A multi-faceted story of one household (mainly), one village during the plague
which beset England in the middle of the 17th century. Prejudice and suspicion, religion and misogyny underpin the novel and the plight of its characters. The dual timeline enfolds thanks to our narrator, in addition to diary entries. The sparkling prose and detailed drawing of characters make for an engrossing, compelling read, masterfully told.

The ending was simple and understated - a possible weakness in my opinion - but full of hope. Here’s to successful futures for our strong, female protagonists.

This story would transfer beautifully to film. Let’s hope that happens.

This book has me on the fence. I really enjoyed the story, it’s set in England in the 1600’s when the Plague is running rampant. The story is intriguing and there’s a focus on religion, and the superstitions it brings with it. The characters were all well written and thought out.
But the story progressed really slowly and I felt my attention waning throughout. The other issue for me was the timehop that was sometimes a little confusing.
For me it didn’t hold my attention like I was hoping it would but I enjoyed it for what it was, a good historical fiction.

This is about the plague in 1666, which I didn't really know much about. This story has certainly taught me a few things about it. Especially know what this brave village did to stop the spread of it, has led to modern science, which has helped Especially with the current pandemic.
I couldn't really get into the style of writing to begin with and I nearly DNF'd it , but im glad I carried on as it drew me in the more I read.

A captivating historical novel set in the village of Eyam in the Peak District National Park (Derbyshire) during the somber years of the Great Plague at the beginning of the 1660s.

A tale of family secrets, religious madness, poison and survival among the inhabitants of a small community totally isolated by the raging pandemic.
Cleverly plotted and blessed with a cast of unforgettable characters this magnificent novel opens a very fascinating window on the bleakness and desolateness of rural England during the first chaotic years of the Stuart Restoration.

A marvellous fictional tapestry that deserves to be enjoyed without any moderation whatsoever!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown (UK) for this terrific ARC

I enjoyed ‘The Hemlock Cure’ by Joanne Burn. I have read a few novels set in Eyam during the plague but this was one of the best.

Set in the village of Eyam during the time of the great plague (1660's). A fictional account of the lives of the villagers , set against the true story of the village.

The story of The Hemlock cure takes place with the great plague of London in the background. The story takes place between 1660 -1666 and it is party a fiction with a strong dose of non-fiction. We have the main character Mae who is extremely gift in the knowledge of plant medicine but is abused by her father who is a hypocrite with his false facade of piety and righteousness justified by him in the name of lord. And there is Isabel who is the motherly figure to Mae and helps her in every way. Soon Mae gets know about a terrible truth that takes away her footing and nudges her to her core. The narration is outstanding. The facts all amazing and the plot ,extraordinary with amazing build up. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Thank you to the author and publishing house for accepting my request or else I'd have missed a gem of a book.

Fascinating historical fiction from a writer who just breathes love of words. I frequently paused just to re-read a sentence or even a phrase (mouse-soft!) and I liked the complexity of the story and characters a lot. I would definitely look out for more by Joanne Burn.

I have always been fascinated with the events of the plague and especially what took place in the village of Eyam. When I saw there was a book based around these events I knew I had to read it.
The Hemlock Cure was a deeply fascinating story and one that I got through in only 2 days. If I wasn’t reading it, I felt bereft. I felt the way the story was narrated was unique in that we were following the story of Mae but told from the point of view of her dead sister Leah. There were also snippets of their Dads diary Wulfric which added much needed insight into his personality.
I gave this book 4 stars due to its uniqueness, the ability to keep me hooked and because it was just a fantastically written book. If anything I would of liked it to be longer!
I will definitely be picking up another book by this author in the future.

It's the year 1665/1666, time of Great Plague and in the little village of Eyam people have many secrets, especially women, women with knowledge to heal as is midwife/wise-woman Isabel. These women are in great danger to be accused as witches.

Isabel also tries to help Mae with her knowledge, bright young woman who in secret reads father's apothecary books and wants to be accepted as his apprentice. But Wulfric is a rigorous and tormented man with dark secrets on his own. In time becomes obvious that Mae is not safe in her home.

Tensions grow and it seems that there is only one cure. Hemlock cure.

The Hemlock Cure is based on actual events that took place in a small English village in 1666, during the Great Plague, when the village virtually quarantined itself in an attempt to stem the growing number of deaths from the plague.

The narrative is a reflection of a life in a 17th century. Influence of the religion and patriarchal society, mixed with fear of gruesome disease and also secret knowledge and education of women.

Dark and gripping, the reader cannot put the book down.

My parents came from the Buxton area. I was taken to Eyam as a young child and was shown the graves of the plague victims. This powerful memory has stayed with me. I particularly remember the bravery of the villagers who stayed in Eyam to stop the plague spreading. I have read “The Parcel of Patterns” which I found moving. However, “The Hemlock Cure” not only shows the horror of living with a deadly, highly contagious illness but it gives us a real insight into the people who lived in the village; some are real people and some are not. This book is so relevant to our current situation of living with covid 19 with neighbours turning on neighbours while others show such kindness. Today, we have modern medicine but in the days of the plague, the people relied on herbalists. It was a heartbreaking story told by the dead sister of one of the book’s main characters, Mae. Their father is a religious fanatic. I don’t want to give spoilers but there are many twists and turns which involve midwifery and the way women were treated in these times. A very well researched and well written story which I highly recommend. Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

After what felt like a slow start, this book really took off for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Lots of interesting historical references wound around a heart wrenching tale of survival, and not just from the Great Plague! The tale is based in the village of Eyam in Derbyshire which deliberately cut itself off to help stop its spread.

Although in itself a sad tale, it shows how hidden secrets can destroy a community, but how human spirit and the friendships forged between women have the courage to overcome the most evil of deeds.

About 20 years ago I read a novel about Eyam, the Derbyshire Plague Village. This is altogether a darker and more superstitious tale of this village in 1665/6. There are glimpses of earlier times through diary entries and the observations of the (dead) narrator which help to explain "current" views and relationships.

This is a time when some people's views of medicines were not far removed from 400 years previously, which makes the advances of the subsequent 350 years or so even more amazing. It was also a time when religion was a much bigger and more important part of everyday life, and people still believed in witches.

Wulfric is the village apothecary who lives in a bare and soul less cottage with his daughter Mae. "The Hemlock Cure" is the tale of Mae's fight for survival during times made even harder by the arrival of the plague in Eyam.

This book is at times a challenging read but is well worth persevering with.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

I don't know how to feel about this book. I didn't finish, I barely made it a quarter of the way through. It didn't flow, and the way it was written is just odd. On the other hand, it had a good plot. You'll have to read this yourself to know whether or not you like it, because I can't even decide whether or not I did.

The Hemlock Cure, Joanne Burn

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Historical Fiction

I've read bits about Eyam and thought I'd enjoy this.
Its a fictional account of what could have happened, and usually that's perfect for me but I didn't ever really connect with the story or characters fully. I'm not sure why, its well written, a slow starter but easy to follow along, but its just one of those occasional stories that just didn't resonate with me for no particular reason I can pinpoint. Not the books fault, others love it, and of course parts were interesting from a historical POV, and it certainly had that feel of history, of how folk lived back then. I didn't expect the events that came towards the end, didn't see that coming.
I feel bad, I didn't dislike the story, just that its not a great read for me when I was expecting a book I'd love :-(

Stars: Three, a novel that's perfect for others but was just an OK read for me.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers

I found this an excellent read. The comparisons between the Black Death and recent events were compelling.

I loved the timeliness of this book set in the plague years in 16th Century northern England as a village decides to quarantine itself to prevent the spread of plague to larger local towns
This story itself has been told many times but the author of this book manages to find a fresh approach to the story by intertwining stories of feminism ,witchcraft and sexual freedom .
The quarantine cleverly adds stress and speed to the story as it becomes clear how this will effect many village members in different ways .It also strengthens the feeling of claustrophobia adding additional elements to the story
I was quickly invested in the characters and wanted to see them overcome their difficulties
The historical detail is beautifully wound into the narration and is believable and accurate
We all know so much more about pandemics having lived through covid 19 and I think this book will hold true for a lot of our own 21st century experiences.
I read an early copy on NetGalley Uk the book is published 10 February 2022 and I am sure will be a best seller

As the plague of 1666 sweeps the country, the village of Eyam which at first thought to be ok is stricken with the deadly disease.

Mae, daughter of Eyam village apothecary has a gift with the herbs and wishes to be her fathers apprentice. Unfortunately her father doesn’t believe it to be a woman’s job and tells her she should be a midwife. Unperturbed Mae continues to learn about the herbs in secret, with a friend and is a natural with it. Unfortunately her friend flees the village to try and escape the plague before it takes over Eyam as it did London.

Follow the story from Mae’s sister, Leah’s point of view as they realise the village apothecary is not the man the village believes he is.

When I saw this book I was drawn in by the blurb and it’s connection to Eyam. I still remember learning about Eyam and it’s role during the plague when I was in primary school so the book instantly caught my attention. While the story is fiction the author acknowledges that certain people and details in the book are factual which I found really interesting. The story itself was quite a slow burner with the first half setting you up for what was to come in the second half. It was enjoyable but slightly slow to get going.

The Hemlock Cure is a gently moving story set during the year 1665-1666 in the village of Eyam, England. The plague has spread from London, carried in a shipment of clothing and has begun to spread amongst the population. With in these known facts Joanne Burn has placed the fictitious family of Wulfric, the village apothecary.
The social and religious relationships in the village are complex and we see how superstitions, misconceptions and strong beliefs influence the characters and their interactions with each other and with the threat brought by the plague. While medicine and cures have advanced during this period, religion and the supernatural still rule the day.
There are twists and turns in this intriguing story as people awaken to things that have been happening under their very noses. The detail and research that have gone into the writing of the text add layers of interest and authenticity and create a very readable historical novel.
With thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK. for the opportunity to read an early copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book.
As a child I went to Eyam many times and knew the plague story from early years. Today, just after the pandemic, reading about travel passports and quarantine, it really hits home!
The story is about more than the plague as the families battle their demons and it feels tense, real and well written.
It took me a few chapters to get into the story and to work out who belonged to which family but then I was hooked and throughly recommend it