The Wolves of Andover is a historical novel set in Colonial Massachusetts years before the Salem witch trials. We follow the story of Martha Allan as she is sent to her cousin as little more than a servant. At the age of 23 she is already considered a spinster but she and the handy-man, Thomas Carrier fall in love but planning a future is difficult as there are secrets that keep them apart and dangers to avoid. Thomas had played a role in the execution of Charles I and was one of a group that was being hunted by Charles II, intent on revenge.

Colonial America was not an easy place to survive. Relations with the native Indians were strained, smallpox was rampant and wolves – both four-legged and two legged lurked in the woods. As we follow the courtship of Thomas and Martha, we also follow a group of unscrupulous men who have been sent by Charles II to locate Thomas and assassinate him.

The Wolves of Andover is an interesting account of colonial life. Both Martha and Thomas are based on real characters, although it is not certain that Thomas actually did play a role in the English king’s death. Martha and Thomas Carrier were ancestors of the author and Martha was eventually hung as a witch some twenty years after the events of this book. The author wrote The Heretic’s Daughter about the death of Martha so this book is actually a prequel. I enjoyed this story although it was difficult to keep all the characters and their political inclinations straight as the story continually jumped around. ( )

Second in the trilogy that began with The Heretic’s Daughter, about Martha Carrier, who was hanged as a witch in Salem in 1692, The Wolves of Andover tells of the love story between Martha and regicide Thomas Morgan, aka Carrier, a quiet, kind, giant of a man wanted for beheading King Charles I of England at the behests of Oliver Cromwell.

Kent’s writing Style is sparse yet full of detail, much like Massachusetts countryside inhabited by the main characters. In this book we see why Martha Carrier was depicted as fierce and unyielding in the first book. As her story unfolds, we cannot help but root for her and her blossoming relationship with Thomas Morgan Carrier.

Martha’s death at the hands of the illogical, superstitious, and inept magistrates of Salem seems all the more tragic upon learning of her history.

A tragic and still mysterious chapter of early colonial American history, the Salem Witch trials haunt us to this day, and through Kent’s words they are preserved like insects in amber for continued inquiry. ( )

1673, colonial Massachusetts. 19-year-old Martha Allen is unwed, considered a spinster, and forced to take work with her cousin who is soon to give birth to her third child. Outspoken and stubborn, Martha finds the same qualities in Thomas Carrier, a tall Welshman working on her cousin's farm in exchange for a plot of land. As their relationship develops, five assassins depart from London, sent by King Charles II to hunt down the executioner of his father, King Charles I. The man they hunt, Thomas Morgan, was a member of the Royal Guard of the King of England when he was younger before joining Cromwell's New Model Army. He was also very tall and strong and changed his last name when he left England for the harsh wilderness of colonial Massachusetts. The research is good, but the book somehow doesn't quite come together - not a compelling read and had to persist to actually finish it. ( )

Kent's prequel to The Heretic's Daughter takes the reader back to 23-year old Martha Carrier's life as an outspoken spinster in 17th century Massachusetts. A novel of love, survival, and revenge, Kent seamlessly weaves the love story of Martha and Thomas, the political intrigue following the beheading of King Charles I, and the struggle against the untamed wilderness and disease in colonial America. ( )

Interesting setting, colonial America, and some history I didn't know (hanging head in shame) about Cromwell and England's grudges transported to America. I liked the descriptions of everyday life in rural America at the time, and knowing this character would go on to be featured in Kent's first book (The Heretic's Daughter) made it all the more poignant. ( )