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Carrier #1
The Wolves of Andover
In the harsh wilderness of colonial Massachusetts, Martha Allen works as a servant in her cousin's household, taking charge and locking wills with everyone. Thomas Carrier labors for the family and is known both for his immense strength and size and mysterious past. The two begin a courtship that suits their independent natures, with Thomas slowly revealing the story of his part in the English Civil War. But in the rugged new world they inhabit, danger is ever present, whether it be from the assassins sent from London to kill the executioner of Charles I or the wolves -- in many forms -- who hunt for blood.
A love story and a tale of courage, The Wolves of Andover confirms Kathleen Kent's ability to craft powerful stories of family from colonial history.
A love story and a tale of courage, The Wolves of Andover confirms Kathleen Kent's ability to craft powerful stories of family from colonial history.
305 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Kathleen Kent
13 books784 followersKathleen Kent is a New York Times bestselling author and an Edgar Award Nominee for her contemporary crime trilogy, The Dime, The Burn and The Pledge. Ms. Kent is also the author of three award-winning historical novels, The Heretic’s Daughter, The Traitor’s Wife, and The Outcasts. Her newest novel, BLACK WOLF, an international spy thriller, was published February 2023 and has received glowing reviews in both the US and the UK. She has written short stories and essays for D Magazine, Texas Monthly and LitHub, and has been published in the crime anthology Dallas Noir. In March 2020 she was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters for her contribution to Texas literature.
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February 7, 2017
It is 1673 in colonial Massachusetts. Martha Allen is twenty-three and unwed. She accepts work as a servant for her cousin who will soon bear her third child. While tending to the house, Martha is drawn to a hired man working her cousin's land. Thomas Carrier is tall and strong, and Martha cannot resist the allure of his rugged nature. But Thomas has many secrets in his past - secrets that put him, and any who dare to love him, at great risk.
Though the prose is not as rich as Kathleen Kent's first novel, The Heretic's Daughter , Kent's exceptional talent as a writer is still evident. Many passages in The Traitor's Wife are vividly rendered.
The boggy ground was chilled, but she felt warmth on her upturned face through branches of willow and beech. She smiled in surprise at the coltsfoot growing like borrowed sunlight along the shaded dimples at the river's edge; and on the opposite shore she spied columbine, its red blossoms stirred into motion by hummingbirds.
An easterly wind, chilled and saltwater pungent, blew at her back, filling her apron like a sail and lifting ropy strands of hair at her neck.
Character descriptions are particularly well crafted:
She had seen her reflection in a bucket of water often enough to know she had a kind of beauty, mirthless though it was; her skin was clear and unspotted, her forehead high and sloping. Her black hair, thick and ropy as a horse's mane, was no doubt her glory, but she knew her brows knitted together too often to be pleasing, causing a deep well to form between them.
However, because the story is told from multiple limited omniscient perspectives, character descriptions are sometimes given over and over again. While each of the descriptions are unique in their formation, the excess of portrayals make the book feel redundant.
Martha Allen and Thomas Carrier are two intriguing characters. Martha is fascinating for her independent and resilient nature. Thomas is alluring for his mysterious past and his warmth. Their interludes are particularly enjoyable during moments of flirtation. At a time when the smallest gesture can have great meaning, even slight touches are charged with sexual tension:
She stared at his solemn mouth and at the dark stubble on his cheeks, growing like a crown of briars surrounding the pale and weather-worn flesh that were his lips, and unthinking, she placed a cautious finger to the deeply recessed hollow at the base of his throat and felt his pulse strengthen under her touch.
Significant entertainment is gleaned from the secondary plot line that follows five assassins who depart from London and cross the ocean in search of a wanted man. They face many unexpected challenges on their journey, and their story unfolds like one part comedy of errors and one part gruesome coincidence.
This book will suffer from a lack of mystery and suspense for any who approach it after having read The Heretic's Daughter. Readers new to Kathleen Kent's books are well advised to read The Traitor's Wife first, though The Heretic's Daughter is arguably the better of the two.
Two stories collide in The Traitor's Wife, a tender yet brutal historical fiction novel that transports readers across time with its polished prose.
Though the prose is not as rich as Kathleen Kent's first novel, The Heretic's Daughter , Kent's exceptional talent as a writer is still evident. Many passages in The Traitor's Wife are vividly rendered.
The boggy ground was chilled, but she felt warmth on her upturned face through branches of willow and beech. She smiled in surprise at the coltsfoot growing like borrowed sunlight along the shaded dimples at the river's edge; and on the opposite shore she spied columbine, its red blossoms stirred into motion by hummingbirds.
An easterly wind, chilled and saltwater pungent, blew at her back, filling her apron like a sail and lifting ropy strands of hair at her neck.
Character descriptions are particularly well crafted:
She had seen her reflection in a bucket of water often enough to know she had a kind of beauty, mirthless though it was; her skin was clear and unspotted, her forehead high and sloping. Her black hair, thick and ropy as a horse's mane, was no doubt her glory, but she knew her brows knitted together too often to be pleasing, causing a deep well to form between them.
However, because the story is told from multiple limited omniscient perspectives, character descriptions are sometimes given over and over again. While each of the descriptions are unique in their formation, the excess of portrayals make the book feel redundant.
Martha Allen and Thomas Carrier are two intriguing characters. Martha is fascinating for her independent and resilient nature. Thomas is alluring for his mysterious past and his warmth. Their interludes are particularly enjoyable during moments of flirtation. At a time when the smallest gesture can have great meaning, even slight touches are charged with sexual tension:
She stared at his solemn mouth and at the dark stubble on his cheeks, growing like a crown of briars surrounding the pale and weather-worn flesh that were his lips, and unthinking, she placed a cautious finger to the deeply recessed hollow at the base of his throat and felt his pulse strengthen under her touch.
Significant entertainment is gleaned from the secondary plot line that follows five assassins who depart from London and cross the ocean in search of a wanted man. They face many unexpected challenges on their journey, and their story unfolds like one part comedy of errors and one part gruesome coincidence.
This book will suffer from a lack of mystery and suspense for any who approach it after having read The Heretic's Daughter. Readers new to Kathleen Kent's books are well advised to read The Traitor's Wife first, though The Heretic's Daughter is arguably the better of the two.
