The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs

In this slow-moving follow-up to her bestselling The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, Howe continues the tale of Connie Goodwin, a descendant of a Salem witch. The story is told through alternating timelines, one in Massachusetts in 2000, the other stretching from 1661 in England to 1816 Massachusetts. In 2000, 34-year old Connie is an assistant history professor at Northeastern University finishing a book on the history of witchcraft and putting together her tenure application. Once that’s accomplished, she plans to marry her longtime boyfriend, Sam Hartley. Shocked by her unplanned pregnancy, Connie’s startled when her mother, Grace, advises her to break up with Sam. It’s the only way to protect his life, Grace reminds Connie—the husbands in their family die young. Both women believe it’s a family curse connected to their female ancestors’ magical proclivities. But Connie decides to find a witchcraft recipe that will save Sam’s life. A mysterious key and a portrait of relative Temperance Hobbs—whose husband, Obadiah, lived to a ripe old age—may provide Connie with the answers she seeks. The earlier timeline traces the lives of Connie’s female forebears, including Deliverance Dane, who was accused of witchcraft at the Salem witch trials. The story lacks tension, however, and the witchcraft angle doesn’t do much to elevate it. Fans of the first book might enjoy catching up with Connie, but those encountering her for the first time won’t find themselves bewitched. Agent: Suzanne Gluck, WME Entertainment. (June)