The Witching Hour

Rowan Mayfair, a San Francisco neurosurgeon, was adopted as a baby. She pulls Michael Curry's body out of the ocean and brings him back. He returns with hands that can read the past of whatever he touches. When her birth mother, Deirdre, dies in New Orleans, Rowan finds her family: 13 generations of witches tied to Lasher, a spirit who serves and manipulates each heir. Aaron Lightner of the Talamasca gives Michael the family file, from Suzanne in Scotland down to Deirdre. Rowan and Michael fall in love, marry and restore the First Street house. Lasher wants a body. At Christmas he enters the baby Rowan is carrying, is born and grows up in hours. Michael nearly drowns, and Rowan runs off with Lasher.

1. ChangeTwo characters in one

   The book has Michael Curry, the contractor Rowan saves from drowning, and Aaron Lightner of the Talamasca. Mayfair Witches merges them into Ciprien Grieve, an empath Talamasca agent.

   source ↗
2. ChangeDeirdre's death

   In the book, Deirdre dies in New Orleans and Rowan flies in for the funeral. In S1, Deirdre escapes, reaches Rowan's hotel and is killed in front of her daughter.

   source ↗
3. ChangeThe witches' file

   A big chunk of the book is the Talamasca file on 13 Mayfair generations, from Suzanne in 17th-century Scotland to Deirdre. The show swaps that long account for short flashbacks and the portraits of the women in the First Street house.

   source ↗