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House Where it Happened
It is 1711, and the Ulster-Scots community in a remote corner of Ireland is in turmoil. A pretty young newcomer is accusing one woman after another of witchcraft. But Ellen, the serving girl in the house where the visitor is staying, is loyal to the family - and over-fond of her master. Yet she knows that Knowehead is a house like no other. And so she watches and ponders, as a seemingly normal girl claims she is bewitched - as a - community turns against eight respectable women and as malevolent forces unleashed more than half a century earlier threaten a superstitious people beyond their understanding. Martina Devlin has fictionalised a compelling episode from history, transforming it into a spine-chilling tale.
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
152 people are currently reading
368 people want to read
About the author
Martina Devlin
19 books35 followersMartina Devlin is an Irish novelist and journalist. She lives in Dublin with her husband David and their cat Chekhov - the latter snoozes at her feet and keeps her company while she writes. It's all a far cry from her Fleet Street days, when she went to Parkhurst (a maximum security prison) to meet gangland leader Reggie Kray, was shown how to do The Twist by the maestro Chubby Checker, and kept watch while Anthony Burgess of 'A Clockwork Orange' filled his pockets with all the uneaten cakes at their interview over afternoon tea. She has had nine books published, beginning in 2000. Her work has won a number of prizes including the Royal Society of Literature's VS Pritchett Prize and a Hennessy Literary Award, and she was twice shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards. A current affairs commentator for the Irish Independent, Martina has been named columnist of the year by the National Newspapers of Ireland. She is vice-chairperson of the Irish Writers Centre, and has a certificate as a chartered director from the Institute of Directors. But none of that impresses Chekhov the cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
December 17, 2016
Many Americans have the impression that the Massachusetts witch trials were the beginning and end of the witch craze. In fact, witch trials and executions happened all over Europe on an unbelievable scale. In fact, according to Wikipedia, between 40,000 and 60,000 women were executed. Witch trials and hunts are perhaps one of the most obvious manifestations of sexism in centuries not too long past. There were a whole host of horrifying reasons women were thought to be witches (though the odd man was accused) having to do with women's bodies and minds being thought inferior and even disgusting.
In any case, this book is a fictional account of a witch event in Northern Ireland, near Carrickfergus. A hundred years prior, Scottish troops massacred a clan of Irishman and then drove their wives, children and babies off the nearby cliffs to their deaths as a reprisal for the deaths of Scottish settlers. The ringleader of the murderers, Hamilton Lock, comes back to haunt the land on which he lived and was later executed for his deeds. A woman named Mary Dunbar lives on his land and claims to be tormented by witches, the leader of whom is Lock. She names his female followers. The rest of the book mostly follows a path not too different than that followed in books about the witch trials of Massachusetts, but there are a few unexpected twists and turns.
It's a page-turner for sure, and I found it interesting to imagine the lives of those living in rural Ireland around 1700. The book was an interesting glimpse into the goings-ons of both servants and ladies and gentleman in that time and place.
In any case, this book is a fictional account of a witch event in Northern Ireland, near Carrickfergus. A hundred years prior, Scottish troops massacred a clan of Irishman and then drove their wives, children and babies off the nearby cliffs to their deaths as a reprisal for the deaths of Scottish settlers. The ringleader of the murderers, Hamilton Lock, comes back to haunt the land on which he lived and was later executed for his deeds. A woman named Mary Dunbar lives on his land and claims to be tormented by witches, the leader of whom is Lock. She names his female followers. The rest of the book mostly follows a path not too different than that followed in books about the witch trials of Massachusetts, but there are a few unexpected twists and turns.
It's a page-turner for sure, and I found it interesting to imagine the lives of those living in rural Ireland around 1700. The book was an interesting glimpse into the goings-ons of both servants and ladies and gentleman in that time and place.
December 18, 2025
This is like if the crucible was Irish and also bad
September 28, 2014
Inspired by true events, this is a gothic novel that had me from the first page. The House Where it Happened is based on Ireland’s mass witchcraft trial that took place in 1711 where eight women were prosecuted for witchcraft. This skilled storyteller has an incredible ability to convey the fear and horror that these people experienced back then with spine chilling ability. Taking place on Islandmagee, young Mary Dunbar under the spell of a witches’ coven not long after her arrival becomes the centre of the story as she sends 8 ‘innocent’ women to trial for witchcraft. There was also a massacre of Magees in Islandmagee by Scottish troops in 1641 which the author has woven through the story as well…… This is an incredibly well written and thought out story that winds true events through fiction effortlessly ……and brings to life events long forgotten. A great read!
May 14, 2020
Martina Devlin offers us a dual insight into the dynamics of local commuities and the persecution of women as witches. Whipping up hysteria around witches and witchcraft is a way of exploiting our fears and desires to keep us in thrall. Evocative of place and people on Islandmagee with language connecting us to the past and the deep connections between Ulster and Scotland.
October 13, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. Well written historical fiction based on a true story and creepy enough to give a few chills. Very descriptive writing and authentic local phrasing made for an interesting read. In the top 3 books I've read so far this year !
July 17, 2015
The House Where It Happened is set in 1711 and is a fictional account of Ireland's last witch trial, which took place at Carrickfergus, County Antrim. In the novel, a middle-class young woman staying with family at Knowehead, a house rumoured to be haunted, makes a series of accusations about a group of local women. Afflicted by apparent hallucinations and fits, and afflicted with strange, unexplained injuries, Mary Dunbar essentially condemns eight women to torture and imprisonment in horrific conditions.
What makes The House Where It Happened stand out is the location and community in which the story is set. Knowehead is situated on the remote peninsula of Islandmagee, and the Haltridge family who now own it are Ulster Scots – Protestants whose families settled in Ireland a few generations previously, ultimately resulting in a terrible conflict with their Irish neighbours in which an entire community was slaughtered at the command of a mysterious young man called Hamilton Lock. Hamilton Lock, feared and reviled for his appallingly vicious brutality, is long dead, but tales of his almost demonic cruelty still haunt Islandmagee and rumours are rife that his ghost still walks.
Much of The House Where It Happened is more or less folk horror, focusing on the witch-hunt itself. There are questions that go unanswered: while some of Mary Dunbar’s behaviour could be explained away as mental illness or even deliberate attention-seeking, some of her injuries appear not be self-inflicted, and she seems to be able to describe women from the village that she has never met.
Moreover, even before Mary’s arrival, strange and unsettling things have been happening at Knowehead. Is the house literally haunted, or is it simply that the violent history of Islandmagee is hanging over the Ulster Scots community, leaving them with a sort of collective, paranoid guilt?
Or could it possibly be that the very land itself is out for revenge? When Knowehead was first built, a pagan standing stone was destroyed to make way for it – and as the story unfolds, the house itself starts to seem like a sentient symbol of generations of one community being violently displaced by another and former neighbours turning against each other.
The clear parallels of events in The House Where It Happened to the modern day Troubles in Northern Ireland make it an often thought-provoking read, and one which gives a fascinating and often chilling insight into the history of the area. The historical context of the novel, and the notion of not only the community but the land itself having a dark collective memory of what has happened at Islandmagee, are for me the book’s biggest strengths. The use of dialect also gives the novel's prose a distinct identity without making it a difficult read: I'm English and I didn't need to refer to the glossary provided.
When it came to character I felt The House Where It Happened was a little weaker. I did enjoy the fact that Ellen Hill, who narrates the story and has her own misgivings about Knowehead from the start, is the household’s maid: it made a pleasant change for a historical novel to be narrated from a servant’s point of view, and the insights into the limitations and vulnerability of her status were interesting. However, I didn’t feel that the other characters were particularly three-dimensional, and I found it generally quite hard to engage much with anyone in the novel. It’s hard to say what I felt was missing, but even Ellen felt more to me like a symbol of something rather than someone who felt real to me.