Two stories collide in The Traitor's Wife, a tender yet brutal historical fiction novel that transports readers across time with its polished prose.
April 5, 2011
Note: In order to effectively review The Wolves of Andover, I have to discuss Kathleen Kent's incredible debut, The Heretic's Daughter.
There wasn't any doubt I wanted to read Kathleen Kent's The Wolves of Andover since I loved her first book, The Heretic's Daughter, so much. I read and reviewed it and a few other books about Salem in this post here.
Part of my desire to read her first book, other than my own interest in the Salem Witch Trials, was because Kathleen Kent is a direct descendant on her mother's side of Martha Carrier, one of the nineteen victims who was hanged for being pronounced a witch. To some degree, most people are fascinated by this event. A few ill-placed rumors and frenzied actions created one of the most pervasive panics, resulting in innocent men, women, and children to live in deplorable conditions in the town jail, only to be executed because they would never agree that they were witches.
The Heretic's Daughter is told through the young, strong voice of Sarah Carrier, their daughter, as her family deals with the accusations against Martha. Kept in a filthy cell for months, with only a bucket to share with other prisoners for a toilet, their final sentence of death is heart-wrenching to read.
Kent's second book, The Wolves of Andover, takes place well before these fateful events. It's the story of how Martha and Thomas met and the relationship that ultimately secured their friendship and loyalty to each other. When Martha is nineteen-years-old, she goes to help tend the home while her cousin struggles in her final months of pregnancy. Thomas is a man living and working to save for his own plot of land by helping Martha's cousin and her husband on the farm. Initially a quiet existence, it is a peek into the world of 17th century America, the subtle but sweet courtship that occurs, and the secrets that are part of both Martha's and Thomas' pasts. Life during this time is just plain hard. Everything, everyone, could be untrustworthy - they could easily be a wolf to come prey upon your most intimate vulnerabilities.
But this is also about Thomas and the rumors whirling about him. As a Welshman and member of the Royal Guard of the King of England when he was younger, he is rumored to be the executioner of Charles I, and there is a bounty on his head. The colonies are known to have kept quiet the whereabouts of those who contributed to the rebellion against the king, those who followed Oliver Cromwell on the battlefields. But will the town remain quiet when the four thugs who are hired in London make the dangerous journey across the Atlantic to hunt down Thomas?
It's truly amazing how Martha and Thomas are significantly entrenched in two very distinct events in history - a King overthrown in one country, and the mass hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials in another.
Part of the reason why I love Kathleen Kent's books so much is that her work is unbelievably polished. Her scenes are as pure and true to how one might write and read in the 17th century, without losing any sense of its "readability" in our modern times. Each scene smoothly transitions to the next. Character development is such a key strength with her work and while Martha's strength to fight back is documented in history, her famous words confidently spoken during her courtroom trial without fear, "You lie! I am wronged.... It is false and a shame for you to mind what these say, that are out of their wits!" it is the quiet, strong, and unbelievably tall and honorable Thomas who engaged my interest even more so in this book.
While The Heretic's Daughter introduced her to the world, The Wolves of Andover has unquestionably and firmly established Kathleen Kent as an expert author, one whose books should always be kept on your shelf.
Read her work in the order it was published and intended: First, The Heretic's Daughter and then The Wolves of Andover. You know what is going to ultimately happen to these two noble and tough people in the early years, but they don't, and this is where it is so genuinely moving and tragic. Kathleen Kent has such a captivating way of bringing you directly into the heart of the tragedies, and for that I am extremely thankful to read her work, and I look forward to much, much more from her.
If you're interested in the Salem Witch Trials, the people who were part of it, and their story of who they were before the trials, the humanity and the sadness of this terrible time, you should probably go get this book right away.
There wasn't any doubt I wanted to read Kathleen Kent's The Wolves of Andover since I loved her first book, The Heretic's Daughter, so much. I read and reviewed it and a few other books about Salem in this post here.
Part of my desire to read her first book, other than my own interest in the Salem Witch Trials, was because Kathleen Kent is a direct descendant on her mother's side of Martha Carrier, one of the nineteen victims who was hanged for being pronounced a witch. To some degree, most people are fascinated by this event. A few ill-placed rumors and frenzied actions created one of the most pervasive panics, resulting in innocent men, women, and children to live in deplorable conditions in the town jail, only to be executed because they would never agree that they were witches.
The Heretic's Daughter is told through the young, strong voice of Sarah Carrier, their daughter, as her family deals with the accusations against Martha. Kept in a filthy cell for months, with only a bucket to share with other prisoners for a toilet, their final sentence of death is heart-wrenching to read.
Kent's second book, The Wolves of Andover, takes place well before these fateful events. It's the story of how Martha and Thomas met and the relationship that ultimately secured their friendship and loyalty to each other. When Martha is nineteen-years-old, she goes to help tend the home while her cousin struggles in her final months of pregnancy. Thomas is a man living and working to save for his own plot of land by helping Martha's cousin and her husband on the farm. Initially a quiet existence, it is a peek into the world of 17th century America, the subtle but sweet courtship that occurs, and the secrets that are part of both Martha's and Thomas' pasts. Life during this time is just plain hard. Everything, everyone, could be untrustworthy - they could easily be a wolf to come prey upon your most intimate vulnerabilities.
But this is also about Thomas and the rumors whirling about him. As a Welshman and member of the Royal Guard of the King of England when he was younger, he is rumored to be the executioner of Charles I, and there is a bounty on his head. The colonies are known to have kept quiet the whereabouts of those who contributed to the rebellion against the king, those who followed Oliver Cromwell on the battlefields. But will the town remain quiet when the four thugs who are hired in London make the dangerous journey across the Atlantic to hunt down Thomas?
It's truly amazing how Martha and Thomas are significantly entrenched in two very distinct events in history - a King overthrown in one country, and the mass hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials in another.
