Book Review: The Wicked of the Earth by A. D. Bergin

My friend Andrew has written a cracking novel. The English Civil Wars have left a fragile and changing world. The scarred and weary inhabitants of Newcastle Upon Tyne enlist a Scottish "Pricker" to rid themselves of the witches who shamelessly defy god.

Many are accused, and many hang despite their protestations. The town settles into an uneasy peace. And then, from London, rides a man determined to understand why his sister was accused and whether she yet lives.

Stories about the witch trials usually focus on the immediate horror - this is a superb look at the aftermath. Why do people turn on each other? What secrets will men murder for? How deep does guilt run?

It's a tangled tale, with a large dash of historial research to flesh it out. There's a lot of local slang to work through (another advantage of having an eReader with a comprehensive dictionary!) and some frenetic swordplay. It is bloody and gruesome without being excessive.

The audiobook is 99p on Audible - read by the superb Cliff Chapman - and the eBook is only £2.99 direct from the publisher.