The middle section of the book, in which Mary Dunbar’s strange accusations are made an investigated, felt rather repetitive and I would have liked it to have a little more pace. Curiously, however bizarre and sinister the goings-on at Knowehead became, I felt this part of the story sometimes lacked tension and atmosphere – although I admit it’s hard to explain why. Fortunately, this picked up towards the end, with the last few chapters being perhaps the strongest and most powerful in the novel.
What makes The House Where It Happened stand out is the location and community in which the story is set. Knowehead is situated on the remote peninsula of Islandmagee, and the Haltridge family who now own it are Ulster Scots – Protestants whose families settled in Ireland a few generations previously, ultimately resulting in a terrible conflict with their Irish neighbours in which an entire community was slaughtered at the command of a mysterious young man called Hamilton Lock. Hamilton Lock, feared and reviled for his appallingly vicious brutality, is long dead, but tales of his almost demonic cruelty still haunt Islandmagee and rumours are rife that his ghost still walks.
Much of The House Where It Happened is more or less folk horror, focusing on the witch-hunt itself. There are questions that go unanswered: while some of Mary Dunbar’s behaviour could be explained away as mental illness or even deliberate attention-seeking, some of her injuries appear not be self-inflicted, and she seems to be able to describe women from the village that she has never met.
Moreover, even before Mary’s arrival, strange and unsettling things have been happening at Knowehead. Is the house literally haunted, or is it simply that the violent history of Islandmagee is hanging over the Ulster Scots community, leaving them with a sort of collective, paranoid guilt?
Or could it possibly be that the very land itself is out for revenge? When Knowehead was first built, a pagan standing stone was destroyed to make way for it – and as the story unfolds, the house itself starts to seem like a sentient symbol of generations of one community being violently displaced by another and former neighbours turning against each other.
The clear parallels of events in The House Where It Happened to the modern day Troubles in Northern Ireland make it an often thought-provoking read, and one which gives a fascinating and often chilling insight into the history of the area. The historical context of the novel, and the notion of not only the community but the land itself having a dark collective memory of what has happened at Islandmagee, are for me the book’s biggest strengths. The use of dialect also gives the novel's prose a distinct identity without making it a difficult read: I'm English and I didn't need to refer to the glossary provided.
When it came to character I felt The House Where It Happened was a little weaker. I did enjoy the fact that Ellen Hill, who narrates the story and has her own misgivings about Knowehead from the start, is the household’s maid: it made a pleasant change for a historical novel to be narrated from a servant’s point of view, and the insights into the limitations and vulnerability of her status were interesting. However, I didn’t feel that the other characters were particularly three-dimensional, and I found it generally quite hard to engage much with anyone in the novel. It’s hard to say what I felt was missing, but even Ellen felt more to me like a symbol of something rather than someone who felt real to me.
The middle section of the book, in which Mary Dunbar’s strange accusations are made an investigated, felt rather repetitive and I would have liked it to have a little more pace. Curiously, however bizarre and sinister the goings-on at Knowehead became, I felt this part of the story sometimes lacked tension and atmosphere – although I admit it’s hard to explain why. Fortunately, this picked up towards the end, with the last few chapters being perhaps the strongest and most powerful in the novel.
June 19, 2015
Fantastic novel, atmospheric and detailed without getting bogged down in exposition. Loved it and I highly recommend this book.
August 23, 2015
perfect for Halloween
November 10, 2017
Set in county Antrim in 1711 this is a fictional remapping of what is claimed to be the last witch trial in Ireland. The story is a slight one - a young woman staying with relatives in Island Magee accuses a number of local women of bewitching her. The story as told is not very convincing and the author has added to it by linking it to a massacre carried out by the Scottish planters who had taken over the area in the 17th century. This allows her to inject a bit about colonizing Ireland into the narrative - presumably to give it a modern resonance.
The story is narrated by a servant, who observes the events. She has an unlikely level of literacy and a few personal issues with the family who employ her. Near the end of the novel a sudden and rather strange revelation about the true nature of the narrator is dropped into the plot. A first person narrative allows author to sprinkle dialect words and phrases into her text which adds a bit of local colour.
