The Witching Tide

Named a best historical novel of the year by The New York Times Book Review and “reminiscent of both The Scarlet Letter and Hamnet” (Jezebel),The Witching Tide is a powerful debut inspired by the true events behind a deadly witch hunt in 17th-century England. East Anglia1645. Martha Hallybreada midwifehealerand servanthas lived peacefully for more than four decades in her beloved seaside village of Cleftwater. Having lost her voice as a childMartha has not spoken a word in years. One autumn morninga sinister newcomer appears in town. A “witchfinder” Silas Makepeace has been blazing a trail of destruction along the coastand his arrival in Cleftwater strikes fear into the heart of the community. Within a daylocal women are being detained. Martha is enlisted to search the accused women for “devil’s marks” and finds herself a silent witness to the hunt. Martha is caught between suspicion and betrayal; between shielding herself or condemning the women of the village. In desperationshe revives a wax witching doll that belonged to her motherin the hope that it will bring protection. But the doll’s true powers are unknowableMartha harbors a terrible secretand the gallows are looming… Set over the course of a few weeks that forever changed historyand for readers of Hilary Mantel and Margaret AtwoodThe Witching Tide “illuminates a dark historical period and cautions against its recreation” (Kirkus Reviews).