Witch of the Wild Beasts

When Evalina is imprisoned for witchcraft, will her supernatural bond with animals be her curse or salvation?

In 1854, Evalina Stowe witnesses the murder of her brother by Dr. Dowdrick, an enraged client at the tailor’s where they work. Desperate to stop him, she rouses a swarm of wasps that sting the doctor while she stabs him with scissors, and then flees. At a subsequent job when birds race to her defense, Evalina is declared a witch and sent to Philadelphia’s Eastern State Penitentiary.

While imprisoned, Evalina is horrified not only to learn that Dr. Dowdrick is still alive, but he’s experimenting on inmates. Determined to get inside his Eclectic Medical School, to expose his nefarious activities, she’s passionate about protecting fellow prisoners, especially Lewin, a child thief who knew her brother, and Birdy, a kind, resilient Welsh man serving time for a worker’s death while blasting granite for the railroad.   

Evalina, her friends and her “wild beasts” work against time to unmask Dowdrick’s crimes when she participates with him in a symposium, showcasing Philadelphia’s premium doctors. If they fail, not only will the doctor’s evil deeds continue unchecked but Evalina and her crew will surely be hung.

Actual historical figures such as Dr. Thomas Mutter and Charles Dickens spice up this thriller, brimming with historical gems.  

A second prize winner in the Romance Writers of America's Sheila Contest.

★★★★★ “Adored every moment; from the imaginative, gothic plot to the compelling characters!” - Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

“Hooooo boy! I’ll tell you one thing, I did not expect this whirlwind rollercoaster when I started this book. This is only the third book in my whole life I finished in one sitting. The other two: Fight Club and Harry Potter/Sorcerer’s Stone.” – A Goodreads reader

“I enjoyed all the careful plotting and dark twists brought about to create Evalina’s story! I really liked the layered use of historical figures to help lend an even more authentic feel of times past and struggling times of the witch hunt days.” – A Bookbub reader 

“We’ve read about how witches can sometimes have familiars, but what if they had connections with all animals and even those little beasties that seem “undesirable”? Birds, snakes, mice... even ants and beetles! Not only did this book include a resilient young woman fighting for justice, but it also included one of my favorite tropes; found family. We meet a cast of characters that seem to have the worst type of luck, but even in the darkest of situations they still look out for one another.” – Captivated Pages