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Mystery of the Witches' Bridge
Originally published in hardcover as The Witches' Bridge.
Evil haunts the Witches' Bridge...the foggy marshes...the old Pride house!! Now young Dan Pride has come to live there. Can he escape the terror that hangs over Witches' Bridge? That night, Dan sees a weird light, flickering out on the marsh. "D-A-N,"the light spells out in code. "DAN PRIDE..."
Evil haunts the Witches' Bridge...the foggy marshes...the old Pride house!! Now young Dan Pride has come to live there. Can he escape the terror that hangs over Witches' Bridge? That night, Dan sees a weird light, flickering out on the marsh. "D-A-N,"the light spells out in code. "DAN PRIDE..."
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1967
8 people are currently reading
323 people want to read
About the author
Barbee Oliver Carleton
9 books13 followersBorn in Thomaston on August 17, 1917, Barbee Oliver Carleton was the daughter of Charles Forrest Oliver of Thomaston and Mildred Getchell Thurlow of Stonington.
Barbara grew up in Camden and graduated with the Camden High School Class of 1935. In 1940, she graduated from Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, where she majored in English.
After teaching high school English, she married Granville Carleton of Rockport. They settled in Beverly Farms, Massachusetts, where they raised their two children and had their careers. Continuing her career in education, Barbara taught for many years at Brookwood School, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA. She also wrote and published numerous children’s stories and books. Her prolific writing career spanned a period of forty years.
Throughout their adult lives, Barbara and Granville consistently returned to Rockport in the summers, and in 2007, they returned to Rockport as year-round residents.
Barbara Carleton died on July 18, 2015 at Quarry Hill in Camden.
Barbara grew up in Camden and graduated with the Camden High School Class of 1935. In 1940, she graduated from Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, where she majored in English.
After teaching high school English, she married Granville Carleton of Rockport. They settled in Beverly Farms, Massachusetts, where they raised their two children and had their careers. Continuing her career in education, Barbara taught for many years at Brookwood School, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA. She also wrote and published numerous children’s stories and books. Her prolific writing career spanned a period of forty years.
Throughout their adult lives, Barbara and Granville consistently returned to Rockport in the summers, and in 2007, they returned to Rockport as year-round residents.
Barbara Carleton died on July 18, 2015 at Quarry Hill in Camden.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
November 28, 2009
I cannot begin to describe what this book meant to my childhood. A reading of the other reviews will suffice for now.
Ms. Carleton (now 92) and I correspond semi-regularly, and I thought fans of MOTWB would like to know that with Ms. Carleton's blessing, we have begun work on a screenplay. Although Ms. Carleton is alive and wellm, we are keenly aware of the passage of time. Wish us luck. Feel free to reach me with any comments at militarybooks at sbcglobal dot net.
tps
Ms. Carleton (now 92) and I correspond semi-regularly, and I thought fans of MOTWB would like to know that with Ms. Carleton's blessing, we have begun work on a screenplay. Although Ms. Carleton is alive and wellm, we are keenly aware of the passage of time. Wish us luck. Feel free to reach me with any comments at militarybooks at sbcglobal dot net.
tps
November 7, 2014
I decided to read this after reading and loving the author's The Secret of Saturday Cove. Though "Saturday Cove" appears to be less well-known than "Witch's Bridge", I actually enjoyed it more and would encourage anyone who liked "Witch's Bridge" to give it a try. Even though "Saturday Cove" is not a spooky book, the sense of adventure and mystery is even more palpable, IMO, and I liked the characters better overall, too. It would make an especially good summer read.
Now, on to "Witch's Bridge" --
Even though it takes place during the summer, the spooky atmosphere of the marshes, the storms and the thick fogs that roll in, as well as the supposed curse and haunting make it suitable for a Halloween read. The witch is not quite what I expected, but in a way is far more disturbing than the sort that fly around on broomsticks and haunt most of children's witchy literature: he is the ancestor of our protagonist, a man who was tried and condemned for witchcraft in Puritan times and who supposedly left a curse, and whose fiddle can still be heard on especially foggy nights. Our hero's family is haunted, not by the witch himself, but by the terrible legacy of the curse and how it has made everyone in the town suspicious of them. That the prejudice which condemned a man to death hundreds of years ago could still be so rampant in the town (though not to such extreme extent) is, to me, the most chilling aspect of the book. But there's still plenty of more traditionally scary features if you like that sort of thing.
