BOOK REVIEW: Scarlet Widow by Graham Masterton ★★★★☆

They said the killings were the word of Satan. But Beatrice Scarlet, the apothecary's daughter, detects the hands of men.
New Hampshire, 1756: the god-fearing farmers of Sutton are suffering divine punishment for unknown sins. Crops fail, cows die, and fish are poisoned by their water. Six pigs, slaughtered in their sty, bear the mark of the devils in their mouths.
But to Beatrice Scarlet, the truth is much more chilling. Somewhere in this idyllic hamlet, a killer is hiding in plain sight. And if Beatrice does not unmask him soon, he'll be coming for her next.

Scarlet Widow was going so well, and I would have blindly given this a full five-star rating, but Masterton really messed up a scene that left me disturbed. I picked it up, unaware that Masterton is a horror crime writer, and unprepared for the graphic detail of mutilation and a rape scene.

Masterton has written for several self-improvement magazines (Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, Woman, Woman's Own) and wrote, at the age of twenty-four, his bestselling series of sex 'how-to' books including How To Drive Your Man Wild In Bed which sold over 3 million copies worldwide. His debut as a horror author began with The Manitou in 1976, which became an instant bestseller and adapted into a movie. He’s written over a hundred novels, including Charnel House, Mirror, Family Portrait, from thrillers (The Sweetman Curve, Ikon) to disaster novels (Plague, Famine) to historical sagas (Rich and Maiden Voyage) and children’s horror novels (House of Bones, Hair-Raiser). He’s published four collections of short stories. I’ll also be reviewing his short horror Figure of Fear collection soon

So, you get it, he’s a horror writer and Scarlet Widow was a misleading read. I was expecting something a lot milder, like a mild historical mystery, something like Edward Marston’s Nicholas Bracewell series (aka An Elizabethan Mystery). Instead, it was about a series of gruesome murders, definitely not for the squeamish. But I have to agree, Masterton is an original and frightening storyteller I have come across, and trust me, I’ve read Stephen King’s books.

I was glued to the Scarlet Widow from the start. There was something about Masterton’s writing style that kept me turning the pages. The book has a unique setting, the killer is gruesomely fascinating, visceral and graphic. The drama is tense, the writing is superb with the finer points of human weakness. He stayed true to historical details and diverse characters. Masterson moves from the familiar and credible time period to the fanciful and disturbing people. Mid-18th-century women are restricted to the domestic life and ‘obeying thy husband’ malarkey. And Beatrice, the apothecary's daughter was raised quite differently. After her father’s death, she is sent to live with her cousin Sarah and by the age of fifteen, she practically runs the house. Where was I at fifteen? Getting an education. I’m thankfully for the times we live in now.

The story really begins when Beatrice immigrates to America. What was happening to the townspeople and their animals kept me guessing for a long time. The antagonist’s part was obvious, but who or what was behind the whole thing was a real mystery. Was Beatrice right about an ordinary person behind it all, or were the townspeople right to believe that it was a demon or Satan himself? Logic states that Beatrice was right, but Masterton leaves it in a way, that is usual for the supernatural type books, to know that logic it isn't always the answer. Was it an evil entity or a mysterious person in the brown cloak watching Beatrice? Those were the questions I kept asking myself. That’s what makes a good mystery.

I love reading about intelligent historical female protagonists who are resourceful and stretch beyond socially acceptable gender roles. I liked Beatrice for most of the book. She’s the anomaly, a strong, intelligent, analytical woman who I grew to love. I liked her analytical thinking and her interest in her father's profession, despite the negativity for learning from her relatives. Her past life, living in London with her parents and moving to Birmingham with her cousin and relatives had an interesting setup.

Beatrice is an independent thinker, but I was baffled as to why she would marry a man she didn’t wholeheartedly love. Reverend Francis Scarlet was a good man, but he was boring and ordinary. Their whole courtship was skipped over. To me, Beatrice symbolised breaking the social norms, but she goes and marries a man, giving into a patriarchal society. I think she would have thrived in a less puritanical setting. But it is believable that in those times people had to be practical and marry for convenience and safety, and not for passion and romance.

The males in this book were not likeable, but believable for the setting. Francis may have been boring, but the antagonist Jonathan Shooks, the sinister man who arrived in town and offers to negotiate with the demon plaguing the people and prevent further torment, was sexist and ghastly. Jeremy, Beatrice’s first cousin once removed (cousin Sarah’s son) was a spoiled young man, who desired Beatrice before she married Francis. I guess that’s why she married him. It was between her annoying cousin or a boring man with a job.

There were some smaller things that I didn’t like about Scarlet Widow and it’s got to do with the historical times: the strict puritanical views and beliefs of most of the people – the superstitious puritans – it’s hard to believe that people could be so ignorant and superstitious, especially since the last days of the Salem Witch Trials mentioned lightly in the book and women viewed as third class citizens, and too many references to them needing a ‘good beating to keep them in line’.

For a guy whose bestseller is a ‘how to guide for sex’, he really bodged up a simple sex scene between a married couple. Beatrice pretends asleep while her husband fondles her. Then she decides to be a good wife and relents to his needs, you know, ‘obey thy husband’ crap. It had no romance or real emotions, just the mechanics of sex.

Which brings me to the next part. Everyone who has read and done a review will know about the rape scene (chapter 32) which was definitely unexpected (I’m still in shock as I write these words). Masterton couldn't craft a good love scene, but he didn't have a problem writing all the awful details of the rape. At page 350 it gets graphic to the point of sickening. It was gruesome and made me feel awful for just reading it. Masterton, was it necessary to put it in? Was it for a shock factor? Why did it have to be so graphic? I’ve read other books with rape scenes, but it was told in a way that it happened, not in the act of happening. In no way did it affect the rape victim’s motivation, the movement of the story or plot. It makes me wonder what Masterton’s intended target audience? Had I known; I probably wouldn't have read this book. This left me disturbed and the scene was unnecessary to go into details. It bothered me more than the grisly murders. I kept thinking someone would come and help her, but no one did, not even the mysterious person in the brown cloak.

Summary

Aside from the tasteless sex scene and an abhorrent rape scene, The Scarlet Widow is a book that people will like if they have read Masterton previous works. It’s not a mild historical mystery people are led to believe. If the rape scene was left out, or just mentioned passively then this would have been an excellent read. But this story is not for the fainthearted.

The sequel, The Coven follows Beatrice to London, 1758, were seven girls accused of witchcraft go missing and people think it’s the work of Satan. Despite the Scarlet Widow tainted scene, I want to know what happens next in Beatrice's life.

Masterton is a great writer, but maybe he should stick to purely horror stories.

Rating: 4/5
Publishers: Head of Zeus
Publication date: November 3rd 2016 (first published October 28th 2015)
September 13th 2011
Genre: Historical/Mystery/Thriller