What do you think?
Rate this book
Purge
In an age of superstition, can reason find the truth?
It is 1645 and England is at war with itself. Whilst the forces of parliament and the king fight for supremacy, another terror stalks the fenlands of England. This is the age of the witch-finders.
When a rich widow is accused of witchcraft, Sir Richard Easeby - lawyer and rationalist - is called to defend her. As he peels away the layers of lust, jealousy and greed, a darker truth begins to emerge. Is everything quite as it appears, or might other, more deadly forces be at work?
Easeby is in a race against time to discover the truth, and it is not just a woman's life at stake; it is his own reputation and the very foundations of reason itself.
It is 1645 and England is at war with itself. Whilst the forces of parliament and the king fight for supremacy, another terror stalks the fenlands of England. This is the age of the witch-finders.
When a rich widow is accused of witchcraft, Sir Richard Easeby - lawyer and rationalist - is called to defend her. As he peels away the layers of lust, jealousy and greed, a darker truth begins to emerge. Is everything quite as it appears, or might other, more deadly forces be at work?
Easeby is in a race against time to discover the truth, and it is not just a woman's life at stake; it is his own reputation and the very foundations of reason itself.
355 pages, Paperback
Published July 29, 2021
17 people want to read
About the author
Neil K. Wootton
1 book1 followerThe author was born in Leicester in 1965. His fondest childhood memories are of strikes, glam-rock and power-cuts. He studied philosophy and politics at Warwick University, a degree that teaches very little other than how to question the unquestionable to annoying effect. After a long career questioning the unquestionable to annoying effect in the financial services industry, he applied an abrupt handbrake turn in 2020 to become an author. He writes because it is the only thing he is really any good at. He currently lives between Lancashire and South West France with his wife and two Jack Russell terriers. When not writing, he enjoys testing the patience of his friends and family and arching a sardonic eyebrow at the World. Purge is his debut novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 24, 2021
That was seriously good.
I picked this book up because my work book club decided to read it and I was a little worried that I wouldn’t like it. Clearly those worries were unfounded.
It was superbly well written. The story follows the tale of Sir Richard Easeby, a man of no mean intellect, obstinacy, kindness or humanity. He is called on to represent a widow who has been accused of being a witch.
The events take place in 1645 during the civil war between the cavaliers and Roundheads and in the town of Huntingdon. Oliver Cromwell himself asks Sir Richard to journey from his home in Lancaster to Huntingdon to help save Sarah Wenham from the charges against her.
The story presents evidence of the accusers and leaves the reader to consider whether Sarah is guilty of being a witch or not. It’s excellently constructed and the plot goes in a direction I certainly didn’t expect.
Each character is well thought out and described. I was hissing at the baddies like Isaiah Felt and Jacob Smog - what fabulous names, and cheering for the good.
Can’t wait to discuss it in the work book club.
I picked this book up because my work book club decided to read it and I was a little worried that I wouldn’t like it. Clearly those worries were unfounded.
It was superbly well written. The story follows the tale of Sir Richard Easeby, a man of no mean intellect, obstinacy, kindness or humanity. He is called on to represent a widow who has been accused of being a witch.
The events take place in 1645 during the civil war between the cavaliers and Roundheads and in the town of Huntingdon. Oliver Cromwell himself asks Sir Richard to journey from his home in Lancaster to Huntingdon to help save Sarah Wenham from the charges against her.
The story presents evidence of the accusers and leaves the reader to consider whether Sarah is guilty of being a witch or not. It’s excellently constructed and the plot goes in a direction I certainly didn’t expect.
Each character is well thought out and described. I was hissing at the baddies like Isaiah Felt and Jacob Smog - what fabulous names, and cheering for the good.
Can’t wait to discuss it in the work book club.
February 26, 2022
Book club loved it. So much to talk about.
April 14, 2022
Very entertaining historical fiction
Really enjoyed reading this book. Love period pieces. Looking forward to follow up and must say that this would make a great tv series!
Really enjoyed reading this book. Love period pieces. Looking forward to follow up and must say that this would make a great tv series!
May 2, 2022
Set in England in 1645, Purge is a story of fear and superstition that grips a town into madness. Sarah Wenham’s wealthy husband died fighting for the king in a war in which Parliament will soon be the victor. When a witch hunter arrives and accuses her of witchcraft, Sir Richard Easeby is called upon to defend her. He has only days to prepare her defense within a town gripped by religious fever and poised to lay all their troubles on one woman’s shoulders.
The story in this debut novel is well layered, promoting a sense of established characters instead of people with whom everything starts from scratch. Wootton introduces characters within his large cast very well so it doesn’t get confusing as to who’s who. Personalities spring forth from the pages as their suspicions interconnect and weave together in chilling ways. It’s not hard to imagine the terror or persuasiveness a witch finder could hold over a town’s inhabitants, summed up well by Easeby’s observation of an acquaintance: “Swords he has never feared, but words terrify him.”
The author is able to keep readers hooked throughout the arrest, trial, and ensuing events with a quick pace and high tension. As new truths emerge, more questions and suspicions twist the plot. Chapters are short but left me wanting more. Overall, a captivating story built upon solid research and very well-crafted prose. I’ll be keeping an eye out for what’s to come next for these characters.
Review originally posted via the Historical Novel Society at https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...
The story in this debut novel is well layered, promoting a sense of established characters instead of people with whom everything starts from scratch. Wootton introduces characters within his large cast very well so it doesn’t get confusing as to who’s who. Personalities spring forth from the pages as their suspicions interconnect and weave together in chilling ways. It’s not hard to imagine the terror or persuasiveness a witch finder could hold over a town’s inhabitants, summed up well by Easeby’s observation of an acquaintance: “Swords he has never feared, but words terrify him.”
The author is able to keep readers hooked throughout the arrest, trial, and ensuing events with a quick pace and high tension. As new truths emerge, more questions and suspicions twist the plot. Chapters are short but left me wanting more. Overall, a captivating story built upon solid research and very well-crafted prose. I’ll be keeping an eye out for what’s to come next for these characters.
Review originally posted via the Historical Novel Society at https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews