The Wicked of the Earth: A Historical Thriller

by A. D. Bergin

October, 1650

Traumatised Parliamentarian spy James Archer returns north seeking his sister Meg, missing in the aftermath of Newcastle’s recent witch trials.

Aloof, enigmatic Elizabeth Thompson draws him to investigate the ongoing killing of women who had worked to free the accused.

But when Elizabeth herself becomes hunted, the only chance of escape lies in Archer setting himself as bait.

Set against the backdrop of the greed and brutality of Interregnum England, The Wicked of the Earth is an historical thriller perfect for readers of Andrew Taylor, S J Parris, or C J Sansom.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical

336 pages, Paperback

Published November 21, 2024

Reviews

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wicked of the Earth is a historical fiction based on fact.
Set 1650 James Archer, a Parliamentarian spy, returns North searching for his sister Meg, missing in the aftermath of Newcatle's witch trials.
I found this a little slow at the start, as there's a lot of information to take in, but when it gets going, it really gets going.
An immersive story of political intrigue that twists and turns.

The book is dedicated to the women who were murdered as "witches."
Thank you, A D Bergin, for the ARC

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me a while to read this book, it’s so densely packed with characters and action. I’d recommend anyone intending to read it to read about the English Civil War first, especially the murderous campaign in Ireland. If you’re from Newcastle or know it well, you’ll appreciate all the more how the layout of the city added to the sense of fear and foreboding. I’m looking forward to the author’s next book.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not the book for me. Too many characters. Too political etc Vicky’s November book group choice.

[Eliza T-F · Rating 1 out of 5]

For the most part, this isn’t a good book. The writing was overly descriptive in places, lingering for too long over unnecessary details and with a gratuitous use of adverbs. At the same time, it was sparse on the details that mattered, running through a huge cast of characters with little effort made to introduce characters with sufficient detail. This made it a strangely confusing read for a novel in which the plot was so basic. Which brings me to my second critique, despite the potential of the storyline, the plot failed to be gripping or build any pace. Too much of time was spent with the protagonist marching round Newcastle, pushing thoughts of damsels in distress out of his mind as he endlessly went round asking for legal records.

The saving grace of this book is that it is based on the thorough research of a genuinely compelling historical event. It was these glimpses of the horror and intrigue of the real witch trial that kept me reading. Unfortunately, for the most part, the impact of the true story was lost amongst the coming, goings and deaths of the too many two dimensional characters and a frankly bland protagonist.

[Peter Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot is essentially one of the hero’s quest. Our hero James Archer is a curious man, a flawed man with a chequered past. A man we want to get behind, but one whom there will be persistent doubts about his loyalty. Sent up to Newcastle, his native landscape, to report on problems of trade and a recent witch trial, he makes it his personal quest to track down his sister who has disappeared. She was caught up in the witch trial but is believed to be acquitted and has gone into hiding. Archer’s almost police procedural investigation into the trial will pit him against formidable enemies in his search for the truth and the whereabouts of his sister.

Setting the story after the witch trials and executions (records of them are scant so speculation has been avoided) allows for motivations to be examined in depth. There was a kind of public mass hysteria with many witch hunts at the time, but this one hints at darker forces at play, as a means to an end. At a time of switching loyalties this is played to perfection with Archer getting to the stage where he can barely trust or believe anyone. The research shows a striving for authenticity and the work of the Scottish ‘pricker’ Kincaid described, but without sensationalism creeping in. This is very much a respectful tribute to a group of brutally wronged women.

The author has done a brilliant job in creating a broad canvas of 1650 Newcastle with its grim, dirty narrow chares (streets) an un-sanitised view unlike period TV productions. This has been done by the skilful but sparing use of suitable words and phrases, some we are aware of but are not in common usage like night soil, which leaves little to the imagination, whilst others such as postern gate leave a legacy on our streets that is given little thought now. The reader gets a real flavour of the town, albeit a somewhat unpalatable one at times, with the castle keep and dungeons bringing out the macabre.

The pose can be a little bit dense it times, as characters scheme and hide their intent, but is always enjoyable and accessible. The vocabulary and speech patterns of the Seventeenth Century have eschewed, with local flavour provided by the occasional dialect word, which this works perfectly. This is a novel that will grab readers and they will race through it with keen anticipation.