The original events are really rather scant and have been written about by a number of local historians, this novel really does not add to them. A lot of similar stories have been told, they form the basis of a number of novels, plays and films. The author appears to find it difficult to complete the stories and the end chapters are risible.
The story is narrated by a servant, who observes the events. She has an unlikely level of literacy and a few personal issues with the family who employ her. Near the end of the novel a sudden and rather strange revelation about the true nature of the narrator is dropped into the plot. A first person narrative allows author to sprinkle dialect words and phrases into her text which adds a bit of local colour.
The original events are really rather scant and have been written about by a number of local historians, this novel really does not add to them. A lot of similar stories have been told, they form the basis of a number of novels, plays and films. The author appears to find it difficult to complete the stories and the end chapters are risible.
February 19, 2018
The theme of this book wouldn’t be one that I would normally read but I saw it recommended on a site and decided to read it. I found it a bit dark and depressing yet compelled to read it through and was glad that I did.
Like others I felt that the character of Mary Dunbarrr could have been investigated more but perhaps class distinction protected her more than the less educated/inferior class of women. I liked the story told through the eyes of Ellen as she was considerate of the needs of all classes and peoples positions during the time that the book was written.
Like others I felt that the character of Mary Dunbarrr could have been investigated more but perhaps class distinction protected her more than the less educated/inferior class of women. I liked the story told through the eyes of Ellen as she was considerate of the needs of all classes and peoples positions during the time that the book was written.
August 23, 2020
Based on true events, this book gives an interesting insight into a part of our Irish history that I was completely unaware of. The language is descriptive using local colloquialism of the time that brings an immediacy to the events portrayed. This book describes very well, the everyday life & society of that time; class distinction, treating women as inferior, dispossession of the native Irish from their land, religious fervour, witchcraft, spirits, mob hysteria. It’s an engaging read.
September 21, 2025
So much to love about this, especially because it's set in Islandmagee & Carrickfergus which I know so well. That helped to make it all the more visceral. A lot spookier than expected but deeply sad, both in terms of the fictional side of the story but also witch trial itself and the wider "planter" context. I like that so much was open to interpretation and questioning while still having a really solid ending! I want this made into a Haunting of Hill House style Netflix series ASAP!
July 6, 2020
Really enjoyed this one, the colloquial language used in it lent itself greatly to its atmosphere.
I had travelled through the area in 2019, long before I read this book, and not realising at the time that it was linked to a witch hunt; I suppose having visited the local area previously helped heighten the drama of the story for me, but all the same it’s a book I’ve thoroughly enjoyed.
I had travelled through the area in 2019, long before I read this book, and not realising at the time that it was linked to a witch hunt; I suppose having visited the local area previously helped heighten the drama of the story for me, but all the same it’s a book I’ve thoroughly enjoyed.
October 24, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyable!
I found this book interesting. A haunted house, evil spirits,.accusations of witch craft....set in the 1600's it was thoroughly enjoyable! Can the family did themselves of the evil that is upon them?
I found this book interesting. A haunted house, evil spirits,.accusations of witch craft....set in the 1600's it was thoroughly enjoyable! Can the family did themselves of the evil that is upon them?
April 7, 2019
If You Enjoyed Corag, The Highland Witch...
This stunning book is based on facts, the arrest and trial of eight witches in 1711. If you enjoyed Corag, read this, it's very well written. Suitable ages 14 and up.
This stunning book is based on facts, the arrest and trial of eight witches in 1711. If you enjoyed Corag, read this, it's very well written. Suitable ages 14 and up.
September 23, 2021
I enjoyed this book immensely, and the fact that it is based on true events made it all the more interesting and harder to put down. Can you imagine eight innocent women accused of witchcraft by a mad woman who should have been getting help for mental illness its heartrending to say the least.
October 31, 2024
This is a fictionalised take on the Islandmagee witch trials. It introduces some paranormal elements and though a slow burner, is very good. It is of particular to me as the events took place about 10 miles from where I live.
August 14, 2017
Based on a true story horror is my favorite kind. A little beefed up to scare you with a lot of historical facts thrown in. I loved this book.
