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Salem VI #1
Salem VI: Rebecca's Rising
Book by Heath, Jack, Thompson, John
336 pages, Hardcover
First published July 16, 2012
25 people are currently reading
601 people want to read
About the author
Jack Heath
2 books17 followersJack Heath is the host of NH Today, New Hampshire’s only live afternoon radio talk show, and cohost of Sport Legends of New England with Bob Lobel, which can be seen throughout New England. A direct descendant of Rebecca Nurse, the last person to be tried and hanged during the Salem witch trials, and Ann R. Putnam, one of her accusers, his first novel, Salem VI, is an altogether modern take on Arthur Miller’s The Crucible.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
December 4, 2012
John Andrews is the editor of a small New England newspaper, The Salem News. A one time heavy hitting news anchor with ABC news, he'd stepped down four years ago in order to spend more time with his wife Julie and daughter Sara. But things changed when his wife died in a tragic car accident, leaving him an empty-nester, reliant on the bottle to numb his pain. Now, as he's trying to pick up the shards of his life four years later, he begins to see the ghost of an ancestor that passed dozen of decades ago. Being a direct descendant of both the accusers and victims of the Salem witch trials isn't news to him, but the spirit of Rebecca Nurse, tried and hung as a convicted witch, will reveal to him things about his family he'd never even thought of in his wildest nightmares. As it turns out, Andrews family has fallen prey to tragedy after tragedy. With the help of Rebecca nurse and his assistant editor Amy, John will begin to question if his family's tragic past was just a statistical anomaly, or if something as nefarious as an centuries old Satanic cult is as the heart of it.
This book caught me completely unawares. I'd downloaded it some time ago and finally picked it at random to read out of over 400 books on my little kindle machine. It sucked me in from the get go.
Anything dealing with the Salem Witch trials, one of the darker periods of US history, tends to fascinate me. With VI, you not only get a direct descendent of both the Putnams and the Nurses dealing with family secrets, but a man with a haunted past dealing with a haunted PRESENT and Satanic cults! Now, how cool is that?
It wouldn't be cool if it wasn't well written with good characters, but Heath and Thompson have those both covered. John Andrews is the right mix of broken, tough, smart, and flawed. He's mourning his wife but he's not constantly lamenting and crying. He's a good reporter but he's not always the smartest man in the room--he knows his limitations. He keeps his pain bottled up inside but he's not constantly angry and he doesn't take out his pain on others. These characteristics make him interesting to read. In fact, all of the characters are interesting to read, from the major players to the minor players. Amy is smart, beautiful and a hard worker, but she's not the 'you'll love me and hate me for not loving you back because you know you don't have a chance' type. John's friends are colorful as well and strike the right balance of sarcasm and general affection for their friend and vice versa. As far as the antagonistic forces, they also have their own motivations and, as more is revealed about them, some aren't exactly as black and white as you'd may think at first.
The writing is very good. Other than a few passages (which I won't mention because that would mean putting in a spoiler and I don't do spoilers!) which seemed to drag on a bit, the book moves fast and smoothly. The story ebs and flows nicely, going from action, to reaction, with no hiccups. The horror sequences as well as the action sequences are well done, and even the talking head moments are moved along nicely with dialogue that's genuine, consistent, and flows as well as the narrative. Some of my favorite parts of the novel were when John is trading insults and insights with several of his friends. Plenty of one liners fly in those conversations with some zingers that are genuinely laugh out loud funny which brings a nice element of comic relief.
For the most part, the story is plotted pretty tightly. There were one or two things that I had to think twice about but they're few and far between. The authors really use the history of the Salem Witch Trials to good effect here. It's not just a back drop, but it's a living, breathing part of the story and what's more, when the history is detailed in the book, it doesn't come off as a lesson. A lot of times it's revealed in the poppy dialogue between well written characters.
With good characters, a nice spin on a dark part of history, ghosts, gore, action, Satanic cults, zippy dialogue, a couple twists here and there, and quicksilver narrative, this is really a nice blend of genres that fans of thrillers and mysteries in particular should give a read. Really REALLY fun page turner. 4.5 stars (but I gave it a five up on the good ole 'hose do you rate this item' cause that's how I roll)
This book caught me completely unawares. I'd downloaded it some time ago and finally picked it at random to read out of over 400 books on my little kindle machine. It sucked me in from the get go.
Anything dealing with the Salem Witch trials, one of the darker periods of US history, tends to fascinate me. With VI, you not only get a direct descendent of both the Putnams and the Nurses dealing with family secrets, but a man with a haunted past dealing with a haunted PRESENT and Satanic cults! Now, how cool is that?
It wouldn't be cool if it wasn't well written with good characters, but Heath and Thompson have those both covered. John Andrews is the right mix of broken, tough, smart, and flawed. He's mourning his wife but he's not constantly lamenting and crying. He's a good reporter but he's not always the smartest man in the room--he knows his limitations. He keeps his pain bottled up inside but he's not constantly angry and he doesn't take out his pain on others. These characteristics make him interesting to read. In fact, all of the characters are interesting to read, from the major players to the minor players. Amy is smart, beautiful and a hard worker, but she's not the 'you'll love me and hate me for not loving you back because you know you don't have a chance' type. John's friends are colorful as well and strike the right balance of sarcasm and general affection for their friend and vice versa. As far as the antagonistic forces, they also have their own motivations and, as more is revealed about them, some aren't exactly as black and white as you'd may think at first.
The writing is very good. Other than a few passages (which I won't mention because that would mean putting in a spoiler and I don't do spoilers!) which seemed to drag on a bit, the book moves fast and smoothly. The story ebs and flows nicely, going from action, to reaction, with no hiccups. The horror sequences as well as the action sequences are well done, and even the talking head moments are moved along nicely with dialogue that's genuine, consistent, and flows as well as the narrative. Some of my favorite parts of the novel were when John is trading insults and insights with several of his friends. Plenty of one liners fly in those conversations with some zingers that are genuinely laugh out loud funny which brings a nice element of comic relief.
For the most part, the story is plotted pretty tightly. There were one or two things that I had to think twice about but they're few and far between. The authors really use the history of the Salem Witch Trials to good effect here. It's not just a back drop, but it's a living, breathing part of the story and what's more, when the history is detailed in the book, it doesn't come off as a lesson. A lot of times it's revealed in the poppy dialogue between well written characters.
With good characters, a nice spin on a dark part of history, ghosts, gore, action, Satanic cults, zippy dialogue, a couple twists here and there, and quicksilver narrative, this is really a nice blend of genres that fans of thrillers and mysteries in particular should give a read. Really REALLY fun page turner. 4.5 stars (but I gave it a five up on the good ole 'hose do you rate this item' cause that's how I roll)
September 27, 2013
The Salem News editor, John Andrews, is mourning the death if his wife, four years earlier, and lives in the house inherited from his aunt. Along with the house he also inherited a valuable painting that has been the property of his family for several generations. He had to make a promise never to sell it and always keep it hanging in the exact spot. The old woman in it always made him feel uncomfortable, until one day when he discovered something different about her.
The book is well-written, suspenseful and intriguing, casting a new light on the Salem Witch Trials. It is very similar to the Da Vinci Code, which questioned history as we know it. This book also ask the question 'what if?' and present a new theory to the circumstances which lead to the death of the so-called witches. Were they really witches? His own believes would be severely tested. The deeper he gets lured into the events as well as into his family research, the more shocked he becomes as facts from his family's past are revealed.
This is history with a supernatural twist. It will depend on what you believe is true and what in this world is possible. A relaxing, adventurous mystery.
The book is well-written, suspenseful and intriguing, casting a new light on the Salem Witch Trials. It is very similar to the Da Vinci Code, which questioned history as we know it. This book also ask the question 'what if?' and present a new theory to the circumstances which lead to the death of the so-called witches. Were they really witches? His own believes would be severely tested. The deeper he gets lured into the events as well as into his family research, the more shocked he becomes as facts from his family's past are revealed.
This is history with a supernatural twist. It will depend on what you believe is true and what in this world is possible. A relaxing, adventurous mystery.
October 17, 2012
Everyone knows about the Salem Witch Trials. This book although a work of fiction in my opinon could of been a true story to a point. It was a great play of history repeating itself. Family secrets are often passed down to generation after generation.
From the title we know that somehow Rebecca Nurse is involved. I honestly believe a lot of times that little voice or gut feeling we feel could be a family member that has passed on. They are our guardian angels. How many times do we say about a loved one that has passed...they are an angel now or they will always be with us?
John Andrews felt something was going on in his town and he would not stop until he found out what it was. The truth is far more shocking than he ever dreamed.
This book was definitely a page turner. I wanted to shut myself off from the world and just climb into this story. There were times my heart started to beat and I was able to feel what the characters were feeling.
I highly recommend this book to everyone.
From the title we know that somehow Rebecca Nurse is involved. I honestly believe a lot of times that little voice or gut feeling we feel could be a family member that has passed on. They are our guardian angels. How many times do we say about a loved one that has passed...they are an angel now or they will always be with us?
John Andrews felt something was going on in his town and he would not stop until he found out what it was. The truth is far more shocking than he ever dreamed.
This book was definitely a page turner. I wanted to shut myself off from the world and just climb into this story. There were times my heart started to beat and I was able to feel what the characters were feeling.
I highly recommend this book to everyone.
