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The Witch of Woodplumpton
1705: the village of Woodplumpton has been unsettled by a series of unusual events which the townsfolk believe is a curse from beyond the grave of Meg Shelton… a rumored witch.
Reverend Isaac believes one of his parishioners is behind the suspicious happenings and is on a mission to find out who. But as he uncovers the secrets of the village’s past, he can’t help but ask himself - could the legacy of Meg Shelton actually be true?
Reverend Isaac believes one of his parishioners is behind the suspicious happenings and is on a mission to find out who. But as he uncovers the secrets of the village’s past, he can’t help but ask himself - could the legacy of Meg Shelton actually be true?
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 9, 2024
39 people are currently reading
1546 people want to read
About the author
David Hatton
17 books48 followersDavid was born in Preston, Lancashire. His love of writing started in primary school where his teacher would read out his short stories every week. He attended Leeds Metropolitan University (Leeds Beckett) where he was offered an opportunity to live and work in Chicago Illinois (USA). After living in Manchester UK for over eight years, he now resides in Chorley, where he lives with his partner, also called David.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 25, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It provides a very interesting rendition of the life of Meg Shelton, a real woman and purported witch, that lived during the late 17th to early 18th century. This story interestingly and impressively moves back and forth between different time periods to weave the tale of this woman's life. It is ripe with a memorable cast of characters, depicting the varying dispositions of human nature.
September 25, 2024
A very interesting read. Nice blend of local folklore and fiction. Knowing the area, the church, the graveyard and the pub made reading this a fascinating story. This is the first book I have read by David Hatton but it certainly won't be the last.
August 23, 2024
Good book
January 7, 2025
A good page turner
Loved this book and and definitely recommend it . It brought it all to life even more on knowing the main character, Meg, actually existed...
Loved this book and and definitely recommend it . It brought it all to life even more on knowing the main character, Meg, actually existed...
August 28, 2024
Novels about local legends and folklore are like catnip to me, so when I read on a local news blog about 'The Witch of Woodplumpton' the book was an instant purchase.
The first thing I want to say about the book is that I really enjoyed reading it, had a lot of fun with the book and found myself picking it up whenever I had a spare moment - so lots of positives there.
'The Witch of Woodplumpton' is the story of Meg Shelton, otherwise known as the Fylde Hag or the Woodplumpton Witch. Woodplumpton is a little village on the outskirts of where I live and in a church yard there is a big boulder. The boulder marks the spot where Meg was buried head first, with the boulder rolled over the top to stop her climbing out.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meg_She...
In reality, there are unlikely to be any human remains under the boulder and Meg Shelton is probably a woman named Margery Hilton who was buried there who was most likely a poor woman, perhaps a woman who roamed the area, destitute and with few or no friends or family.
The book is a fictional account of the life of Meg, covering the circumstances that lead up to her death and also answering the question, 'how did she die'? The author crafts an interesting story around these few details we know about Meg and it's quite clever how so much is written around a limited skeleton of Meg (unintentional pun!)
The novel quickly becomes a bit of a who-dun-it with each chapter revealing a little more about the circumstances of Meg's life and how she became known as a witch. Much of the novel revolves around the unlikely friendship she has with a teenage boy named James who is a boy who in his own way is a little out of sorts in the village, and also the local Reverend Isaac who also takes a keen interest in the boy. Isaac and James seemingly the only two people who have a good word to say about the deceased. Meg, of course, and in the spirit of the legends she rises from the grave plunging the village into terror!
Meg's story is told through chapters which jump back and forward in time covering her youth and early womanhood, the people who matter and the circumstances that lead to her isolation and 'witchery'. The novel's present day of 1705 has chapters largely told through the perspective of the Reverend as he gets clues as to who may be responsible for Meg's death and how she is being dug up at night. I really liked how the author gives 'just enough' teases to help the reader work out what is going on. Each chapter reveals a little more. At times it's laid on a little and you can work out where the story is going, at other times there are genuine surprises, but there is nothing totally out of left-field which made me roll my eyes. I guess a minor criticism is that in the later sections of the book many chapters involve the Reverend effectively accusing someone of murder - the accused are as expected furious and then calm down quickly and provide the Reverend with another clue! That said the pacing of the book is good and one gets fed enough often to keep going.
I think I was hoping for a little more folk horror or unsettling scenes in the book, just a little more witchcraft and so on. At times the book is a little troubling and unsettling - but I guess this aligns with the author's overall message, in that the real horrors are not the witches or the supernatural but really the horrors of what human beings can do to another. There are depictions of human cruelty, abuse and unkindness in the book (nothing worse than the odd sentence and assumed rather than depicted) but they are human. What you do get, and something I liked is that all of the legends I have ever read about Meg Shelton are in here as part of the story, as little Easter Eggs for those people who have read the odd sentence about her in books about Lancashire folklore. I also like that whilst the book has a clear line through the eyes of the Reverend that witchcraft does not exist, right up to the very end there are still lingering doubts or suspicion that maybe Meg is a witch and is doing what she is accused of. I love that 'just enough doubt for the reader'.
And whilst, I would have liked a bit more creepiness and horror, I am left with these images of a wild haired, elderly crone dancing around corn fields in the sunshine as she laughs at the fear and bigotry of those who have shunned her, and with a wink she disappears and one doesn't really know what she's done.
At times reading the book I struggled to immerse myself in the early 18th century setting. There seemed many instances where I felt items or language was out of place for the era. I found myself googling about dog breeds, fireworks, firearms etc. Whilst these things may have been in the UK I was struggling to immerse myself in the village, not expecting these elements present. It didn't feel authentic to me. I was also reflecting on the relative level of schooling and education and reading ability of rural farmers at the turn of the 18th century. I felt the language used by many characters probably exceeded an expected literacy. It's these little elements that took a little shine off for me.
One thing I did like though, is the author's openness to put a 21st century sensibility onto the story and characters unashamedly. This is a book about the damage that occurs when we other people, based on their looks, or beliefs or ability or gender. Meg Shelton is a victim of every bigotry going, but even in death she rises above it somewhat. It's also refreshing to see positive depictions of LGBT relationships in historical fiction (if there is one thing I can't stand it's the perception in some quarters that LGBT people have only existed for a short period of time). The other thing that's strong here, is that whilst this novel is about recognising diversity, it is also one of forgiveness and tolerance - even of those who may cause harm. Recently in the UK we've experienced riots by racists who have othered migrants and blamed them for all manner of ills. It's a modern day witch hunt. We're being asked to not just try and empathise with those who harm, but also recognise that they're scared, they don't know the full story, they've been whipped up by someone else. I'm not sure I agree with that perspective, but I do admire a novel that bestows forgiveness, rather than revenge.
I'm glad this story was chosen as the subject of the novel and I enjoyed it a lot. A good mix of folklore, mystery and a clear message from the author. Worth a read.
The first thing I want to say about the book is that I really enjoyed reading it, had a lot of fun with the book and found myself picking it up whenever I had a spare moment - so lots of positives there.
'The Witch of Woodplumpton' is the story of Meg Shelton, otherwise known as the Fylde Hag or the Woodplumpton Witch. Woodplumpton is a little village on the outskirts of where I live and in a church yard there is a big boulder. The boulder marks the spot where Meg was buried head first, with the boulder rolled over the top to stop her climbing out.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meg_She...
In reality, there are unlikely to be any human remains under the boulder and Meg Shelton is probably a woman named Margery Hilton who was buried there who was most likely a poor woman, perhaps a woman who roamed the area, destitute and with few or no friends or family.
The book is a fictional account of the life of Meg, covering the circumstances that lead up to her death and also answering the question, 'how did she die'? The author crafts an interesting story around these few details we know about Meg and it's quite clever how so much is written around a limited skeleton of Meg (unintentional pun!)
The novel quickly becomes a bit of a who-dun-it with each chapter revealing a little more about the circumstances of Meg's life and how she became known as a witch. Much of the novel revolves around the unlikely friendship she has with a teenage boy named James who is a boy who in his own way is a little out of sorts in the village, and also the local Reverend Isaac who also takes a keen interest in the boy. Isaac and James seemingly the only two people who have a good word to say about the deceased. Meg, of course, and in the spirit of the legends she rises from the grave plunging the village into terror!
Meg's story is told through chapters which jump back and forward in time covering her youth and early womanhood, the people who matter and the circumstances that lead to her isolation and 'witchery'. The novel's present day of 1705 has chapters largely told through the perspective of the Reverend as he gets clues as to who may be responsible for Meg's death and how she is being dug up at night. I really liked how the author gives 'just enough' teases to help the reader work out what is going on. Each chapter reveals a little more. At times it's laid on a little and you can work out where the story is going, at other times there are genuine surprises, but there is nothing totally out of left-field which made me roll my eyes. I guess a minor criticism is that in the later sections of the book many chapters involve the Reverend effectively accusing someone of murder - the accused are as expected furious and then calm down quickly and provide the Reverend with another clue! That said the pacing of the book is good and one gets fed enough often to keep going.
I think I was hoping for a little more folk horror or unsettling scenes in the book, just a little more witchcraft and so on. At times the book is a little troubling and unsettling - but I guess this aligns with the author's overall message, in that the real horrors are not the witches or the supernatural but really the horrors of what human beings can do to another. There are depictions of human cruelty, abuse and unkindness in the book (nothing worse than the odd sentence and assumed rather than depicted) but they are human. What you do get, and something I liked is that all of the legends I have ever read about Meg Shelton are in here as part of the story, as little Easter Eggs for those people who have read the odd sentence about her in books about Lancashire folklore. I also like that whilst the book has a clear line through the eyes of the Reverend that witchcraft does not exist, right up to the very end there are still lingering doubts or suspicion that maybe Meg is a witch and is doing what she is accused of. I love that 'just enough doubt for the reader'.
And whilst, I would have liked a bit more creepiness and horror, I am left with these images of a wild haired, elderly crone dancing around corn fields in the sunshine as she laughs at the fear and bigotry of those who have shunned her, and with a wink she disappears and one doesn't really know what she's done.
At times reading the book I struggled to immerse myself in the early 18th century setting. There seemed many instances where I felt items or language was out of place for the era. I found myself googling about dog breeds, fireworks, firearms etc. Whilst these things may have been in the UK I was struggling to immerse myself in the village, not expecting these elements present. It didn't feel authentic to me. I was also reflecting on the relative level of schooling and education and reading ability of rural farmers at the turn of the 18th century. I felt the language used by many characters probably exceeded an expected literacy. It's these little elements that took a little shine off for me.
One thing I did like though, is the author's openness to put a 21st century sensibility onto the story and characters unashamedly. This is a book about the damage that occurs when we other people, based on their looks, or beliefs or ability or gender. Meg Shelton is a victim of every bigotry going, but even in death she rises above it somewhat. It's also refreshing to see positive depictions of LGBT relationships in historical fiction (if there is one thing I can't stand it's the perception in some quarters that LGBT people have only existed for a short period of time). The other thing that's strong here, is that whilst this novel is about recognising diversity, it is also one of forgiveness and tolerance - even of those who may cause harm. Recently in the UK we've experienced riots by racists who have othered migrants and blamed them for all manner of ills. It's a modern day witch hunt. We're being asked to not just try and empathise with those who harm, but also recognise that they're scared, they don't know the full story, they've been whipped up by someone else. I'm not sure I agree with that perspective, but I do admire a novel that bestows forgiveness, rather than revenge.
I'm glad this story was chosen as the subject of the novel and I enjoyed it a lot. A good mix of folklore, mystery and a clear message from the author. Worth a read.
September 20, 2024
No Sanderson Sister
This book was interesting enough that you kept reading, just to see if anything more interesting would finally happen. The book overall was very anticlimactic, which is disappointing. If I had known, when I started, what I know now, I probably wouldn’t have taken the time to finish it. But, the storyline and characters were decent and the writing wasn’t bad.
This book was interesting enough that you kept reading, just to see if anything more interesting would finally happen. The book overall was very anticlimactic, which is disappointing. If I had known, when I started, what I know now, I probably wouldn’t have taken the time to finish it. But, the storyline and characters were decent and the writing wasn’t bad.
March 8, 2025
It has its flaws, but it's far from the worst book I've read. My main criticism is that jumping around through time felt chaotic. It was not the seemless way to reveal backstory it should have been and usually is with other authors. Another is that several passages could have used an editor. Prayers and songs also didn't need to be several pages long, and I often skipped them.
It's positives are that it's an interesting mystery and an enjoyable subject matter - I love historical fiction and witch tales.
It's positives are that it's an interesting mystery and an enjoyable subject matter - I love historical fiction and witch tales.
July 27, 2025
I really enjoyed The Witch of Woodplumpton. It was a fun and captivating read that kept me guessing all the way to the very end!
I struggled a bit keeping all the names straight, and although I liked the time traveling from chapter to chapter, it was also a bit tough to remember when and where we were in the story, though it was pretty quick to get sorted.
As I stated, I did enjoy this read. It was different than the usual Salem witch trial style books and I appreciated that.
I struggled a bit keeping all the names straight, and although I liked the time traveling from chapter to chapter, it was also a bit tough to remember when and where we were in the story, though it was pretty quick to get sorted.
As I stated, I did enjoy this read. It was different than the usual Salem witch trial style books and I appreciated that.
August 1, 2024
A very engaging story with well developed characters. I enjoyed the historical aspect of he story.
I’d definantly like to visit Woodplumpton on my next visit to the UK.
The only negative comment is that the story jumped around too much from chapter to chapter, which sometimes made it hard to follow.
I’d definantly like to visit Woodplumpton on my next visit to the UK.
The only negative comment is that the story jumped around too much from chapter to chapter, which sometimes made it hard to follow.
