Hour of the Witch

A Novel

De: Chris Bohjalian

Narrado por: Grace Experience, Saskia Maarleveld, Danny Campbell, Cassandra Campbell, Arthur Morey, Mark Deakins, Julia Whelan, Kaleo Griffith, Kirby Heyborne, Rebecca Lowman, Mark Bramhall

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, best-selling author of the Outlander series, The Washington Post).

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 novel of historical suspense.

Boston, 1662. Mary Deerfield is 24 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 becomes 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 novel of historical suspense from one of our greatest storytellers, Hour of the Witch is a timely and terrifying story of socially sanctioned brutality and the original American witch hunt.

©2021 Chris Bohjalian (P)2021 Random House Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

One of the Washington Post’s 50 Notable Works of Fiction for 2021

A Real Simple Best New Book

A Read It Forward Most Anticipated Book

A Lit Hub Most Anticipated Book

A CrimeReads Most Anticipated Book

A GoodReads Most Anticipated Book

An AARP Most Anticipated Book

“Hour of the Witch is historical fiction at its best.... Insightful and empathetic.... Thick with details as chowder is with clams.... Handled with great skill and delicacy. The book is a thriller in structure, and a real page-turner, the ending both unexpected and satisfying.” (Diana Gabaldon, The Washington Post)

"Harrowing.... In the hands of a master storyteller like Bohjalian, [Hour of the Witch is] an engrossing tale of a woman who insists upon the right to navigate her life, and the consequences when she does.” (Danielle Trussoni, New York Times Book Review)

"Bohjalian does an admirable job of bringing his numerous players to life in all their complexity.... Hour of the Witch - part courtroom thriller, part psychological suspense novel - holds a reader’s rapt attention all the way to its startling conclusion.” (Tom Nolan, Wall Street Journal)

Interesting story almost ruined by the Narration

I pre-ordered this book and was very interested in listening to it. The story was well developed and stayed a mystery until the end. I had to work to get over the use of old English (which was more distracting than necessary).

The narrator, though, made me almost give us and return the book several times. She over did it on the diction to the point of sounding choppy. The difference in her vocalization from one character to the other was not enough to know which person was speaking sometimes, or she rushed the conversation (again, not giving pause to know a different character was talking . Finally, her tone was whiny and had a lilt at the end making each character sound comical at times. Even when the words said, "He shouted ", her character had the same whine and softer tone.

I found myself repeating in my head what the narrator just said in the tone and inflection that the words made it sound like it should be.

Very disappointed in the Narration, but if you can get past that, the story was good.

This is so “Real Housewives of Boston” circa 1662!

This is so “Real Housewives of Boston” circa 1662!

I have been looking forward to this book and it did NOT disappoint! It has a complete Real Housewives vibe going on but it’s perfectly weaved into the era with language and all. Perfectly done and very unique!

So Good

I listened to the audio version, narrated by the authors daughter, who in my opinion did an excellent job. I was immediately drawn in to the story, and had a hard turning it off. A great piece of historical fiction, it kept me thoroughly entertained. I think it would make an excellent choice for a book club. I hope they make a tv series of it, fingers crossed.

Had me hooked!

Love how from the 16th century to today this book shows how little we have changed. Kept me guessing until the end. Loved it!

Absolutely Amazing!

Oh, what a ride! I've never felt such rage and sweet blissfulness all at the same time after reading a book. I loved everything about this story. I am now a Chris Bohjalian!

Good Story-Poor Narration

Disliked reader to the point of almost abandoning the book. Her reading was child-like and her efforts at portraying various speakers terribly disappointing.
I don't know how accurate the writer's descriptions of 17century life but some of it felt a bit hokie.

Loved it

The narrator is flat. It was still much enjoyed. The writing is great, love the vernacular from the time period being utilized. My first novel by Chris Bohjalian and was listening in my vehicle during commute time at first, but within an hour I realized I would devour this at home during chore time too. I will def try some others books by this author!

great story

I almost passed this book up because of the negative reviews of the narrator. however I am so glad I didn't. once you get used to the way they talk in the 1600's, the story grabs you.

CB at his usual extraordinariness

As with all of Bohjalian’s work, this one is magical. A master storyteller and always unique in his ability to cross genres seemingly without effort but with the same excellence as always. I love you, Bohjalian.

But oh, Grace Experience’s narration. Others were fine, but listening to Grace’s Mary was as flat an experience as I’ve had since my eyes broke and I had to start listening to books rather than reading them word by word. But I respect her hard work, and I say all this knowing very well that I myself would make mud of it if I had to read it out loud. So, kudos to Grace and the rest of the cast for bringing CB’s story almost to life. I wouldn’t be able to read without you, and I would be miserable. Thank you.

Will she Hang?

Story built up well and kept me engaged. The audio team did a great job