“The Pysick Book of Deliverance Dane”, an eerie read for the month of October!

I prefer to read books “in season”. I enjoy reading titles about the beach in the summer and spooky books close to Halloween. The one I’m sharing is perfect to pick up this fall if you’re craving some intrigue about the Salem Witch Trials wrapped up in a modern mystery. This title is not a recent read for me, but when thinking about books to cozy up with on a cool, autumn night with a hot cup of tea, it’s definitely one I wanted to share.

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe is a multi-viewpoint novel with two intertwining settings and characters set in the 1990s in Massachusetts, as well as, the 1690s during the Salem Witch Trials. 

The protagonist is Connie Goodwin, a Harvard graduate student, who is researching her doctoral dissertation. Her family requests her assistance in arranging the sale of her grandmother’s deserted home. She soon learns about the mysteries of the house and her ancestors and is especially alarmed when she discovers she is a descendent of Deliverance Dane, a woman accused of witchcraft in the 1690s. As the plot and characters unfold, the story takes you on a mysterious adventure that spans 300 years. 

There are several things I love about this book including the fact that it’s mostly historical fiction, which is my favorite genre to read. The multiple viewpoints explore colonial times in Salem, Massachusetts, and not only did I enjoy those details, but also the old English language in the dialogue. 

I also appreciated the cover art. My hardcover copy is a beautiful portrayal of an aged, tattered spellbook with an old silver skeleton key, which I learned plays a significant part in the story. The storyline moves at a pleasant pace as you sink deeper into the spellbinding plot which keeps your attention with twists and turns.

This 362-page book is one I would suggest if you are an “in season” reader like me. Grab a warm blanket and get ready to spend a fall weekend reading! A glass of wine or a pumpkin spice drink would be the perfect accompaniment to this book. If you enjoyed it as much as I did, please come back and comment! Enjoy, my friends!

You can read more about the author, Katherine Howe here. On her website, you will also find details of the Deliverance Dane sequel, The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs.