A review by nixbix_reads
The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton

dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This was such a chilling read!  Sharon Bolton crafts such wonderfully gripping stories that start off slow but pull you in inch by inch until you just can’t put the book down.  I was intrigued by the start, but it’s the rest of the story that had me eagerly flipping the pages.

I really liked the way this story was told, with the start & finish of the story set in 1999, but with the majority set 30 years prior, in the summer of 1969.  Three teenagers have gone missing, the police have no clues & the town is on edge.  I loved the undercurrents of secrecy in the town - the story is set in the shadow of Pendle Hill, a place steeped in witchcraft.  Witchcraft and its practises & superstitions play a large part in the story, and it’s what had me on the edge of my seat, especially for the last 10-15% of the book.  The story is told from the perspective of Florence Lovelady, a WPC in 1969 & a high ranking officer in 1999, and we get to see how this affects her & what parts she has to play in what happens. 

This is a chilling & panic-inducing read at times, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!