These were brutal times, where life held little value for many and this is made clear in the story, with what little law provided by the city watch. Money and influence held sway, I guess little really changes. Brutal days are reflected by regular injections of violence in the storyline, nothing too visceral or gratuitous, merely reflecting the times and at times you do not see it coming. This is a much deeper novel than the standard action thriller, but the fight scenes are well written and quite gripping.

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Wicked of the Earth” is set against the backdrop of the greed and brutality of Interregnum England, predominantly in Newcastle. Sixteen dead upon the scaffold. Five murdered in the streets. One damaged man to avenge them. The ultimate historical fiction novel revealing the deadly conspiracy behind the 1649-50 Newcastle witch trials and a story about the brave women who dared to fight back. This is the largest number of people executed for “witchcraft” on any one day in English history.

For a debut book, this was undeniably well written and has more than done the ‘accused’ justice and will hopefully highlight this lesser known tragedy and the women (and one man) who were murdered.

Several factors led to the witch trials - the civil wars, social fragmentation and religious unease amongst others. And with the use of a Scottish scam ‘witch finder’ who pricked women till they either bled or didn’t, numerous innocent women were sent to their brutal death. The largest and most corrupt ever recorded, this is the story of the few who escaped the noose and showed an intransigent strength to fight back.

The author A.D. Bergin, is well placed to write a novel of this capacity of historical data and research, living and breathing in the North East air. Having a passion for history running through his blood, which led to a Cambridge University first class degree in History and subsequently related jobs, enabled him to write a novel to rival some top notch authors. I’m also convinced the author is older than he appears - he must be at least 450 years old and lived through the mid 17th century! The comprehensive descriptions and the detailed ambience were so authentic and realistic, it was impossible not to place yourself in the atmospheric coal-trading quayside town, with its narrow lanes, four story wooden buildings and tall trading ships.

Reading as much as a history book as a thriller, this book was so much more for me, living locally to Newcastle. Even though I knew of these trials, I still felt the need to google the odd thing - the 1636 plague, Newgate Prison and the various family names mentioned who still mean something in the North East today. I’m now more determined than ever to visit the churchyard of St Andrew’s church where the victims are rumoured to be buried.

I would personally say you do need some history interest to read this book as it’s as much a history retelling, as a historical thriller but this suited me fine and I highly recommend this powerful and poignant book to fellow readers too.

#TheWickedOfTheEarth - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a few books about witch trials but mostly books looking at what happened in Scotland. The Wicked of the Earth piqued my interest as it is set around the time of the Newcastle Witch trials in the mid 17th century. I’m not really familiar with these particular witch trials and their aftermath so this book was enlightening. I was appalled as always at the inhumanity shown to the accused women. Bergin has taken the known facts of the witch trials and woven the stories of the women into this fictional account of what might have happened.

Ensign James Archer, the central character, was a deeply troubled soul. He was a government spy although had been forced into this against his will. At heart he was a good person and loving to his family. I admired his determination to get to the truth of what had happened not just so he could find his sister but also to get some kind of justice for the other accused women. What he uncovered was corruption, violence and wrong-doing on a grand scale.

The setting was incredibly detailed. I almost felt as though I was walking the streets and alleyways of Newcastle alongside Archer, experiencing the same dirt, darkness and stench. Bergin’s descriptions were so authentic and realistic, creating an atmospheric air of menace and danger.

The Wicked of the Earth is an impressive debut novel from A D Bergin whose extensive research has fed into his writing, resulting in this richly detailed read. Alongside the mystery of what happened to Archer’s sister, we read about so many courageous women. Although this is a much darker book than I normally read, I found it compelling and was gripped to the last pages. A must-read for fans of historic fiction, particularly those with an interest in the injustices carried out during the witch trials.

