The Secrets of Thistle Cottage

by Kerry Barrett

The truth can be dangerous in the wrong hands…
1661, North Berwick
One stormy night, healer Honor Seton and her daughter Alice are summoned by the town lord to save his wife – but Honor is too late. The much-feared lord embarks on a vengeful crusade against the Seton women, and soon there are whispers of witchcraft all over town. Honor hopes her growing friendship with the lord’s brother will protect them from unproven rumours and dangerous accusations – but Alice is convinced the truth is finally catching up with her…

Present day, North Berwick
After an explosive scandal lands her husband in prison, Tess Blyth and her daughter flee Edinburgh to start afresh in quaint Thistle Cottage, where they can hide from the media’s unforgiving glare. Tess is intrigued by the shadowy stories of witchcraft surrounding the mother and daughter who lived in the cottage centuries ago. But she quickly discovers modern-day witch hunts can be just as vicious: someone in town knows her secret – and they won’t let Tess forget it…

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Historical, Scotland, Witches, Audiobook

391 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 9, 2021

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I've always been interested in reading stories about women who were accused of being witches. I find it disturbing how society can be persuaded by rumors and innuendos, normally untrue, to turn against certain people. In the case of witches, simply women who live alone, are many times widows, who have the knowledge to alleviate pain and suffering using plants. The times of the witch trials were a frightening time for women, and there was no defense or justice available to them.

This book is written in two timelines. In 1661 Honor Seton and her daughter Alice, are herbalists and take care of many people in their community. When summoned to take care of the laird's wife, the woman dies despite Honor's attempts to save her. The laird is determined to seek vengeance against Honor. This timeline was very interesting and gives a feel for the time and the risks women faced.

The second timeline is present day. Tess and her daughter Jemima, have moved to Thistle Cottage after fleeing Edinburgh when Tess's husband goes to prison. After moving in they find the cottage had once been the home of two women accused of witchcraft, and that Thistle Cottage is known at the Witches' Cottage. Some dark and unsettling things start happening at the cottage that keep Tess and Jem worried they might be targets for the things Tess's husband had done.

I enjoyed reading this and found the writing flowed well and the characters were interesting. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or stories about witches.

Thanks to HQ Digital through Netgalley for an advance copy.

[Jeanne Adamek · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the writing at the beginning. It gave me sort of Victoria Holt vibes-- without sounding just like Victoria Holt. I really loved it. But in around 1/4 to 1/3 of the story it seemed like the writing changed slightly & although it was a okay reading experience, it wasn't more.

I would like to try more of Kerry Barrett's books. To see if I can get the Victoria Holt vibes again-- and to see if this is sustained.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice little read, settings of 1661 and present day. What does the author want to suggest beyond the events that take place. Simply this, that whispers about people are so damaging, in 1661 Honore and daughter Alice are healers, Honore is the midwife of the town and as so happens in this time due to an infection sweeping the town including at the manor house of Gregory Kincaid, whose wife could not be saved while others were saved and in only a short time Honore is accused of witchcraft for which the penalty is death by fire. To add to Honore's out of the ordinary situation on the death of her husband he left her his entire estate of property and their home for which she automatically becomes a councillor of the small town. In this time this is looked on with suspicion and with her herbalist abilities gives weight to the accusations of witchery.

Present day and the whispers come from social media fanned by the tabloid press. Tess and daughter Jem have had to move from Edinburgh to the small town of North Berwick to try and escape the hostilities that have been unleashed with many blaming Tess for her husband's sex crimes. Believing him as being innocent Tess had stood by her husband until the increased accusations became too much, he was put on trial and found guilty. Tess was holding down a lucrative job as a lawyer but this all came thundering down with the verdict. Moving to the small town of North Berwick, changing their names and appearances the two try to make a new start in the small cottage known as Thistle Cottage, the same home that Honore lived in, the witches cottage. However, Tess is recognised by a few who do keep it to themselves but as things progress someone starts to make trouble for them. The witch's house adds to the target with red paint damage to the fence and house with "witch" spelt out, Halloween adds to their troubles with personal items going missing and put onto skeletons at their front door, all for a laugh at first but with derogatory Facebook posts events start to turn really sour. Handyman Rory comes to the rescue mending much of the damage done to the house and begins to show an interest in Tess but Jem is uncomfortable with him. Jem is abducted and her abductor streams her live at his demand denouncing her mother. With help from friend Mandy who recognises the area, Jem is rescued and the perpetrator apprehended.