August 17, 2018
Well well well since I might just as well currently be "Mistress Anne" at my work... This is how a witch hunt is, folks, and will always be... Nice read.
June 23, 2021
Great read!
January 3, 2024
I thought this was an emotional and evocative story and painted such a picture of the crowds being worked into a frenzy. It’s cleverly written and the storytelling draws the reader in.
November 22, 2024
350 pages of mind-numbing stupid witch hunts (not bad)
July 5, 2025
addictive read.
March 23, 2017
This book was very hard to get into. The language was very authentic but didn't make it enjoyable to read. For the outcome it was much too long. I wish it had been better as the idea was good.
November 26, 2025
Read for class
March 7, 2018
I really liked this 'haunted house' story of a young visitor to a neighbourhood in Northern Ireland in 1711 causing havoc by accusing locals of witchcraft. However, I didn't for one minute believe her accusations - I don't think the author (former journalist) intended you to. The fact that it is based on true stories makes it even more intriguing - what is 'fact' and what is 'fiction'? I has little liking for the character of the narrator's master - he was a self-serving character.
June 1, 2015
This book just wasn't what I expected. I was really excited when I came across it as I love books set in Northern Ireland and was fascinated by witch trials when I was younger. However the story I had imagined it would be after reading the description on the cover just never really materialised in the book.
I battled my way through the first half. I found that I just didn't care about the character's enough to have any desire to read on. I became increasingly irritated by Mary Dunbar and the religious rabble that swarmed to her, to the point where I almost gave up reading. I decided to give it one last attempt though and I am glad I did as I found myself being sucked in by the second half, finishing it in an afternoon, after struggling with the first half for weeks.
As those accused of being witches were introduced to the plot I found it more interesting - I cared about them and wanted to keep reading to see what happened to them. The return of the Master to the house was another aspect that caught my attention. I had been going on Ellen's description of him up until then and he wasn't what I expected. I was shocked by how twisted he was (not by the fact he was using Ellen, but by his reaction to Mary, the witches and the witch trial)...I quite liked that he turned out to be a bit of an a**ehole!
I think as I began to enjoy it more though my expectations for the ending to the book increased and I found myself a little disappointed. It was a bit of an anticlimax. *spoiler alert* I mean, you have this evil spirit twisting folk's brains and terrorising a place and it built up and build up about his skull and the power it had and how determined he was to stay there and cause havoc...and in the end Ellen hit it with a stone a ween of times and then chucked it in the sea. :/ Think I just thought it would be better than that....I mean, the sea could wash it right back into the cave again?! Also looking back in the story I found myself thinking "well, what was the point of that bit!? It didn't lead anywhere?!", and just felt like things weren't tied up. A lot of things seemed to come across like they'd be important but then were never mentioned again.
It wasn't the worst book I have ever read, I actually really enjoyed most of it, but I was just left feeling like it had the potential to be so much better and I am so sad that it wasn't.
I battled my way through the first half. I found that I just didn't care about the character's enough to have any desire to read on. I became increasingly irritated by Mary Dunbar and the religious rabble that swarmed to her, to the point where I almost gave up reading. I decided to give it one last attempt though and I am glad I did as I found myself being sucked in by the second half, finishing it in an afternoon, after struggling with the first half for weeks.
As those accused of being witches were introduced to the plot I found it more interesting - I cared about them and wanted to keep reading to see what happened to them. The return of the Master to the house was another aspect that caught my attention. I had been going on Ellen's description of him up until then and he wasn't what I expected. I was shocked by how twisted he was (not by the fact he was using Ellen, but by his reaction to Mary, the witches and the witch trial)...I quite liked that he turned out to be a bit of an a**ehole!
I think as I began to enjoy it more though my expectations for the ending to the book increased and I found myself a little disappointed. It was a bit of an anticlimax. *spoiler alert* I mean, you have this evil spirit twisting folk's brains and terrorising a place and it built up and build up about his skull and the power it had and how determined he was to stay there and cause havoc...and in the end Ellen hit it with a stone a ween of times and then chucked it in the sea. :/ Think I just thought it would be better than that....I mean, the sea could wash it right back into the cave again?! Also looking back in the story I found myself thinking "well, what was the point of that bit!? It didn't lead anywhere?!", and just felt like things weren't tied up. A lot of things seemed to come across like they'd be important but then were never mentioned again.