One thing I really like about both of Carleton's books is her likeable heroes, boys on the cusp of manhood who experience myriad emotions and who find courage to act for themselves when adults don't take them seriously. I do feel that her "bad guys" get off a little easy, that Carleton is too forgiving -- which I guess maybe shouldn't really be seen as a flaw (and it's nice that they are seen as three-dimensional and damaged souls and not just 100% villains) but, gosh, the antagonist here did some pretty nasty things and I felt he got off much too easy. And sometimes I want her protaginists to speak up for themselves a bit more than they do. But other than that, I really enjoyed this book and the chapter "Lamie" was worth the whole book for me--I absolutely loved his character.
Now, on to "Witch's Bridge" --
Even though it takes place during the summer, the spooky atmosphere of the marshes, the storms and the thick fogs that roll in, as well as the supposed curse and haunting make it suitable for a Halloween read. The witch is not quite what I expected, but in a way is far more disturbing than the sort that fly around on broomsticks and haunt most of children's witchy literature: he is the ancestor of our protagonist, a man who was tried and condemned for witchcraft in Puritan times and who supposedly left a curse, and whose fiddle can still be heard on especially foggy nights. Our hero's family is haunted, not by the witch himself, but by the terrible legacy of the curse and how it has made everyone in the town suspicious of them. That the prejudice which condemned a man to death hundreds of years ago could still be so rampant in the town (though not to such extreme extent) is, to me, the most chilling aspect of the book. But there's still plenty of more traditionally scary features if you like that sort of thing.
One thing I really like about both of Carleton's books is her likeable heroes, boys on the cusp of manhood who experience myriad emotions and who find courage to act for themselves when adults don't take them seriously. I do feel that her "bad guys" get off a little easy, that Carleton is too forgiving -- which I guess maybe shouldn't really be seen as a flaw (and it's nice that they are seen as three-dimensional and damaged souls and not just 100% villains) but, gosh, the antagonist here did some pretty nasty things and I felt he got off much too easy. And sometimes I want her protaginists to speak up for themselves a bit more than they do. But other than that, I really enjoyed this book and the chapter "Lamie" was worth the whole book for me--I absolutely loved his character.
June 9, 2019
Orphaned and alone, young Dan Pride returns to his ancestral home near York, Massachusetts, hoping to build a new sense of family with his Uncle Julian, and to find a place where he belongs. But as Dan quickly discovers, Pride's Point, surrounded by the great salt marshes outside of town, is not a happy place. Haunted by the curse of Samuel Pride - a Puritan ancestor falsely accused of witchcraft, and executed by pressing - it is still locked in the bitter injustices of the past. Dan's grandfather - another Daniel Pride - had tried to lay those ghosts, and had died mysteriously in the marsh, leaving his son embittered and alone. Could Dan, a newcomer and a boy, solve the mystery of the witches' bridge, and free the Prides from the burden of mistrust and old feuds...?
The Witches' Bridge, subsequently published in paperback as Mystery of the Witches' Bridge, is an immensely satisfying children's novel, on a variety of levels. As a story of suspense, it keeps the reader's attention, and although I guessed a few of the developments ahead of time, I was still absorbed. The characters and conflicts feel real, and have true emotional power. I sympathized with Dan's anger, Pip and Gilly's natural reticence, and Uncle Julian's bitterness. Carleton does an excellent job of conveying Dan's sense of loneliness and displacement, as in this scene:
"The boy frowned at his plate. Which of his troubles should he share with his uncle? There might not soon be another chance. Yes, Uncle, he could say, I am troubled because I have heard and seen a black devil dog that does not exist. And because I have no other family but you, and you don't want me. I'm troubled because people think that we Prides are -- queer. And because there is something dreadful here at Pride's Point that I don't understand - something that is destroying you and may hurt me, too. And I'm troubled because -- I am afraid of you.
He could not, of course say these things."
The ways in which words fail us, our inability - especially as young people - to fully express our feelings, or even to decide which feelings to express, is something the author seems to understand. That understanding, which Carleton brings to bear in her story - here, and in the scenes involving Dan and the maimed dog Caliban - creates a truly powerful narrative.
Suspenseful and poignant, The Witches' Bridge is also a thoughtful exploration of the ways in which we relate to the past - how it influences us, and how we negotiate with it. This feeling - that the past itself is a kind of presence, a haunting - characterizes many of the great time-slip adventure stories, from Ruth M. Arthur's many excellent novels, to Mary Waldorf's Thousand Camps . As the gentle hermit Lamie says: "They have not gone, you know, those good people. You see them in the ditches dug in the marsh, and in the cellar holes below...They are still here, our first people."