June 12, 2013
This book quite honestly reminded me of the Da Vinci Code, taking a historical context connected to a main character by family, and then delving into a detective-like account of uncovering the next piece of the puzzle. Inhabitants of Salem will probably be unhappy about the way that this book seemingly turns the town inside-out looking for its secrets in the same way that aficionados of Leonardo Da Vinci had their feathers ruffled by the implications that Dan Brown cast on the well-known author’s work. Let’s be honest, the air of mystery that surrounds the town is still very much present, and the Salem Witch Trials have branded the town, for better or for worse. Kudos to the authors for refusing to skirt around the issue, instead taking a controversial piece of history and embellishing upon it. Speculating about how things could potentially be tied to one another, the novel makes the reader wonder if there could have really been something going on while following John Andrews through his sleuthing to understand the mysteries of the Salem Witch Trials and the mysterious disappearances still plaguing the town today.
October 25, 2012
First thing that comes to mind is WOW, this book had me at the get go. I received this book from Good Reads on 10-23 and finished on 10-23 and did it in about 7 hours, I couldn't put it down. What an amazing story! I hope there will be a book 2. I've always been fascinated by the witch trials & have read just about every book out there. The spin on this story that John's ancestors are trying to come into the future to correct the past & present is a very possibility that can't be ignored by him even though he is still in mourning over the death of his wife.When he unwillingly comes face to face with that realism he wonders if her death might have anything to do with past, so with the help of his asst. he begins to unearth some details that will maybe will give everyone a bit of closure and some hope for the future.
I recommend this book to everyone who are history buffs like me ,but please make sure you don't have anything planned within the following hours after starting it because you won't be able to put it down!
I recommend this book to everyone who are history buffs like me ,but please make sure you don't have anything planned within the following hours after starting it because you won't be able to put it down!
October 31, 2012
I loved this book. I've been a lifelong New Englander. I grew up with stories of Rebecca Nurse and the Salem Witch Trials. Each summer our family visited Salem and learned more about it's history. To read a book written by an actual descendant of Rebecca Nurse was a treat.
This is a fabulous story. The characters seem real to me. John Andrews is a wonderful protagonist. You will laugh with him, feel his pain, and cry with him. You will root for him and feel hope for his future. At the beginning of the book, I was a little spooked by the ghost of Rebecca Nurse, but by the end, I loved her as a character.
This is a perfect book to read in one sitting. I highly recommend this book. As a lover of history, I was thrilled to read this story. I literally could not put it down. That doesn't happen too often with me. This is the first of a trilogy and I look forward to the further adventures of John Andrews.
I give this book a resounding 5/5 stars. (or pumpkins as it IS Halloween).
By the way, this book would make a fabulous movie.....
This is a fabulous story. The characters seem real to me. John Andrews is a wonderful protagonist. You will laugh with him, feel his pain, and cry with him. You will root for him and feel hope for his future. At the beginning of the book, I was a little spooked by the ghost of Rebecca Nurse, but by the end, I loved her as a character.
This is a perfect book to read in one sitting. I highly recommend this book. As a lover of history, I was thrilled to read this story. I literally could not put it down. That doesn't happen too often with me. This is the first of a trilogy and I look forward to the further adventures of John Andrews.
I give this book a resounding 5/5 stars. (or pumpkins as it IS Halloween).
By the way, this book would make a fabulous movie.....
Want to read
September 28, 2012will see Free today 9/27/12
from amazon:
"I found Salem VI: Rebecca's Rising a fascinating read, not only because the book is exceptionally well written, but because the authors have done much the same thing I did when I wrote Gallows Hill. Both books are grounded in historical fact, but we (the authors) then asked ourselves the proverbial fiction-writers' question: "What if?" What if the horror didn't end when the witch hunts ended, but lay dormant, re-emerging in the 21sr Century? Our imaginations took us in two very different directions, yet the stories that resulted are linked by that terrifying concept. Salem VI is a book I was unable to put down." -Lois Duncan, author of Gallows Hill and numerous other suspense novels involving the occult.
from amazon:
"I found Salem VI: Rebecca's Rising a fascinating read, not only because the book is exceptionally well written, but because the authors have done much the same thing I did when I wrote Gallows Hill. Both books are grounded in historical fact, but we (the authors) then asked ourselves the proverbial fiction-writers' question: "What if?" What if the horror didn't end when the witch hunts ended, but lay dormant, re-emerging in the 21sr Century? Our imaginations took us in two very different directions, yet the stories that resulted are linked by that terrifying concept. Salem VI is a book I was unable to put down." -Lois Duncan, author of Gallows Hill and numerous other suspense novels involving the occult.
October 21, 2012
Maybe it's the season, maybe I was just ready for this kind of read, but Salem VI,Rebecca's Rising was great!The reader was grabbed right away, and sometimes given a little shake for good measure. And once again,getting a little background on the author is very helpful in getting a feel for the story.
The author,like the main character, is descended from both one of the accused and the accuser in the infamous Salem witch trials of the late 1600's.Makes for am interesting dynamic right off.
