The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
What if at least some of the women condemned in the Salem Witch Trials were actually guilty?
This is the (rhetorical) question posed to Connie during her oral exams, by her faculty advisor Manning Chilton. Connie is a doctoral candidate in Colonial history, unsure exactly on what topic she wants to write her thesis. Inspiration falls on her as if from the sky when she is asked by her mother to fix up her grandmother’s dilapidated old house. While working on the house, Connie pulls an old family Bible from the bookshelf and out falls an antique key, stuffed with a piece of paper bearing the name “Deliverance Dane.” This sets Connie off on an adventure both personal and scholarly to find Deliverance’s Physick, or Recipe Book.
This story is told primarily in the present (well, 1991, so the relative present) with flashbacks to the late 17th to mid-18th centuries. The sections in the past begin with the first accusation against Deliverance of witchcraft, well before the Salem Witch Trials, and move briefly through the lives of her daughter Mercy and granddaughter Prudence. It is clear from the beginning the Deliverance is what would be considered a ‘cunning woman‘ – and likely her daughter and granddaughter are as well – but was she really a witch? This is a question explored both by Connie in her research and the reader in the book’s flashbacks.
One of the great things about this book is that there was a sense of urgency in Connie’s research due to her need to find her primary source and begin her work, but it wasn’t a clock ticking sort of situation (although some extra, shall we say ‘motivation’ is given to Connie nearer the end of the book) that felt contrived.
This was an incredibly enjoyable story, although it wasn’t as much historical fiction as I thought it would be, most of the action took place in the present with the flashbacks distributed among three generations of women. Historical fiction or not, though, this was a book that made me really want to just stay home from work and read. I then proceeded to take the book on my errands with me and whip it out every time I had at least a 2 minute waiting period.
“The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane” is a little spooky, a little historical, and a lot awesome. Check it out.
Buy this book from:
Powells.
A local independent bookseller via Indiebound.
Amazon.
I have heard great things about this book, thanks for the review.
Jess’s last blog post..It’s Monday! What are you reading? — 6/8
Good review! I can’t wait to read it also!
rhapsodyinbooks’s last blog post..Free Delivery of Books from the U.K.
This book is on my ARC-alanche pile and I’m looking forward to getting to it… eventually *grumble*. I keep saying I’m going to just read the ARCs and reviews books until they’re done, but so far, I average one for each book on Mt. TBR.
Someday I’ll get through them all. Really, I will… Hey, who’s laughing?!
The Kool-Aid Mom’s last blog post..The Sunday Salon ~ Peanut Butter on Strawberry Pop Tarts
Everyone who reads this seems to love it. I can’t wait to get to it!
This sounds incredible!
Hey Jen,
I am actually loving Ink Exchange. I liked Wicked Lovely, but like this one more. (Why? I have no idea. Maybe I needed time to adjust to the world Marr created?) I am looking forward to reading Fragile Eternity.
Jess’s last blog post..It’s Monday! What are you reading? — 6/8
Oh this one sounds very good! Thanks for the review. I just put myself on the library waiting list.
SuziQoregon’s last blog post..Haunted Ground by Erin Hart
I love your summary at the end. Great review!
Meghan’s last blog post..Announcing my next giveaway: To Beguile a Beast, Elizabeth Hoyt
OK, you’ve convinced me. It’s going on the list. It sounds phenomenal.
Sandy’s last blog post..Monday Movie Meme – Awesome dude!
a little spooky, a little historical, and a lot awesome
So true! Glad you enjoyed it!
Fyrefly’s last blog post..Brandon Sanderson – Warbreaker
So glad to hear that you liked it. I’m supposed to read this one before the end of the month!
Julie P.’s last blog post..Review: Dork Diaries
I’m glad you enjoyed this one as much as I did! My review should be posting sometime soon!
S. Krishna’s last blog post..Vision in White – Nora Roberts
I have this book but haven’t had a chance to read it yet. It’s too bad there isn’t as much historical fiction to it. I was hoping for that too.
Teddy’s last blog post..Mailbox Monday
Love the new look of the blog, coming here after a short hiatus
I love the sound of this book! Love it!
would love to lay my hands on it 
Veens’s last blog post..Cover Attractions
I have this to read next week or so. I just skimmed your review (don’t want to be influenced when I write my review), but I like a book I have to carry around with me at all times.
Beth F’s last blog post..Giveaway Winners: Secrets to Happiness
I am so putting this book on my list. Good review.
jennygirl’s last blog post..Teaser Tuesday (June 9)
I met this author (and got a copy of the book) while at Book Expo America at the end of May. Have seen many good reviews and I can’t wait to read it!
Stephanie’s last blog post..My local Indie
I am looking forward to reading this one someday. I’m glad you mentioned that it was less of a historical novel than you had expected–that was something I was wondering about. Great review!
Literary Feline’s last blog post..Review: A World I Never Made by James LePore (& A Word from the Author)
I want to borrow!!!
so I’ve been thinking about this book ever since I read this review and so I went out and purchased it today. The last thing I needed was another book. My TBR pile has reached epic proportions. This was the first time I was inspired to purchase a book because of what a blogger wrote. I can’t wait to start reading it and thanks for the review!!!!
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It does sound “alot awesome”! I’ve heard that question posed over the years but I don’t believe I’ve ever read a book about it before.
[rq=5033,0,blog][/rq]Half Boy, Half God: All Hero
I really enjoyed this one. It took a little suspension of disbelief, but I’m good at that. It’s always a plus when both the present-day story and the historical one are engaging, which was certainly the case.
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..Tuesday Teasers =-.
This is definitely a summer beach book. It’s a page-turner for sure. I found the pacing a little awkward – it should have been a chapter in the “present” followed by a chapter in the past. Rather than a few in the present, one in the past, etc. It would have made the link between heroine Connie and the women in old Salem more compelling. Also, there were more than a few “duh” moments; for a doctoral candidate, Connie isn’t always so quick on the uptake. For a beautifully structured take on one girl’s link to the past, “Ursula Under” is a good bet.