The Witch House of Persimmon Point

October 1, 2016

Over the course of a weekend, the women of the Amore clan race to uncover the secrets of their family and their ancestral home, "the Witch House," before a local journalist can. They start with Nan Amore, who built the house in the early 1900s, then dig through 100 years of history. The women track numerous damaged kinfolk while discovering their family's deepest, darkest secrets. As Palmieri (The Witch of Little Italy; The Witch of Bourbon Street) warns in her author's note, this novel delivers all the things readers of her other "Witch" novels expect, like gardens, ghosts, and magic; however, it also enters much grimmer territory. VERDICT While compelling at times, the novel gets bogged down with too many peripheral characters and builds to an underwhelming conclusion. Recommended for readers who enjoyed Palmieri's other titles who aren't put off by potentially disturbing topics, such as sexual violence and torture.--Amy Stenftenagel, Washington Cty. Lib., Woodbury, MN

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2016
Byrd Whalen knows more about her family's ancestral home than anyone else, and she intends to keep it that way. When an upstart reporter takes it upon himself to uncover the legend behind the Witch House of Persimmon Point as part of a prime-time TV special, Byrd and two other members of the Amore family band together to protect the family's legacy. Even though they knew the Amore family history was complicated, Byrd, Eleanor, and seven-year-old Maj uncover more than they ever expected. Palmieri sends the reader back in time, unveiling the house's secrets by introducing its first occupant, a resilient and courageous woman who came to America in 1890 to forge her own destiny. The Amore family history is tragic yet inspiring, with supernatural influences that will appeal to fans of Paula Brackston and K. D. Dowdall. Palmieri touches on the difficult concepts of abuse and domestic violence, explaining in the author's note that this is her most deeply personal narrative. Featuring strong female characters in a variety of historical contexts, this read is dramatic, dark, and deeply compelling.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)