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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
Clifton Wilcox’s The Black Ledger of Salem follows Eliza Harrow, whose father, Nathaniel Harrow, brings the family to Salem after leaving Andover in search of work and lodging. The town is already caught in a witchcraft panic when the Harrows arrive. The men on the common stare at Eliza for too long. Women watch from windows as the wagon passes. At the inn, Amos Pritchard gives the family shelter and tells them about a black leather ledger believed to contain names written for the Devil. Eliza soon hears the scratch of a quill in her sleep and finds that people connect her to a mysterious girl who passed through before her. When a sick young man accuses Eliza, Salem’s fear moves from rumor to a court case against her.
Clifton Wilcox’s The Black Ledger of Salem is brilliant historical fantasy, and the witch trial setting gives the textured feel of a town that is bent on weaponizing fear. The settings are excellent, and the author places readers right inside the meetinghouse, where Ezekiel Swann, the examiner questioning Eliza, is willing to do and say anything to bend her to his will. Reverend Hale, the minister uneasy with Swann’s questioning, is one of my favorites because his conscience gives the scene a human anchor. The best part is Mercy Harrow, Eliza’s mother. I love the way her devotion is fierce and physical, especially the moment Mercy holds Eliza’s wrist before the questioning, then wraps herself around her daughter as the men move in. Well written and haunting, readers who enjoy Salem-set historical fantasy will adore this book.
