Hour of the Witch

This is the 2nd novel I have read by Chris Bohjalian; see also my post for The Red Lotus for a little more info on the author. This was a very well-researched historical novel, set in 1662 Boston. This was apparently a town largely comprised of immigrants from England (Puritans) who felt the English church had become too corrupt and were, therefore, seeking a more unadulterated form of worship. Quakers were routinely flogged in the public square as were drunks, adulterers, and anyone who got above themselves. Protagonist Mary Deerfield is a married 24-year old woman who came to the colonies with her parents when she was 16. Her father is a wealthy merchant trader and her older husband, Thomas Deerfield, is a successful miller. He is also physically and emotionally abusive. They have never been able to have children and, since Thomas had 3 children from his previous marriage, they both assume that it is Mary who is barren. Although Mary is a faithful church goer, she is more open minded than many of her neighbors and her actions seem to arouse a fair amount of resentment and suspicion. For example, she consulted a woman herbalist about her inability to conceive. She stopped children from throwing rocks at an elderly Quaker man who had been whipped. She offered herbs to the indentured servant of a neighbor to relieve his suffering from a fatal disease. Mary has never revealed to anyone the abuse and cruelty she endures, and the town considers Thomas an upstanding citizen and godly man. Thomas' abuse seems to be escalating and, when he stabs her hand with a fork, breaking the bones, she begins to fear for her life decides to file for divorce. Such physical abuse is illegal in Massachussetts but it's her word against his that he attacked her, and their servant Catherine swears she has never heard a cross word or seen any abuse from Thomas towards Mary. But being forced to live with Thomas may be the least of her problems as someone seems to be trying to conjure evil forces against her. It is a stark picture of sanctioned misogyny in this period of our history. I have to admit that the book was slow to start, and I was so convinced from the outset that things would turn out badly for Mary that I read the last chapter before deciding to continue. It is well written with well-developed characters and lots of historical detail. 

There are plenty of glowing reviews. The Washington Post calls it "a thriller in structure, and a real page-turner, the ending both unexpected and satisfying." While Kirkus notes the book "Illustrates how rough justice can get when religion and institutional sexism are in the mix."