The Book Of Shadows – As the episode opens, Tom Thomas (David Sterne) watches four witches make a sacrifice to heal Reverence Mother Adrian’s (Carolyn Pickles) cough. A woman holds up an athame, a witchcraft knife.

Tom escorts Dottie Thimble (Sarah Crowden) to the area in the woods where the sacrifice took place. Miss Thimble screams at the sight of a burnt corpse.

Detective Sam Gillespie (Max Brown) suggests the death wasn’t an accident. Sister Boniface (Lorna Watson) identifies the victim as a female between 30 and 50. Examining the burnt corpse, she points out a knife wound on the victim’s neck. Picking up the burnt athame, Gillespie says it could be the murder weapon. Felix Livingstone (Jerry Iwu) questions if Tom’s story was true. Pointing at the devil’s symbol, an inverted pentacle, and voodoo doll, she tells him that it is “black magic.” The victim’s locket is scribed with the name, Jackie. Peggy Button (Ami Metcalf) informs them of her parent’s gardener, Jackie Rice/Eliza (Louis Marwood) when she discovers a silver chalice on the ground. Gillespie suggests locating witches in Great Slaughter would be a breeze. She warns that witches disguise themselves to look like everyone else.

After mimicking the witch dance, Tom describes their attire as a “white dress.” Interpreting Tom’s mumbles, Gillespie says the witches were trying to cure Reverend Mother Adrian’s cough. Reverend Mother approaches with a group of followers, asking where are the witches. Livingston informs her of the purpose of the sacrifice. Sister Peter (Tina Chiang) points out that her cough appears to be better. Reverend Mother claims to have banished a witch from the community 15 years ago. When she demands they release the witches’ names, her followers angrily agree. Gillespie shoos them away but not before Livingstone says, “Hallelujah.”

At Jackie Rice’s home, Gillespie and Sister Boniface discover pentacles, a broomstick, and a wand. A loud noise draws their attention to a fleeing Heather Hartwood/Hyacinth (Elizabeth Rider). Sister Boniface suggests Heather was trying to burn evidence that proves Jackie was a witch. Heather acknowledges being a witch before admitting to having been in attendance at the Sabbat last night. She says after Jackie never showed up at the crossroads, she returned to the clearing where her body was sacrificed. In a flashback, Jackie tells Heather and another witch that Betty Jessop/Glinda (Caroline Sheen) put a “Dark Moon Curse” on her to stop her from taking control of the coven. Heather points out it is a “death spell.” Back to the present, she claims Jackie believed Glinda hated her.

Sister Boniface validates the blood type as B-negative, the same as Jackie. She says Jackie died after being stabbed in the neck with an athame and before her body was burnt. Reverend Mother stresses the importance of trusting no one and suspecting everyone. Sister Boniface begins to see everyone as a witch or Satan. Dottie suggests Mrs. Ape and Miss Ogley are witches. Sister Reginald (Virginia Fiol) pulls the Reverend Mother away to see graffiti on the exterior wall of the parish that reads, “Time for my revenge Tituba.”

Sister Boniface reads The Albion article headline, “Satanist Banished From Great Slaughter.” Clement Rugg (Mat Fraser) scolds Norman Whalley (Jack Gouldbourne) for speaking with the police. Clement informs Livingstone, Button, and Sister Boniface that all archive reviews go through him. Sister Boniface asks the whereabouts of Tituba’s “Book of Shadows.” He says Reverend Mother accused the newspaper of promoting Satanism after the excerpts were published. He claims to have burnt the book with her lighting the match.

Gillespie commends Betty on her snooping ability. Sister Boniface informs him of Betty and Reverend Mother being friends. She identifies a hospital bacteria on a chalice. He asks if it could have anything to do with Nurse Betty. They search Betty’s home to discover her daughter, Lucy Jarvis/Jocasta (Hannah Hutch) moved out. Sister Peter overhears Gillespie identify Betty as the prime suspect in Jackie’s murder case.

