Strange things have been brewing in the village of Ashlaw in 1923: the once-prosperous drapers' shop has gone bankrupt and three separate families' lives have each, it seems, been hexed. In a bigger town such news might happen every day, but in tiny, remote Ashlaw, even one of these curses can set the whole village off-kilter. So what could be responsible for the stir? Margot, a local, precocious schoolgirl, has been trying to figure this out, especially since hers was one of the three ill-fated families. She comes to a strange conclusion-each of these curses somehow involves one Linden Grey, the most intriguing woman Margot has ever met. She determines to understand, once and for all, Linden's identity and her preternatural, even deadly, powers. But in her search, is Margot willing to hand over her childish innocence? With eerie suspense and clever turns of plot, Anna Gilbert bewitches believers and non-believers alike in this chronicle of a village's encounter with the other-worldly.
If you are looking for witches then go somewhere else
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
This book is NOT about your traditional spell casting witch in the black pointed hat. It hints at the witchcraft that subtlety surrounds us, its lies, deceit, omission and just plain not doing anything. This reads more like a Jane Austen Novel. There is no Main climax, rather a few smaller ones that build into the resolution of the Main Characters' (Margot) state of mind. Anyone can have this story by looking back and weaving all the threads together that point to a specific outcome or result. I really enjoyed this book, the pacing was steady, and the characters were interesting. It had the feel good ending that I know we all hope to achieve.
Excellent read
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
By April 1923, the ravishes of the great war is still impacting people throughout England. In Ashlaw, Captain Gray's widow and his daughter Linden strive to simply survive. The two female Grays turn to the wealthy Humbert family as a means of subsistence with Linden making a point to charm Alex.Linden easily captures Alex's heart and soul, leaving her sister Margot to wonder why since the amoral chit is not a devastating beauty. When a villager dies in an apparent accident, Margot believes Linden is involved and subsequent events sends Alex scurrying to Africa for solace. Linden seems not in least perturbed by the desertion of her boyfriend as she simply turns to Margot's rich lover as her next conquest.A HINT OF WITCHCRAFT is an enticing work of historical fiction that brings the post World War I era into vivid display. The story line centers on the interaction between the charcaters with Margot's belief that Linden is an evil witch causing much of the action and reaction. Dark and foreboding, this fabulous tale is an amazing character study that includes a fascinating look at a 1923 English village that will bring much acclaim to Anna Gilbert.Harriet Klausner
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