Winter of the Wolf by Amanda Willimott was inspired by the notorious werewolf trials that occurred during the 16th and 17th centuries in France and Germany—particularly the trial of Gilles Garnier, known as the accused werewolf of Dole.
Eastern France. Winter 1572. Over several months four children were murdered so brutally that the local people believed their deaths to be the work of a werewolf. Subsequently, the deaths were blamed on a local man, Gilles Garnier, who was accused, tried, and tortured, until a confession was extracted. He was then executed!
In Winter of the Wolf, the narrative begins when Sidonie’s guardian dies. She subsequently flees Paris rather than submit to a forced marriage, seeking sanctuary in the home of her estranged aunt in Dole, a town consumed by fear and superstition.
As the tales and superstitions grow the local populace demand that a hunt begin for the perpetrator, who they believe to be a werewolf!
Apolline, a herbalist and healer, left behind a violent and troubled past, hoping for a new life with her husband, where she can sell her herbs and assist women from the privacy of her forest home. It is dangerous to be different, however, and as Sidonie and Apolline’s lives become intertwined, they are accused of witchcraft while the real predator roams free!
Aspiring witch hunter, Pierre, is drawn to Dole amid rumours of a werewolf hunting children. Desperate for respect and power, he allies himself with a priest, who is fanning the flames of fear and hatred. Will the true ‘beast’ be found and dealt with before innocent people are tortured and sent to the gallows?
This historical thriller portrays the superstitions and fears of an impoverished, intellectually simple, local community, who have not had access to the education of their peers. Men, who hold the power, make sure of their superiority by dismissing all women as, not only having weaker bodies, but also simple minds.
Despite the fact that there are highly intelligent women, who have knowledge of herbal medicine, and can effect cures for their patients’ health problems, they are labelled witches and many have to flee or are burnt at the stake.
The narrative does, however, also portray the unbreakable loyalty and true friendship between women, who help each other to keep going no matter what life throws at them, and is still the case today!
A riveting must-read!
ISBN: 9781761346989
Publisher: Penguin Australia
Winter of the Wolf is available in paperback, e-book and audiobook.
About Amanda Willimott
Amanda Willimott writes historical fiction centring on the experiences of women.
She has always been captivated by history, mythology and folklore, which led to her pursuing a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in History and Anthropology with Honours in Anthropology, where she wrote her thesis on witchcraft and paganism.
Her first novel, Winter of the Wolf, is based on a real werewolf trial that took place in eastern France in the winter of 1572-1573.
When she’s not researching, writing or editing, you can find her singing popular show tunes, reading from or adding to her to-read pile of books, or trying to find gluten-free bread that tastes like real bread.
Amanda lives in Melbourne, Australia with a large, co-dependent rescue tabby named Titus.