The Witch of Tin Mountain - Paulette Kennedy

AUTHOR: Paulette Kennedy

GENRE: Gothic Drama.

RATING: 3.75 stars.

In a Nutshell: An interesting story. Too many characters with similar problems, so it becomes a tad confusing. But overall, a good atmospheric read.

Story Synopsis:

1931, Arkansas. Nineteen-year-old Gracelynn helps her adoptive granny in the work of being a healer and midwife to the citizens of Tin Mountain. Though there are rumours that the two are witches, people still approach them for cures. This changes when a travelling evangelist Josiah Bellflower comes to town and claims to be a miracle healer. There is something strange about him, but the residents of Tin Mountain don’t see it. Only Gracelynn and her granny realise that the danger is far worse than it appears.

The story comes to us in two voices and two alternating timelines, with Gracelynn’s 1931 perspective being written in first person, and another key character Dierdre’s pov coming from 1881 in third person. There are also minor interludes from a grimoire.

NOTE: Don’t read the Goodreads blurb. It reveals too much.

Where the book worked for me:

😍 The prologue set in 1831 provides the right introduction to the main events. I love it when a prologue is used to spur the story on rather than just revealing something that is to come later in the book.

😍 This is a woman-oriented book, but unlike what you would expect, the female protagonists aren’t just strong but also flawed. They live, they err, they learn, and they fight. Always better to see realistic women than perfect role models. The book is like an ode to womanpower.

😍 The imagery is outstanding. The writing brings alive the Ozark Mountains and the beliefs and lifestyle of their people. Even their dialogues are written in the local dialect, lending a touch of authenticity to the proceedings.

😍 The content is atmospheric, while not being outright horrifying. The spooky elements add to the fun. There is a fair amount of magical realism too.

😍 Through the various reverends/preachers in the story, the author highlights the flaws of blind faith in humans who claim to be proponents of a higher order. While I was initially unsure of the target of her writing, this line in the author’s note makes her opinion clear – “This novel is in no way an indictment of Christianity or religion, but of hypocrisy.” Brava, author! This entire track was written well.

😍 The story begins slowly but proceeds at a steady pace.

😍 There are interesting LGBTQ subplots in both the timelines.

Where the book could have worked better for me:

😑 The events and circumstances in both the timelines are quite similar. Even the people recur in both timelines, the only difference being in their respective ages. As such, keeping the two tracks distinct in your head becomes quite tricky. Having two voices (first person for Gracelynn and third person for Dierdre) helps to some extent, but except for the pronouns, there’s nothing much to distinguish the emotions of the two women.

😑 Adding to the confusion is the sheer number of characters in each timeline, some of whom have a major role to play and some are just minor passers-by in the plot. Some of them are even interlinked through the timelines.

(I must add: The reason for the repeated characters and their interconnections between timelines becomes clear at the end of the book. But this doesn’t make the journey easier.)

😑 There are a few plot points that stay unexplained till the end.

This is the author’s second novel. After reading her debut work ‘Parting the Veil’, I had had somewhat mixed feelings, but I remember how good she was with the paranormal bits and her scene settings. I am happy to say that these two elements are strong even in her second book, AND she has improved upon most of the points I had mentioned. This was a far better reading experience, and I will surely try more of her works.

My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Witch of Tin Mountain”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.