It wasn't the worst book I have ever read, I actually really enjoyed most of it, but I was just left feeling like it had the potential to be so much better and I am so sad that it wasn't.
February 23, 2017
Amazing novel
I loved this story. I had no idea that it was fictionalized account of real events until after finishing it. Made me appreciate the story even more.
I loved this story. I had no idea that it was fictionalized account of real events until after finishing it. Made me appreciate the story even more.
January 9, 2017
Great mix of history and fiction
I love history and in her book, The House Where It Happened: A Novel, author Martina Devlin stays true to history while weaving her tale. The vocabulary, locations, manner of dress were spot on...something that would have stopped my reading had it not been accurate. Not only did Devlin do her homework and research the subject matter for the book, she has the necessary talent to engage this reader from the beginning, and I stayed engaged. I was drawn into the story through the eyes of Ellen and felt her fear, pain, pride and love for the other characters. Character development was amazing! It wasn't forced, it flowed naturally as though you were truly getting to know a character simply through observation and conversation. It takes true talent to pull off a book on this subject (witchcraft), and include historically accurate information, mix in characters relationships. This book has great narratives and descriptions. In spite of all that went into her work, this isn't by any means weighty or boring!!! I honestly had a difficult time putting it down. I wanted to get to the end and find all the answers! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history and bit of a scare. This was definitely a good read! Thank you for sharing your talent with us Martina Devlin!
I love history and in her book, The House Where It Happened: A Novel, author Martina Devlin stays true to history while weaving her tale. The vocabulary, locations, manner of dress were spot on...something that would have stopped my reading had it not been accurate. Not only did Devlin do her homework and research the subject matter for the book, she has the necessary talent to engage this reader from the beginning, and I stayed engaged. I was drawn into the story through the eyes of Ellen and felt her fear, pain, pride and love for the other characters. Character development was amazing! It wasn't forced, it flowed naturally as though you were truly getting to know a character simply through observation and conversation. It takes true talent to pull off a book on this subject (witchcraft), and include historically accurate information, mix in characters relationships. This book has great narratives and descriptions. In spite of all that went into her work, this isn't by any means weighty or boring!!! I honestly had a difficult time putting it down. I wanted to get to the end and find all the answers! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history and bit of a scare. This was definitely a good read! Thank you for sharing your talent with us Martina Devlin!
August 23, 2015
I read this and was majorly disappointed. The Historical note on the first page led me to believe that this book was going to tell a story while exploring the many changes that occurred in Ulster following the Plantation but I was immensely disappointed to discover this was not to be.
I never felt transported to the 1700's and apart from the plentiful rushes spread on the floors, this story could have taken place in any century.It is based on actual events but Martina Devlin doesn't take us on a satisfactory historical journey .
A tale about an obviously mentally ill young girl accusing several women in the locality she was visiting, of witchcraft. A bit of gratuitous sex thrown in between servant girl Ellen who narrates the tale and her Master which led nowhere.
This story had the potential to be quite interesting but it was not well-written. It was quite daft in places, especially the conversations between the Master and Ellen. The blurb was quite misleading - I wasn't 'gripped' by this book and did not find it a 'spine-chilling tale'.
I never felt transported to the 1700's and apart from the plentiful rushes spread on the floors, this story could have taken place in any century.It is based on actual events but Martina Devlin doesn't take us on a satisfactory historical journey .
A tale about an obviously mentally ill young girl accusing several women in the locality she was visiting, of witchcraft. A bit of gratuitous sex thrown in between servant girl Ellen who narrates the tale and her Master which led nowhere.
This story had the potential to be quite interesting but it was not well-written. It was quite daft in places, especially the conversations between the Master and Ellen. The blurb was quite misleading - I wasn't 'gripped' by this book and did not find it a 'spine-chilling tale'.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews