Written in the popular style of present tense, Patrick Field’s sophomore novel The Bedfordshire Warlock reads like a screenplay that is full of intriguing science, fascinating carefully detailed history, and spot on early 90s references for those who recall that decade with reverence. The book covers several periods in history with wonderful imagery to place us right in the middle of that time. Field paints an exciting story of suspense, passion, and the supernatural. He proves the case to write what you know by beautifully weaving a wonderful gay love story with the paranormal. With so many vivid accounts, one might wonder if Field himself might have been a warlock in another time. Recommended for those obsessed with all things New England, supernatural events, and a sexy gay tale. 

Patrick R. Field’s The Bedfordshire Warlock delivers a captivating mix of history, witchcraft, science, and the supernatural, spiced with just enough romance to keep things balanced. The story revolves around Dorian Leeves, a warlock who doesn’t practice magic but knows he possesses extraordinary abilities. When he moves with his mother to a colonial-era house in Bedfordshire, strange events intensify, and his latent powers grow stronger. As he uncovers the home’s grim past, linked to Elias Doever—a man once tried for witchcraft—Dorian becomes obsessed with the town’s dark secrets and wonders if fate has marked him to take on the same title.

Narrated by Dorian himself, the story plunges into his meticulous and descriptive perspective. At times, I feel the narration leans more toward “telling” than “showing.” Yet, in a unique way, this approach works. Dorian’s scientific and analytical personality shines through, giving readers a clear sense of his methodical nature. Field manages to weave an intriguing plot that unfolds with surprising fluidity. The novel’s mysteries pile up, strange visions and supernatural events intertwining until the truth behind Bedfordshire’s history finally reveals itself.

Field excels in crafting the setting of Bedfordshire. The small-town life comes alive with a vivid, almost nostalgic charm. He perfectly captures the essence of a New England autumn, where falling leaves, crisp air, and centuries-old buildings cloak the town in a thick aura of history. This rich backdrop gives the book a layer of calm, a stark yet appealing contrast to the eerie supernatural elements.

The mystery is the heartbeat of The Bedfordshire Warlock, pulsing stronger with each twist and turn. Following Dorian as he connects the dots is thrilling, and I was genuinely invested in his quest. The finale, though, felt a bit over-the-top, and I believe the romance seemed to exist mostly to heighten the emotional stakes at the climax. Still, these minor notes didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. This is a gripping, immersive ride, and sometimes, that’s exactly the type of escape readers need.

Rating: 4 Stars

A haunting and unsettling blend of historical horror and supernatural suspense.

Field’s compelling novel is an immersive journey into a shadowy world of buried secrets and supernatural forces, unfolding a suspenseful tale of power and self-discovery. In a small Massachusetts town, two dark timelines collide—the blood-stained witch trials of 1692 and a suspense-filled 1992—as Dorian Leeves confronts his ties to an ancient mystery. Accused of witchcraft and executed by his Puritan neighbors, Elias Doever’s spirit lingers, urging Dorian to complete an arcane ritual that promises unimaginable power. But this bond threatens more than it offers—it risks unraveling the life Dorian is building, especially his relationship with Toby Blessing.

Field deftly infuses the witch trial era’s hysteria and moral conflict into the story, allowing readers to confront the haunting echoes of society’s darkest fears. The 1692 scenes are vivid, capturing the fevered panic and ruthless accusations that destroy the innocent. Doever Farm itself pulses with menace, a house that seems to breathe its own sinister past as Dorian uncovers its dark secrets. Every creak, hidden cupboard, and unsettling “Happy Shower” blurs the line between pleasure and peril, pulling both Dorian and the reader deeper into the farm’s mysteries. Toby, more than just a love interest, serves as Dorian’s anchor, adding layers to his journey and challenging his pursuit of supernatural power. Their bond complicates Dorian’s path to ascension, underscoring the novel’s central tension: the pull between power and belonging, history and the present. Through Dorian’s journey, the novel shows how the struggle between good and evil is not merely a binary conflict but a complex interplay of choices and consequences.

A chilling exploration of how history haunts, and a reminder that confronting the past may be the only way to break free from its hold. Addictively readable.

It’s almost autumn and I have the perfect book for the season! The Bedfordshire Warlock is a great mix of hair-raising mystery and nostalgic love story. Set in the 90s in Massachusetts, Dorian Leeves is starting his new job at a university and not really sure what’s next in his life when he begins to encounter supernatural happenings in his new home. Simultaneously, he meets Toby (a rugby player for all you thirsty readers) and the two begin a romance as Dorian attempts to deal with growing supernatural powers and an unearthly force that is somehow connected to the town’s witch trials three hundred years earlier (think Salem).

       If you read Servant, you’ll be pleased to see the writing in this novel maintains that iconic scientific and beautifully descriptive style. This one also plays with the time periods in its setting, giving us flashes of what happened in the past throughout the narrative, though in a different way. But Warlock is set in the past itself (though I struggle to say it’s historical because that makes me feel old lol) and the 90s vibes are immaculate. This story differs also in that it leans into the budding romance between the two men and reading about Dorian and Toby calling each other on landlines and making plans to go see RHPS was totally nostalgic for me.

       It’s a really fun, mysterious, even chilling at times, story that is impossible to put down and will have you racing towards the conclusion. The narrative explores themes of power and the ethics behind it, and the concepts of the persecution brought forth in the witch trials of the 1600s. Through tender flashbacks and the main storyline, we see how prejudice can influence both individuals and communities, and how greed and thirst for power can be a driving force behind that. 

       In between the mysterious storyline and the supernatural encounters, you’ll be cheering for Dorian and Toby and the love blossoming between them that becomes the driving force for not only the narrative but Dorian’s choices. In the era of romantasy, this is gonna be the perfect book for anyone who wants their stories of the macabre to have a lil romance too!