Silma Hill by Iain Maloney

Book Review by Lucy Christopher | 13 Jul 2015
Book title: Silma Hill
Author: Iain Maloney

Following the well received First Time Solo, Iain Maloney’s second novel Silma Hill centres on a remote Scottish village during the 18th century. When a Pagan icon is discovered by the dead body of a local farmer, suspicions and rumours grow until a witch hunt ensues. The vain Reverend Burnett has little time for his parishioner’s superstitions, but his life is complicated when his daughter Fiona is accused of engaging in witchcraft too.

This is familiar literary territory, with Arthur Miller’s The Crucible being one of the most celebrated examples of the witch hunt narrative. However, while Miller’s classic play used the real life events of the Salem witch trials to make a comment on McCarthyism, there is little commentary or insight in Silma Hill, either historical or political. It is a missed opportunity for genuine historical exploration of subjects such as the clergy, rural communities and witchcraft.

Silma Hill certainly does not appear to be the product of intense research, and the banal dialogue makes little attempt to interpret how rural Scottish people might have spoken at this time. On the plus side, Maloney weaves a tight plot and is economical in his writing, making Silma Hill an enjoyable enough yarn for those seeking an undemanding page turner set in a vague past. Ultimately, however, Maloney’s sophomore effort suffers from a lack of originality and ambition. 

Out now, published by Freight Books, RRP £8.99