This is the story of Helen Duncan, incredibly tried under the 1735 Witchcraft Act during World War II. Nell had, since childhood, the "gift" of being able to communicate with the spirit world. During World War II, she predicted many things which came true, such as US involvement and the war ending with two "bangs". What got her in trouble, though, was that the spirits she raised talked about the destruction of British naval ships that were unpublicized and held as military secrets.

Nell's life as a medium is the main feature of the book, but her everyday life as a woman struggling to raise her family are also well presented and round out her character.

The book is a quick read that is a bit choppy due to the number of short chapters and flashbacks. But very entertaining and interesting to see how spiritualism (meaning communicating with those who have "crossed over") was a fairly widespread belief. It was also seen as "proof" of Christian teachings about an afterlife. ( )

To me, this is a fascinating book.It concerns the fight of the World War II British government to imprison a medium whose prognostications were true. It shows the ability of government agencies to support each other without overtly breaking the law.

It seemed a rather even-handed account to me. I actually had some sympathy for both sides.

Well documents biography of the last person in England to go on trial for Witchcraft. I would have preferred if the book was written in a linear time frame. ( )

The Strange Case of Hellish Nell. The Story of Helen Duncan and The Witch Trial of World War II, by Nina Shandler

This book might be a good read for those looking for something to read for Halloween.
Helen Duncan was a median and Spiritualist born in 1898. Who at a young age could see sprits, and see the future events.

What makes this book good is that the author does a good job of going back and forth though Helen's life, to keep your interest up. It seems that she had the "Gift" as they call it to deliver messages for the beyond.
She got it right on many occasions. Example;

1. She predicted in early 1940 that Germany would not invade England. (this was just after Dunkirk)
2. That England and Russia would be allies (after Germany and Russia signed the non-aggression treaty)
3. That the United States would enter the war (we were officially neutral at that time)
4. that the War would last 6 years and involve the world from the U.S. to Japan (this is before Pearl Harbour)
5 And would end with two large bangs (atomic bombs?)

But this is not what got her into trouble!.
She told of the loss of the HMS Hood on May 24, 1941, and the sinking of the HMS Barham this is when the war department was keeping these reports secret. In the case of the Barham they went to the extreme of sending fake holiday greeting to the families of the diseased Seamen from these ships so the general public would not know.

Then the plans for D-Day start and Helen's problems begin to grow. till in n 1944 Helen Duncan and her four co-defendants listened to the court clerk read the following charges;

(from the back cover)
"...You four conspired together, and with persons unknown, to pretend to exercise some kind of conjuration, though the agency of the said Helen Duncan, spirits of deceased persons should appear, and were communicating with living persons contrary to the Witchcraft Act of 1735"

There is a lot more to the story. I don't want to ruin it for any who wish to read it. I give it about 3/5 stars. ( )