REVIEW: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

Connie Goodwin has just spent the last three years in the PhD program at Harvard Grad School. She is now preparing to start the research on her doctorial dissertation in her chosen field, the history of Colonial Life. Her advisor, the esteemed professor Dr. Manning Chilton urges her to look vigorously for new sources telling her an uncovered primary source could really make her in this field.

Meanwhile, Connie's mother, Grace, a free spirit and a healer living in Santa Fe has asked her to get her grandmother's home in Marblehead ready for sale. The house, uninhabited for a couple of decades, lies in near ruin. Connie moves into the house, devoid of any modern conveniences and really knowing she has her job cut out for her. As she picks up a dusty Bible, an old key falls out, attached to the key is a small piece of paper with the words, `Deliverance Dane" which Dr. Chilton tells her could be a name.

As the story evolves, Howe gives readers the story of what's happening to the actual Deliverance Dane in the 17th Century when witch hunts were at their peak, as well as the story of Connie in 1991 Massachusetts. Each of the stories are equally compelling with the reader nearly cursing the writer as she is pulled from one story into another just as the story is getting good. But it speaks to Howe's skill as an author when the reader gets pulled back a forth 300 years and immediately gets into the story again.

The reader will certainly be totally enthralled with the story of Deliverance Dane, a 17th Century healer accused of causing the death of a young child. Just as compelling is the story of Connie in 1991, her friend Liz, a new man in her life, steeplejack, Sam, and the person who is not the friend Connie has thought but instead a person who is out for his own gain, with near tragic consequences.

Howe is a credible writer, a historian of American and New England history herself whose ancestors were accused witches in Salem. It also has another interesting twist, one which is best left up to the reader to discover. This read is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. It has become quite the popular novel of the summer mainly by word of mouth - my favorite way of discovering a new book/author. It is has been my pleasure to pass the word as well.