All in all, this was a fabulous book, enjoyable and moving, and I thank my friend Jammies for recommending it. I can certainly understand why it was one of her childhood favorites! One word to the wise: if you are reading this for the first time, try to locate the hardcover edition: the cover illustrations are done by Edward Gorey!
The Witches' Bridge, subsequently published in paperback as Mystery of the Witches' Bridge, is an immensely satisfying children's novel, on a variety of levels. As a story of suspense, it keeps the reader's attention, and although I guessed a few of the developments ahead of time, I was still absorbed. The characters and conflicts feel real, and have true emotional power. I sympathized with Dan's anger, Pip and Gilly's natural reticence, and Uncle Julian's bitterness. Carleton does an excellent job of conveying Dan's sense of loneliness and displacement, as in this scene:
"The boy frowned at his plate. Which of his troubles should he share with his uncle? There might not soon be another chance. Yes, Uncle, he could say, I am troubled because I have heard and seen a black devil dog that does not exist. And because I have no other family but you, and you don't want me. I'm troubled because people think that we Prides are -- queer. And because there is something dreadful here at Pride's Point that I don't understand - something that is destroying you and may hurt me, too. And I'm troubled because -- I am afraid of you.
He could not, of course say these things."
The ways in which words fail us, our inability - especially as young people - to fully express our feelings, or even to decide which feelings to express, is something the author seems to understand. That understanding, which Carleton brings to bear in her story - here, and in the scenes involving Dan and the maimed dog Caliban - creates a truly powerful narrative.
Suspenseful and poignant, The Witches' Bridge is also a thoughtful exploration of the ways in which we relate to the past - how it influences us, and how we negotiate with it. This feeling - that the past itself is a kind of presence, a haunting - characterizes many of the great time-slip adventure stories, from Ruth M. Arthur's many excellent novels, to Mary Waldorf's Thousand Camps . As the gentle hermit Lamie says: "They have not gone, you know, those good people. You see them in the ditches dug in the marsh, and in the cellar holes below...They are still here, our first people."
All in all, this was a fabulous book, enjoyable and moving, and I thank my friend Jammies for recommending it. I can certainly understand why it was one of her childhood favorites! One word to the wise: if you are reading this for the first time, try to locate the hardcover edition: the cover illustrations are done by Edward Gorey!
October 1, 2016
I ordered this book from a used book seller as a Christmas gift to myself. What a treat. I worried that my affection for the book, initially read in elementary school some 45 years ago and an immediate childhood favorite, would be diminished. Happily, the story not only held up but is head and shoulders above most contemporary mysteries written for the upper elementary audience today. Every significant character is well-developed, and the dialogue for secondary and tertiary characters gives each a distinct personality as well as purpose within the plot. Carleton's word choice is precise and evocative. She creates a historically plausible mystery that remains focused yet is enriched peripherally by the location and the people who inhabit it. I also admire the author for finding and maintaining the right degree of menace and tension without being overly violent, which is a pitfall in many contemporary mysteries. This is a mystery that trancends generations and, though out of print and likely discarded from most public libraries, is worth the effort to locate and share with any boy or girl perhaps ages 9 - 12.
June 18, 2011
This is my favorite book from childhood. I actually bought two copies in hard back last year. The hard back edition is called "The Witches' Bridge". I can remember reading this on my back porch one summer as a boy. I was totally engrossed and mesmerized. I read it again last year after about 30 years and it was just as thrilling and exciting as it was when I was young! To me, there are no other books that have such a memorable and nostalgic appeal. Thank you...wherever you are Ms. Carleton!
Read
July 8, 2010THIS BOOK IS ADDICTING. ONCE IT'S IN YOUR BLOOD YOU ARE NEVER ALONE. YOU ARE TRANSPORTED TO NEW ENGLAND TO FIND THAT YOU WILL NEVER BE FREE OF THE SPELL OF THE WITCHES' BRIDGE AND ALL THINGS PRIDE'S POINT.
June 3, 2018
***One of my favorite reads of 2010!***
- My Description -
Dan Pride is an orphan who is sent off to live with his reclusive uncle. He is told of the tale of the Fiddler's fog, and also how his great grandfather was accused of witchcraft.
There is also a rift between two families with a lost suitcase that divides them.
Where is this suitcase?
Does it have the proof of guilt or innocence?
- My Review -
I have to be honest, I wasn't expecting to like this book.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed it.
It was a great mystery. It was never boring. A bit predictable, but I'm not concerned about that.
It was a fun read. Mystery, Adventure, Drama, and Horror all in one tiny book. =)
September 30, 2018
4 1/2 stars. Loved it! Marshes, fogs, strange family history....it was definitely what I enjoyed reading! I really liked our hero Dan, and all the characters were believable. I *really* loved the writing style and language and the eerie atmosphere; the setting was just great. There was one little thing about the ending that bothered me slightly, but it wasn't anything major, and this was one of my favorite reads this fall.
And I liked it just as much on the second reading, too!
And I liked it just as much on the second reading, too!
March 11, 2016
One of my favorite books read in elementary school, a Scholastic book club purchase (I was a book buying addict even then!), so it was fun to find a used copy and re-read it now, and even better to not be disappointed reading it again after all those years. Fun mystery in the foggy marshes and I can see why this was one of the books that made me want to write.
October 2, 2022
Set in Massachusetts. The Pride family has had its share of troubles over the years. During the time of the witch trials in America, an ancestor by the name of Samuel Pride was accused and executed as a witch--based on an accusation by the Bishop family. The years that followed found the Prides being blamed for all that went wrong in the area around Pride's Point and superstition kept everyone from using the causeway bridge that led to their land. Rumor said that the witch Samuel would appear as a large black dog and folks claimed to hear Samuel playing his fiddle near the Witches' Bridge. And a feud-state existed between the Prides and the Bishops from that day to the present.
Years later Daniel Pride (our young hero's grandfather and namesake) decided that all the superstitions were bunk and determined to lay the feed between the families to rest. He offered an olive branch as well as making an offer to buy back the shipyard which the Bishops could no longer make use of. But on the night the transaction was to take place, something strange happened. Daniel set off across the causeway to meet the Bishops, but he never made it. Footprints showed that he had run--as if in fright--and he was found dead near the family chapel. There was a mark in the mud from the briefcase he had carried, but no briefcase was ever found. The Prides believed the case had the papers proving that the shipyard had been bought and paid for, but the Bishops claimed Daniel never arrived for the meeting and the case should still hold the money. Each side believed the other to be at fault--and so the feud continued.
Young Dan Pride's father left Pride's Point (and America) as soon as he could--living for the most part in England. When Dan's father and mother are killed in a plane crash, his Uncle Julian sends for him to come live at the family estate. Dan hopes for a warm welcome and a new home, but his uncle is withdrawn and the townsfolk are wary of a new Pride--especially when Dan hears the strange music and talks about it. And even when he seems to make new friends--the handyman Billy Ben and the twins Pip and Gilly--there is unexplained tension. He's just not sure who he can trust. Especially once he realizes that someone is still searching for that missing briefcase and someone is setting him up to be a scapegoat when things go wrong. Can Dan find the case before his unknown enemy and will he be able to prove himself innocent when the time comes?
Carleton does an excellent job with atmosphere and using the witch legend to full advantage. It may be the middle of summer, but the foggy marshland, eerie nights in the country, storms rolling in, and the spooky music near the bridge all work to make this a very appropriate book to read during the month of Halloween. We get all the trappings for a spooky story--a witch's ghost, creepy music, an ancient curse (uttered by the original "witch"), a large, ugly black dog, and an unexplained death. If the atmosphere hadn't been so good and the characterizations of Dan, Pip, Gilly, and Uncle Julian hadn't been so vivid, it might have been easy to read this as a Scooby-Doo type mystery. After all, good ol' [redacted] winds up being the villain and s/he nearly says "If it hadn't been for those meddling kids..." But Dan's struggles against loneliness and his efforts to find friends in a new place are very poignant and his bravery in the face of those against him and the mystery surrounding him makes this a better than average story.
It was also good how Carleton used Dan's overcoming his fear of swimming to help him solve the mystery of what happened to the briefcase. If he hadn't finally made friends with Pip and Gilly and learned to swim with them, the mystery would never have been solved. There are a lot of good lessons about overcoming--overcoming one's own doubts and fears; overcoming prejudice; and overcoming superstition. The one thing I didn't care for was the escape of the villain at the end...after all that s/he had done we (and Dan) deserved to see them hauled off to jail.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting portions of review. Thanks.
Years later Daniel Pride (our young hero's grandfather and namesake) decided that all the superstitions were bunk and determined to lay the feed between the families to rest. He offered an olive branch as well as making an offer to buy back the shipyard which the Bishops could no longer make use of. But on the night the transaction was to take place, something strange happened. Daniel set off across the causeway to meet the Bishops, but he never made it. Footprints showed that he had run--as if in fright--and he was found dead near the family chapel. There was a mark in the mud from the briefcase he had carried, but no briefcase was ever found. The Prides believed the case had the papers proving that the shipyard had been bought and paid for, but the Bishops claimed Daniel never arrived for the meeting and the case should still hold the money. Each side believed the other to be at fault--and so the feud continued.
Young Dan Pride's father left Pride's Point (and America) as soon as he could--living for the most part in England. When Dan's father and mother are killed in a plane crash, his Uncle Julian sends for him to come live at the family estate. Dan hopes for a warm welcome and a new home, but his uncle is withdrawn and the townsfolk are wary of a new Pride--especially when Dan hears the strange music and talks about it. And even when he seems to make new friends--the handyman Billy Ben and the twins Pip and Gilly--there is unexplained tension. He's just not sure who he can trust. Especially once he realizes that someone is still searching for that missing briefcase and someone is setting him up to be a scapegoat when things go wrong. Can Dan find the case before his unknown enemy and will he be able to prove himself innocent when the time comes?
Carleton does an excellent job with atmosphere and using the witch legend to full advantage. It may be the middle of summer, but the foggy marshland, eerie nights in the country, storms rolling in, and the spooky music near the bridge all work to make this a very appropriate book to read during the month of Halloween. We get all the trappings for a spooky story--a witch's ghost, creepy music, an ancient curse (uttered by the original "witch"), a large, ugly black dog, and an unexplained death. If the atmosphere hadn't been so good and the characterizations of Dan, Pip, Gilly, and Uncle Julian hadn't been so vivid, it might have been easy to read this as a Scooby-Doo type mystery. After all, good ol' [redacted] winds up being the villain and s/he nearly says "If it hadn't been for those meddling kids..." But Dan's struggles against loneliness and his efforts to find friends in a new place are very poignant and his bravery in the face of those against him and the mystery surrounding him makes this a better than average story.
It was also good how Carleton used Dan's overcoming his fear of swimming to help him solve the mystery of what happened to the briefcase. If he hadn't finally made friends with Pip and Gilly and learned to swim with them, the mystery would never have been solved. There are a lot of good lessons about overcoming--overcoming one's own doubts and fears; overcoming prejudice; and overcoming superstition. The one thing I didn't care for was the escape of the villain at the end...after all that s/he had done we (and Dan) deserved to see them hauled off to jail.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting portions of review. Thanks.
July 5, 2014
If, like me, you've read a bunch of Hardy Boys mysteries as a kid, then you were in for a shock if you chanced upon this mystery! Grim stuff for a YA novel, there's a reference to a witches' sabbath on the 2nd page.
The main character is a bit brooding perhaps (unlike the good-natured Hardys), and perhaps the identity of the bad guy is a bit too obvious, but the mystery is well-concealed and the book is quite gripping right up to the end.
Reading it now as an adult, I'm amazed that there's so much depth in the book's messages too. Wisdom and insight into loyalty and friendships are adroitly weaved into the plot.
Truly, this book deserves a wider audience. If legions of jr. high students can read "To Kill a Mockingbird" for decades upon end, this book is a worthy alternative for any English teacher who wants a new horizon for a novel study.
The main character is a bit brooding perhaps (unlike the good-natured Hardys), and perhaps the identity of the bad guy is a bit too obvious, but the mystery is well-concealed and the book is quite gripping right up to the end.
Reading it now as an adult, I'm amazed that there's so much depth in the book's messages too. Wisdom and insight into loyalty and friendships are adroitly weaved into the plot.
Truly, this book deserves a wider audience. If legions of jr. high students can read "To Kill a Mockingbird" for decades upon end, this book is a worthy alternative for any English teacher who wants a new horizon for a novel study.
March 17, 2017
I first read this book in 6th grade, and then I could not remember the title so I could find it again until there it was at Goodwill with the cover I remembered! It's a great combo of ghost story and mystery and a courageous boy, Dan Pride, a lonely orphan looking for a family, a place to fit in. To talk much about the plot might spoil it, and it does move right along. Suffice it to say that the atmosphere is creepy in just the right amount, the soothsayer is awesomely St. Francis-like, and the denouement is perfect. I felt like a delighted ten year old again, and that's worth something. It also has a great misshapen dog in it--again, just the right amount of terrifying. Revenge is a poor substitute for love and friendship, as it turns out.
November 12, 2017
I read this years ago in elementary school. I was enthralled! And it stuck with me. I've always wanted to find it again. To remember it with such fondness years later definitely deserves 5 stars. Hopefully, it will be a warm reunion when I finally get to read it again.
