The Priest, the Witch, & the Poltergeist (Barbara Wade Rose)

The Priest, the Witch, & the Poltergeist by Barbara Wade Rose has one of the most interesting reasons for existence I’ve ever heard.  One routine day at the dentist, Rose picked up a book on the paranormal to take her mind off her upcoming procedure.  She began to read about an 1851 trial in Cideville, France, and was inspired, through a ton of future research, to turn the events into a novel.  What results is one of the most interesting books I’ve read in awhile about something I knew nothing about.

A suspected poltergeist is causing havoc in the Cideville parsonage and rattling Father Lariat and the rest of the inhabitants.  After a failed exorcism and séance, Lariat is convinced that the poltergeist is the doing of a local witch, Thorel Felix.  Felix and the rest of his coven are desperately trying to get their leader released from jail, but Lariat had a huge part in putting him there.  After an altercation between Lariat and Felix, the person who is brought to trial isn't whom you would expect.  

This book is filled with interesting characters, and you’ll probably feel sympathy for those who, in ordinary society, aren't usually considered “sympathetic”.  Much to my surprise given the title, The Priest, the Witch, & the Poltergeist, I was not particularly filled with much suspense as I read (In other words, if you're looking to be scared, you should probably go elsewhere.).  Even so, the events of 1851 are interesting enough in and of themselves to become the basis of a great work of historical fiction.  So be glad Barbara Wade Rose had a dentist appointment that day!

MY RATING - 4

Pictures at an Exhibition (Sara Houghteling)

There is nothing better than a great historical fiction piece to take the reader to another era. Pictures at an Exhibition accomplishes this for the most part. This is often the little known part of the Nazi reign of terror...how their invasion of France also resulted in one-third of all privately owned art being stolen. The Louvre was evacuated to prevent this from happening there.

This is the story of the fictional Berenzon family. The father, Daniel, is a well-respected French art dealer who spends his days educating his son, Max, in the differences between Mattisse and Manet. Max is in medical school, but cannot seem to find his place in life let alone the family business. With the Nazi invasion, the Berenzons are forced to flee, leaving their stash of priceless artwork in the hands of their gallery assistant, Rose Clement. When they return, the collection has vanished. Pictures at an Exhibition continues in Max's quest to retrieve the paintings and find Rose.

While parts of the book move slower than others, it lets the reader in on a haunting truth. The locations of 40,000 French art items pillaged by the Nazis remain unknown.

MY RATING - 4

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