Sister Boniface tells Gillespie that citric acid from lemon juice was detected in Heather’s letters. He suggests it is invisible ink. After reading a few lines, they determine Heather and Jackie were partners. Reading further, Heather professes to hate Jackie after she broke her heart.

In a flashback, Jackie shows Heather a Bee Orchid before explaining how it attracts male bees by imitating the female bee. Back to the present, Heather claims Jackie ended their relationship without an explanation. Gillespie asks if she murdered Jackie to get vengeance. After denying killing Jackie, she claims to have been drawn to being a white witch because of “kindness.” She refuses to identify the fourth witch as the Sabbat.

The Bumbly Bee Café – Tom is disturbed to find a frog sitting between pastry dishes. Gillespie and Button witness an unusual commotion nearby. Upon arriving at the scene, an excited Tom says Dottie has been turned into a frog. Mrs. Clam (Belinda Lang) describes his claims as “nonsense” before assuring them that Dottie went somewhere without informing him. Speaking to the frog, Reverend Mother demands Dottie tell them who turned her into a frog. Mrs. Clam says the frog isn’t Dottie. Getting in her face, Reverend Mother repeats, “Tituba.” Mrs. Clam accuses them of losing their minds. Reverend Mother asks Sister Peter if her monitoring the police have revealed anything. Sister Peter claims to have found out nothing new.

Lucy assures Button that her mum, Betty isn’t a murderer. After asking where she gets her shoe wax, Sister Boniface points out it is a match to the wax detected in the soil at the crime scene. Lucy claims to have been 12 when Betty initiated her into the coven. She admits to attending last night’s Sabbat. In a flashback, Betty informs Lucy of her plan to visit the new forest to find peace with her decision to leave the sisterhood. Jackie interrupts to speak with Betty alone. Betty promises to visit Lucy’s new flat when she returns. Back to the present, Livingston asks if Betty is at the new forest. Lucy tells him that her mum went there when her father died. Gillespie suggests she or Heather remained behind to murder Jackie before ordering a search of her room.

Sister Reginald informs Reverend Mother that the police suspect Betty is a witch and Jackie’s killer. Reverend Mother assures them that she would know if Betty was a witch. Sister Peter reminds her of what she said about being unable to identify a Satanist.

Button discovers the “Book of Shadows” hidden in Lucy’s room. Lucy claims to have discovered it in her bike basket with no idea who put it there. She describes casting spells as “exciting.” Gillespie suggests Tituba create two copies. Sister Boniface says witches generally have only one copy. As he goes over the evidence, Reverend Mother bursts in to ask if Betty is truly a witch before grabbing the “Book of Shadows” out of her hands. Opening the cover, she panics and orders her to remove it from the convent.

When Rugg claims to have no idea how Lucy got the “Book of Shadows,” Norman says the Tituba folder was taken during a break-in three months ago. The culprit(s) removed documents from an envelope labeled “BOS.” Livingstone says it stands for the “Book of Shadows.” Rugg admits to keeping the book with the intent to publish it in the future. He replaced the copy with a similar book that was burnt with the help of Reverend Mother.

Tom is searching the woods with a dowsing rod. When the dowsing rod starts shaking uncontrollably near a bag, someone in black quietly passes behind him.

Sister Boniface tells Gillespie that the fingerprint on the BOS envelope belongs to Jackie. Discovering a candle snuffer with the Satan seal in the flower garden, she believes Jackie was a practitioner of black magic. He suggests she joined a white witch coven to “wreak havoc.” She reminds him of Jackie breaking Heather’s heart and leading Lucy astray. He believes Betty felt Jackie was a threat to Lucy so she had to go. Button warns Betty’s bag has been discovered in the woods by Tom.

