale

Starred review from November 17, 2014
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.

Starred review from January 1, 2015

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.

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