The Witching Tide by Margaret Meyer

 

Title: The Witching Tide

Author:  Margaret Meyer

Narrated by:  Miranda Raison

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 36 minutes

Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster Audio.  Thank you @simonandschuster #BookClubFavorites for the free books!

 

When you think about witch trials, do you think about Salem, Massachusetts or do you think about England?  It was only within the last ten years that I found out about the witch finder, Silas Makepeace, in England and the horrors of what happened there.

Martha Hallybread is a midwife and healer who lost her voice as a child.  Her life changes forever when Silas Makepeace, the witchfinder, comes to town.  Her employer and surrogate son, Kit, gets her a job helping Makepeace look for marks of the devil on women.  Martha finds herself in a terrible situation, powerless to help or stop what is happening to the women in her small community.  Will Martha be able to save herself and the other women of her community?

The Witching Tide was a difficult book to read.  It was terrifying how when the witchfinder came to town, neighbors were turning on each other and hysteria ruled the day.  The proof that was used was horrifying and also laughable that such things could be used to condemn women.  They were powerless against the accusations. 

This book was very well written, and Miranda Raison was a good narrator. The one downfall is that it was slow in the middle and tended to get repetitive with Martha’s thoughts circling her mind.  She has a wax doll given to her by her mother that she keeps with her that she constantly worries about.  I just wanted her to throw it away!

The Witching Tide is an interesting story about a terrible time in history.