[Jonann loves book talk❤♥️❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughts to ponder: 🤔
What if your husband was a famous television personality who was suddenly convicted of brutal sex crimes against women. (As we all know this has actually happened recently in the media world.) Everyone says "How could the wife not be aware?" But would she know? What if her husband was so good at living a duel life that she honestly had no clue? Most importantly, how would she protect her innocent young children from harmful media and personal accusations? The children are not responsible for their dad's actions. Why should they suffer?

Tess Blyth moves with her 14-year-old daughter Jem, to escape the media coverage surrounding her ex-husband's very public transgressions and subsequent prison sentence. They need a new start and pick a beautiful little home (Thistle Cottage) near the beach. Tess and Jem love their new home until they begin to hear rumors that a witch and her daughter once lived in the house. At first, it's a fun distraction to track down clues to the mysterious past of Thistle Cottage. Suddenly, the game turns deadly when they are threatened and fear for their safety.

The Secrets of Thistle Cottage is the raw emotional journey of two women separated by time trying to protect their daughters from very difficult situations. It is very well written and enjoyable suspense. I look forward to reading more from the very talented Kerry Barrett. (4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating.)

Thank you NetGalley and HQ Digital, for allowing me to review this thrilling book. I appreciate your kindness.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book it was so good. Loved the dual time line. Another great read from this author. I will be looking out for more of hers. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed another offering from Barrett and thought the dual-timelines to be immersive and interesting. Alternating with the present day and the witch hunts in seventeenth century Scotland, I liked how the writer created parallels between the two plots.

In present day, Tess and her daughter, Jem, have move home following a scandal that lead the Tess’s husband imprisoned and a lot of vitriolic social media posts. However, despite living a place where no one seems to know their past, Tess and Jem are targeted with hateful, anonymous messages. It is clear that someone knows who Tess and Jem really are and, with Halloween approaching, these threats take a more sinister turn.

Yet, this does not seem to be too much different three hundred years previous. Honor is an incredibly clever, independent woman, yet the patriarchy of the time are threatened by this. She is knowledgeable on all things healing and, despite being a widower, has also been bequeathed a seat on the council. After curing several members of a household from the sickness, people start to turn against Honor and her daughter, Alice, particularly when other strange events start taking place. Although they can be reasoned logically, it doesn’t stop the magic and witchcraft rumours swirling around them.

Both timelines present women who feel trapped and hunted as a result of male actions. I was curious to see how both would become liberated and I liked the suggestion of magic throughout the story, especially with the scene with Alice at the end of the book. However, I do feel that Barrett really builds the tension over the course of the novel, which contrastingly felt wrapped up too quickly at the conclusion of the story. I think I wanted to see something more developed but, simultaneously couldn’t wait to find out what happened in both timelines.

This read is perfect for the autumn months and is especially atmospheric. I loved the historical angle of this story and could understand the frustration that Honor feels about being persecuted for her knowledge. Similarly, Tess and Jem have been tarnished with the same brush as their husband and although in different periods, the strength of rumours and how they are spread shows that history continues to repeat itself.

A well-written historical read, Barrett shows that witch hunts still take place today. In present day however, they can be anonymous, although just as damaging as they were for Honor and Alice.

With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Gena DeBardelaben · Rating 3 out of 5]

eARC: Netgalley

I was initially slightly disappointed in The Secrets of Thistle Cottage. The storyline was good, but the writing felt as if it were perhaps more geared toward middle school readers. Once I adjusted my expectations to the middle school level I enjoyed the book. It just felt there was the potential for a much more in depth story.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

1661, North Berwick: One stormy night, healer Honor Seton and her daughter Alice are summoned by the Lord to save his wife- But Honor is too late. The much feared Lord embarks on a vengeful crusade against the Seaton women, and soon there are whispers of witchcraft all over town.

