Solstice (Newcastle Witch Trials)

Solstice (Newcastle Witch Trials)

England, 1673. Still a world of witches, witch trials and witchfinders. When a new vicar arrives to take over the parish of Mutton Clog, the village finds itself in the grip of puritan fever, and suspicious eyes are turned on Rose Driver. Rose’s mother, brother and grandmother were all put to death by the Scottish witchfinder, John Sharpe. Almost quarter of a century after the Newcastle witch trials, Sharpe is no longer a threat. Rose should be safe in her quiet village, but is history about to repeat itself? Find out in Solstice , the powerful conclusion to The Newcastle Witch Trials Trilogy, which tells the story of one woman’s struggle for survival in a hostile and superstitious world. 'Although presented as a standalone novel, Helen Steadman's Solstice brings with it strong elements of the two volumes which preceded it in Widdershins and Sunwise. When the Rev Leaton and his family are unwillingly forced, by allegations involving witchcraft, to relocate from comfortable Ely to Mutton Clog, a bleak and remote parish in Durham, the troubles which brought about this transfer soon escalate. What follows is a scenario that seethes with menace and with a sustained degree of malevolence that exceeds anything I have ever before encountered. The central characters (barely less than evil and seldom more than innocently foolish) struggle under the cloud of witchcraft accusations and suffer bleak conditions, drawing misfortune and disasters upon themselves, each other and all those who become involved with them. Rose, a local girl, and Patience, daughter of the incoming incumbent, carry the two central and robust storylines. While Rose, innocent but foolish, falls victim to her own poor judgement, Patience, a flawed and unremittingly cruel character, accuses her of witchcraft and sets about destroying her, subjecting her to treatment which, at times, she seems unlikely to survive. As incidents reveal the tarnished and destructive histories of locals and incomers alike, the writer draws her characters, half-starved and shivering, through their miserable storylines and delivers them, beaten but in some cases unbowed, to their various resolutions. There is well managed tension by now, which eventually delivers a compelling courtroom denouement. Helen Steadman is mistress of her subject here and fluently incorporates her impressive knowledge of the situations she describes. In Solstice she has created a vivid and disturbing world and peopled it with worryingly memorable characters. This is a compelling "not to be missed" novel.' JULIA STONEHAM, HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY Praise for Sunwise 'The novel is rich in fascinating details: Jane's remedies and the village customs, partly Christian, partly pagan. Ancient names for plants and festivities, both seasonal and Christian, add colour to the narrative.' LYNN GUEST, HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY 'Sometimes charming, sometimes disturbing, and very firmly set in its time and place - don't expect an easy ride, though!' LEXIE CONYNGHAM, THE TENDER HERB 'A great read, not to be missed. Steadman's skillful and resplendent prose leads the reader easily into villages, manses and cottages, festivities and day-to-day lives, with amazing detail and descriptions of a past age that jump off the page of the novel. The historical research is rich; scenes and spaces, deliciously visual, and the language employed by the protagonists and throughout the narrative is authentic and consistent, transporting us back in time just by virtue of its ancient tonality.' SUSANA AIKIN, WE SHALL SEE THE SKY SPARKLING 'I was immediately immersed in the world of rural 17th Century northeast England. I can only put this down to the beauty of Steadman's writing and the precision of her plotting.' TED CURTIS, THE DARKENING LIGHT Praise for Widdershins 'A dark and wonderful novel, rich in historical details, herbal lore, traditions and superstitions. Steadman's clear-eyed storytelling and colourful period voice give life to a vibrant cast of characters drawn against the backdrop of tragic historical events. A compelling and memorable tale!' LOUISA MORGAN, A SECRET HISTORY OF WITCHES 'Infused as it is with aromas of rosemary, fennel and lavender, even the healers' herbs do not mask the reek of the injustice that sits at the heart of Widdershins. Powerful and shocking.' WYL MENMUIR, THE MANY (NOMINATED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE) Praise for Sunwise 'The novel is rich in fascinating details: Jane's remedies and the village customs, partly Christian, partly pagan. Ancient names for plants and festivities, both seasonal and Christian, add colour to the narrative.' LYNN GUEST, HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY 'Sometimes charming, sometimes disturbing, and very firmly set in its time and place - don't expect an easy ride, though!' LEXIE CONYNGHAM, THE TENDER HERB 'A great read, not to be missed. Steadman's skillful and resplendent prose leads the reader easily into villages,