Once upon a time, in a small village nestled deep within a dense forest, there lived a young woman named Elena. Elena was known throughout the village for her kind heart and humble spirit. She had a natural ability to heal the sick and injured, using the herbs and plants that grew abundantly in the woods. However, the villagers' ignorant fear of the unknown created a dark cloud over Elena's reputation. They whispered rumors that she was a witch, using her powers for evil instead of good. The accusations intensified when a series of bizarre events occurred in the village.
The accusations intensified when a series of bizarre events occurred in the village. Crops withered, livestock fell ill, and villagers started experiencing strange nightmares. In an effort to protect themselves from this unseen evil, the villagers turned against Elena.
Hour of the Witch
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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Genres Historical FictionFictionHistoricalWitchesThrillerMysteryAudiobook
406 pages, Hardcover
First published May 4, 2021
Book details & editions Loading interface. Loading interface.About the author
Chris Bohjalian 41 books 11.5k followersChris Bohjalian is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 24 books. His work has been translated into 35 languages and become three movies and an Emmy-nominated TV series.
Look for his next novel on March 19, 2024: THE PRINCESS OF LAS VEGAS. (Yes, you can preorder it as a hardcover, eBook, or on audio wherever you buy books.)
The paperback of THE LIONESS went on sale this summer. It is already in development for a limited TV series from e One and Marsh Entertainment. A luxurious African safari turns deadly for a Hollywood star and her entourage in this riveting historical thriller, about which the New York Times wrote in its spring preview, "Bohjalian steers this runaway Land Rover of a story into some wildly entertaining territory." The Boston Globe wrote, "Bohjalian, one of our finest storytellers, weaves his spellbinding magic."
Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist all gave it starred reviews.
His 2021 novel, HOUR OF THE WITCH, is a tale of historical suspense set in 1662 Boston, a story of the first divorce in North America for domestic violence -- and a subsequent witch trial. Diana Gabaldon in her review in the Washington Post called it "historical fiction at its best." Danielle Trussoni in the New York Times called it "harrowing."
His 2020 novel, “The Red Lotus,” is a twisting story of love and deceit: an American man vanishes on a rural road in Vietnam and his girlfriend, an emergency room doctor trained to ask questions, follows a path that leads her home to the very hospital where they met, and is also in development for a TV series. In the New York Times, Sarah Lyall called it, “Terrific. . .[an] elegant noose of a plot. . .Bohjalian is a pleasure to read. He writes muscular, clear, propulsive sentences. . .As suspenseful as it is, The Red Lotus is also unexpectedly moving — about friendship, about the connections between people and, most of all, about the love of parents for children and of children for parents. Bohjalian is a writer with a big heart and deep compassion for his characters.”
His 2018 novel, “The Flight Attendant,” debuted as a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and National Indiebound Bestseller. It is now HBO Max TV series, starring Kaley Cuoco. Season two landed in April 2022.
He is also a playwright and screenwriter. He has a new play, "The Club," arriving at the George Street Playhouse in February 2024,
His other plays include his adaptation of his novel, "Midwives," and "Wingspan," (originally called "Grounded").
His books have been chosen as Best Books of the Year by the Washington Post, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Hartford Courant, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Bookpage, and Salon.
His awards include the Walter Cerf Medal for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts; the ANCA Freedom Award for his work educating Americans about the Armenian Genocide; the ANCA Arts and Letters Award for The Sandcastle Girls, as well as the Saint Mesrob Mashdots Medal; the New England Society Book Award for The Night Strangers; the New England Book Award; Russia’s Soglasie (Concord) Award for The Sandcastle Girls; a Boston Public Library Literary Light; a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award for Trans-Sister Radio; a Best Lifestyle Column for “Idyll Banter” from the Vermont Press Association; and the Anahid Literary Award. His novel, Midwives,was a number one New York Times bestseller, a selection of Oprah’s Book Club, and a New England Booksellers Association Discovery pick. He is a Fellow of the Vermont Academy of Arts and Sciences.
He has written for a wide variety of magazines and newspapers, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, Reader’s Digest, and The Boston Globe Sunday Magazine. He was a weekly columnist in Vermont for The Burlington Free Press from 1992 through 2015.
Chris graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude from Amherst C
NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • From the acclaimed author of The Flight Attendant: “Historical fiction at its best…. The book is a thriller in structure, and a real page-turner, the ending both unexpected and satisfying” (Diana Gabaldon, bestselling author of the Outlander series, The Washington Post).
They accused her of being responsible for the misfortunes that had befallen the village. Her tender heart shattered as she watched the villagers gather in an angry mob, wielding torches and pitchforks. In the dead of night, the villagers dragged Elena to the outskirts of the forest, the place where magic was believed to originate. They tied her to a stake, ready to burn her alive, convinced that this would rid their village of the perceived curse. As the fire crackled, casting an eerie glow across Elena's face, her eyes filled with tears. She knew she would die an innocent woman, her true intentions never fully understood or appreciated. But then, something unexpected happened. From the depths of the forest emerged a mysterious figure cloaked in a black robe. This figure moved swiftly and gracefully, its presence commanding the attention of the frightened mob. It was an old woman, the village elder. Her wrinkled face and piercing eyes exuded both wisdom and authority. With a voice that echoed through the night, the elder spoke. She revealed that Elena was not a witch, but a powerful healer chosen by the forces of nature. The strange happenings in the village were not caused by her, but rather a result of the villagers' own negative energy and distrust. The elder spoke of the Hour of the Witch, a folklore story passed down through generations. It spoke of a time when the forces of darkness were unleased, feeding on fear and suspicion. The only way to combat this darkness was through unity and love. In that moment, a realization swept over the villagers. They had let fear cloud their judgment, leading to unjust accusations and potential tragedy. With tears streaming down their faces, they released Elena from her bindings and embraced her, seeking forgiveness for their actions. From that day forward, Elena was revered as a symbol of hope and healing, not only in the village but throughout the surrounding lands. The Hour of the Witch became a lesson learned, a reminder to look beyond appearances and embrace compassion and unity. And so, the tale of Elena and the Hour of the Witch became a resilient folklore story, shared among generations, reminding them of the transformative power of love and understanding..
Reviews for "The Hour of the Witch: A Time of Fear and Superstition"
- Emily - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Hour of the Witch". The folklore aspect promised to be intriguing, but the execution fell flat. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to connect with them. The plot was predictable and lacked any real surprises. Overall, I found the book to be boring and unremarkable.
- Mark - 2/5 - "Hour of the Witch" was a major letdown for me. The folklore theme had so much potential, but it was poorly explored. The story felt disjointed and rushed, with a lack of proper development. The main character was flat and unsympathetic, making it hard to care about her or her desires. The ending was abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving me feeling underwhelmed.
- Jessica - 3/5 - I had high hopes for "Hour of the Witch", but it didn't live up to my expectations. While the folklore elements were interesting, the pacing was slow and dragged on. The plot had potential, but it was bogged down by unnecessary details and subplots that didn't contribute much to the overall story. The writing style was also a bit lackluster and didn't engage me as much as I had hoped. Overall, it was an average read for me.
- Michael - 2/5 - I didn't enjoy "Hour of the Witch" as much as I thought I would. The folklore aspect seemed intriguing, but the execution was lackluster. The pacing was uneven, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. The characters were forgettable and lacked depth, making it hard to become invested in their journeys. The overall story felt disjointed and didn't leave a lasting impact. Unfortunately, this book didn't live up to my expectations.