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The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane  By  cover art

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

By: Katherine Howe
Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren
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Editorial reviews

A darkly quirky tale with enough twists and turns to make a tornado seem like a gentle rainfall, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane will keep you on the edge of your seat. The suspense is due partly, of course, to debut novelist Katherine Howe's frequent cliffhangers (who knew a story with frequent library scenes could be so compelling!), but it's also due to narrator Katherine Kellgren's expert inflections and pacing. A master of accents and tone, Kellgren's skills are put to good use in this tale that flashes back and forth between the academic world of Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1991 and the Puritanical one of Salem, Massachusetts 300 years earlier. You believe her equally as young Ph.D. candidate Connie Goodwin, embittered sextagenarian academic Manning Chilton, and the cold judges and hysterical accusers of the Salem Witch Trials.

Authors and historians (Howe is both) learned long ago that any account of the Salem Witch Trials offers a mesmerizing narrative. But Howe takes the conceit one step further. As Connie, read by Kellgren in a perfectly-cast sing-songy voice, begins considering her dissertation in American Colonial studies in earnest, she must move to her grandmother's thoroughly unmodern house for the summer. While there, a mysterious key and a piece of paper with the name Deliverance Dane drops out of a family Bible. In flashbacks to the 1690s, we learn of the real Deliverance Dane's life as a town healer and, ultimately, her conviction of practicing witchcraft. Meanwhile, back in the 20th century, we follow Connie's exhaustive search for Deliverance's elusive journal of recipes, of witchcraft, she doesn't know first for academic reasons then to save the life of her love interest. Along the way, as Kellgren's narration gets faster, louder, raspier, and stronger, we, like Connie, discover that perhaps there really were some magical women in Salem then, and now. Kelly Marages

Publisher's summary

Connie is looking forward to starting work on her graduate thesis over the summer, when her mother asks her to sell an abandoned house once owned by her grandmother in Salem, Mass. Relunctantly, Connie moves to the small town and inhabits the crumbling, ancient house, trying to restore it to a semblance of order.

Curious things start to happen when Connie finds the name "Deliverance Dane" on a yellowed scrap of paper inside an old Bible, and begins to have visions of a long ago woman condemned for practicing "physick," or herbal healing, on her neighbors in 1690s Salem.

Interspersed with modern-day sections are chapters on the actual witch trials, revealing the fascinating story of Deliverance Dane and how she got caught up in the tragic events. Connie meets an intriguing young steeplejack named Sam, who's also interested in the history of the area. But just as Connie starts to unravel some of the mysteries surrounding Deliverance's identity, Sam has a horrifying accident, and Connie has to figure out a way to save him that involves an ancient and mystical cure. And to do that, she needs to locate the actual "physick book" once owned by Deliverance Dane herself.

Immediately compelling, with powerful historic insight and detail, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane is that rare find - a literary first novel with a very commercial premise and pacing.

©2009 Katherine Howe (P)2009 Hyperion

Critic reviews

"In all, a keen and magical historical mystery laced with romance and sly digs at society's persistent underestimation of women." ( Booklist)

What listeners say about The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

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  • Overall
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    1 out of 5 stars

Not worth your time.

No magic what so ever, not even interesting at all. I finished the book cause I was hoping to have a rad ending... truly disappointing.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful use of magical realism

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The intertwining of past and present along with the attention to mother/daughter relationships, quickly bound my attention.

What did you like best about this story?

The hints of something more that was going on behind the scenes, along with the quick paced narration kept me listening when I should have been doing something else. Of course witch craft is an interesting subject, but when combined with deep research, it goes beyond the ordinary.

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved the mother/daughter interactions.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Transporting story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This story really transported me back in time. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

What other book might you compare The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane to and why?

The scarlet letter

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The potency of women

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wishlist

This book sat on my wish list far too long! Now that I finally read it, I was sad to learn Katherine Howe has no other books posted on audible.com.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Incredible tale. More please?

I really enjoy this genre. An opportunity to study the actual history as it pertains to the book. Couldn't put it down.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Book! Entertaining and Spellbinding.

I loved the way Katherine Howe told this story with modern and historical story lines that merge into a very facinating book. I look forward to reading more of her work.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Read

Would you listen to The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane again? Why?

I could listen to this book againand again. The book is smart, entertaining, and the characters are believable. The author is very knowledgable of the history of the witch trials.

What other book might you compare The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane to and why?

Not like any other book I've read.

Have you listened to any of Katherine Kellgren’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I haven't.

If you could rename The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, what would you call it?

I wouldn't rename the book.

Any additional comments?

I loved the book! Excellent read.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book, awful reading.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The story was great - if you could get past the horrible reading. She sounded pretentious, stuck up - It was difficult to make it through the book.

What other book might you compare The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane to and why?

Followed along the lines as Discovery of Witches, somewhat, and others in that genre. Believable witchery.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Katherine Kellgren?

Anyone.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Holy Smokes!

I LOVE this narrator, first of all. Second, I loved how historically accurate this story is. I began to feel for the characters of the back story. I cheered for Connie. I loved how it all came together. It's very well, written; and presented beautifully by the narrator.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

eh

it was alright. predictable. I felt like I was 10 steps ahead of the main character the whole time. for someone who is portrayed as being so intelligent she didn't catch on very quickly. alot of big words for no reason besides pretension. also not as magical as I had hoped.

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