November 9, 2024
loved it
Loved the story and also the way it was written makes a change from getting through a few chapters and thinking oh no not for me .I like the way it was written ? Easy to follow and keeps my interest .I’m dyslexic and found this easy to follow and really interesting I will be reading his other novels .I’m also a Lancastrian lol
Loved the story and also the way it was written makes a change from getting through a few chapters and thinking oh no not for me .I like the way it was written ? Easy to follow and keeps my interest .I’m dyslexic and found this easy to follow and really interesting I will be reading his other novels .I’m also a Lancastrian lol
January 16, 2025
potential , but confusing timelines.
Intriguing ghost story of an accused witch. Very much enjoyed the start of the book but perhaps some editing could let it really shine. The timelines switching back and forth frequently at many varying points made theme book difficult to read and finish.
Intriguing ghost story of an accused witch. Very much enjoyed the start of the book but perhaps some editing could let it really shine. The timelines switching back and forth frequently at many varying points made theme book difficult to read and finish.
August 17, 2024
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway (Thank you!), and I'm so glad I did. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this! It was refreshing and not at all what I was expecting. Would love to read this again and will be looking up more books by this author.
May 9, 2025
Won a digital copy of this book via a Goodreads giveaway! 3.75 stars rounded up.
*Spoilers below*
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at how well-written the book was! I really enjoyed the various timelines and admired the skill it took to interweave all of them into a coherent narrative, one that justified the complex structure. I also found the mysterious happenings and questions surrounding whether Meg was a witch/if she could or was performing magic fun and compelling; it added a wonderful mystique and mystery to the story. These elements also fit nicely with the historical setting and the real-life facts that the author incorporated—of which there were many! I didn’t expect the story to be part whodunit and found that quite interesting, notably because it’s only solved after several failed attempts, and even then it’s due to an individual’s confession—an individual not even on the inspector’s radar! This subverted my expectations, as did the fact that it was James who was constantly unburying Meg. These surprising developments elevated the story in my eyes, as I was constantly guessing and never got it right. I also appreciated the several acknowledgements of how life is more difficult for women generally, which I admit I wasn't expecting from a male author.
I don’t have too many critiques of this novel, other than I found there to be a handful of corny one-liners (which is super minor) and I didn’t love the ending. I thought the vicar, Isaac, should have done something other than listen to the bishop and coddle the townspeople. A better ending in my opinion would have been them having to genuinely and fully—in whatever ways—experience the impact of their ill treatment toward Meg. Lord Cottam, too, should have had to endure more than rebury Meg and impart some kind words to absolve himself of accidentally killing her as well as being abhorrent toward her for so long. I wanted MORE on both of these counts. I felt so sorry for Meg and don't know that she really got justice this way, even if she would have liked some of what took place after she had passed.
*Spoilers below*
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at how well-written the book was! I really enjoyed the various timelines and admired the skill it took to interweave all of them into a coherent narrative, one that justified the complex structure. I also found the mysterious happenings and questions surrounding whether Meg was a witch/if she could or was performing magic fun and compelling; it added a wonderful mystique and mystery to the story. These elements also fit nicely with the historical setting and the real-life facts that the author incorporated—of which there were many! I didn’t expect the story to be part whodunit and found that quite interesting, notably because it’s only solved after several failed attempts, and even then it’s due to an individual’s confession—an individual not even on the inspector’s radar! This subverted my expectations, as did the fact that it was James who was constantly unburying Meg. These surprising developments elevated the story in my eyes, as I was constantly guessing and never got it right. I also appreciated the several acknowledgements of how life is more difficult for women generally, which I admit I wasn't expecting from a male author.
I don’t have too many critiques of this novel, other than I found there to be a handful of corny one-liners (which is super minor) and I didn’t love the ending. I thought the vicar, Isaac, should have done something other than listen to the bishop and coddle the townspeople. A better ending in my opinion would have been them having to genuinely and fully—in whatever ways—experience the impact of their ill treatment toward Meg. Lord Cottam, too, should have had to endure more than rebury Meg and impart some kind words to absolve himself of accidentally killing her as well as being abhorrent toward her for so long. I wanted MORE on both of these counts. I felt so sorry for Meg and don't know that she really got justice this way, even if she would have liked some of what took place after she had passed.
September 4, 2024
Very well written book. I had never heard of Meg Shelton prior to reading this book. The author did a great job with portraying her story.
(Update)
I plan on rereading this book in the future because of how good it was.
(Update)
I plan on rereading this book in the future because of how good it was.
July 21, 2024
A very good book based on the facts known about Meg Shelton, the witch of Woodplumpton, combined with a plausible tale of her life. Recommended read, especially for those interested in the Pendle witches.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews