The constable of a rural town near London is disturbed by the hanging of a young girl convicted of witchcraft. When her ghost frightens a man to death the accusations spread. With the help of his sensible wife, Joan, Mathew Stock proves that appearances are deceiving, particularly of witches that breath and leave footprints. The author does an excellent job of portraying the rise of mob hysteria in the face of strange events and the opportunity to vent long held grievances in accusations.

Matthew and Joan Stock are back on home turf in Familiar Spirits. The town of Chelmsford is caught up in witch fever. The opening chapter is a description of the hanging of three people, one of them a witch. Tourney gets this atmosphere right, describing the delight of the spectators and the business-like demeanor of the gaolers and hangman.

Being accused of witchcraft was a nasty business, a veritable catch-22. To prove you weren’t a witch you would have to go through trials which would surely kill you, if you survived then you were definitely a witch and would be hanged (or burned). Horrible stuff.

And, as is usual in witchcraft trials, suspicion falls upon everyone associated with the witch. Especially after Ursula’s master dies all of a sudden, after her ghost has been seen in the window by the master’s wife.

Then, the master’s wife’s sister and her family are accused. A mob forms to drive the witches out, etc. etc. etc.

Matthew takes nothing at face value and is perplexed at the ghostly sightings of Ursula, the death, and the burning of the barn behind the master’s home where Ursula was purported to have conducted her tricks.

Superstitious townspeople are all calling for righteous living to be returned to with a speedy witch trial and hangings at the end. Only Matthew is unconvinced. Not because he doesn’t believe in witches, but rather, because the testimony given in Ursula’s trial makes no coherent sense.

Against the wishes of the townspeople, including the aldermen, Matthew continues to investigate. What he turns up is more sinister than witchcraft, and does not come from Satan. One man’s cover-up kills two more innocent people and nearly gets his wife and in-laws hanged.

Although Tourney’s pseudo-Elizabethan continues to bother me, and this is a fairly straightforward whodunnit, I am still charmed by Matthew Stock, and his wife Joan. In addition, there is the kind and stubborn Jane Crispin who speaks up in court for herself. Something no woman would have done, would be allowed. In fact, she states that she is doomed either way, so why shouldn’t speak up and address the absurdities of the witch trial? Especially, the “specialist” who brings his assistant along because the boy has himself once been possessed by demons and can point out those who are also possessed. ( )

This was an enjoyable mystery in a unique environment, that of Elizabethan England (1603). The book is part of a series featuring County Constable Matthew Stock and his practical, clever wife Joan. It is interesting to see how the author tries to replicate a 17th century mind and outlook. He does a fairly good job, though elements of 20th & 21st century thinking are clearly evident; that's not too much of a distraction and actually (for me) adds to the fun. The story begins with a witch-hanging and continues with further accusations of witchcraft being made against associates of the hanged witch. These being friends of Constable Stock and his wife, they seek to exonerate them. The story leads to the trial of the accused witches, which are well-written. If accurate in their portrayal of such trials (the author's note at the beginning of the book notes that the area in which the book is set in fact saw the execution of over 200 men and women for witchcraft at the time of the story) are chilling and infuriating. The book covers similar subject matter as The Crucible, and while it would not likely be considered of the same literary merit, it successfully creates moods of unease and paranoia and exasperation associated with the subject. I enjoyed the book, and will look for others by Mr. Tourney. ( )