November 24, 2007
I have reread this book so many times that it's falling apart - but I still have it on my bookshelves. It was one of the first "ghost" books I read.
April 1, 2023
I loved this mystery! This was one of the first of many mystery books that I would grow to enjoy. In todays world it's probably not that awesome, but at the time I read it, it was!
March 14, 2023
I first read Mystery of the Witches’ Bridge by Barbee Oliver Carleton when I was eight years old and it remains one of my favorite children’s books to this day. When I take it off the shelf I’m transported back to Lincoln Elementary School, a long-gone pile of brick that loomed over street and student like a troll. But the place lit up for me during the Scholastic Book Fair.
I’m pretty sure I forked over the queenly sum of seventy-five cents because I thought Mystery of the Witches’ Bridge was a scary book. Even as third grader I had a yen for horror—I’d double time the half-mile home to catch the latest episode of Dark Shadows, and Saturday afternoons were reserved for cheesy, badly edited horror movie double features that aired on channel 17 (a local UHF station—look it up, youngsters).
I was wrong about Witches’ Bridge, though. While it has tense moments that ratchet up towards a nailbiter of a climax, there’s nary a whisper of the supernatural to be found. There is, however, beautifully sketched atmosphere, interesting historical details, true friendship, horrible betrayal, real danger, and a very, VERY good ending.
Here’s a quick summary:
After his parents are killed in a plane crash, thirteen-year-old Dan Pride returns to his ancestral home on the coast of Massachusetts to live with his reclusive uncle. Dan befriends two local children, makes peace with his uncle’s massive mastiff, and learns about his family’s tragic history from the handyman. The salt marshes that surround Pride’s Point offer adventure and danger in equal measure, and the mystery—a combination of family secrets and a briefcase full of cash—moves the story along at a brisk pace.
While there are some cheerful moments—most of which involve Dan and his friends—this is not a light, breezy book. One of Dan’s ancestors, the “witch” of the title, is executed by pressing (it’s awful—look up Giles Corey in Wikipedia for details), and the description of the execution is haunting. The harrowing big finish takes place at night (of course) in the salt marshes (of COURSE) during a wild storm (OF COURSE). The good (not happy, but good) ending ties up all the loose threads and is emotionally satisfying without being sentimental.
Some books stick, no matter how many years have passed since the first read. Mystery of the Witches’ Bridge is one of them. While it’s no longer in print, you can snag a used copy from Amazon, ThriftBooks, or other used booksellers. If you are looking for a tight, compelling narrative for your tween readers (or for younger kids who read beyond their grade level, like yours truly), Mystery of the Witches’ Bridge delivers the goods.
I’m pretty sure I forked over the queenly sum of seventy-five cents because I thought Mystery of the Witches’ Bridge was a scary book. Even as third grader I had a yen for horror—I’d double time the half-mile home to catch the latest episode of Dark Shadows, and Saturday afternoons were reserved for cheesy, badly edited horror movie double features that aired on channel 17 (a local UHF station—look it up, youngsters).
I was wrong about Witches’ Bridge, though. While it has tense moments that ratchet up towards a nailbiter of a climax, there’s nary a whisper of the supernatural to be found. There is, however, beautifully sketched atmosphere, interesting historical details, true friendship, horrible betrayal, real danger, and a very, VERY good ending.
Here’s a quick summary:
After his parents are killed in a plane crash, thirteen-year-old Dan Pride returns to his ancestral home on the coast of Massachusetts to live with his reclusive uncle. Dan befriends two local children, makes peace with his uncle’s massive mastiff, and learns about his family’s tragic history from the handyman. The salt marshes that surround Pride’s Point offer adventure and danger in equal measure, and the mystery—a combination of family secrets and a briefcase full of cash—moves the story along at a brisk pace.
While there are some cheerful moments—most of which involve Dan and his friends—this is not a light, breezy book. One of Dan’s ancestors, the “witch” of the title, is executed by pressing (it’s awful—look up Giles Corey in Wikipedia for details), and the description of the execution is haunting. The harrowing big finish takes place at night (of course) in the salt marshes (of COURSE) during a wild storm (OF COURSE). The good (not happy, but good) ending ties up all the loose threads and is emotionally satisfying without being sentimental.
Some books stick, no matter how many years have passed since the first read. Mystery of the Witches’ Bridge is one of them. While it’s no longer in print, you can snag a used copy from Amazon, ThriftBooks, or other used booksellers. If you are looking for a tight, compelling narrative for your tween readers (or for younger kids who read beyond their grade level, like yours truly), Mystery of the Witches’ Bridge delivers the goods.
