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Mystery of Colonial Times #3
The Sea Hath Spoken
On the newly settled coast of New England lay the town of Newbury. In a harsh land, its people lived a difficult life, where the truth was often clouded by suspicion and superstition. But when trouble struck, one woman would have the strength and courage to separate truth from lies....
AN OLD NEW ENGLAND MYSTERY
Midwife Catherine Williams senses trouble when Roger Whitcomb and his sister, Jane, both Quakers, arrive in Newbury seeking sanctuary from religious persecution. She knows her fellow townspeople will be nervous about the newcomers--and unwilling to extend a helping hand. Strangers are not welcome, especially when their arrival is heralded by the drowning death of a sailor from their ship--and other disturbing occurrences. Even Catherine finds herself increasingly suspicious of the Whitcombs and the odd goings-on that seem to surround them. And when Roger is killed, Catherine is finally compelled by reasons both personal and professional to find out the truth....
AN OLD NEW ENGLAND MYSTERY
Midwife Catherine Williams senses trouble when Roger Whitcomb and his sister, Jane, both Quakers, arrive in Newbury seeking sanctuary from religious persecution. She knows her fellow townspeople will be nervous about the newcomers--and unwilling to extend a helping hand. Strangers are not welcome, especially when their arrival is heralded by the drowning death of a sailor from their ship--and other disturbing occurrences. Even Catherine finds herself increasingly suspicious of the Whitcombs and the odd goings-on that seem to surround them. And when Roger is killed, Catherine is finally compelled by reasons both personal and professional to find out the truth....
281 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
About the author
Stephen Lewis
28 books4 followers Born and raised in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, Stephen Lewis holds a doctorate in American Literature from New York University, and he is Professor of English Emeritus at Suffolk Community College, on Long Island, New York. He now lives with his wife and daughter on five acres in a restored farmhouse on Old Mission Peninsula in northern lower Michigan.
Throughout his career, he has been both a writer and a teacher of writing. As a teacher, he has worked with college level and adult learner students in a variety of settings from standard classrooms, to online, to one on one tutorials, to small group workshops. In all of these environments, he has had success encouraging student writers to improve their skills. In a number of instances, these successes have led directly to publication.
His writing career began with a college textbook publication in 1970, followed by four more texts over the next twenty years. During this period, he also published short stories, poetry, and articles. His first novel, The Monkey Rope was published in 1990 followed by And Baby Makes None (1991) two mysteries set in Brooklyn and published by Walker & Company. He turned his attention to a different time and place, New England in the seventeenth century, for Mysteries of Colonial Times, written for Berkley, and drawing upon his expertise as a scholar of New England Puritanism. The Dumb Shall Sing, the first of this series was published August, 1999, followed by The Blind in Darkness in May, 2000, and The Sea Hath Spoken January, 2001. His historical novel, Murder On Old Mission, put out in 2005 by Arbutus Press, was a finalist in the historical fiction category of ForeWord Magazine’s book of the year awards. His most recent novel, Stone Cold Dead, was submitted by Arbutus to the 2007 Edgars.
He continues working in various genres, having recently published "The Visitor" in Chariton Review,“ and had "Eagles Rising" accepted by Palo Alto Review.
Throughout his career, he has been both a writer and a teacher of writing. As a teacher, he has worked with college level and adult learner students in a variety of settings from standard classrooms, to online, to one on one tutorials, to small group workshops. In all of these environments, he has had success encouraging student writers to improve their skills. In a number of instances, these successes have led directly to publication.
His writing career began with a college textbook publication in 1970, followed by four more texts over the next twenty years. During this period, he also published short stories, poetry, and articles. His first novel, The Monkey Rope was published in 1990 followed by And Baby Makes None (1991) two mysteries set in Brooklyn and published by Walker & Company. He turned his attention to a different time and place, New England in the seventeenth century, for Mysteries of Colonial Times, written for Berkley, and drawing upon his expertise as a scholar of New England Puritanism. The Dumb Shall Sing, the first of this series was published August, 1999, followed by The Blind in Darkness in May, 2000, and The Sea Hath Spoken January, 2001. His historical novel, Murder On Old Mission, put out in 2005 by Arbutus Press, was a finalist in the historical fiction category of ForeWord Magazine’s book of the year awards. His most recent novel, Stone Cold Dead, was submitted by Arbutus to the 2007 Edgars.
He continues working in various genres, having recently published "The Visitor" in Chariton Review,“ and had "Eagles Rising" accepted by Palo Alto Review.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 5, 2024
This was a mystery from a “ book bag” of New England murder mysteries from Mainly Murders bookstore (now closed) in Kennebunk , Maine.
I came close to a DNF on several occasions, but chose to see it through. I liked the strong female character, Catherine. She held the information that pulled the mystery together. The story took place during the early 1700’s and the dialogue was full of “thees and thous” …. Almost to the point of distraction. Other than the several murders there were conflicts between the English/ Anglicans and the Quakers, the Native Americans and the English, and class conflicts. Early Colonial justice was swift and unforgiving. The resolution was reasonable, and I appreciated the wrap up of Massaquoit’s story arc.
I don’t read a lot of mysteries and I thought the author stretched some of the plot out too much.
I came close to a DNF on several occasions, but chose to see it through. I liked the strong female character, Catherine. She held the information that pulled the mystery together. The story took place during the early 1700’s and the dialogue was full of “thees and thous” …. Almost to the point of distraction. Other than the several murders there were conflicts between the English/ Anglicans and the Quakers, the Native Americans and the English, and class conflicts. Early Colonial justice was swift and unforgiving. The resolution was reasonable, and I appreciated the wrap up of Massaquoit’s story arc.
I don’t read a lot of mysteries and I thought the author stretched some of the plot out too much.
November 28, 2013
"In Newbury, New England, Indian Massaquoit finds sea gulls eating the remains of a dead man. The captain of the nearby ship Good Hope owned by local resident Catherine Williams, who is also Massaquoit's employer, identifies the corpse as a sailor. The townsfolk wonder if Billy Lockhart drowned from too much to drink or did one of those traveling Quakers kill him? Attending the Puritan religious services are two Quaker siblings, Roger and Jane Whitcomb as guests of Catherine. During the service, Roger takes exception to a comment by Minister Davis. Soon, a glove his shoved down the visitor's throat leaving him choking to death. Massaquoit saves Roger's life. However, not long afterward, someone succeeds in killing Roger. Though she rejected his beliefs, Catherine takes it personally that someone murdered her guest. She begins her own inquiries,"
This was an interesting read, filled with tidbits of the era and appears to be pretty much historically correct ---the mystery of who killed the dead persons was put together well. The customs of the first colonial days was interesting besides how the people spoke so funny, good read!
This was an interesting read, filled with tidbits of the era and appears to be pretty much historically correct ---the mystery of who killed the dead persons was put together well. The customs of the first colonial days was interesting besides how the people spoke so funny, good read!
January 3, 2008
A historical mystery story set in colonial Massachusetts.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews