You had me at “demon.”

Shortest Summary Ever: 1634. A Dutch sailing vessel where investigator Samuel Pipps is being held for a mysterious crime. His friend and “Watson” Arent Hayes is right by his side trying to determine first – how to free Sammy and then second – solve a mystery of demons and witch lore haunting the ship. Omens abound. Secrets in the passageways… and one by one the body count increases…

Thoughts: I’m a wee bit into the 1600s. The age of colonization and the effect on the world. A time of grand ocean journeys. Oh – and witchcraft. Yeah it’s really about the witchcraft (she’s a witch!!! She’s a witch Burn her!! – Monty Python). This book did something that doesn’t happen often – it surprised me. I’m not a spoiler maker but I only saw PART of the end coming… the rest was a blindside. (Score!)

I was absolutely riveted by the first 3/4 of the book. So many vendettas and scores to settle, the reader peels the layers of the mystery one by one. The last 1/4 seemed a bit smooshed. Jumbled. Like so many finale ideas throw. together, but it was still agreeable and aptly written and made me do some double takes. Very entertaining, fast read.

All my reviews available at scrappymags.com around time of publication.

Genre: Historical Fiction Mystery

Recommend to: 6 out of 10 on the gore side – not terrible but not cozy.

Not recommended to: If you’re not into a pretty convoluted twist and turn.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my advanced copy in exchange for my always-honest review.