March 21, 2024
Dan Pride is cast into a family mystery in New England that delivers all the trappings of a taut mystery delivering childhood adventure and intrigue—a mysterious marsh, hauntings by his ancestors, witchcraft, and an evil bewitched dog. Dan’s an orphan and angry. He’s floundering for a place to call home. But is Pride’s Point it? After finally braving the marshes and the Witches Bridge, Dan saves the beguiling dog, Caliban—the saving bond is formed. Dan’s journey to find a home and battle back the curse that is the town’s lore, the story is touching, emotional, personal, and above all, entrapping. I felt heartbroken at his troubles. Cheered for the forward steps he took. And was relieved when he and Caliban bonded. This is a story that is near timeless, and in a time when youth needs outlets of imagination off a keyboard and screen, this book is one that should be on the top of their lists even now!
I give it 10 stars of 5. It is what opened my heart and mind to books and storytelling. I remember resisting my teachers and not wanting to read it. My angry, abusive father scolded me when he caught me with it. Yet, this story drew me in—commanded me to read and finish. It began building my strength to fight back at my own cursed home. Thank you, Barbee. You will forever be my hero.
I give it 10 stars of 5. It is what opened my heart and mind to books and storytelling. I remember resisting my teachers and not wanting to read it. My angry, abusive father scolded me when he caught me with it. Yet, this story drew me in—commanded me to read and finish. It began building my strength to fight back at my own cursed home. Thank you, Barbee. You will forever be my hero.
December 25, 2023
An orphaned boy is taken in by his closest living relative, his reclusive uncle, who carries the burden of a local feud that began with a witch trial. This is a fascinating little book. The actual plot is an adequate if unremarkable classic MG adventure story: family secrets, local feuds, a hammy antagonist, and a wealth of tortured miscommunication made bearable by a quiet internal focus which centers the protagonist's frustrated need for friendship and family.
But, line by line, the writing is phenomenal. The setting is ridiculously evocative -
- and that tone often touches the character work, especially in the darker, moodier sections:
It's a pleasure to read, and elevates an otherwise-okay book to something special. The bulk of the reviews of this are from readers who imprinted on this as children, and I can see why it left that mark.
But, line by line, the writing is phenomenal. The setting is ridiculously evocative -
With each step the island, solid and safe, fell behind. The salt marsh gradually became the whole world, half land, half sea, wide and bright and windswept, and threatening.
- and that tone often touches the character work, especially in the darker, moodier sections:
Dan's mind rocked. His uncle believed! In spite of what he had said about superstition, his uncle believed in the witch's curse! The floor beneath Dan's feet became suddenly like the marsh, unsure, tremulous.
It's a pleasure to read, and elevates an otherwise-okay book to something special. The bulk of the reviews of this are from readers who imprinted on this as children, and I can see why it left that mark.
February 18, 2025
A nice little kid's mystery, meant for kids in the 60s certainly, not for kids today who would hardly know what half of the dated concepts in here refer to. Some of the twists were pretty obvious but that's reading it as an adult, and they weren't telegraphed TOO strongly anyway. The one guy ending up being the antagonist was actually kind of a surprise, too, and it was written really well - I actually think this would be a great read for kids to not automatically trust people and judge based on deeper things.
Knocking a star off because too many of the conflicts happened due to people simply not communicating. Like, the uncle or whatever who took the kid in was so mad at the kid and the kid was so afraid and yet it could've been solved by either party just communicating the basic facts in any way at all. This happened multiple times and just got frustrating.
Still, a fun and very exciting book, and I loved the secret tunnels and construction and history and everything. Really fun!
Knocking a star off because too many of the conflicts happened due to people simply not communicating. Like, the uncle or whatever who took the kid in was so mad at the kid and the kid was so afraid and yet it could've been solved by either party just communicating the basic facts in any way at all. This happened multiple times and just got frustrating.
Still, a fun and very exciting book, and I loved the secret tunnels and construction and history and everything. Really fun!
May 3, 2021
Great fun. My husband said this was one of his favorites from childhood and told me to read it-glad he did.
Dan Pride is sent to live with his reclusive uncle at an isolated mansion on an island off the coast of New England. Dan's family is estranged from and despised by their neighbors in their town due to a long history of tragedies and superstition. Dan must unravel the mysteries of the past in order to belong in this strange new world.