Part of the reason why I love Kathleen Kent's books so much is that her work is unbelievably polished. Her scenes are as pure and true to how one might write and read in the 17th century, without losing any sense of its "readability" in our modern times. Each scene smoothly transitions to the next. Character development is such a key strength with her work and while Martha's strength to fight back is documented in history, her famous words confidently spoken during her courtroom trial without fear, "You lie! I am wronged.... It is false and a shame for you to mind what these say, that are out of their wits!" it is the quiet, strong, and unbelievably tall and honorable Thomas who engaged my interest even more so in this book.
While The Heretic's Daughter introduced her to the world, The Wolves of Andover has unquestionably and firmly established Kathleen Kent as an expert author, one whose books should always be kept on your shelf.
Read her work in the order it was published and intended: First, The Heretic's Daughter and then The Wolves of Andover. You know what is going to ultimately happen to these two noble and tough people in the early years, but they don't, and this is where it is so genuinely moving and tragic. Kathleen Kent has such a captivating way of bringing you directly into the heart of the tragedies, and for that I am extremely thankful to read her work, and I look forward to much, much more from her.
If you're interested in the Salem Witch Trials, the people who were part of it, and their story of who they were before the trials, the humanity and the sadness of this terrible time, you should probably go get this book right away.
December 29, 2010
Boy meets girl, 17th-Century style. This is the story of how Thomas and Martha Carrier met, fell in love, and married. If you've read The Heretic's Daughter, you know they didn't quite live happily ever after, but that's twenty years down the road from The Wolves of Andover.
A little brush-up on English history is nice here, tied in to Thomas's life before he came to America. It's the stuff you learned in public school and then promptly dumped from your memory. When you read it you'll say oh, yeaaah, I remember Oliver Cromwell. Good ol' Ollie, regicide extraordinaire.
I wondered what the author was getting at with the wolf-baiting scenes early in the book. It seemed to be an attempt to liken Martha to the wild things, she being already a veteran Wild Thing herself. "Wild Thing, you make my heart sing..." Thomas Carrier would definitely have sung her that song. Thomas and the Troggs, the Time Travel Troubadors.
The wolf motif doesn't really fit in with anything else in the story, though, so it's probably a good thing they've already changed the title to The Traitor's Wife. But the new title is kind of a spoiler all by itself, isn't it?
3 1/2 stars, bumped up to 4, because the second half redeems the first half.
A little brush-up on English history is nice here, tied in to Thomas's life before he came to America. It's the stuff you learned in public school and then promptly dumped from your memory. When you read it you'll say oh, yeaaah, I remember Oliver Cromwell. Good ol' Ollie, regicide extraordinaire.
I wondered what the author was getting at with the wolf-baiting scenes early in the book. It seemed to be an attempt to liken Martha to the wild things, she being already a veteran Wild Thing herself. "Wild Thing, you make my heart sing..." Thomas Carrier would definitely have sung her that song. Thomas and the Troggs, the Time Travel Troubadors.
The wolf motif doesn't really fit in with anything else in the story, though, so it's probably a good thing they've already changed the title to The Traitor's Wife. But the new title is kind of a spoiler all by itself, isn't it?
3 1/2 stars, bumped up to 4, because the second half redeems the first half.
July 23, 2011
The Wolves of Andover is somewhat of a companion book to Kathleen Kent's: The Heretic's Daughter, although it can be read as a stand alone novel. It traces the relationship of Martha Allen and Thomas Carrier (the parents of Sarah Carrier from The Heretic's Daughter).
Martha, a hard-headed and free-thinking woman of colonial Mass. Bay Colony, is a spinster at the ripe age of 19, and fears the loss of her independent thought through marriage just as much as spinsterhood (if not more). It takes the slow and steady wooing of Thomas Carrier to convince her that a bonding with this man will be a marriage of two equal minds and hearts.
The chapters alternate between Martha's life as a serving woman to her petulant married cousin to the storyline featuring a group of hired assassins sent from King Charles II to hunt down and bring to justice the executioner of his father, King Charles I. The executioner was a member of Cromwell's New Model Army. He was extremely tall and strong. His name was Thomas Morgan, but most believe he changed his name after leaving England and now goes by the name of Thomas Carrier. Is Martha's stoic and soft-spoken suitor really a regicide? What does that mean for their relationship? Can she trust this man with not only her heart, but her life?
Kent's novel explores these and other questions with the same deft hand she used for The Heretic's Daughter. I enjoyed re-entering Kent's colonial world and learning more about Sarah's parents and how they came to be together. However, I didn't find this story as strong or as absorbing as Kent's first novel, for while I liked Martha's plotline very much, the storyline containing the assassins was very distracting and boring IMO. There wasn't a great deal of factual historical "meat" to flavor this offering like The Heretic's Daughter, and it showed. Coming in at only 290 pages (using a large font, to boot), there wasn't a great deal of reading "meat" to savor either.
Overall, a decent read, but not as spectacular as her debut. However, Kent will remain an author to watch.
Martha, a hard-headed and free-thinking woman of colonial Mass. Bay Colony, is a spinster at the ripe age of 19, and fears the loss of her independent thought through marriage just as much as spinsterhood (if not more). It takes the slow and steady wooing of Thomas Carrier to convince her that a bonding with this man will be a marriage of two equal minds and hearts.
The chapters alternate between Martha's life as a serving woman to her petulant married cousin to the storyline featuring a group of hired assassins sent from King Charles II to hunt down and bring to justice the executioner of his father, King Charles I. The executioner was a member of Cromwell's New Model Army. He was extremely tall and strong. His name was Thomas Morgan, but most believe he changed his name after leaving England and now goes by the name of Thomas Carrier. Is Martha's stoic and soft-spoken suitor really a regicide? What does that mean for their relationship? Can she trust this man with not only her heart, but her life?
Kent's novel explores these and other questions with the same deft hand she used for The Heretic's Daughter. I enjoyed re-entering Kent's colonial world and learning more about Sarah's parents and how they came to be together. However, I didn't find this story as strong or as absorbing as Kent's first novel, for while I liked Martha's plotline very much, the storyline containing the assassins was very distracting and boring IMO. There wasn't a great deal of factual historical "meat" to flavor this offering like The Heretic's Daughter, and it showed. Coming in at only 290 pages (using a large font, to boot), there wasn't a great deal of reading "meat" to savor either.
Overall, a decent read, but not as spectacular as her debut. However, Kent will remain an author to watch.
November 27, 2013
“Oh fer Christ's bloody sake Martha I didna' raise ye to be well regarded. To be liked. Any puny weak-waisted slut can be liked. I raised ye to be reckoned with.”
Colonial Massachusetts. Martha Allen is sent to her cousin's home to earn her keep. Hers is a life of drudgery, hardwork and disappointments, but she is strong-willed and sharp-tongued, and she catches the eye of Thomas Carrier, the family's hired labourer. Thomas is a handsome Welshman, known for his silent strength and rumoured to have played a pivotal role in the assassination of King Charles I. The new king, Charles II, wants to avenge his father's murder: a painful public death for the regicide, and he sends a group of assassins to the colonies to find Thomas...
I listened to the audio version of this book, and the narrator was very good. Martha is a great character, bold and defiant, but she still seemed authentic for the time period. I enjoyed the slow-developing relationship between Martha and Thomas, but otherwise I found the story a little slow. My mind wandered, especially during the info dump on Cromwell's Army and Thomas's role in the English Civil war. Given that this book is a prequel, I wonder if it would have had more impact had I already read The Heretic's Daughter?
Colonial Massachusetts. Martha Allen is sent to her cousin's home to earn her keep. Hers is a life of drudgery, hardwork and disappointments, but she is strong-willed and sharp-tongued, and she catches the eye of Thomas Carrier, the family's hired labourer. Thomas is a handsome Welshman, known for his silent strength and rumoured to have played a pivotal role in the assassination of King Charles I. The new king, Charles II, wants to avenge his father's murder: a painful public death for the regicide, and he sends a group of assassins to the colonies to find Thomas...
I listened to the audio version of this book, and the narrator was very good. Martha is a great character, bold and defiant, but she still seemed authentic for the time period. I enjoyed the slow-developing relationship between Martha and Thomas, but otherwise I found the story a little slow. My mind wandered, especially during the info dump on Cromwell's Army and Thomas's role in the English Civil war. Given that this book is a prequel, I wonder if it would have had more impact had I already read The Heretic's Daughter?
April 16, 2012
When I found out there was a prequel to The Heretic's Daughter, I was so excited. Kathleen Kent had swept me back to the 1600s, in the midst of the horrific witch trials and the Carrier family. I found myself absorbed and surprisingly attached to these complex people. After a glimpse of the strong love between Martha and Thomas Carrier, I wanted to know about their early lives, how they met, etc. And then, I learned about this prequel telling just that - yay!
In The Heretic's Daughter, I learned about the Salem Witch Trials. In The Traitor's Wife (also known as The Wolves of Andover), I learned some English history, specifically Oliver Cromwell, King Charles I and II, the English Civil War or the Great War among other things and all very painlessly while wrapped up in an engaging story. I couldn't put the book down and like other good historical fiction, I was referring to my encyclopedias, learning more. Love it! Also, Kent's family history motivated me to dig out my family tree and I found some of my ancestors hailed from Andover, MA in the 1600s also. A few of them were killed by Native Americans.
This may sound greedy, but I wished there had been more about Thomas and Martha after they married. This book ended too soon for me, which I think is a sign of a really good read. I look forward to Kathleen Kent's next book.
In The Heretic's Daughter, I learned about the Salem Witch Trials. In The Traitor's Wife (also known as The Wolves of Andover), I learned some English history, specifically Oliver Cromwell, King Charles I and II, the English Civil War or the Great War among other things and all very painlessly while wrapped up in an engaging story. I couldn't put the book down and like other good historical fiction, I was referring to my encyclopedias, learning more. Love it! Also, Kent's family history motivated me to dig out my family tree and I found some of my ancestors hailed from Andover, MA in the 1600s also. A few of them were killed by Native Americans.
This may sound greedy, but I wished there had been more about Thomas and Martha after they married. This book ended too soon for me, which I think is a sign of a really good read. I look forward to Kathleen Kent's next book.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
April 18, 2019I was really enjoying this, but I had to give it up. By page 57, two wolves have been killed (the titular wolves?) I managed to skim past the gory details, but three pages later, a dog is killed after enduring a dog fight. I just don’t have the stomach for dogs being killed, especially when I can’t see what function it serves in a story. This seemed like background noise to a larger scene.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2011
I just reviewed this book's sequel, The Heretic's Daughter - and I should say that it is perfectly reasonable to read them out of order. The events in this book actually take place before those in Heretic's Daughter,though this book came out as a sequel. The Wolves of Andover is the story of Thomas Carrier and Martha Carrier, historic figures who are also ancestors to Kathleen Kent, the author. Martha Carrier was one of 19 people hung as witches in Salem. Thomas was her husband, and he had a fascinating history of his own. I won't go to far into the plot of this book, to avoid spoilers, but it's great. It gives a new perspective on events I'd never really understood, those of the English Revolutionary War. This book is a gorgeous braid of history, rumor, legend, and compassionate imagination, bringing two intense and fiery individuals to life, and detailing their unconventional love story, as well as the mysterious history of Thomas Carrier, a Welshman come to America, carrying British military secrets in his memory. Kent manages to inhabit many characters over the course of the novel - the perspective shifts as the novel progresses, and we spend time with characters ranging from a tavern mistress to an eel boy, to a hired assassin, but the story of the understanding that develops between Carrier and Martha is the heart of the book, and it's beautifully done. Recommended.
September 24, 2011
Originally titled, The Wolves of Andover, The Traitor's Wife is a prequel to The Heretic's Daughter. The new title is more befitting since the wolves are a minor detail throughout the story. This is the story of Martha Allen and her romance with Thomas Carrier during colonial times in the newly colonized America. If you have read the Crucible and know anything about the Salem witch trials, you are already familiar with bits of this tale. The author is a decedent of the Carrier family. Martha is sharped tongued and strong willed, characteristics undesirable as wife. Thomas is actually strong enough to deal with her and finds himself intrigued with this strong woman. Their daughter Sarah, is the main focus of The Heretic's Wife.
While this could be considered a romance, it is much more than that. The historical background is astounding and brought to life through the love of this subject by Kent. It is written in period language which at first bothered me and then I really got into the story and it really took off. I couldn't stop reading until I was finished. If you enjoy Philippa Gregory or Alison Weir, you are sure to love this one!
While this could be considered a romance, it is much more than that. The historical background is astounding and brought to life through the love of this subject by Kent. It is written in period language which at first bothered me and then I really got into the story and it really took off. I couldn't stop reading until I was finished. If you enjoy Philippa Gregory or Alison Weir, you are sure to love this one!
January 19, 2016
The Wolves of Andover is the prequel to Katherine Kent's The Heretic's Daughter. In the Wolves we get to know Martha Allen as a young woman. She is sent to help her cousin Patience during a difficult pregnancy.
We soon get a picture of Martha Allen, a young woman who is sure of herself and who has the ways and means to let it be know. Martha is prickly by nature and won't be cowed or submit. In her early twenties she is old to be unmarried, but has no desire to enter into a marriage except on her terms.
While working for her cousin she comes into contact with Thomas a tall giant of a man with exceptional skills, but much older than her. Kent is skillful in slowly building the tension and interest between these two people.
While all this is going on we have the action and adventure of the search for the man who was responsible for the regicide of King Charles I. We are presented to London's seamy underbelly and it isn't a pretty sight, but it does demonstrate Katherine Kent's talent as a story teller.
As someone who loves historical fiction, I glady recommend this book.
We soon get a picture of Martha Allen, a young woman who is sure of herself and who has the ways and means to let it be know. Martha is prickly by nature and won't be cowed or submit. In her early twenties she is old to be unmarried, but has no desire to enter into a marriage except on her terms.
While working for her cousin she comes into contact with Thomas a tall giant of a man with exceptional skills, but much older than her. Kent is skillful in slowly building the tension and interest between these two people.
While all this is going on we have the action and adventure of the search for the man who was responsible for the regicide of King Charles I. We are presented to London's seamy underbelly and it isn't a pretty sight, but it does demonstrate Katherine Kent's talent as a story teller.
As someone who loves historical fiction, I glady recommend this book.
January 23, 2019
Sometimes I wish I'd known more about the book going in, and sometimes it's good to be kept in the dark. With this novel, I wish I'd known that Kent is a descendant of Martha Allen Carrier, and that Martha Carrier herself was hanged as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692. I feel that would have made the story even richer for me.
I really enjoyed this book. I feel as though there aren't a whole lot of novels that deal with this period of time, being early colonial America, long before the colonists thought to throw off the yoke of English rule. Kent paints a very unforgiving portrait of how hard life was then; there was a lot more communal living (including a scene in which the entire town turns out to harvest hay), and the Native Americans were always ready to retaliate against the colonists who claimed the land as their own.
I was also fascinated by Kent's portrayal of Martha Allen herself. Generally authors tend to make their main characters as favorable as possible, but Martha isn't a very likable person. She's strong-willed and tends to look sour; she's definitely someone that would be told to smile more in today's society (and she'd probably immediately tell them to shove it out their ear). But her father tells her, “Oh fer Christ's bloody sake Martha I didna' raise ye to be well regarded. To be liked. Any puny weak-waisted slut can be liked. I raised ye to be reckoned with.” And reckoned with she is, by none other than Thomas Carrier, who had possibly been Thomas Morgan, the man that executed the first King Charles when Cromwell took over.
The book is rather a slow burn of a story, as there are many plot lines to introduced and then interwoven. I wish I'd read this a little faster, as I feel as though I would have remembered more details, but unfortunately life got in the way. I really enjoyed the way in which Kent wove her plot lines, and this was truly a fascinating peek into early colonial America. I look forward to reading The Heretic's Daughter, which I could have sworn I had already. The next time I'm in Salem, I'll make sure to visit Martha Carrier's marker at the Salem Witch Trial Victims' Memorial.
I really enjoyed this book. I feel as though there aren't a whole lot of novels that deal with this period of time, being early colonial America, long before the colonists thought to throw off the yoke of English rule. Kent paints a very unforgiving portrait of how hard life was then; there was a lot more communal living (including a scene in which the entire town turns out to harvest hay), and the Native Americans were always ready to retaliate against the colonists who claimed the land as their own.
I was also fascinated by Kent's portrayal of Martha Allen herself. Generally authors tend to make their main characters as favorable as possible, but Martha isn't a very likable person. She's strong-willed and tends to look sour; she's definitely someone that would be told to smile more in today's society (and she'd probably immediately tell them to shove it out their ear). But her father tells her, “Oh fer Christ's bloody sake Martha I didna' raise ye to be well regarded. To be liked. Any puny weak-waisted slut can be liked. I raised ye to be reckoned with.” And reckoned with she is, by none other than Thomas Carrier, who had possibly been Thomas Morgan, the man that executed the first King Charles when Cromwell took over.
The book is rather a slow burn of a story, as there are many plot lines to introduced and then interwoven. I wish I'd read this a little faster, as I feel as though I would have remembered more details, but unfortunately life got in the way. I really enjoyed the way in which Kent wove her plot lines, and this was truly a fascinating peek into early colonial America. I look forward to reading The Heretic's Daughter, which I could have sworn I had already. The next time I'm in Salem, I'll make sure to visit Martha Carrier's marker at the Salem Witch Trial Victims' Memorial.
November 18, 2020
Just a brief nitpick to get out of the way: I very much prefer the original title of The Wolves of Andover to the blander new name The Traitor's Wife. I would guess they changed it match its companion book The Heretic's Daughter, but it was not the most original choice considering there seem to be at least three other books with this title on Goodreads.
Title grievances aside, this is a good prequel to The Heretic's Daughter and stylistically very consistent with that book. It was a surprisingly fast read, with an eloquent yet earthy style to it. The main cast of characters are done very well, but the assassins from London all sound the same and all I can remember to distinguish them is that Baker was the torturer and Thornton was the dandy. I would have rather read about Martha and Thomas the whole time since their relationship was by far the best part of the book.
This novel does fall prey to one of my pet peeves with adult books: the apparent presence of vulgarity for its own sake. I don't expect realistic stories to be squeaky-clean; I can tolerate this sort of content if it furthers the plot and characters, but I'm not keen on multiple descriptions of the assassins' affairs with random landladies. The Heretic's Daughter used adult references sparingly but more effectively since these moments were used to build up settings and important characters.
I still recommend this prequel to mature readers who want to experience more of the atmosphere and characters of the first book. It's not a favorite for me, but the quality of the writing and the main characters is still well above the average adult novel!
Title grievances aside, this is a good prequel to The Heretic's Daughter and stylistically very consistent with that book. It was a surprisingly fast read, with an eloquent yet earthy style to it. The main cast of characters are done very well, but the assassins from London all sound the same and all I can remember to distinguish them is that Baker was the torturer and Thornton was the dandy. I would have rather read about Martha and Thomas the whole time since their relationship was by far the best part of the book.
This novel does fall prey to one of my pet peeves with adult books: the apparent presence of vulgarity for its own sake. I don't expect realistic stories to be squeaky-clean; I can tolerate this sort of content if it furthers the plot and characters, but I'm not keen on multiple descriptions of the assassins' affairs with random landladies. The Heretic's Daughter used adult references sparingly but more effectively since these moments were used to build up settings and important characters.
I still recommend this prequel to mature readers who want to experience more of the atmosphere and characters of the first book. It's not a favorite for me, but the quality of the writing and the main characters is still well above the average adult novel!
April 28, 2022
Coming from northeastern Massachusetts, I am always interested in the rich history of my home state, and in my small town. My mother’s family traces its roots back to the Mayflower. I was steeped in history, and I am drawn to those colonial times. So this book was seemingly right in my wheelhouse. It was not the easiest of reads, perhaps because it was not what I was expecting. I almost put it down a couple of times, in fact, thinking I had made it to page 78 and I was bored. But…I plugged away and I am glad I did. It definitely got better. Martha is an unmarried woman placed at her cousin’s home as a maid or helper. She is unusual as she speaks her mind and does not suffer fools. Thomas is also a helper at the same home, and he is rumored to have been the killer of the English King. The two are drawn to each other. On the flip side, there are some of the kings men coming from England to seek revenge. The interesting parts of this book, for me, is the descriptions of what the times were like, the networking that went on-the rumor mill- that was surprisingly active and accurate. Colonial life was gruesome-hard manual labor, hard line religion, sickness, death, scrabbling to stay alive. And to be born a female during these times was no picnic. Overall, this was an interesting story, with good pacing, but I felt there were things missing to make this an excellent read.
3.5 stars ⭐️
3.5 stars ⭐️
November 8, 2017
I thought this book was okay. Not as good as the Heretics daughter. I think I liked this more since i read it after the heretics daughter instead of before. Helped me get some more insight into the lives of Martha and Thomas. Characters I already liked.
Some crude language and scenes and lots of the “F” word. Was that even a bad word back then? I felt it was pointless to include that.
Some crude language and scenes and lots of the “F” word. Was that even a bad word back then? I felt it was pointless to include that.
November 18, 2024
Set in the aftermath of the English Civil War, and captures the tension in the American colonies of the ones 'hiding in plain sight' who fought against the crown, this is authentic, and sad and romantic and suspenseful and the reason why I read historical fiction. Didn't want it to end.
July 18, 2013
I wasn't sure if I wanted to leave a review on this, so I decided to just do pros and cons.
Good news first?
-Martha's personality: her boldness to talk to who she wanted and say what she wanted.
-Will and Joanna
-surprisingly, I appreciated Johns character (he worked with Thomas) in the beginning I thought I wasn't going to like him.
-the protraying of everyday life seemed realistic for the time period, which doesn't always happen in other books!
-the story was intriguing (lets just say I finished it in one sitting, but it wasn't an easy read. It kept me too interested, hah!.)
-Thomas was completely likable, and not even in a vain way.
-my prediction of horrible deaths in the end was wrong. Thankfully!
Not so good news...
-Though what they did everyday felt true to the time period, the whole feel of the book felt modern.
-Her cousin. ah.
-Thomas's age. A bit creepy. (even though I understand why he had to be so much older, with the war and what not)
-it's probably just me, but I didn't particularly care to read the every other chapters covering the issue of the assassins.
-Martha's secret, I felt like there should of been a little more focus of it...or something not so serious for her to be hiding, but I guess that wasn't really a big part of the story anyway...
Other mentions*
I bought the book and the description said Martha was nineteen... well surprise, surprise she was twenty-three. Error?
I'd also like to expand more on how much I loved John's character. He was hilarious and made the whole story that much better. He gave a sense of realness to the situations. He was the odd ball.
Well, I think that's it!
Good news first?
-Martha's personality: her boldness to talk to who she wanted and say what she wanted.
-Will and Joanna
-surprisingly, I appreciated Johns character (he worked with Thomas) in the beginning I thought I wasn't going to like him.
-the protraying of everyday life seemed realistic for the time period, which doesn't always happen in other books!
-the story was intriguing (lets just say I finished it in one sitting, but it wasn't an easy read. It kept me too interested, hah!.)
-Thomas was completely likable, and not even in a vain way.
-my prediction of horrible deaths in the end was wrong. Thankfully!
Not so good news...
-Though what they did everyday felt true to the time period, the whole feel of the book felt modern.
-Her cousin. ah.
-Thomas's age. A bit creepy. (even though I understand why he had to be so much older, with the war and what not)
-it's probably just me, but I didn't particularly care to read the every other chapters covering the issue of the assassins.
-Martha's secret, I felt like there should of been a little more focus of it...or something not so serious for her to be hiding, but I guess that wasn't really a big part of the story anyway...
Other mentions*
I bought the book and the description said Martha was nineteen... well surprise, surprise she was twenty-three. Error?
I'd also like to expand more on how much I loved John's character. He was hilarious and made the whole story that much better. He gave a sense of realness to the situations. He was the odd ball.
Well, I think that's it!
November 1, 2010
After reading Kathleen Kent's first book, I had to read this one, a prequel to her first book that explains how Martha Carrier met her husband. I enjoyed the story of Martha gradually becoming aware of the big manservant working for her cousin's family, where she has been sent to widen the pool of marriage possibilities. Martha is very self-aware. She knows her shortcomings of tart tongue and impatience, and is doubtful that she will ever make a good match.
