Blackwater is the prequel to The Black Hours. Set in the mid-17th century this short novel is a complete story about Lizzie Prentice and her mother Maggie, healers or “cunning women” whose skills were sometimes welcome but could easily cause them to be accused of witchcraft. Lizzie is threatened by Daniel, a boy from the village who had harmed her when they were young, but he is merely a symptom of the superstition and prejudice surrounding the women. Although she is protected by kindly Samuel Pendle his love for her puts the two women in danger, particularly from Samuel’s vicious parents.
The story transports you to authentic villages and countryside of the time and there are convincing accounts of executions as well as a detailed description of London as it seemed to a young girl from the country. A tense tale which invites you to move on to the next book. ( )