It's simply a good story, well told. As an adult, the identity of the villain is pretty obvious, maybe not to younger readers. However, it's still a very entertaining ride getting there. This is superior children's lit, making great use of setting and atmosphere, with well drawn characters and exciting plot. It's a shame this isn't better known; it deserves to be the kind of book parents pass down to their own kids.
Dan Pride is sent to live with his reclusive uncle at an isolated mansion on an island off the coast of New England. Dan's family is estranged from and despised by their neighbors in their town due to a long history of tragedies and superstition. Dan must unravel the mysteries of the past in order to belong in this strange new world.
It's simply a good story, well told. As an adult, the identity of the villain is pretty obvious, maybe not to younger readers. However, it's still a very entertaining ride getting there. This is superior children's lit, making great use of setting and atmosphere, with well drawn characters and exciting plot. It's a shame this isn't better known; it deserves to be the kind of book parents pass down to their own kids.
October 20, 2024
Just came here to say I have read nearly 1,500 books and this remains my all-time favorite! I have read it at least eight times. After meeting a loathsome girl in high school who claimed it was also her favorite, I wrote a raving fan letter to the author, Barbee Oliver Carleton. Mrs. Carleton wrote a lovely answer, and we remained in touch throughout most of the rest of her life, so I owe this awful girl something. I enjoyed three visits with the Carletons, the second in company with my beloved mother. The Carletons took us to some of the sites which inspired the book and other places of interest. I have a picture of the original paperback cover (not the one shown here) in my cell phone case so I carry it with me every day. I met a man online who wants to make a movie of this book and put him in touch with the Carletons. I wish him every success.
February 1, 2021
I adore the setting! Ya, a bit biased. I grew up in Massachusetts. Instantly felt like I was a kid again reading this book. Barbee Carleton was a local author, one that I missed as a kid. That’s a true shame because this book is a tightly written, fun mystery that would hook any young reader, nevermind an adult.
While the story does a fantastic job of heightening the supernatural mood, it never slaps it on like a ghoulish syrup that some “spooky” books do. Carleton gets you right into the suspense by bringing the New England landscape alive. And while you may or may not get swept up by the characters, you’ll certainly feel the salty marsh air and get pulled along on this tense adventure.
Definitely recommend if you want a more realistic, gothic mystery.
While the story does a fantastic job of heightening the supernatural mood, it never slaps it on like a ghoulish syrup that some “spooky” books do. Carleton gets you right into the suspense by bringing the New England landscape alive. And while you may or may not get swept up by the characters, you’ll certainly feel the salty marsh air and get pulled along on this tense adventure.
Definitely recommend if you want a more realistic, gothic mystery.
June 24, 2019
I wish I would have read this book as a child so I could appreciate it more as an adult. It was just blah to me. I didn’t get any childish feels from it although I did really enjoy the main character. I was hoping I’d get transported into this time and place but I just couldn’t do it so it disappoints me. Maybe it’s because I don’t understand all the marshes talk and causeways and 90% of the book is based on the waters. I just didn’t know what they were talking about so I couldn’t place myself darn it
February 7, 2022
I read this when I was young and I still have it in my library. It's a great mystery and has a strong basis in historical fact---particularly the cruelty of the eastern seaboard witch hunts. I really recommend this for young teens and for adults who love a good story with great character development.
October 1, 2022
Even as an adult I enjoyed this story so much. I didn’t read this as a kid but my mom did and gave me her copy. Even though it’s written for a younger audience the writing and storytelling is for everyone. For older audiences some point are probably very predictable and somewhat cheesy. However, the messages are timeless and the images are beautiful. I couldn’t put it down.
November 14, 2022
This was a chance to revisit my childhood. The title caught my eye in a booksale and brought back memories of the Scholastic Book Fair flyers filled with great books to buy. I always wanted more than my allowed number. This was one and thought I remembered little of the plot I recalled the title and the eerie atmosphere.
March 13, 2025
This was a well layed out juvenile mystery. I was surprised by the twists and turns the book took, while also getting me invested into Dan's emotional journey. The author did an excellent job of creating atmosphere, making the reader feel like they were on a marshy small island with the characters.
October 26, 2024
This is the second Barbee Oliver Carleton book I’ve read and it is just as good as the first. The storyline is brilliant, enjoyable, fast paced, and thrilling. I didn’t see any of the plot twists coming and very much enjoyed every chapter! One of the most interesting books I’ve ever read.
July 15, 2018
I read this over and over as a child....and had forgotten about it until today and may actually read it one last time. I
April 21, 2020
it's very mysterious
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