Present day, North Berwick: After an explosive scandal lands her husband in prison, Tess Blyth and her daughter flee Edinburgh to start afresh in the quaint Thistle Cottage, were can hide from the medias unforgiving glare. Tess is intrigued by the shadowy stories of witchcraft surrounding the mother and daughter who lived in the cottage centuries ago.

This story is written in the past and present day format. The past, 1661: Mother and daughter, Honor and Alice Seton were herbalists. They were summoned to take care of the Lord's wife, but unfortunately the woman died. Present day: Tess and Jemima Blyth fled Edinburgh when Tess's husband goes to prison. They move into Thistle Cottage and later find out it was once the home of two women that had been accused of witchcraft.

I was pulled into the first part of the book pretty quickly but I wasn't so keen on the second part. The story is intriguing in parts. It's also quite a dark read. The characters were well developed, believable and the four women had a point of view. This is an easy book to read as the words just flowed from the pages.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HQ and the author #KerryBarrett for my ARC of #TheSecretsOfThistleCottage in exchange for an honest review.

[Beccabeccabooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two mother and daughter duos. Two witch hunts. One seaside cottage in Scotland.

𝟭𝟴𝟲𝟭, 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗸

As herbalists, Honor and Alice Seton are valuable assets to the community. Time after time, their tonics have healed the sick, assisted in problematic labours, and given relief to those with common ailments. One stormy night, they're summoned to save the town lord's wife, but are too late. In anger, the Laird begins a vengeful campaign against mother and daughter, accusing them of witchcraft. Honor and Alice know that the sensible option is to run and hide, especially in a time when witch hunts were rife across the country. However, Honor serves on the local council, a title bestowed to her by her late husband. Can she rely on her connections to keep herself and her daughter safe?

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗸

In the wake of the explosive scandal surrounding her husband, Tess Blythe moves herself and daughter Jemima away from the unwanted media attention and public scrutiny in Edinburgh to start afresh in Thistle Cottage. No one in the area knows them or their story, and Tess wants it to remain that way.

When they learn of the stories of witchcraft that comes with their new home, it's a welcome distraction to their troubles. Yet, soon enough, odd unexplainable occurrences start. What begins as simple vandalism quickly turns into more vicious targeting towards the Blythes. Modern-day witch hunts are real, and someone knows their secret - and they won't stop until Tess is driven out of town.

The Secrets of Thistle Cottage is yet another fabulous and intriguing read by Kerry Barrett. This author is becoming a firm favourite of mine with her blend of well researched historical elements combined with present-day relevances. It's no surprise that anything regarding witches, witch hunts/trials fascinate me, so I was a happy, chappy reader. The Witches of Scotland campaign and podcast mentioned in Kerry's author notes are things I'll be definitely exploring in the future!

5 🌟

[Lucinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 1/2 elevated to 3.

This story is divided between Tess and her daughter Jem in the present day, and Honor and her daughter Alice in the 17th century. All four of them have POVs, but I'm not sure it was necessary.

I enjoyed the part about the history and the repercussions of witch hunting, both in the past and present.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounding up to three stars.

This book didnt work for ME.
I very much enjoyed the bits set in the past,but the present day parts just didn't quite match.
A quick read,by which I mean,the writing flowed,but I fear not memorable.

[May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect vacation read!!! Fast plot, engaging characters, then & now time frames! Nicely done!!

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dual timelines of two sets of mothers and daughters. In the present-day story the mom has essentially been tried and judged via social media of wrong-doing simply because her husband was guilty of crimes. (Sadly we see this happen all the time because too many people think their personal opinion matters more than compassion or truth.) The historical story is of a mother and daughter who are accused of witchcraft because a local leader wants to be rid of the influence of the mother in village affairs. She's a healer, can read and write, and as a village burgess poses a threat to his plans to dredge the harbor which would make him money but would likely ruin the fishing livelihood of many of the local fishermen.

I thought the author's comparison of the two different situations was truly compelling and interesting showing the parallel of how dangerous gossip and rumor can be regardless of the time. Unfortunately there are some inconsistencies and stretches in both stories that detract from the overall reading experience.

