In the quiet village of Fenland, the arrival of a mysterious visitor causes a stir in the community, resulting in dangerous family tensions and chilling revelations. Kate Pullinger’s novel Weird Sister, often compared to Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca, is an enthralling read that leaves the reader anxiously turning the pages. Pullinger’s mysterious protagonist named as Agnes Samuel arrives in the secluded countryside village of Fenland, immediately catching the eye of the residents. Dressed in extravagant clothing with an American accent, Agnes Samuel’s magnetic presence draws the attention of Robert Throckmorton, a local man whose family has resided in the sleepy county for hundreds of years.
Unbeknown to the residents of this community, this mysterious woman has strong ties to the land; a history that creates a plot for revenge and destruction. The opening scene of the novel is a dramatic execution that reflects the persecutions that took place during the Witch trials of early modern England. Drawing inspiration from the real historical event of the Witches of Warboys execution that occurred in the late sixteenth century before the 1604 Witchcraft Act; Pullinger blends realism and fiction creating a disturbing account that informs the reader of the harrowing events that took place during these trials. First published in 1999, Weird Sister disturbs the reader's stereotypical image of a witch and conveys the hysteria associated with communities that suspected its civilians of practising magic. Despite the reader being aware of Agnes Samuel's identity, we are still left questioning her character throughout the novel. Is she a ghost? A witch? Or just an ordinary woman? The Canadian author presents Samuel as having supernatural powers whilst appearing in human form. However, the construction of Samuel’s identity is conveyed through the unreliable perspectives of the Throckmorton family, adding levels of ambiguity to the narration. Pullinger’s depiction of Agnes presents her as a strong woman who has the power to manipulate the people and events that happen around her, including the entire Throckmorton family. Her presence immediately causes conflict between the two Throckmorton brothers, with adultery and brief sexual encounters heightening the tension that builds to the climactic final scene. By interjecting love triangles and secrecy, Kate Pullinger produces a complicated dynamic between her characters suggesting the dangers of entanglement when it concerns mysterious individuals. The novel is divided between different voices of the Throckmorton family, each narrating their personal interactions with the allusive Agnes. Interestingly, Kate Pullinger never provides the first-person voice for Agnes, instead, we are left to decipher her character through the differing accounts provided by the family members. Pullinger’s writing aims to break down the boundaries between the reader and her characters, making the events that unfold feel particularly intimate and disturbing. There are scenes throughout the novel that are frightening and dramatic, with the reader having to decipher what is truth or a manifestation of hysteria. One by one, members of the long-established Throckmorton family are affected by Agnes' presence, some in violent and often mysterious circumstances. This deep-rooted desire for revenge remains prevalent throughout the novel and makes it a page-turner. Weird Sister is a story that would be fascinating to see translated into visual film, with its ambiguous characters and scenes blending gothic horror with fantasy. It is a novel that ends abruptly leaving the reader in a state of wonder, as we are left questioning, who is Agnes Samuel?
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