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Matthew Hopkins is of course the infamous Witchfinder General, who presided over more deaths of accused withes in the course of two years, than in the entirety of the previous 100 years. And though many people will know Hopkins’ story from the Tigon Horror film starring Vincent Price, for the people of Essex, tales of Hopkins run deep in the collective psyche as a tale told across generations. Coming from Essex and as a connoisseur of witchcraft and the occult, I was extremely excited to watch this new play. Narrated by Ivy Boscawen who having just lost her only son Tim, in the Great War is grieving and wondering if this is fate's way of balancing the scales, doors to the past open up and she reflects with a sense of guilt on another boy's death, long ago, Essex, 1645. Alice Hopkins ( Lily Knight) finds herself widowed, pregnant, and forced to return to her childhood home in Manningtree to throw herself on the goodwill of her brother Matthew ( George Kemp). But Manningtree is rife with rumours of witchcraft, and Matthew is poised to launch upon his infamous reign of terror. Alice races to reveal what’s compelling the obsessively cruel Witchfinder General, before more innocent women are found guilty.
Play Review: The Witchfinder’s Sister - The London Horror Play Review: The Witchfinder’s Sister - The London Horror
This novel was lush and wonderful. I don't have too much to say about the plot itself, besides the fact that I think readers should take note that while this novel does have a "mystery" to it, the real core is the characters and the stiff historic dramas. The whodunit is NOT the reason to stay—its the layers, the tension, and the atmosphere. Step into the halls of Polneath and see for yourself... I have to be blunt here: highly recommend if you're into pining for your teenage crush for 30 years, couples not communicating with each other, random trips to the other side of the country without telling anyone, more pining, mysterious deaths that are not so mysterious if you think about it, some more pining. I liked it that the story is told alternating between 1888 and 1918. It is beautifully written with touching stories about WWI, which show how much the world has changed between 1888 and 1918. Want to join one of the fastest-growing communities of UK indie horror fans and creators for FREE? Now you can!It is quite a deep and dark read. It is intense yet a slow burn at the same time. The story is set not that long ago when women had few rights at work and at home. They were expected to do anything without questioning it or objecting because they could be easily replaced. But, at the same time, women were thought of as fragile and unable to cope with life’s tragedies. Ivy was determined to seek the truth out in the past and present, but could she bear the truth? In the dead of night a fire sweeps through a Manor House claiming more than just timber and objects of every day life. No, this fire also claimed the boy that Ivy still cannot forget for something happened that fateful night which to this day still haunts her. Been waiting for Beth Underdown's second book after the intense Witchfinder's Sister and this was an equally engrossing read. The mystery was very drawn out and took place over the two timelines. There is certainly a twist there and I didn't see it coming. In fact there are quite a few twists and turns. In 1918 we once again meet Ivy who is now dealing with her own grief, after her son Tim was killed in action. Her desperation to know how her son was killed leads her to look up her first love, Edward Tremain. As they start to correspond via letters it is clear that they have unfinished business and a lot of regret.
The Witchfinder’s Sister, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch Review: The Witchfinder’s Sister, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch
But it also triggers memories of 30 years ago when another boy died in traumatic circumstances, and she's been left haunted by his death ever since. The story flits between the 2 timelines seamlessly and both are full of mystery, deception and tragedy.The story is told from the point of view of Ivy Cardew who in 1888 is the daughter of the local doctor. He is struggling with his own health but carries on looking after his patients. We are introduced to many interesting characters including the family living in Polneath House and their few servants. Half of the mysteries were not engaging. The only thing that caught me by surprise was whose *the* child turns out to be. But it lasted one second and then I only thought, okay, I guess? Told in split timelines, one in 1888-89 and one in 1918-19, we slowly uncover the truths behind what happened in the past and what's happening as a result in the present. Ivy's ready to reveal her secrets, and other players have their own secrets to share with us. With her son now dead, Ivy can't help but think its her fault. There was another young boy, several years ago... And his fate was also tragic. She's seeing ghosts in her present, ghosts in her past.
The Witchfinder’s Sister – Mind the blog The Witchfinder’s Sister – Mind the blog
However, intriguing socio-religious theories are advanced as to why certain members of the upper classes pursued “witches” – mostly poor, vulnerable women – with such zeal. Alice, too, is superstitious, sensing malign entities and fearing the inexplicable. Once individual malice and grudge-settling have died out, some of the most vivid scenes are those in which the same hostility to perceived outsiders that spawned the witch-hunting craze begins to be directed towards its functionaries. So when the publisher asked if I’d like a copy sent to me in the mail, I did not hesitate for one second.
Laced with a heavy sense of loss and sadness this book is a slow burn, the story itself quite emotionally harrowing which is exacerbated by the grief felt by Ivy, as well as the, often cloying, atmosphere that the author weaves around the characters. The tension increases as the two threads and timelines start to come to their conclusions, and the sedate pace of what has come before is ramped up a notch or two. This is a very well written novel in a style in keeping with the times and gives excellent historical context, depicting the world of 1888 and the changing world of 1918/19. It is abundantly rich in atmosphere especially in Polneath, Cornwall, allowing you to picture the big house, the gun powder mills, the unlikeable character of Old Tremain and the enigma of Edward Tremain, his son and William’s father. Polneath lies at the heart of everything we learn about Ivy and the death of William. The 1888 storyline is spooky, chilling, secretive and deeply mysterious and links well to 1918 when characters are unmasked.
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