The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

by Katherine Howe

While clearing out her grandmother's cottage for sale, Connie Goodwin finds a hidden parchment inscribed with the name Deliverance Dane. And so begins the hunt to uncover the woman behind the name, a hunt that takes her back to Salem in 1692 . . . and the infamous witchcraft trials.

But nothing is entirely as it seems and when Connie unearths the existence of Deliverance's spell book, the Physick Book, the situation takes on a menacing edge as interested parties reveal their desperation to find this precious artefact at any cost.

What secrets does the Physick Book contain? What magic is scrawled across its parchment pages? Connie must race to answer these questions - and reveal the truth about Salem's women - before an ancient family curse once more fulfils its dark and devastating prophecy . . .
Previously published in the UK as The Lost Book of Salem

• ISBN10: 0141047550
• ISBN13: 9780141047553
• Publish Date: 2 April 2010 (first published 1 January 2009)
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 11 October 2023
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 480
• Language: English

Reviews

[ladygrey]

I found the premise for this book much more interesting than the book itself. I didn't feel that it created anything new regarding the Salem Witch trials. I mean, it tried to, what if the Salem witches were *actually* witches. But there weren't enough fantasy elements or enough exposition of the historical aspects to really create that new angle on the story. It didn't capture the atmosphere of the history and mysticism that the story could have had. I didn't feel the characters were compelling.

Having said all that, I don't feel there were obvious flaws in the book. There was one confusing element at the end that didn't work for me. But other than that, it wasn't a bad book. It just wasn't a good one either.

[Eve1972]

I LOVE all things witch, witch trials, occult etc, if your book includes those things chances are I will read it and enjoy it, and this novel was right up my alley! Katherine Howe is a descendant of two accused Salem "witches" and she has created a very well researched and well crafted (haha no pun intended) story that weaves facts with fiction in a truly enthralling story. The novel jumps back and forth from present day to the 1600's and the cast of characters are well developed and interesting. The only negative point I had with the novel is the author really telegraphs who the "bad guy" is very early on in the novel, it is quite obvious and therefore, for me, took away a bit of the "who done it", but that really was just a minor issue for me and I really enjoyed the book overall!