And there has long been a theory(though not a popular one) that maybe the witch trials were a cover-up of a deeper darker nature.That is the premise of this book.The end of the book was open-ended. I hope this means there are more installments to come.
The author,like the main character, is descended from both one of the accused and the accuser in the infamous Salem witch trials of the late 1600's.Makes for am interesting dynamic right off.
And there has long been a theory(though not a popular one) that maybe the witch trials were a cover-up of a deeper darker nature.That is the premise of this book.The end of the book was open-ended. I hope this means there are more installments to come.
July 16, 2018
Not my usual genre, but the suspense and pace appealed to the Dan Brown part of my personality. A good story, heavy on the descriptions, with some unexpected twists and turns along the way.
January 1, 2024
A 3.5* that I'm rounding down to 3.
Really interesting story and pretty well written. Revealed clues along the way and kept me engaged. Looking forward to seeing where it goes in the next book.
Really interesting story and pretty well written. Revealed clues along the way and kept me engaged. Looking forward to seeing where it goes in the next book.
February 6, 2013
I suppose I need to bang out a review on this one-the author is on the local radio show here on 107.7, and on this site. Ok, here we go...
Overall, I would rate this one a fun read. The plot was entertaining, and moved at a good clip. If you really need the plot, here you go-the 'Reader's Digest' condensed version. Alcoholic news reporter in Salem, MA starts seeing ghost of one of his relatives from the old 'witch trials' in his house. He feels it might relate to disappearances of seemingly random people in Salem. He gets some help from a sexy reporter, and starts to find that the missing people may be tied into some freak-ass coven in modern times, and that there may have been more to the old trials than people knew. He investigates, and learns things. People get killed. Not everyone is as it seems. Ends with a setup for the next book. The End. How did I do?
OK, for a rookie author like Heath, I would actually rate this a 3.90. Very good job for a first-timer. The plot was a new idea (ain't many of those anymore) and it had enough twists to keep me interested. Sure, I guessed a good chunk of them, but not all of them-and that is all you need. I really got a kick of the thought he put into the rituals of the coven, and a good deal of thought was given to tying the past to the present-well done! He gives it to you in dribs and drabs, instead of you getting it all at once, which I like. I hate just getting a big revealing at the end-I prefer clues to let me figure it out. Personal preference.
Ok, for any author, this book would be about a 3.2. It is fun, but not a knockout. Things I would like to see worked on:
1. stop having the ghost knitting every damn time-give her a bit more dimension. Have the bitch come out of the walls, and give her a bit more to do! Even some gestures from her would be nice.
2. One scene involved people gutted and hung up, and it was lacking. I am sure Heath tried, but the descriptions did not do the scene justice. If you want lessons on that, try reading some of the lyrics from Broken Hope's old guitarist, Jeremy Wagner. The man was a Michelangelo when it came to describing gore, Heath should check it out. If you want to throw in some blood, make sure you can convey it correctly. Wagner was great at it.
3. What idiot edited this? I found at least four screwed up sentences that broke the laws of grammar. Who is the publishing company employing? Example: the book is called 'Salem VI,' yet at the top of every page in the book, it says 'Salem IV." What the fuck? Just nit-picking, but I used to do tech writing-what do you expect?
Overall, a very good first go-round. I think the story idea has a lot of potential, and based on the ending, it can move to a worldwide scale-not just Salem, MA as far as where the story is set. The writing is a bit rough, but with what is there, I think Heath has the potential to develop into a really great writer of suspense. Time will tell, I will be waiting for the second one!
Overall, I would rate this one a fun read. The plot was entertaining, and moved at a good clip. If you really need the plot, here you go-the 'Reader's Digest' condensed version. Alcoholic news reporter in Salem, MA starts seeing ghost of one of his relatives from the old 'witch trials' in his house. He feels it might relate to disappearances of seemingly random people in Salem. He gets some help from a sexy reporter, and starts to find that the missing people may be tied into some freak-ass coven in modern times, and that there may have been more to the old trials than people knew. He investigates, and learns things. People get killed. Not everyone is as it seems. Ends with a setup for the next book. The End. How did I do?
OK, for a rookie author like Heath, I would actually rate this a 3.90. Very good job for a first-timer. The plot was a new idea (ain't many of those anymore) and it had enough twists to keep me interested. Sure, I guessed a good chunk of them, but not all of them-and that is all you need. I really got a kick of the thought he put into the rituals of the coven, and a good deal of thought was given to tying the past to the present-well done! He gives it to you in dribs and drabs, instead of you getting it all at once, which I like. I hate just getting a big revealing at the end-I prefer clues to let me figure it out. Personal preference.
Ok, for any author, this book would be about a 3.2. It is fun, but not a knockout. Things I would like to see worked on:
1. stop having the ghost knitting every damn time-give her a bit more dimension. Have the bitch come out of the walls, and give her a bit more to do! Even some gestures from her would be nice.
2. One scene involved people gutted and hung up, and it was lacking. I am sure Heath tried, but the descriptions did not do the scene justice. If you want lessons on that, try reading some of the lyrics from Broken Hope's old guitarist, Jeremy Wagner. The man was a Michelangelo when it came to describing gore, Heath should check it out. If you want to throw in some blood, make sure you can convey it correctly. Wagner was great at it.
3. What idiot edited this? I found at least four screwed up sentences that broke the laws of grammar. Who is the publishing company employing? Example: the book is called 'Salem VI,' yet at the top of every page in the book, it says 'Salem IV." What the fuck? Just nit-picking, but I used to do tech writing-what do you expect?
Overall, a very good first go-round. I think the story idea has a lot of potential, and based on the ending, it can move to a worldwide scale-not just Salem, MA as far as where the story is set. The writing is a bit rough, but with what is there, I think Heath has the potential to develop into a really great writer of suspense. Time will tell, I will be waiting for the second one!
October 29, 2012
I've always been fascinated by the Salem witch trials after seeing The Crucible, so it wasn't hard to agree to review this one. Rather than go down the route of an action-packed conspiracy thriller, Jack Heath and John Thompson have gone the route of a more character-driven story and as such it stands out much more than just another religious/conspiracy thriller. What made a God-fearing Puritan community turn against their own?
John Andrews escaped a fire at his college dorm, due to hearing the voice of a woman in his head urging him to wake up. Andrews didn't know it, but the fire was the first of many attempts on his life. He is descended from Rebecca Nurse, one of the accused witches hanged at Salem, and also from Ann Putman, one of Rebecca's accusers.
There is a portrait of Rebecca Nurse in the house he inherited from his aunt, and as part of the will, he must agree never to part with it or sell it. John has never liked it, he always thought Rebecca looked very disapproving.
Four years after his wife's death, coming up to Halloween there have been a spate of runaways going missing. John keeps hearing a woman's voice in his head again, and it helps him save a baby. He hears screams coming from a shop called "Wicca Wonders", but no one else seems to hear it. Is he going mad or is something much more sinister going on?
The authors have created a sympathetic character in John Andrews and you are rooting for him as the story unfolds. However, what disappointed me was that we as readers know a lot about the who, where and why, long before John and Amy, his editor figure it out. It would have been more suspenseful for the readers to find out who the 'baddies' are at the same time as John and Amy. There was one of them who was a surprise near the end of the book, so that part was good.
Amy and John share some romance, but it fell flat for me, I didn't get any spark between them at all. The story would have worked just as well if they were investigating things as colleagues without the romance. Contrary to popular belief, some women will read books even if there is no romance in it.
I couldn't tell it was written by two different authors, the scenes blended so well. It's fast-paced and engaging with interesting characters and a different, imaginative, take on the Salem Witch trials.
John Andrews escaped a fire at his college dorm, due to hearing the voice of a woman in his head urging him to wake up. Andrews didn't know it, but the fire was the first of many attempts on his life. He is descended from Rebecca Nurse, one of the accused witches hanged at Salem, and also from Ann Putman, one of Rebecca's accusers.
There is a portrait of Rebecca Nurse in the house he inherited from his aunt, and as part of the will, he must agree never to part with it or sell it. John has never liked it, he always thought Rebecca looked very disapproving.
Four years after his wife's death, coming up to Halloween there have been a spate of runaways going missing. John keeps hearing a woman's voice in his head again, and it helps him save a baby. He hears screams coming from a shop called "Wicca Wonders", but no one else seems to hear it. Is he going mad or is something much more sinister going on?
The authors have created a sympathetic character in John Andrews and you are rooting for him as the story unfolds. However, what disappointed me was that we as readers know a lot about the who, where and why, long before John and Amy, his editor figure it out. It would have been more suspenseful for the readers to find out who the 'baddies' are at the same time as John and Amy. There was one of them who was a surprise near the end of the book, so that part was good.
Amy and John share some romance, but it fell flat for me, I didn't get any spark between them at all. The story would have worked just as well if they were investigating things as colleagues without the romance. Contrary to popular belief, some women will read books even if there is no romance in it.
I couldn't tell it was written by two different authors, the scenes blended so well. It's fast-paced and engaging with interesting characters and a different, imaginative, take on the Salem Witch trials.
December 13, 2012
Salem VI: Rebecca’s Rising begins outside a college dorm in the late 1970′s. The dorm is about to catch fire and inside is John Andrews. Having been drugged after drinking a keg he wakes to a woman yelling at him to get up. When he groggily opens his eyes he doesn’t seen anyone, but this woman keeps yelling at him to get up. When he finally does he sees his room is on fire and must help get his roommates and others out of the building. This is the first in many attempts on John’s life. We jump to present day where John is now an Editor of the Salem newspaper and retired from a prominent television reporting career. It is the fourth anniversary of his wife’s death and he begins to see his ancestor Rebecca Nurse. Rebecca Nurse was one of the women hung in Salem in the early 1690′s for witchcraft. John also happens to be a descendent of Ann Putnam who was Rebecca Nurse’s accuser. Strange things continue to happen to John. He is told by a voice in his head to save a baby carriage right before it is even in danger. He is continually seeing Rebecca Nurse also. John keeps all this to himself until he confides in his young Assistant Editor Amy. Amy believes him right away and they are on the hunt to find out the real reason for the Salem Witch hunts and the connections to many missing persons today.
This was a phenomenal book. I loved the incorporation of history with the suspense. John Thompson and Jack Heath’s writing is very fluid. It can be a difficult undertaking with a story such as this. There is already a lot of myths and information out there about the Salem witch trials. Taking the direction that they did was an excellent choice and very believable. Like I said earlier this is book one in a trilogy. I know I will be coming back to read the rest of the trilogy too. I can’t wait to find out what happens next and what new secrets we find out.
This was a phenomenal book. I loved the incorporation of history with the suspense. John Thompson and Jack Heath’s writing is very fluid. It can be a difficult undertaking with a story such as this. There is already a lot of myths and information out there about the Salem witch trials. Taking the direction that they did was an excellent choice and very believable. Like I said earlier this is book one in a trilogy. I know I will be coming back to read the rest of the trilogy too. I can’t wait to find out what happens next and what new secrets we find out.
June 10, 2014
“Salem VI” is a novel that twists history and modern times together in an original way. The story is about John Andrews, the editor of “Salem News”, who had recently lost his wife in an unfortunate accident. While he tries to deal with his wife’s death, mostly through alcohol, John is visited by Rebecca Nurse, his ancestor and a convicted witch from the infamous Salem witch trials. Through these visits from Rebecca, he has to deal with the possibility of a many century’s long battle between his ancestors and the forces of Satan’s followers. Motivated by the belief that his wife’s death could be the result of something far worse than an accident, John Andrews searches for the truth and finds that the truth can threaten his whole world and what he cares about most.
This book combines the aspects of a historical mystery with a modern day thriller, creating a twisting and turning plot line that cannot be ignored. “Salem VI” is definitely a page turner that deals with the concepts of good and evil and the concepts behind the eternal battles between the two. The use of a real historical figure, Rebecca Nurse, and other specific details from the events of Salem’s past solidifies John Andrews’ internal conflict and the urgency in dealing with the antagonists. The characters are complex and fascinating, particularly with John Andrews and his need to recognize his ancestors’ dark past. “Salem VI: Rebecca’s Rising” is the first book of a new trilogy that blends the historic, thriller, mystery, and romance that will make readers want to know what happens next.
This book combines the aspects of a historical mystery with a modern day thriller, creating a twisting and turning plot line that cannot be ignored. “Salem VI” is definitely a page turner that deals with the concepts of good and evil and the concepts behind the eternal battles between the two. The use of a real historical figure, Rebecca Nurse, and other specific details from the events of Salem’s past solidifies John Andrews’ internal conflict and the urgency in dealing with the antagonists. The characters are complex and fascinating, particularly with John Andrews and his need to recognize his ancestors’ dark past. “Salem VI: Rebecca’s Rising” is the first book of a new trilogy that blends the historic, thriller, mystery, and romance that will make readers want to know what happens next.
August 13, 2012
This book raises doubt to a new level of concern. Salem VI : Rebecca’s Rising challenges contemporary understanding of the witch trials of Salem. Beware: this book will be perceived as corrosive to the veneer of Salem history. Class warfare on the New England Brahmin? Not exactly. Ultimately, history yields to truth but getting there can get messy.
Rebecca's Rising compels you to re-examine any previous notion of Salem justice back 300 years' ago. The pace of the book betrays Heath’s roots as a journalist: sniffing the story, finding the lead and digging for the truth. The grace of the storytelling belies Thompson’s seasoned gifts to design narrative and to develop characters. The book’s emotional nuance works on many levels raising suspicion, betrayal and loss to the specter of the paranormal. Rebecca’s Rising captures your curiosity about a secret society whose infernal agenda strikes out at innocence masking motive in the silence of doubt.
The weight of the book-- the axis upon which is balances-- is flawless. The main character, John Andrews, champions the source of Good while Abigail Putnam confesses privately in Faustian despair, her pact with Evil. Their choices will strike a nerve in anyone who questions history, values truth and believes in the timeless powers of love and redemption. Neither side holds the monopoly and that is why this series works.
Read this book. Salem’s history will never be the same.
Rebecca's Rising compels you to re-examine any previous notion of Salem justice back 300 years' ago. The pace of the book betrays Heath’s roots as a journalist: sniffing the story, finding the lead and digging for the truth. The grace of the storytelling belies Thompson’s seasoned gifts to design narrative and to develop characters. The book’s emotional nuance works on many levels raising suspicion, betrayal and loss to the specter of the paranormal. Rebecca’s Rising captures your curiosity about a secret society whose infernal agenda strikes out at innocence masking motive in the silence of doubt.
The weight of the book-- the axis upon which is balances-- is flawless. The main character, John Andrews, champions the source of Good while Abigail Putnam confesses privately in Faustian despair, her pact with Evil. Their choices will strike a nerve in anyone who questions history, values truth and believes in the timeless powers of love and redemption. Neither side holds the monopoly and that is why this series works.
Read this book. Salem’s history will never be the same.
July 2, 2013
This book was filled with suspense and kept me reading to find out what John Andrews, an editor of a paper in Salem, would discover next. I could easily see it being converted to a film, because the plot is just so action-packed that it keeps its readers guessing about what will pop up on the next page. Even though it invokes the paranormal, I found the book believable because it didn’t stretch things too far-the influence of the seemingly omniscient Rebecca Nurse was just enough to keep things moving, but wasn’t overwhelming to the point where I felt like I was reading a Halloween-themed story. The thing that made this novel great was that it “uncovered” a “truth” that readers will want to believe (using quotes here, because remember, this is fiction), and what’s better than reading the story that confirms something that we could believe actually took place?
August 2, 2012
I received this book for free to review. I was excited about the subject matter so was looking forward to seeing where it went.
Overall, I found the book easy to read. There were things that were a bit annoying like the dialog when a scene from the past was happening, or the way the main characters figured things out so easily, and about how Rebecca was always described as embroidering.
I will say that the twists weren't terribly surprising, but they also were not something that you knew way in advance.
I thought the beginning of the book dragged on a bit, then the middle (the figuring stuff out) was too fast, but the end was a good pace and kept me interested. I will probably give the sequel a try and hope it keeps improving.
Overall, I found the book easy to read. There were things that were a bit annoying like the dialog when a scene from the past was happening, or the way the main characters figured things out so easily, and about how Rebecca was always described as embroidering.
I will say that the twists weren't terribly surprising, but they also were not something that you knew way in advance.
I thought the beginning of the book dragged on a bit, then the middle (the figuring stuff out) was too fast, but the end was a good pace and kept me interested. I will probably give the sequel a try and hope it keeps improving.
November 11, 2012
Of course i entered a goodreads competition to win a copy of this book, then after a while couldn't wait and bought it, then found out i'd won... But that's besides the point i was delighted :)
Love the links between the characters/history of the book and the author (Jack Heath) himself, and how he's put a whole twist on it to create 'Rebecca's Rising' -awesome :)
Really enjoyed reading this book, it was fast-paced and had some surprises, and also creepy in parts -the 'ingredients' of a good thriller ;) anything to do with the Salem witch trials interest me as so little (i think?) is known, so it was good to find a nice trilogy to keep that interest happy for a while -roll on book number 2! And maybe a movie adaptation!?..
Love the links between the characters/history of the book and the author (Jack Heath) himself, and how he's put a whole twist on it to create 'Rebecca's Rising' -awesome :)
Really enjoyed reading this book, it was fast-paced and had some surprises, and also creepy in parts -the 'ingredients' of a good thriller ;) anything to do with the Salem witch trials interest me as so little (i think?) is known, so it was good to find a nice trilogy to keep that interest happy for a while -roll on book number 2! And maybe a movie adaptation!?..
March 17, 2014
Salem VI: Rebecca's Rising is a fascinating read! It will keep you on the edge of your seat with all the unexpected twists and turns. The book draws you in from the very beginning, from the fast-paced plot, to John Andrews' endearing character. John Andrews after a horrifying accident is visited by a long dead ancestor, Rebecca Nurse and is shown a past in which his ancestors have been engaged in a battle with a satanic coven for hundreds of years. Bent on exposing the coven's dark secrets, Andrews' is willing to risk everything to discover the truth.The book is exceptionally well written and presents a different ending to the Salem Witch Hunt in the 17th century. I would highly recommend Salem VI to anyone interested in the Salem Witch Trials and anything paranormal.
June 26, 2013
Rebecca’s Rising proves that dramatic irony is still alive and kicking-just like the air of mystery surrounding the Salem Witch Trials. The novel features the grief-stricken character of John Andrews, thrust unsuspecting into a situation that he can’t ignore, who has no choice but to investigate what’s going on around him. The task that turns out to be more than he may have bargained for when he starts to uncover how those ongoings are related to the past. Sifting through the layers of mystery that have shrouded the truth for hundreds of years causes John to question what exactly is going on in his community, and if the Trials may have been more far-reaching than ever thought
July 5, 2013
I’m not normally a fan of history-based fiction, but this book managed to suck me in from the get-go. The book itself tackles sparked my interest because I realized that Heath and Thompson weren’t afraid to “go there,” that is, to delve into a topic that has remained controversial in American history, to the point where at times it has been swept under the rug. Rebecca’s Rising was great because it didn’t force me to sit through a recanting of the Salem Witch Trials in the past; it incorporated it into the modern world, which also helped to bring a new perspective to the question of what really happened. Overall, a great read. I’ll definitely be back for the rest of the trilogy!
