Familiar spirits (1984)

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. ( )