The plot = 4.5 stars, the writing = 2.
3.5 stars

[TracyGH · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audiobook and it almost took me a month to get through….Unheard of in my world.
I think this was a case of the written book would of been better for me.
I found it was quite cumbersome and predictable although I did appreciate the Scottish narrator. There were 4 POV’s and I felt like it was too many. Ultimately, one point of view (Jemima) was awful which drops my rating.
It was ironically based around Halloween which I did not know until I got into it. (Maybe it was meant to take me this long to finish.).
Not my cup of tea, but it rates fairly well on Goodreads so I may be an outlier.

[Joan Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Scotland, The Secrets of Thistle Cottage is a dual timeline story of two mothers and their daughters.

In 1661 widow Honor Seaton and her daughter Alice live in Thistle Cottage in the seaside town of North Berwick. Honor isn’t like most women of her day. She’s able to read, has a vast knowledge of plants and herbal remedies, and many of the townsfolk call on her when they have ailing family members.

Honor’s late husband left her with a position as a burgess, giving her a voice in matters involving the town—something only men of that era usually had. This doesn’t sit well with the laird, Gregor Kincaid. When Honor votes against his idea to deepen the harbor in order to bring trading ships to the area, it’s the beginning of her troubles.

Honor’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Alice, was born “in the caul.” Some believe babies born this way have power, second sight, and the ability to raise storms on sunny days.

Gregor Kincaid’s wife, mother, and nephew become ill with a sudden illness and he and his brother Davey call on Honor to help. Accompanied by Alice, Honor isn’t able to save Gregor’s wife, but Davey’s son and their mother survive. Was it Honor’s tincture that cured them, or did Alice play a role when she touched Davey on the head willing him to live?

The modern-day story begins when Tess Blyth and her daughter Jemimah (Jem) move into Thistle Cottage, leaving Edinburg after Tess’s husband, Alistair, was convicted of the sexual assault of three women. Alistair was a television personality, so the case got a lot of publicity. Jem’s “friends” turned against her, and remarks made by Tess on Twitter were misinterpreted by many to believe she supported her husband.

Tess is a little paranoid, not wanting Jem to have any social media accounts, and she’s a little overprotective. Jem, more outgoing, befriends their elderly neighbor Eva and starts making friends at school. It’s not long before Jem and her best friend Cassie embark on a historical project that is supposed to tie the past to the present. They select the story of Honor and Alice Seaton.

After a major storm causes a tree to crash into Jem’s bedroom window, she finds a mysterious bottle wedged beneath the window seal. They soon learn it was a “witches bottle” something women used to hide as protection against those who proclaimed them as witches. Another bottle contains a note written by Alice.

Strange things begin to happen at the cottage. Someone paints the word “witch” on their fence, and later on the windows and walls. Two skeletons are placed near their door—one wearing one of Tess’s scarves when had gone missing, the other a tie belonging to Jem.

Tess, who has tried to keep their identity a secret, begins to suspect a young woman who works at The Haven, a women’s center where Tess does pro bono legal work. Or is it Cassie’s mother? Or Rory, the handyman who repaired the damage to the cottage?

Will Honor be burned at the stake having been accused of being a witch? Or will the townsfolk support her against a vindictive Gregor Kincaid and the witch hunter he brought to town?

There are similarities between the lives of Honor and Alice with that of Tess and Jem. I found the dual timelines easy to follow. While I thought the ending for Tess and Gem was a little rushed, overall this was a satisfying read.

[Emma Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dual timeline finally that really really works for me. A feminist portrayal of the 1600s and modern day.
A mother and daughter are picking up the pieces and starting a new life in the aftermath of their husband/father being sent to prison for sexual assault.
They start their new life in a "Witch cottage" and therein unfolds Alice and Honor's story. I loved the way the two stories wove together but also how women were treated in their respective time periods. Honor is seen as a threat as her dead husband gave her rights men only usually have. Tess has to handle social media in order to survive.
Great stories of witchcraft, few unexpected turns along the way, a few creepy goings on. This has everything.

[Shannon Vanderstreaten · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75- that was soooo good!! It immediately gave The Burning Girls (single woman and her teenage daughter with a haunted past moving to a new place and starting out with new identities) but with the added bonus of witches!! The storylines ran in parallel to each other really well and as you can see I demolished this in about 9 hours bc it was so lit!! If Kerry Barrett has more like this then I will definitely give them a read!

