The return of Nathaniel Crozier
A Warlock in Whitby ended with the defeat and destruction
of Nathaniel Crozier. He left two devastated people behind him: Jennet is
shattered emotionally and Miss Boston physically.
The Whitby Child, the final book in the Whitby Witches trilogy,
describes Crozier’s efforts to return from the dead. He has done a deal with an
evil supernatural entity: he will be restored to life in return for Ben’s
death.
Crozier uses his coven of witches to perform rituals and
run his errands, which include more attempts to murder Ben. Jennet is drawn
into the coven; Nathaniel has left her in such a bad state that she has no
defences against their plots.
It all – eventually - ends well for most of the
characters, but only after a lot of action, horrific incidents, suffering and
supernatural intervention, both malign and benign.
Roselyn Crozier returns temporarily to get her revenge; Nathaniel
Crozier is permanently destroyed. The members of his coven are released from
his control to make whatever new lives they can for themselves. Miss Boston, who early in the
story recovers from her stroke, cheats death a few more times but her life finally
comes to an end. She is 93 years old, and she is no longer needed to defend the
children.
The future for Jennet and Ben is very good: their parents
are restored to life.
The only thing that Nathaniel Crozier ever did to make
the world a better place was to (inadvertently) redeem the Gregsons. There is a
happy ending for this couple, who continued to be good neighbours to Miss
Boston while she was still alive. They repair the relationship with their
estranged son. They go to visit him and see their grandchildren for the first
time.
Perhaps a horrible experience is necessary before some
people can see the light, appreciate and make the best of what they have and change for the better.
