“The Widow of Hartforde” by JF Baker receives 5 stars from The Historical Fiction Company and the “Highly Recommended” award of excellence!
Read the full review below:
“Rebecca batted back a swarm of blankets as visions of the body-filled sea fell away, replaced by the outline of quilts stretched across the end of her bed. She lay back, panting, and stared at the ceiling as light from the fireplace flickered across the beams above. The dream’s visions of bodies so torn, broken and lost, stayed with her.
She and Caleb had arrived in Connecticut Colony, safely, three months ago. No bodies in the water. No smashing of ships. And yet, it secretly drove her mad to wonder what it could possibly mean for her, a reverend’s wife, to have such a gruesome dream.”
It’s the 1660s in Connecticut, USA. Suspicion and hysteria is everywhere, and dissenting voices risk everything. JF Baker, the author of “The Widow of Hartforde” has made a bold choice, focusing on the lesser known Hartforde witch trials rather than the Salem era. But it is a choice that richly pays off, for this reviewer at least. The narrative is a well-drawn balance of both fact and fiction, complete with the insidious sense of dread that will make the reader only too aware of the dangers of misinformation and assumption where lives are at stake.
The main characters are Caleb and Rebecca Easton. Caleb is Hartforde’s new reverend, Rebecca his wife, and Rebecca, especially, becomes the main protagonist as she dares to stand out from the crowd. Baker’s depiction of a small community, the factions, the whispers, the defensiveness make for uncomfortable but gripping reading as the true nature of the horror becomes clear. Deception is sometimes in unexpected places, and the realism of the character’s motivations are stark. There is an historical note at the end of the book; as always when reading about difficult history, it is impossible to take refuge in the idea that this is merely fiction, although some of the content is necessarily generalised.
““I know, I know.” He held his hands up. “You weren’t present for the trial, but you heard Widow Goodness. She said she started worshiping…the Dark One…so she could marry him. There was never a mention during the trial of wanting to harm any individual resident in our town. There were no witnesses to her dark deeds. That’s what I believe he used the dolls for. To seal her fate. And to seal the fate of others in the past.” Marguerite stood quiet. She tucked the vial back into her pocket. Caleb knew his next question would change everything. Marguerite would either trust him entirely or turn on him and go running to the Judge with accusations of treason.”
Spoilers cannot be revealed, but suffice to say this book is a must-read. Even comparison with other iconic literary characters will give away too much, but Judge Madden is surely fast ascending any credible list of historical villains, fictional or not. He is all-powerful, and holds the fate of the accused in his hands. And yet he is not benevolent, demonstrating the dark side of authority where rules are rigid and based on fear. This reviewer is of course always drawn to the villain (and dares any reader of this genre to say they are not!), but for those seeking the side of the good, there is the masterfully created character of Rebecca, with her altruism and truth-telling. But in the world of Hartforde, as in life, no good deed goes unpunished, and Rebecca’s determination only foreshadows disaster.
““Help!” she yelled. “Someone help me!” But as she neared, the cottage’s features became more discernible in the moonlight. It was decrepit. Its front windows were boarded up. The front wall of the cottage was overgrown with rotting weeds. Where the thatched roof wasn’t covered in snow, it was blackened with mold. The chimney that jutted out of the right side of the roof had partially crumbled away. Rebecca ran toward it anyway, the pounding of her heart blurring with the rapid inhalation of her lungs, her entire torso powering her legs to move. If she could only get inside, put any barrier between her and the Beast. Perhaps those who’d lived there had left something behind, a weapon or some kind of tool she could use as a weapon. Something larger than the pathetic ax she had in her pocket. Behind her, another tree smashed again directly on the path behind her, this time, sending splinters of wood showering on Rebecca from behind. She didn’t dare turn around to look, just propelled herself forward down the path, nearing the cottage by ten yards. “Help!” she yelled, just in case.”
And there is more, with this multi-dimensional book taking the reader on an emotional journey of suspenseful tension, including the supernatural, religious fervour, human frailty and human evil. The scenes are a mix of descriptive writing and authentic conversations that will have the reader up long into the night, hoping for the triumph of good over evil.
“The Widow of Hartforde” by JF Baker is an incredible read that weaves witchcraft and religion together with human nature at its best and its worst. Combined with Baker’s fast paced and gripping writing style, the reader is in for an unforgettable and poignant return to the American colonies of the 1660s, with a narrative that will leave much to reflect on.
Foxburg & Stern Books 