The Neighbor He Trusted

Hannah Stow sells herbs in the market town of Wrenfield. She has kept to herself since her husband drowned, and that suits her fine. Then Mr. Pell moves in next door with impeccable references, a mild voice, and a hedge-spirit named Fitch who does his washing for a saucer of cream. Within the week, Fitch runs away. Within the month, a young mill apprentice vanishes, and Pell's garden grows greener than anyone else's. In a town where charms are cheap and curses are quiet, the only witness to Pell's real trade is a frightened household spirit hiding up Hannah's chimney. To expose him, Hannah will have to speak up in front of every neighbor who has spent sixteen years politely leaving her alone. And she will have to do it with the spirit at her side, in front of a market crowd, with no way to take the words back.