Susannah Morrow

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An irresistible blend of history, suspense and romance captures the extraordinary drama of the Salem witch trials. Set in one of the most horrific yet intriguing periods in history, "Susannah Morrow" offers fascinating psychological insight into the sexual repression that spawned the witch hunts.From Publishers WeeklyThe infamous Salem witch trials are staged once again in thishistorically accurate yet oddly flat novel. Three characters narratethe tale: 15-year-old Charity Fowler; her father, Lucas; and hermaternal aunt, Susannah Morrow. The novel opens in 1691 as Charity,devastated and increasingly uncertain, struggles to cope with both theloss of her mother in childbirth and the abrupt departure of her firstlove. The easily led teenager seeks solace in a group of manipulativegirls, who insinuate that evil is lurking in their insular,superstitious little town. As Charity loses her grasp on reason,Lucas, a God-fearing man who has tended his family the best he can butis hobbled by his piety, takes the reins of the narrative. Tormentedby his sexual longings and uneasy about his stern treatment of hisdaughters, he commits grievous errors in judgment. The hysteria overthe alleged presence of witches in the village-as documented by thecrazed "fits" of young girls-has paralyzed the community whenSusannah's voice takes over. Her London background and her strength,sensuality and courage inevitably make her a victim of the madness,but her lucid narration carries the reader through the horror ofescalating accusations and unmerited punishment. Chance's clear-eyednarrative doesn't slide into sensationalism, but with the exception ofthe intriguing and well-drawn title character, it adds little to thewell-known story.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Library JournalTold from the perspective of a victim, her accuser, and the accuser's father, this tale of the Salem witch trials is gripping from its very opening pages. Sixteen-year-old Charity Fowler's mother has just died, and her beautiful Aunt Susannah arrives from England on the same day. Lucas Fowler, Charity's father, is a deeply religious but emotionally distant Puritan who has repressed his own love for his daughter since her birth to focus instead on saving her soul. Charity thus turns to a group of teenage girls in Salem for acceptance. When Aunt Susannah interrupts the girls' visit to a local tavern, she becomes the target of a vicious and tragic sequence of events that eventually lead to her imprisonment as a witch. Most of the supporting characters in this novel are actual historical figures who were involved in the Salem witch trials. Romance writer Chance (The Way Home) has brought believability and immediacy to this dark chapter in American history with a story that can be recommended to a wide spectrum of readers and book discussion groups. Every public library will want to own this.Kim Rutter, Lake Villa Dist. Lib., IL Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.