THE DEVIL'S GLOVE

Grindle presents a historical novel of witchcraft and war in Colonial America.

In the tightknit and often claustrophobic world of a coastal Maine village in 1688, teenage Resolve Hammond lives with her mother, an herbalist whose knowledge is often called on by her neighbors, though some of them are suspicious about the origins of her skills. In the book’s opening chapter, Resolve’s mother is unable to save Avis Hobbs, a woman who has been poisoned by her 10-year-old daughter, Abigail. Abigail develops a fixation on Resolve that threatens to become dangerous, but they face a more immediate threat when leaders of the colony’s militia instigate war against the local Indigenous tribes. Resolve and her mother, who spent time living with one of the tribes during King Philip’s War a decade earlier, attempt to mediate and avert bloodshed, which puts their standing in the town at further risk. The war brings Abigail’s older brother, Thaddeus, back to town, and, as he and Resolve grow close, she learns more about the harm Abigail has done. But a crucial moment brings her into alliance with Abigail and reveals mysteries about the abilities they share. The book’s first half meanders, particularly as it tiptoes around questions of Abigail’s culpability, the supernatural, and various village personalities, but the pacing solidifies by the narrative’s midpoint, when the looming war claims much of the focus—the second half is a page-turner. The often elaborate prose may not appeal to all readers (“A tiny coracle, I bob in her wake as she crosses the village, her long hair a single plait swinging down her back”), though all can appreciate the detailed and evocative imagery that brings the setting to life. Grindle’s approach to the complex historical background of the story rewards knowledgeable and curious readers without overwhelming the plot. The book explores questions of freedom and independence, offering a compelling perspective on the earliest days of New England’s history.

An uneven but ultimately enjoyable tale of Colonial New England.