However, this book is NOT a romance. There's a lot going on with the English king uneasy on his throne, who still wants vengeance for those who caused the death of his father. (The book takes place after the English Civil War, mostly.) This hunt will have an effect on the Massachusetts farm where Martha and Thomas are slowly coming to trust and respect each other. I enjoyed the farm story more than the hunters' from London's story.
This book is a bit darker than Heretic's Daughter, if you can believe it. Lots of scenes of killing animals, and people too. This was certainly a brutal time, and the author pulls no punches. I'm not sure if all the darkness was necessary, but the author does show how taking life was a part of life in the agricultural and urban life of the seventeenth century, and how it affects character.
However, this book is NOT a romance. There's a lot going on with the English king uneasy on his throne, who still wants vengeance for those who caused the death of his father. (The book takes place after the English Civil War, mostly.) This hunt will have an effect on the Massachusetts farm where Martha and Thomas are slowly coming to trust and respect each other. I enjoyed the farm story more than the hunters' from London's story.
This book is a bit darker than Heretic's Daughter, if you can believe it. Lots of scenes of killing animals, and people too. This was certainly a brutal time, and the author pulls no punches. I'm not sure if all the darkness was necessary, but the author does show how taking life was a part of life in the agricultural and urban life of the seventeenth century, and how it affects character.
September 25, 2011
I actually did not realize that this was a prequel to Kathleen Kent's The Heretic's Daughter, a book that I read a couple years ago. I thought this was a great standalone book and if you didn't know otherwise, you wouldn't realize that there was a connection between the two books until the very end of the book. You may even want to read this book before you read The Heretic's Daughter if you haven't read it already.
I really liked the story that took place in Massachusetts rather than the story on the boat. I thought the characters of Martha and Thomas and Martha's cousin's family were much more engaging than the men chasing after Thomas (they seem to do a lot of waiting and talking and that's about it). I thought that Martha was a really interesting character. At her relatively young age, she's already sort of is a old maid and she goes to her cousin's family to basically try to find a husband.
In a way, I almost enjoyed this book much more than The Heretic's Daughter. Thomas' story is incredibly interesting and really opened a new part of history for me. I also liked the picture of the small settlement that the characters lived in. I really thought you got a really good picture of how the early American settlers lived and some of the dangers that they faced.
Bottom line: This is a great historical fiction read.
I really liked the story that took place in Massachusetts rather than the story on the boat. I thought the characters of Martha and Thomas and Martha's cousin's family were much more engaging than the men chasing after Thomas (they seem to do a lot of waiting and talking and that's about it). I thought that Martha was a really interesting character. At her relatively young age, she's already sort of is a old maid and she goes to her cousin's family to basically try to find a husband.
In a way, I almost enjoyed this book much more than The Heretic's Daughter. Thomas' story is incredibly interesting and really opened a new part of history for me. I also liked the picture of the small settlement that the characters lived in. I really thought you got a really good picture of how the early American settlers lived and some of the dangers that they faced.
Bottom line: This is a great historical fiction read.
April 6, 2011
The second novel by Kathleen Kent, this is actually the prequel to her first novel "The Heretic's Daughter". This is the story of Martha and the development of her relationship with Thomas Carrier, leading to their marriage. The novel is told in two parallel storylines that eventually come to intersect: Martha's life of service in her cousin's home and the development of her relationship with Thomas, who also works on the property; and the secondary plot is about a group of mercenaries sent from England to hunt and capture Thomas Morgan (the same Thomas?) in order to return him to England to answer for his roll in the beheading of the King. I enjoy historical fiction from this time period (1660's, early settlers in America) and the detail was very vivid and seemed to be historically accurate. There were parts of the novel that I found to be too graphic (violence), but I assume these details were also accurate and added to give a greater sense of what life what like during this time. The only problem with the book for me was that now I feel like I need to re-read "The Heretic's Daughter" because I have more insight into Martha and Thomas!
November 17, 2011
When I saw this as a prequel to The Heritics Daughter I wanted to read it. I enjoyed Kathleens previous novel and was excited to read more from her.
I loved the story, I loved the way it helped me understand the story of Martha from "The Heritics Daughter" and what made Martha the way she was. Kathleen is a descriptive writer, using sight and smell to help you feel what was going on. I really enjoy her writing and the way she plots her story. With that said...
We all have different standards. Be it of morality, of violence, etc. So from my perspective, who I am and what I believe, I was dissapointed with this book. I recalled the darkness in Kathleen's first novel. But life is dark so I was able to understand why she included what she did. But this novel went beyond showing ugliness and darkness and showed evil and filth. For me I would have appreicated much of the violence to be left out or described in less detail and the promiscuety of some of the villens was a bit too much for me. The F word and many other words used in a manner to make this uncomfortable to read for me and my personal taste. This book if rated like movies would be a R rating (which in movies I avoid).
I loved the story, I loved the way it helped me understand the story of Martha from "The Heritics Daughter" and what made Martha the way she was. Kathleen is a descriptive writer, using sight and smell to help you feel what was going on. I really enjoy her writing and the way she plots her story. With that said...
We all have different standards. Be it of morality, of violence, etc. So from my perspective, who I am and what I believe, I was dissapointed with this book. I recalled the darkness in Kathleen's first novel. But life is dark so I was able to understand why she included what she did. But this novel went beyond showing ugliness and darkness and showed evil and filth. For me I would have appreicated much of the violence to be left out or described in less detail and the promiscuety of some of the villens was a bit too much for me. The F word and many other words used in a manner to make this uncomfortable to read for me and my personal taste. This book if rated like movies would be a R rating (which in movies I avoid).
March 10, 2022
I read this one as it's chronologically the first in the live of Martha Carrier, but I'm hoping that The Heretic's Daughter isn't as heavy on description as this one is. It was a bit of a slog and I skimmed quite a bit from the second half on; the chapters about the English assassins were very disturbing but not vital to the story overall, in my opinion.
Kent does excel at getting across how brutal life was in the 1600s, both in England and in New England. Very grateful to be alive now rather than then!
Fingers crossed, that I like the "next" book better.
Kent does excel at getting across how brutal life was in the 1600s, both in England and in New England. Very grateful to be alive now rather than then!
