Neha Kashmiri reviewing for Reader Views

Five Stars – A good book with tons of information!

In Boston, in 1688, Sarah Pemberton dies of smallpox. More than 300 years later, her ghost wakes up in a world that she can’t understand. Luckily, she runs into (or through, actually) Alex and Jackie O’Rourke, two San Diego girls stuck in the cold city for the New Year.

Apparently, everyone can see and hear Sarah and assume that she is a colonial re-enactor. After Alex and Jackie show Sarah around, they find out that Sarah is looking for an advocate to defend her in a witch trial where the accusers are the ones closest to her. Jackie, always impulsive, agrees to defend Sarah; as soon as she does both the sisters find they are wrapped up in a mystery that is not so easy to solve. Can they save the 17th century ghost from damnation? Or, more importantly can they save her from herself?

Tom Weston is really good with providing information, while still keeping track of a good storyline. Basically, “First Night” is a sort of paranormal mystery with a lot of history thrown in. If you like reading about the Salem Witch Trials, this is a good book with tons of information.

A big thanks to Neha and Reader Views.

Rod Clark reviewing for BookReview.com

Rating: Excellent!

Tom Weston’s new book First Night, starts as a history lesson, but soon gets lively. Sarah, a young Puritan girl, died in Boston in 1688, but after her death she was falsely accused of witchcraft. Her spirit cannot rest until she proves her innocence, but when she arises from her grave in spirit form, much has changed in Boston. Centuries have passed and metal boxes not pulled by horses glide over streets that are smooth and no longer cobble stoned. Has she arrived in hell? Not exactly, more like 21st century Boston. Fortunately she runs into (or more accurately runs through!) two young sisters she meets on the street; 16-year-old Alexandra and her younger sister Jackie. When they realize their new acquaintance is a ghost, Jackie and Alex decide to befriend and help her if they can–but they soon find out that helping Sarah is easier said than done.
They start by giving Sarah a tour of modern day Boston while Sarah teaches them much about her era. Everyone, it appears, can see and hear Sarah, even though her form is not solid, and things can pass through her. Everyone asumes she is some kind of tour guide in historical dress. The interactions between Sarah and the sisters, colored by a gap of more than three centuries, are often hilarious. The exchange of information between the girls about the 17th and 21st centuries is lively, instructive, and rich with historical color and detail about present day and 17th century Boston. Their dialog also creates fascinating contrasts between the two eras, illuminating the dramatic differences in the two cultures—and the sins and virtues of each.

As they get to know Sarah better, Alex and Jackie discover that she has arrived in their age to find an advocate who can argue before “The Court of Spirits” on her behalf and defend her from the false charge of witchcraft. Jackie, who has always enjoyed watching Perry Mason, agrees to be Sarah’s advocate—but in the instant she does, she is transported with Sarah to confront that frightening tribunal in person, and the adventure begins in earnest.

The adventure that unfolds is rich with scariness, humor, history and more than a little mystery. Why does Sarah sometimes find it difficult to deny the charge of witchcraft? If Sarah is innocent, why are her parents testifying against her? What is the Devil’s Book, and how can knowledge of it help Sarah’s Case? What is role of the 17th century preacher Cotton Mather in all of this? As the two sisters strive to help Sarah fight the charges against her, they discover they have become catalysts in a deeper battle: the spiritual struggle of a dead girl to expiate the guilt she feels over her parent’s sorrow as she lay dying. What begins as a ghost story becomes a story of spiritual growth and salvation, not only for a young girl, but also for a Puritan culture in which many sought moral purity, yet some sent accused witches to their deaths. This is an excellent book on many levels, and may be read with great pleasure by teenagers and adults alike.

A big thanks to Rod and BookReview.com.

Cassandra Mae reviewing for ReaderSpoils.com

5 Stars – Extremely Unique Book!

“First Night” by Tom Weston is like no other book I’ve read before. I really like that it gives history of Boston mixed in with a fantastic storyline.

Two young girls from San Diego meet a ghost in an awkward way. The girls are visiting their aunt and uncle in Boston when they should be partying New Years Eve in San Diego.

The ghost, Sarah, is from the year 1688 which makes for a fun comparison on what it used to be like and everyday things Sarah finds odd nowadays. Imagine living in 1688 and coming to this day and age! All three go on a wild adventure. While going through all of this, Sarah must prove her innocence in a very strange case…..

I highly recommend this book as it will peak your curiosity and keep you reading for hours.

A big thanks to Cassandra and Reader Spoils.