August 10, 2013
The omnipresent suspense in Rebecca’s Rising coerces readers into questioning history. At the end of the day, the book can be written off as fiction...but it’s so good, so scandalous, that readers will want to believe this account over the stuffy, history-text approved version of what took place at the trials. Heath and Thompson have crafted a gem of a novel that shadows John Andrews as he navigates the tricky twists and turns of discovering the truth while uncovering the secrets of Salem society; Andrews learns to believe the unbelievable as he starts to put together pieces that point to only one possibility...there’s got to be something going on behind the scenes.
September 15, 2013
A very readable book and fortunately not long. However, the plot is ridiculously far-fetched. Lots of the vital information is revealed through the rather ordinary device of discovering notes. The romance line is dropped in suddenly out of nowhere.
Greatly dissatisfying ending in that the major victim is not rescued - not to mention that we are supposed to believe that not one but three young people prefers to be tortured to death rather than renounce their faith. Now I am religious, but my faith (Judaism) teaches that if one "renounces the faith" under torture, that is not really a betrayal of the faith.
so - unsophisticated, but could make a nice read on a dark and stormy night.
Greatly dissatisfying ending in that the major victim is not rescued - not to mention that we are supposed to believe that not one but three young people prefers to be tortured to death rather than renounce their faith. Now I am religious, but my faith (Judaism) teaches that if one "renounces the faith" under torture, that is not really a betrayal of the faith.
so - unsophisticated, but could make a nice read on a dark and stormy night.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2012
Not my normal cup of paranormal tea, but a decent read none-the-less. The books opens with an assassination attempt on the protagonist while in college, and then fast-fowards to the "present" day where he has become a sad, lonely drunk who is questioning his sanity due to repeatedly "seeing" an ancestor.
Other than one "twist" to the Salem story the plot is fairly predictable. This was a good filler read, but not something I'd purchase at full price.
**Please note I received a free copy of this ebook for review.**
Other than one "twist" to the Salem story the plot is fairly predictable. This was a good filler read, but not something I'd purchase at full price.
**Please note I received a free copy of this ebook for review.**
July 28, 2012
Salem VI is a must-read thriller book. It grabs you from the beginning, and all along the book you don't know what to expect. It is very well written, and just when you think you know what is going to happen, the unexpected happens.
The book theme is great, and even though it has been written about it a lot, this approach is really amazing.
I highly recommend this book. Thanks for the free copy I got.
The book theme is great, and even though it has been written about it a lot, this approach is really amazing.
I highly recommend this book. Thanks for the free copy I got.
August 23, 2013
John, the newspaper editor at the center of the novel, is a great character that readers will want to follow as he tries to shed light on the secrets that are hidden beneath the exterior of the small town where he lives. Rebecca’s Rising is a great story that keeps the action coming and relates the Salem Witch Trials to a modern-day string of events. This is definitely a great, gripping start to the series.
March 15, 2014
I received this book, along with the sequel, for free in a giveaway and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Salem VI puts a great modern twist on events in history that most people are familiar with. The plot moves along at the perfect pace and the characters are all well written and believable. I couldn't put it down and I hope the last book is available soon! I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the Salem Witch Trials and paranormal fiction readers.
July 31, 2015
Salem Witch Makeover!
This story is about the original people who got killed in the Salem Witch Trials, but in this story the "accused" are innocent and the Judges...are EVIL, literally. The main character John, is related to each side and he is special because he can see dead people. I enjoyed this story, and the author's spin on the subject. I do think that I knew what was going on..except the last remaining 6th member was a surprise!
This story is about the original people who got killed in the Salem Witch Trials, but in this story the "accused" are innocent and the Judges...are EVIL, literally. The main character John, is related to each side and he is special because he can see dead people. I enjoyed this story, and the author's spin on the subject. I do think that I knew what was going on..except the last remaining 6th member was a surprise!
August 14, 2012
Loved this book! It was a great read and kept me reading to see what was going to happen next. The story line was something people who love witches and history would like to read. The author did a wonderful job of making the characters real and put you in the story. I can't wait to read more by Jack Heath! I did get this book free from freebooksy.com, check them out.
July 17, 2013
History buffs that are obsessed with the Salem Witch Trials will appreciate this new look on the ancient past of Salem. John Andrews is the sympathetic main character who is forced by his ancestor’s spirit to look deeper into what truly caused the hysteria so many years before. And is it still going on today? You’ll have to find out by joining the Salem Witch Trilogy craze. Can’t wait to read #2.
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