The Familiars by Stacey Hall

Young Fleetwood Shuttleworth, a noblewoman, is with child again. None of her previous pregnancies have borne fruit, and her husband, Richard, is anxious for an heir. Then Fleetwood discovers a hidden doctor’s letter that carries a dire prediction: she will not survive another birth. By chance she meets a midwife named Alice Grey, who promises to help her deliver a healthy baby. But Alice soon stands accused of witchcraft.

Is there more to Alice than meets the eye? Fleetwood must risk everything to prove her innocence. As the two women’s lives become intertwined, the Witch Trials of 1612 loom. Time is running out; both their lives are at stake. Only they know the truth. Only they can save each other.

Rich and compelling, set against the frenzy of the real Pendle Hill Witch Trials, this novel explores the rights of 17th-century women and raises the question: Was witch-hunting really women-hunting? Fleetwood Shuttleworth, Alice Grey and the other characters are actual historical figures. King James I was obsessed with asserting power over the lawless countryside (even woodland creatures, or “familiars,” were suspected of dark magic) by capturing “witches”—in reality mostly poor and illiterate women.

Hardcover, 344 pages
Published February 19th 2019 by Mira Books (first published February 7th 2019)

My Review

This story is told from the point of view of Fleetwood Shuttleworth (yes, that was her real name!), a young woman of 17 who is on her fourth pregnancy and is desperate to ensure her child survives after three miscarriages. When she meets Alice, she meets someone who could be a friend for the first time in her life but Alice has secrets and is mysterious.

I liked the way Stacey Halls wove a story around the history of the real Pendle witch trials using real people who were close to the trials and creating an answer to the mystery of Alice's missing story. I sometimes found Fleetwood's narrative a little unbelievable as she rides around the countryside searching for answers but appreciated the descriptions. I also found her history with her mother really interesting and more believable for the time.

I would really have valued reading chapters from Alice's point of view to further bring her story to life.

This was an enjoyable story with some insight into the danger during witch trials, when neighbours would turn against their neighbours, and being a woman not conforming to patriarchal stereotypes could have you branded a witch. This gets 3 out of 5 from me.

The Author

Stacey Halls grew up in Rossendale, Lancashire, as the daughter of market traders. She has always been fascinated by the Pendle witches. She studied journalism at the University of Central Lancashire and moved to London aged 21. She was media editor at The Bookseller and books editor at Stylist.co.uk, and has also written for Psychologies, the Independent and Fabulous magazine, where she now works as Deputy Chief Sub Editor. The Familiars is her first novel.