4.5* - rounded up

[Angi Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do you encapsulate such a fantastic story? Not at all easily!
I’m a native of Newcastle so as well as the story, which I found I had to keep stopping so that I could take in the information the author had given, I was looking up streets and markets that I wasn’t aware of.
This story took me through so many emotions that it was hard to keep up and I will at some point read this again.
I was aware that there were Newcastle Witch Trials from books and interviews with Helen Steadman. Before this it was never mentioned, which I found shocking and shameful that this was buried alongside the poor souls it affected.
I found this an incredibly plausible explanation for the witch trials and would have solved a lot of problems for powerful men and those who wanted to keep hold of power in the area at the time.
I loved the character of James Archer. He was tenacious, intelligent, kind and determined whatever happened to get to the truth. The other thing that was perfect were the dialects of the Newcastle and the Scots, but also the people known as the Hill people. Brilliant.
There were many twists and turns in this book and it was so cleverly written. If you enjoy a historical fiction book that is exceptional and is based upon some real events, I highly recommend this amazing book. You will not be disappointed that you read it. This is going to be huge.
With thanks to Northodox Press and Andy Bergin for sending me an advanced reading copy of this very special book.

[Rue Baldry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel wonderfully conjures an immersive sense of being inside seventeenth century Newcastle. It captures the traumas and complications of what living during Cromwell’s Protectorate must have been like. There is a strong sense of all the locations in which the action is set. Most of the story takes place in Newcastle where the details and descriptions build a claustrophobic sense of being dangerously trapped in a walled city, breathing in coal dust and commercial river pollution, and caught between the intrigue webs of the various powerful families.

The plot is complex, building expectations, action, mystery and quests. The characters are memorable, realistic and mostly sympathetic. The traumatic effects of the recent war and the current regime are evident in them all. Archer, the hero, is troubled and flawed, but with enough innate goodness to make him easy to root for as he unearths secrets, defends himself and others, and takes on an increasing number of challenges.

The seventeenth century is one of the most interesting periods of British history to me. It makes a great setting for a detective series. I’m looking forward to reading more of James Archer’s adventures.

[Rufus McAlister · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wicked of the Earth is a gripping and dark novel that explores the true story of the Newcastle witch trials, the damage they inflict, and those who seek to benefit from them. Part "whodunnit" mystery, part "whydunnit" conspiracy thriller, we see the good and bad of Newcastle's 1650s society through the eyes of a veteran soldier with conflicted loyalties.

Historical detail seeps from the pages of this book, not just in the evocative details (the memories of atrocities committed in Drogheda are particularly haunting), but in the attitudes and words of the characters. Religion structures their world, and their social interactions are built on a system of trust that the book shows to be deeply uneasy and liable to abuse. There is a gritty realness to the story, with a satisfyingly powerful ending. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys authentic historical fiction, or dark mystery thrillers.

[Terence Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend Andrew has written a cracking novel. The English Civil Wars have left a fragile and changing world. The scarred and weary inhabitants of Newcastle Upon Tyne enlist a Scottish "Pricker" to rid themselves of the witches who shamelessly defy god.

Many are accused, and many hang despite their protestations. The town settles into an uneasy peace. And then, from London, rides a man determined to understand why his sister was accused and whether she yet lives.

Stories about the witch trials usually focus on the immediate horror - this is a superb look at the aftermath. Why do people turn on each other? What secrets will men murder for? How deep does guilt run?

It's a tangled tale, with a large dash of historial research to flesh it out. There's a lot of local slang to work through (another advantage of having an eReader with a comprehensive dictionary!) and some frenetic swordplay. It is bloody and gruesome without being excessive.

[Brian Gowthorpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A considerable achievement for a first novel, making good use of a very unpleasant interlude in English history, when a nasty combination of Puritanism and misogyny resulted in the deaths of 20 women in Berwick and a few less in Newcastle. We live in Berwick, and the towns and villages of Northumberland are familiar. So too are the dramatically steep and twisty mediaeval chares, wynds and vennels of Newcastle. The coal trade was of vital importance to London, and the ruthless dominance of a few families is well told. So too is the dislocation, divisiveness and chaos of civil war. I remember seeing Newcastle Quayside for the first time in the 1970s and it was scary then, in a way that it no longer is. The menace the author describes was easy to imagine but he has the usual thriller writer’s problem of making the many fights and assaults credible and interesting. I also found it difficult to keep track of all the characters; a dramatis personae would have helped.