Fingers crossed, that I like the "next" book better.
February 20, 2014
Well-researched and beautifully written, The Wolves of Andover is a real treat for lovers of historical fiction. The disparate threads of the novel take some time to resolve themselves; some readers may find the first 40 pages or so a little difficult to follow. After that, the narrative really picks up, and the story of Martha Allen and Thomas Carrier takes center stage (although that of his English pursuers continues throughout as well). I really appreciated how Kent wove the history involving Charles I, Oliver Cromwell, and the Commonwealth of England into Thomas's backstory, as told to and recorded by Martha in her book of accounts. Martha is a strong, progressive character, outspoken and forthright; contemporary accounts of the Salem Witch Trials indicate that her real-life counterpart was much the same, although that tale is told in Kent's previous book, The Heretic's Daughter. A candid look at life, death, love, and rebellion in the wilderness of the early American colonies.
September 20, 2020
Fun fact: This novel was also published under the title The Traitor's Wife, which results in abounding confusion when you borrow both from the library expecting them to be different novels. Regardless, I would have read this one again as I loved the story, as simple as it is. Martha's strength and resilience despite her position in life was inspiring, Thomas' backstory - although a little far from credible - pulled me in, and I adored how realistic and quotidian the descriptions of 17th century life in New England were. From daily chores to illness and public relations, this one hit the mark. Reading this after The Heretic's Daughter really helped to explain a lot of references in the prior novel as well, which was a bonus. The only hesitation I have in giving this a higher rating is the interjection of darker characters from across the pond. I understand that it was written as a way to highlight the danger Thomas' life was truly in, but I found that it disrupted the flow.
May 9, 2014
I think what I liked most about this book was the unexpected romance embedded in the historical fiction. It was subtle, but oh-so-wonderful, and I found myself rooting for these two - outspoken Martha and taciturn Thomas - as they came up against some pretty fierce odds. Wonderful characters - they turned out to be more complex than I had anticipated. This was told mostly through Martha's point of view, although occasionally we were allowed into Thomas's head, and in fact a fairly large segment was actually given over to his voice via the pages of Martha's diary, as she relayed the story of his youth, as told to her. (Which seems a bit convoluted, I know, but it worked well.) I love history, but will be the first to admit that I need some brushing-up in this area. If 'Wolves' fell short in any way, it would be in filling in the blanks of that time era. But I'm blaming me for this, and giving a huge thumbs up for a great story, well told.
July 14, 2016
When I started reading this book, I didn't realize that it was a prequel to the author's debut novel: The Heretic's Daughter. However, this novel can stand alone on its Own merit. I love when a book teaches me a time in history that is unfamiliar to me. This novel takes you between England and the colonies, where men were still hunted down for their part in a king's murder. I plan to read author's first novel now.
July 25, 2016
Definitely not as good as The Heretic's Daughter. There are two juxtaposing plot lines in the book, and the switching between the two is very disjointed. They plots could not be more different, and I find the one based in London jarring and an interruption to the plot I prefer. I think the book could have been better served by having only the Colonial plotline. In general, a decent read, but you should choose The Heretic's Daughter over this.
December 21, 2013
What a great book! The beginning was a little tough for me, because there were so many pieces to the puzzle being introduced, and I didn't know why each one was important. But the writing was fantastic, so I kept going, and the more I read the harder it was to put the book down! This is also a period of history I'm not as familiar with, so it was fun to learn new things as the story unfolded :-)
January 30, 2023
I read Kent's "The Heretic's Daughter" in 2011 and loved it - it was a 5 star read for me - and had been meaning to read this book ever since. This is a prequel to "The Heretic's Daughter", although each can be read on their own. I didn't find "The Wolves of Andover" to be as engaging as "The Heretic's Daughter". The story was too slow of a build for me, and I didn't feel the conflict to be particularly propulsive, even though the stakes were high for at least one character. Not a bad book, but nothing as spectacular as her previous work.
Note: I also wrote this review for the Manchester Public Library (CT) Goodreads account.
Note: I also wrote this review for the Manchester Public Library (CT) Goodreads account.
June 10, 2022
While I love history (especially English and American) my knowledge of Charles I, Cromwell, the English Civil War and 17th century Americana is less than stellar. To then combine this with a love story and the hard scrabble dangerous settler life in America was almost brain overload. (I found myself frequently stopping to look things up.) There's a lot going on in this book. Katheen Kent is an excellent storyteller whose attention to historical detail is compelling. (Think Mary Doria Russell.) I learned history from this book. That's always a win for me. 3.5 rounded to 4 stars.
April 25, 2024
The author’s amazing debut novel “The Heretic’s Daughter” led me to this novel; a prequel to “The Heretic’s Daughter” which explores the lives of Martha and Thomas Carrier. Martha, it will be recalled, was hanged as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts during the witch trials of 1692. Though this is a work of fiction, it is based on family legend and local Massachusetts lore.
I love Kent’s writing style! So many paragraphs have to be read slowly in order to fully absorb the lyrical descriptions. While I still think “The Heretic’s Daughter” is the better novel, this one is amazing!
⚠️ content warnings:
•crass sexual references-7x
•one sex scenes that mostly uses euphemisms.
•one sexual assault described through memory in two sentences.
•dog and bear fights
•American Indian brutality
•murder
•multiple references to whores and sluts
•expletives: religious-10x, f**k-9x, d**n-5x, b*****d-4x, b***h-1x, s**t-1x
(This is a novel set in the late 17th-century and the novel accurately portrays the challenges faced.)
I love Kent’s writing style! So many paragraphs have to be read slowly in order to fully absorb the lyrical descriptions. While I still think “The Heretic’s Daughter” is the better novel, this one is amazing!
⚠️ content warnings:
•crass sexual references-7x
•one sex scenes that mostly uses euphemisms.
•one sexual assault described through memory in two sentences.
•dog and bear fights
•American Indian brutality
•murder
•multiple references to whores and sluts
•expletives: religious-10x, f**k-9x, d**n-5x, b*****d-4x, b***h-1x, s**t-1x
(This is a novel set in the late 17th-century and the novel accurately portrays the challenges faced.)
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