Reverend Mother, Tom, and several others discover two witches in the woods. Removing their masks, Lucy and Heather disclose their identities. When Dottie approaches, Tom scolds her for not telling him where she has been. Dottie questions why her frog, General Eisenhower is there. They follow a banging noise away from the witches’ clearing.

Sister Boniface points out the victim has an appendix that Jackie had removed 19 years ago. A note from Eliza is found inside the “Book of Shadows.” It reads, “Be brave. Love carnage. My darling daughter of Satan.” She tells Gillespie that the victim is Betty, not Jackie, the daughter of Tituba. Livingstone suggests Jackie stayed in Great Slaughter to avenge her mother’s forced exile. Reverend Mother is the last name on her list.

Reverend Mother and Sister Peter search for Betty in the woods. A pentagon frightens Sister Peter away. Grabbing the Reverend Mother, Jackie admits to being Tituba’s daughter. She injects her with a concoction called “The Python’s Embrace.” She says Tituba died six months ago but she never recovered from what they did to her. She comes face-to-face with Gillespie and the others. He apprehends her while they search for Reverend Mother who tells them about the Python’s Embrace poison. Button escorts her to the convent while Sister Boniface works on an anecdote.

Jackie explains how she discovered what Reverend Mother and Jackie did to Tituba. She admits to breaking Heather’s heart and filling Lucy’s mind with evil. In a flashback, Jackie admits to Betty that she summoned the spirits of vengeance and darkness before stabbing her with an athame. She slashes her forearm with the athame. Back to the present, Jackie tells Gillespie of her plan to join Exmoor once the Reverend Mother was poisoned. She admits to being ready to join the next life.

Sister Boniface arrives with the anecdote with only five minutes left of Reverend Mother’s life. The sisters are thankful when she inhales deeply. The “Book of Shadows” is burnt. Lucy tells everyone of her plan to protect the sisterhood against black witchcraft as her mother did. Mother Reverend apologizes for what happened to Betty. Lucy says Betty thought a lot of her. Mother Reverend orders the sisters to see the witches leave in a hurry.

Livingstone tells Sister Boniface, Gillespie, and Button that Victoria was planning a trip to England that has now been delayed due to a family illness. Dottie releases General Eisenhower. The episode ends.

 

Sister Boniface Mysteries Review

Gillespie and Livingstone with the help of Sister Boniface’s forensics investigate the death of a witch. The victim who is believed to be Jackie (Eliza) was stabbed with an athame during a Wiccan festival or Sabbat. Fifteen years prior, Reverend Mother and Betty force Tituba’s coven out of Great Slaughter. Getting wind of the Sabbat, the Reverend Mother has a similar mission.

With Betty (Glinda) missing, Gillespie believes she may be the killer. He begins to look at her daughter, Lucy (Jocasta). She believes Betty is visiting the new forest to find peace with Lucy’s decision to leave the sisterhood. She has been practicing witchcraft since the age of 12. Newspaper editor, Clement Rugg deceived Reverend Mother into being they were burnt Tituba’s “Book of Shadow” only to have it stolen out of his office during a break-in. The book ends up in Lucy’s bike basket.

Sister Boniface’s autopsy reveals the victim has an appendix. Jackie had an appendectomy 19 years ago, ruling her out as the victim. It turns out, Jackie is the killer and the victim is Betty. Jackie returned to Great Slaughter to avenge what happened to her mother, Tituba. Enticing Heather to fall in love with her, she walks away from the relationship without an explanation. She gives Betty’s daughter, Lucy her mother’s “Book of Shadow” to fill her heart with evil. She injects Mother Reverend with poison. Sister Boniface has an hour to create an anecdote. With five minutes left to live, she comes through.

Another fantastic investigation with an unexpected twist plot. The author should be commended for such amazing work. The actors do a fine job bringing their characters to life. The best episode of the season, so far. The episode deserves a 6.8. Get more Sister Boniface Mysteries recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link. Learn more about our onsite advertising by reaching out to our customer support.