Sisterly Read: ‘The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane’

SOMETIMES WHAT YOU really want to read on the beach is a book that’s more entertainment than demanding literature, a story that takes you on a ride through an unexpected world, that surprises with clever plot twists and turns. If that book also happens to be smart, well-written, thought provoking and teaches you a bit of interesting history (painlessly) it’s a home run. This summer, a new thriller, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe, manages to hit it out of the park.

Let’s face it, you can’t read Infinite Jest all the time (trust me, I’m learning this the hard way, though I am absolutely loving the book) and when you’re lazing on the beach and zoning out, it’s a poor choice. Luckily, first-time novelist Katherine Howe has come to my rescue with a smart, clever thriller set in two worlds: ivory tower academia circa 1991, and 17th century New England, specifically, the world of the Salem witches.

Harvard graduate student Connie Goodwin is desperate to find a groundbreaking topic for her dissertation when her mother asks for help: Connie’s grandmother’s house in nearby Marblehead, Massachusetts, needs to be sold, but must be cleaned up before it goes on the market. When she arrives at the house, which is so overgrown only her dog, Arlo, can find it, Connie is surprised to learn that it’s essentially a time capsule from at least 200 years earlier: no phone, no electricity, a kitchen full of dusty jars of roots and herbs. When Connie discovers a mysterious key, inscribed with the words “Deliverance Dane” tucked into an old bible, she begins to find her way not only to her research subject, but to her family’s past.

Deliverance Dane, the name of a 17th century healer who may, or may not, be a witch, is the subject of the book’s other narrative, which explores the lives of Deliverance and her daughter through the witch trials and beyond. As Connie learns more about Deliverance and her work with her “receipts” (recipes), she begins to sense an unusual sisterhood that spans the centuries. But, of course, there’s danger lurking, and Connie must get to the truth about Deliverance’s powers in order to save herself from harm.

Howe herself has studied colonial American history, and happens to be descended from two of the accused Salem witches, and her passion for her subject shows throughout this totally entertaining book.

Looking for other beach-read suggestions? We’ve got loads. Take a look at our ideas, and keep yours coming. It’s the least you can do for your sisters.

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