However, Pearl learns that Simon and his family are returning to London, and Hester and she are moving to the Netherlands to be with her mother's relatives.

Pearl was supposed to leave the night of Election Day, but instead Arthur the minister collapses and eventually dies.

However, she falls extremely depressed when she arrives home, and Pearl is forced to bring Simon's father Caleb Milton and Doctor Devlin to help Hester.

Nehemiah indirectly kills Simon by causing him to commit suicide, which is covered up, and Pearl grieves for a long time.

Mary Whippe of mostlyfiction.com gave a positive review, saying "Noyes imbues her debut novel with energy and literary weight, continuing Pearl's story while remaining faithful to the original which inspired it.

Her ability to include period detail and to reproduce the religious beliefs and practices of the period give additional credence to her story, and the character of Pearl is free-spirited enough to strike a chord with modern readers" and finished by saying "pacing parallels that of Hawthorne, and her exploration of behavior as a series of good acts or acts inspired by the Devil is consistent with his".

[2] Jill Grinberg of Publishers Weekly also complimented the book by saying "engages with atmospheric charms of time and place, and though the major turns of the novel are predictable, she delivers an ending revelation that would surprise Hawthorne himself".

[4] Victoria Brownworth of the Chicago Tribune said "[the book] is an accomplished novel, stylistically sharp and metaphorically keen".