[Sally · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this book is a case in that well-researched does not walk hand in hand with being a good story. There’s clearly a lot of care taken with the historical accuracy and the attention to detail in that regard is infinite. There’s a lot of sensory information alongside some familiar locations as well as common reactions to the events happening at the time.

However, the book is bogged down when it comes to both the plot and the characters with the plot becoming mired in every possible obstacle and the characters being plentiful and meaningless in their relevance. I couldn’t keep track of whose motivations were what and even who people were after a time.

It’s a debut so I’m hopeful for improvement in the future, but this didn’t land for me.

[beckys_book_blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the very first page the author immerses readers into 17th-century life. I love this period of history and found the aftermath of the Newcastle witch trials (that Archer is sent to investigate) fascinating.
This book was a very atmospheric read and the book has clearly been meticulously researched and closely based on actual places and events. There is so much historical detail included!
I found the plot a little slow at first but I was keen to find out who was behind the witch trials and what had happened to Archer's sister Meg.
Overall this was a well written and immersive story that I'm sure fans of historical fiction will enjoy.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can tell this book has been written by someone who knows their history, the details shine through each page.

Sadly my A-level English Civil War history is a bit rusty so I was dredging up names & organisations from the depths of my brain.

However, that's not the fault of A. D. Bergin who creates a believable, functioning version of historical Newcastle Upon Tyne complete with an overly-powerful church, greedy politicians and witch trials.

When you get towards the end of the book (no spoilers) and the pieces start to fall into place it's very rewarding.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping this would grab me and feel something like a Shardlake story or have a similar vibe to Pillars of the Earth. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t hit in the same way.

Impressive for a first novel, I’d probably try any others he writes. I didn’t really enjoy any of the characters, and I felt that while the plot was interesting (especially as it’s based on true events), it was lacking something either in scale or depth to keep the pages turning.

That said, it was an easy read, and I’d probably recommend it to fans of historical fiction looking for something new to try.

[James Dakin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This deftly-plotted novel based on a historic 17th century witch-burning is a compelling read. The action keeps coming as the protagonist gradually uncovers the truth. The backdrop reminds us that the military-industrial complex started in this period, Newcastle coals feeling like one of the characters.

[Bec · Rating 2 out of 5]

This historical thriller follows Parliamentary Spy James Arthur, who travels back home to search for his sister who's gone missing in the aftermath of the Witch Trials. Unfortunately, Arthur is caught up in the city's corruption and struggles to find the answers he needs. I was disappointed by this book as I felt it had so much potential but at times was very hard to follow and not engaging.

[Clare McG · Rating 5 out of 5]

An atmospheric mystery set in the years after the English Civil War. As the various factions struggle for supremacy, innocent women pay the price. A compelling and moving story.

[Bobbie Paton · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn’t for me unfortunately.

[Amy Stringer · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit boring..

[Ted · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow burn, incredibly worth it.

[Belinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow burn and quite dense at first, but beautifully written and definitely worth it - and that ending!

[Siobhan R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating, dense historical fiction, I loved the Drogheda detail and the haunted main character.

[halloumireader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a fantastic debut novel, amazing atmosphere and characters and what an ending! Loved it.

[Alex Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the word go you are there in the dark winding streets and alleys of mid 17th C Newcastle, the chase is on. And this is the underlying pace of the book whether it is the quest of James Archer, appointed by the Commonwealth to root out opposition or his own personal quest to find out the truth about the trial of 30 women tried for witchcraft, one of whom was his sister, or the campaign of his enemies to neutralise the government man. Is Archer a pawn in this game of double dealing actors or can he exert some agency and keep his life and perhaps that of his sister?

Bergin’s Newcastle is alive and witness to the events which have torn the country apart and we see the consequences at close quarters. It feels the damage which has been made physically in war and watches how men continue to use brute force to reassert their monopolies. And women are victims of the fears, suspicions and rivalries which run rampant.

The whole question of the roots of accusations witchcraft is explored convincingly but with subtlety and female protagonists demonstrates that the women were far from powerless and they do not go quietly.

An exceptional read combining the real feel of the times with strong and compelling plot lines - and no simple resolutions.