[Paulette Ondara · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s sad that 400 years later we have learned nothing from the witch hunts. In the 1660’s Honor and Alice were believed to be witches. In present day, Tess and Jem are facing the same persecution. All of it now and then based on lies and people twisting the truth. To tie it all together they live in the same house.
Kerry brings each character to life and their story feels like a story of some you know. I like how she writes from more than one character’s point of view and from the past to today.

[LIZ NELSON · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping from beginning to end. well written. felt like you knew the characters

[Hpnyknits · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all- this should be labeled YA. Because it’s “so totally YA”. If it was, I wouldn’t have read it.
Then- the story of the 2 parallel timelines has been done so many times. This one wasn’t that successful.
It got an extra star for the “humble but handsome” romantic interest turns evil.
But it lost it because he doesn’t get punished for abducting and terrorizing a 14 yo girl. Nope!!
Moral high f the story-
Just because you quit social media, and limit ur child, it doesn’t mean social media is gone.

[Ashley Cloninger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed other books from Kerry Barrett and this one was no exception. Dual time books are a favorite of mine, and this was a great addition to the genre.

The story follows mothers and daughters in the present and in 1661. In the present we have Tess and her teenage daughter Jem fleeing Edinburgh from the scandal and incarceration of Tess’ husband Alistair for sexual assault. Tess is hoping to find a safe place for herself and her daughter after the horror that her husband’s behavior put them through. They find a small but lovely cottage im North Berwick called Thistle cottage and settle in. Jem and her school friend have to do a history report and settle on the history of the cottage which is known locally as the Witch’s cottage. In 1661 we have mother and daughter Honor and Alice, both well versed in the healing arts, which is not something they want to advertise in the era of witch hunts. Honor has an enemy in the local lord who is enraged that Honor is a burgess via her deceased husband, and has the ability to deny him the rights to drag the harbor and ruin the fishing for the town, the main living for the locals. What is a lord to do when a woman in the 17th century gets above her station? Well call in the Witch finder of course. So begins the research of what happened to Honor and Alice.

Tess and Jem meanwhile are finding their feet with the locals and the history of their cottage. Have they found the safe harbor that they are looking for?

I really enjoyed the dual time period of this book and the historical aspect, it is scary how quickly people could turn on one another due to superstitons, If you are a fan of historical fiction and dual time novels, give The Secrets of Thistle Cottage a go, you will not be disappointed.

Thank you to Netgalley, HQ Digital and the author Kerry Barrett for the chance to read and review this book.

[Nessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having loved Kerry's previous books, I just knew that I wanted to read her next one and so glad that I did. This story literally grabbed a hold of me and sucked me in. I was gripped and sitting on the edge of my seat with ever chapter, right to the very end.

It didn't take me long to be drawn into the stories of both Honor and her daughter Alice back in 1616 and that of Tess plus her daughter Jem in present day, I was captivated right from the first few chapters. I loved how the story went back and forth from 1616 to present day which was done so seamlessly. I especially loved the historical element which was focused around a woman being accused of being a Witch, how the neighbourhood reacts & the appearance of a Witch finder who clearly puts the fear of God into everyone. And in the present day element of the story you find yourself in a modern-day witch-hunt of a slightly different kind to what occurred in historical times past. It all made for very addictive reading.

It was highly captivating, dramatic and emotional read in places, I literally could not turn the pages fast enough, with wanting to find out what happens next and as to how it would all end.

I thought the story was brilliantly well written and the characters are all so very well portrayed and believable.

I just loved loved reading this story and how it all came together.

[Emma Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about this book it was really good and the suspense was interesting.

Tess & Jem are Mother & daughter who have moved into Thistle Cottage which is also called Witches Cottage. The previous people that owned it were Honor & Alice another Mother & daughter in 1661. Honor is someone who the people turn to if they are ill and is very dependable but unfortunately she has made an enemy.

Tess & Jem are finding strange things happening at the cottage who is trying to frighten them or drive them out of the village.

I thought it was very interesting to read and really enjoyed the dual time line it was very well written.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A creative story, but should be labeled YA.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Secrets of Thistle Cottage particularly the way the contemporary story mirrored the story set in the past. In both stories, a mother and daughter are at the centre of the story. In both stories, they are the focus of witch hunts. Honor Seton is a healer and valued for her midwifery skills. In the 17th century, when she is unable to save one powerful man’s wife, her life is in danger. Her daughter Alice is also caught up in the accusations of witchcraft when she quarrels with a friend over a man. It was quite terrifying to think about how easily a woman could find herself accused and how powerless she was to do anything about it. Anyone who tried to defend an accused women, could find themselves accused.

There may have been literal witch hunts in the past but these are more figurative in the present. Tess and her daughter Jem are trying to leave behind the gossip and accusations they had faced in Edinburgh. When carrying out a school project, Jem is quite fascinated to discover that Honor and Alice Seton lived in Thistle Cottage all those years ago and that their cottage is known locally as the witch’s cottage. Just as for the Setons, we see how easily gossip and rumours can affect someone’s reputation. Though of course. with social media accusations can be spread more easily, more quickly and more widely these days

I had a slight niggle with something Jem looked up online regarding living characters. I know it’s something that isn’t possible to do as I’ve done a fair bit family history research myself. However, this is fiction and it was something that worked for the story so I could understand why it was included.

The Secrets of Thistle Cottage had a great setting with characters you will be hoping overcome all that is thrown at them. It actually become unexpectedly tense near the end both for the 17th century characters and the present day characters. Kerry Barrett blends her two timelines together very well resulting in an absorbing historical and present day mystery story.

[Amanda Bennett at passionforprose · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is nothing more dangerous than an educated woman in 1661. Honor Seton is a widow, and a local burgess, thanks to her forward-thinking husband John. Not only did he leave his seat on the council in their small fishing village in Scotland, but he also taught his wife to read and write. These abilities, plus what she learned as a healer from her mother, makes Honor dangerous. She has passed her same talents on to her daughter Alice as well. Honor and Alice are summoned to the town lord to help his wife, mother, and nephew late one evening as they are suffering a serious ailment, Honor and Alice “works their magic” and are able to help the mother and nephew, but unfortunately they’re too late for the wife. Their “failure” to save the lord’s wife sets him on a vengeful crusade.

After a horribly public scandal by her TV presenter ex-husband, Tess Blythe wants nothing more to do with the spotlight. A misunderstood social media post on her part doesn’t endear her to the public either. In an effort to protect her sanity and her daughter, Jemima’s, privacy they flee to the quite hamlet of North Berwick to regain control of their lives. Here Jemima is eager to find out more about the previous mother and daughter tenants from centuries before her and Tess. As Halloween approaches their legacy as “witches” enchants her and she is eager to learn more. Tess and Jemima quickly learn what Honor and Alice must have felt like as their social media past catches up to them in a modern-day witch-hunt.

Both mother daughter duos were entertaining. I was particularly fond of Honor Seton’s progressive mind and behavior for her time. Though it may not seem like at the time, Alice was lucky to have such a mother. This book was a fun read, particularly for the month of October. The mystery in the story was relatively easy for me to figure out, but didn’t detract from the story.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secrets of Thistle Cottage by Kerry Barrett is a compelling story of a modern-day witch-hunt. It takes place in four perspectives: Tess, a solicitor, and her daughter, Jemima, and Honor, a widow in 1661 and her daughter, Alice. Tess and Jem have run since Tess' husband, Alistair, had been convicted and imprisoned for raping and molesting young woman with whom her worked. The public at large blamed them, when they had known nothing of his sins. Tess had stood by him at first: her was her husband. Now they had moved to a remote village, assumed Tess' maiden name, and were trying to build a life. As part of a history project, Jem and her friend, Cassie, discovered that Thistle Cottage, Jem's home, had been the home of accused witches, Honor and Alice Seton. Since they had to do a history project attaching something historic to how it would affect people in today's world, they went with it, despite having no idea how it connected. Then things started happening. It was nearly Halloween. Was that it?

What a wonderful, fulfilling the theme of the girls' history project. In today's world of social media, accusations and miscommunications are enough to skewer a person, in this case, two people. Tess made a poorly thought out tweet referring to Jem's being bullied at school, which was immediately misunderstood and made her a pariah. No matter what kind of person she was, her husband's misdeeds followed her. Some people cared, others didn't. Then there were the crazy people. Following Honor and Alice's story was very stressful, knowing what happened to witches at that time, and waiting for it to happen to them. It was a timely and interesting story, pointing out the evils of groupthink and social media. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Secrets of Thistle Cottage. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #thesecretsofthistlecottage

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a dual timeline historical fiction involving witches and witch hunts, by Scottish author Kerry Barrett that shifts between 1661 and contemporary Scotland.

