Hey Everyone,

How are you?

I have another book review for you today, I also have my Stars Hollow Monthly Subscription box to do soon but I wanted to do this review while it is still fresh in my mind which is the troubling thing for me when it comes to writing reviews, I always do it on my day off and sometimes I would’ve finished the book about a week before. But this time I finished the book two days ago, so I am glad that I had a day off from work.

The Witchfinder’s Sister by Beth Underdown

When Alice Hopkins’ husband dies in a tragic accident, she returns to the small Essex town of Manningtree, where her brother Matthew still lives.

But home is no longer a place of safety. Matthew has changed, and there are rumours spreading through the town: whispers of witchcraft, and of a great book, in which he is gathering women’s names.

To what lengths will Matthew’s obsession drive him?
And what choice will Alice make, when she finds herself at the very heart of his plan?

Published: March 2017
Published Edition: December 2017
Publishers: Penguin Books
Genre: Historical Fiction

Format: Paperback

Goodreads Star Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Review

I found this book while browsing in the bookshop and the title itself caught my eye. It took me a while to figure out that Matthew Hopkins and the Witch trials happened in the mid-1600s in Essex. The only witch trials that I was aware of were in Salem, USA.

This book is very mysterious with a dark twist, the truth of the event that left Matthew very scarred as a young child really is the prominent event that gets mentions through the book while Alice still believes what she has always know what happened from people telling her she is doubted until she discovers the reason as to what happened to Matthew. I found that it was interesting to see the dynamic of the siblings while also for Alice to be horrified to know the truth about Matthew and what he has become.

I found the book at the beginning to be very slow paced, it took a while for me to establish the estranged relationship between the Hopkins siblings, you can see from reading the book that they have a difference of opinion when it comes to Christianity. The book does get better once you’ve established Matthew’s methods in finding witches and how Matthew is determined to see through his intentions. I found Alice very eager in wanting to prevent any harm to Bridget and Rebecca while trying to do it without her brother’s knowledge.

Beth Underdown is a very compelling writer especially for a debut novelist, she has captured t and I am excited about her next book, if it is anything dark and mysterious like this book then I am there.

I hope you are having a lovely day xx