Member Reviews

Well written but a depressing read. If you are triggered by domestic abuse you might need to skip this

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His books for me, are always marvelous, and the chance to read one, is always a day to rejoice. What I find so impressive, is that each book is original, and so readable, so well-researched, and above all, captivating and entertaining. Thx as always.

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As someone who has studied her family that settled in Salem, Massachusetts mid 1600's, Bohjalian's newest book weaves history and story together exquisitely. Though this story takes place hundreds of years ago, women of today can, unfortunately, relate to Mary Deerfield's predicament. Today's readers will also realize that though we don't jail or burn witches anymore, we all still have our demons and can easily relate to these characters of long past. Another good read by Chris Bohjalian!

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I have nominated this book for my library’s book club to read, which is the highest honor I can give a book. Set in America where people were just beginning to accuse women of being witches. Hour of the Witch will make you angry, frustrated, but ultimately relieved.
Great book that kept me riveted until the end!

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I really wanted to love this book. I've read many other books by Bohjalian and have loved them. The premise of this sounded wonderful and I love a good thriller. However, I found the thriller part of this fell flat for me.

I did really like the main character, Mary. The story line was a bit brutal but it is expected from the blurb about the book.

Thomas is outright awful and I hated his guts from the beginning.

The writing itself is fantastic and flows so smoothly. Part of the ending I didn't see coming but appreciated it and how it wrapped everything up.

However, holy slow burn. I remember when I got 50% in the book and thought you myself, going crap nothing has happened yet. I hit 70% and still felt the same way and to be honest I skimmed a lot between 80-90% before finishing the last two chapters.

A great read either way but just not the anticipation and set up I wold expect from a book in the thriller category.

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Thanks to NetGalley for sending me this free copy to read!

First off, I'm going to be transparent when I say this is the first thriller, historical fiction book I've read. I have a niche that I tend to stick to, but when I first saw this title I was excited and intrigued. And, let me tell you, I was so happy I dove out of my comfort reads to fall deep into Chris Bohjalian's "Hour of the Witch".

From the first page, I was captivated by this gritty, dark world that was being set up. From the beginning, this world felt carefully researched and crafted, making me believe that I was stepping foot into old century Boston, which was definitely terrifying within itself without yet adding the fear of witchcraft and such a cruel, dark time for women. Mary's plight felt so palpable, that I felt the tension, heartache, raging pain, and everything else weave itself around not only the pages, but my imagination as I kept reading further. I definitely found myself constantly at the edge of my seat or gritting my teeth for what came next.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for an advanced copy of this page turner of a new novel by Chris Bohjalian. Set in 1662 Boston, Hour of the Witch is definitely a page turner, but do not go into it expecting it to be a thriller like The Flight Attendant. Instead we have a novel that follows a wife named Mary Deerfield who struggles to figure out what actions to take to rid herself of her abusive marriage.

Leaving a dangerous husband is hard enough in present time, and in 1662 Mary faces even more obstacles in Puritan Boston. Mary's character develops in a believable fashion, that had me cheering her on as she came to new revelations about what she deserved and how society had done her wrong. Mary desperately and carefully needs to rid herself of Thomas Deerfield in a society where women who have an intelligent mind can so easily be accused of witchcraft. The whole novel had me at the edge of my seat. There are a few mysteries that aren't solved until the end, but the main driver of this novel is Mary's growth as a strong and independent woman. I became so invested in Mary's fight that I couldn't put the book down. I highly recommend this book.

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This story takes place in 1662 Boston. Our Protagonist is a very pretty 24 year old Puritan, Mary Deerfield. Mary and her parents had relocated from England as a teenager. Her older siblings had remained in England. She married a well off mill owner, a 45 year old widower. Thomas was frequently verbally and physically abusive, but never in the presence of their teen age indentured servant, Catherine. Mary kept the abuse private, most often attributing it to his frequent “drink-drunk” state. The violence had escalated and, as the novel starts, she is contemplating divorce. Mysterious events suggesting demonic intervention have led to suspicious gossip regarding Mary’s involvement in witchcraft. For me, the dark setting and mood were the highlight of this novel, even more than the plot or the characters. While reading, I felt the same aura as when watching a well-staged production of The Crucible. If you sit down with this book on a cold dreary winter day, it’s a good bet you’ll be eating dinner with a spoon and skipping the fork! I’ve often heard that Chris Bohjalian is spot on in the way he writes female characters, and this book is no exception. I wonder if his wife and daughter find it good or bad that he knows female minds so well! Four hundred years later and we still haven’t made the ERA a part of our Constitution. But at least we no longer have the gallows!
#HouroftheWitch #NetGalley

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4.5 stars, rounded up

Books with a historical bent can be difficult to pull off because people will compare their own knowledge with the information presented in the prose; and if it doesn't measure up, that can have a negative effect on the reading experience. I picked up Hour of the Witch with that in the back of my mind.

Mary Deerfield endures years of abuse from her husband before she decides she wants to petition for divorce. In 1660s Boston--thirty years before the Salem witch trials--however, this is practically unheard of, an event to be witnessed, and Mary finds herself navigating the courts and her household against accusations of adultery, lying, and witchcraft.

First, let me say: I love when I read a book that demonstrates genre writing can be both entertaining and wrought with literary merit at the same time. As someone who spent *many* semesters painstakingly teaching The Crucible (and gritting through the sweating like a stallion cringe-line), I'm always on the lookout for alternatives to use as comparative texts. And even though this is set decades before, Hour of the Witch covered many of the same themes while putting a psychological twist on the story that made for an eerie yet grounded read. importance of reputation, maintaining social norms, religion vs secularism, persecution, morality--through Mary's ordeal with her husband, we're given a pretty realistic look into a woman's life in 1660s Boston. The dialogue and atmosphere were spot on.

In terms of the story, I'd call this the middle road between slow burn and action packed. There are some graphic depictions of domestic abuse interspersed with introspection and intrigue. Mary is definitely the focal point, and I appreciated Bohjalian's writing of her character. Much like the burgeoning accusations of the time, everyone is suspect, giving the second half of the book an injection of tension and underlying eerie subplot. I did think the ending felt a bit rushed compared to some of the other drawn-out scenes, but I still enjoyed the resolutions.

Overall, Hour of the Witch is a gripping, taut, psychological suspense with classic themes and plenty of twists. For fans of atmospheric suspense in the vein of The VVitch, anyone who loves character-driven suspense, or female-centric protagonists. The Crucible meets J Lo's Enough. Out in April, add it to your TBRs now.

Thank you to Doubleday and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

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Brings me back to reading A Scarlet Letter. Mary is in an abusive marriage and looking for a divorce. When the town believes she is a witch, her husband agrees to stay married to her. But Mary refuses to give up. This book is historical, murder mystery, love triangle, and about revenge. Couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend.

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Special thanks to author Chris Bohjalian, for he is a tour de force, I have not had the pleasure of reading before, and of course NetGalley and Doubleday Books for the ARC of this great book.

Oh what to say without giving things away? Chris Bohjalian, also author as books such as The Flight Attendant and Midwives, and many more that I must also add to my TBR list, has made me an absolute fan with Hour of the Witch. Also a fan of how lovingly he speaks of his wife Victoria and daughter Grace Experience is touching,,but the studying he did for this book that takes place in the 1600's, is astounding, and hard work I imagine.

I dare to say I identify with the lead female character Mary Deerfield, married to the cruel Thomas Deerfield, but if not I wish I had her grace and temerity living in a town of gossips and blasphemers, and how she handles herself. Smart beyond her years, she tries to fights her way out of her marriage, fraught with cruelty and violence.. Is she a witch? That's for you to decide, but she does get her hour in Hour of the Witch, whether she succeeds or not I will not say, but I give this book a definite 4.5 stars, which I'll round up to a 5,

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A popular author tries his hand at historical fiction, I think for the first time. The story is set in 1662 Boston, where the Puritans are arriving from England, and a fear of witches is everywhere. Mary is an independent thinker, at times outspoken, and barren, none of which is a positive for a woman in this world. Her older husband has been abusive, but she has been hiding the evidence. When he stabs her left hand with a fork and breaks the bones, she decides she needs to leave him, and asks for a divorce, an unheard-of decision for a Puritan woman. Thus begins a horrible chain of events for Mary and those who love and support her. It is horrible reading how anyone can say anything about someone and be believed! It was frustrating to read about this time in our history, when women had very little power and almost no respect from men. The story began slowly and was a bit redundant at the start, but my interest picked up as Mary's fate was debated. Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for providing an ARC.

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my free ARC ebook of Hour of the Witch. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Chris Bohjalian's latest novel -- no surprise, since he is among my favorite authors. Hour of the Witch is set in seventeenth century Boston, and tells the story of a young wife, cruelly treated by her husband, as she seeks escape from this sadistic man. Bohjalian ably recreates the atmosphere of religiosity and self-righteousness of this early Pilgrim society, and the belief system that cast women as fragile, sinful, and in need of both protection and "correction" from men. His characters are all well-drawn and three-dimensional, and in most cases share aspects of both saints and sinners. Plot twists in the latter half of the novel sustained my interest and had me reading eagerly to see how this story would play out. I definitely recommend Hour of the Witch to those who enjoy historical fiction.

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Chris Bohjalian is an auto-read for me. He never disappoints but I must say this is his most compelling novel to date. This is a historical fiction about Mary Deerfield, a 24 year old Puritan woman in 1662. Mary is an intelligent and somewhat feminist young woman who after being abused by her husband multiple times decides to seek a divorce from the Boston court system. The system is geared toward men and she gets smeared as everything from murderess to harlot to witch. It is a fierce indictment of what being s woman was like in the time and how in many ways change is still coming too slowly. He gifts you with a great look at the times and the rich dialect made you feel like you were right there. I live in Massachusetts and had no idea three tined forks were such a frightening issue of the time. I loved this one. Thanks to the author, Doubleday Books, and NetGalley for allowing me an early look at this one in exchange for an honest review.

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Mary Deerfield is a young woman with a kind family, but an unrelenting husband. The second wife of Thomas Deerfield, a man of some standing in the town, Mary has only her family to turn to when she is in need. Though women do not have much standing in their community, will Mary be able to use the connections she has to escape a dangerous situation?

Hour of the Witch was very unusual, as the main female character lived in Puritan times, but refused to bow to the will of her husband. The novel is historical fiction, but is actually based on a real life case regarding the first divorce in America. As the novel evolves from marital issues to wild accusations, the plot does take a turn to the familiar. This is the only aspect of the novel that I do not care for, as it would have been better had the plot stayed the course. That being said, author Chris Bohjalian does a great job of capturing the setting of 1660's America. I like how Mary Deerfield is represented in Hour of the Witch, as I do like a main character with a good spine and the ability to persevere. For these reasons, I would recommend Hour of the Witch to others.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy via NetGalley and the publisher, Doubleday. The choice to review this book was my own.

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I have loved every Chris Bohjalian book I have ever read and Hour of the Witch is no exception. The writing is emotionally nuanced and thought-provoking. This is not a book you read and forget, but one that stays with you, entering your thoughts long after you've read the last line. The time period, with all its piety, suspicion and fear, is brought to vivid life through Mary's eyes. I felt like I was holding my breath until the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for access to this arc!

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The Hour of the Witch is an intense, nightmarish page-turner. And in my eyes, utter perfection. It’s the story of Mary, a fiery and intelligent Puritan from a wealthy family who has the misfortune of marrying a monster in the New World. Thomas’ acts of ingenious cruelty slowly escalate to the point where Mary can endure them no longer. So she does the unthinkable- she files for divorce.

17th century Massachusetts is a breeding ground for misogyny, salacious gossip and religious fervor. Mary’s fellow colonists are scandalized by her intention to separate from her respected husband Thomas. And thanks to her childless state, fondness for herbal remedies and an unfortunate incident involving cutlery, there are whispers that Mary might in fact be a witch.

The Hour of the Witch is a gripping, spell-binding, emotional rollercoaster ride. I frequently found myself outraged and incensed on Mary’s behalf. The way she was abused by her alcoholic husband and treated as less-than by her community (just for being a woman) was absolutely infuriating. I felt deeply sympathetic for her plight.

I have to hand it to Chris Bohjalian, every book I’ve read by him has been superb, but this one takes the cake. His impeccable research and passion for colonial life comes alive on the page. I was easily swept up in the dramatic whirlwind that was the Puritan witch hunt. Bojhalian expertly crafts a psychological backdrop percolating with paranoia, suspicion and outright hysteria.

I appreciated the use of the wild woman archetype embodied by Mary and Constance. Their intelligence and sharp tongues are seen as a palpable threat to the men in the colony. The only way to eliminate said threat? Accuse them of being the devil’s handmaidens. If those two strong and independent women with scintillating wit were labeled witches, then sign me up. I want to be one too.

It’s interesting to contemplate the overwhelming irony of the colonists’ behavior. They cling desperately to their religion, extreme and single-minded in their pursuit of the kingdom of heaven. And yet, they who studied the Bible and learned to love thy neighbor, were so quick to condemn someone to death (not to mention eternal damnation!) with little to no evidence. The hypocrisy is astounding.

I highly recommend The Hour of the Witch to readers who enjoy suspenseful and thrilling historical fiction that fearlessly explores the dark and intimate corners of the (Puritan) psyche.

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A well written and very well researched novel about a wife accused of witchcraft in 1600s New England. Mary,mentally and physically abused by her husband, appeals to the court for a divorce. However, 1600s New England certainly has no sympathy for an abused woman and denies her petition. The court also seems eager to find her *and every woman) guilty of witchcraft. Mary then has to seek justice in her own way.
Especially interesting in this book was 1600s' Boston's fear of forks. I looked this up and it was absolutely true, that early New Englanders thought that forks were "the devil's tines".
Chris Bohjalian crafted an interesting and unique story that should take the place of The Crucible on many reading lists. This book deals with more than the witchcraft scare, but also with women's rights or lack thereof in early America, not even allowed to speak their mind without being accused of witchcraft. This should be required reading for young women of today for how very far we've come!

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A new Chris Bohjalian book is an automatic TBR for me. I love that his writing spans such a wide variety of genres and topics and I am always impressed by his ability to write the female perspective with such empathy and authenticity.

In Hour of the Witch, Mr. Bohjalian gives us one of his most compelling protagonists. Mary Deerfield is a woman both beautiful and strong of character who, unfortunately, lives in the wrong time and place, early 17th century Boston. It was very dangerous to be a woman in Puritanical New England, especially if one had an inclination to be outspoken or to challenge one's husband for "cruelty."

While Hour of the Witch is primarily historical fiction, and it is evident the author invested many hours of research to make it an accurate and often disturbing portrayal, this novel also at points reads like a compulsively absorbing thriller. In a word, this book was fantastic -- definitely one of Mr.Bohjalian's best. Five stars all the way.

Thank you to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Chris Bohjalian is always terrific. I love the historical background provided. Look forward to his next title!

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