I’ve been fascinated by witch trials since I was a young girl, no doubt because I was burned in a previous life 🔥

“The Witchfinder’s Sister” is the story of a disgusting human being known as Matthew Hopkins, who was responsible for a prolific witch hunt in England around 1645  that resulted in the hanging of over 100 women.

Matthew’s story is told by his sister, Alice, who is not really known to have existed. It’s yet another horrific story of a man compensating for his weakness and ineptitude by killing elderly and mentally ill women, or any woman who dared to challenge him in some direct or imaginary way. 

This book reminded me of two things:

1) Men weren’t the only ones guilty in the witch hunts; insecure and weak women were culpable as well. It was truly devastating what was done by the most deplorable of both genders behind the shield of Christianity.

2) Not all church leaders were supportive of the witch hunts. 

The story is heavily fictionalized and, in my opinion, the author took that a bit too far at the very end. It’s highly unlikely that it actually ended in the way she described. But, I learned a lot and am better for having read this heartbreaking story.

"The Witchfinder’s Sister follows Alice as Matthew spearheads the Manningtree Witch Trials, where by Alice’s count, 106 women were killed by his persecution."

I love how much research Beth Underdown has put into this novel to flesh out the characters and world. It shows in the everyday details, the attention to norms, values, social class tensions, and mannerisms. 

All of the characters are morally grey which adds to the tension and the believability of these real historical people.

With all that said it's hard to believe that Alice wasn't a real person. Although Underdown references in an interview there is scraps of evidence to suggest he might of had a sister. His 3 brothers were documented. I think telling a story of women's persecution from the eyes of a women was an important touch. As well as an interesting look into how women are complicit in their own oppression.

If you like literary fiction this would be a good "historical" book to pick up as it doesn't read like other historical fiction. This is a feminist novel without having the characters act like they've had 3rd wave feminism in 1645.