THE WITCHFINDER'S SISTER

Underdown's atmospheric historical novel follows Alice Hopkins through grief, warring loyalties, and difficult choices in seventeenth-century England, a period of witch-hunting. While narrator Roy McMillan drops in periodically to lend deep and somber tones as Alice's brother, Matthew, recites passages from his journal, the bulk of the narration is performed by Lucy Brownhill. Her range is impressive, as is her demonstration of Lucy's growth throughout the story as she attempts to heal old wounds and uncover family secrets. This is a bleak and often grim tale, but Brownhill's soft-spoken and purposeful narration maintains an even pace, keeping listeners rooted in the story without getting too absorbed in the sadness. K.S.B. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2017]