In the modern day storyline, divorced lawyer Tess Blyth and her teenage daughter Jem, move from Edinburgh to a quaint cottage in North Berwick, to escape the notoriety of her ex-husband’s imprisonment over attempted rape and harassment of women. Unfortunately Tess and Jem were also caught-up in the media maelstrom, with Jem bullied at school and Tess harangued online for her initial disbelief and support of her husband, to the point that she is almost blamed and held responsible for his actions. Sadly, the promising new start in Thistle Cottage is soon tainted by a series of creepy events making them out to be witches. To start with Tess believes this is connected with the cottage’s past as the witches’ cottage, but it soon becomes apparent this is more personal and Tess becomes afraid for their safety.

In the earlier timeline herbalist Honor Seton and her daughter Alice are called to the Laird’s house to try and heal his wife, mother and nephew from a sudden illness. After his wife dies, Gregor Kincaid unfairly blames Honor and sets out to discredit and get rid of her. These are frightening times for women, when even a rumour or malicious accusation can precipitate a deadly witch hunt, and once the witch hunter is called in things can soon get frighteningly out of control.

An engaging story with strong women suffering due to the malicious unfairness of society and from the actions of men. I’m not sure that I felt entirely connected to any of the characters, and I found myself wondering when Tess and Jem were ever going to think to call the police, but this was an enjoyable read, and I find the witch hunts in equal parts fascinating and repulsive.

[Alysha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you @netgalley and HQ Digital for the advance eBook in exchange for my honest review.

I'm going to start off my saying timeslip books are not my thing. My favorite part of this book was the historical bit, with Honor and Alice. That story I was waiting on the edge of my seat for, I was really invested in the lives of Honor and Alice and wanted to know what happened to them. The main part of the story with Tess and Jem, I didn't like as much. From the parts I did like the author seems like she has major potential, but the modern parts fell a little flat to me. The main story started off pretty slow, and didn't really speed up until the last few chapters. This book is alright, but it could have just been the genre for me, not the fault of the author.

Tess and Jem had to move away from Edinburgh because of a scandal that lands Tess's now ex and Jem's dad in prison, and with him being a tv celebrity the fall was devastating and far reaching. Determined to start somewhere fresh, Tess and jem move to Thistle Cottage where they hide from the cruel and damaging reach of the media, and social media. For a school project Jem becomes fascinated with the lives of two of the women who lived in their house, the one's accused of being witches. Honor is a woman who has power in the 1600s, she is also the local healing woman. When she and her daughter, Alice, fail to save the town lord's wife, he starts a crusade against them leading to accusations of witchcraft. Can Honor and Alice escape the accusations, or will they succumb to the fire of their accused?

[Randy Overbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Interesting Double Yarn

I found Kelly Barrett’s The Secrets of Thistle Castle interesting as both a reader and a fellow writer. She has crafted a novel that delivers two parallel stories, the first a modern day tale of mother and daughter, Tess and Jem, and an accompanying story from the 17th century of another mother and daughter pair, Honor and Alice. The narratives are connected on several levels. Both revolve around the same small cottage in the Scottish countryside called either Thistle Cottage or Witch’s Cottage, depending who you talk to. Both portray the close and sometimes troubled relationship of parent and teen, both remarkably similar in spite of the three and half century difference in time. And both are tales of a witch hunt, each appropriate for the century. The 21st and 16th century stories are told by both mothers and daughters in alternating chapters, each one in first person POV. Although a little strange at first, as I read the novel, the first person voices helped to convey the personal anxiety and trauma of the women dealing with all thrown at them. And I shouldn’t forget to mention both stories are mysteries, not overly complicated but enjoyable in themselves.
I’ve never read this author before and found her writing to be engaging, her storytelling intriguing and her characters credible and sympathetic. Also the setting of the Scottish shore town added the perfect ambiance for the tale. Reading was time well spent, which is one of the best compliments for a novel.