Many years ago I read a book about a woman who had a crystal ball and was accused of witchcraft. That's about all I remember from the book. Not the title, nor the author. My favorite librarian tried in vain to figure it out, and ended up getting me this book as a substitute. I am glad I "accidentally" read it!
I had heard about the Salem witch trials, but really didn't know anything about them until I read this book. I had no idea that 24 innocent people died during that time, some while in jail but most of them by hanging. And it happened primarily because of ignorance, superstition, and greed.
The things those people believed astonish me. But most of the women and some of them men couldn't read, so they only knew what they were told. Gossip was rampant. Superstitions were thought to be absolutely true. And power-hungry people were not above taking advantage of all of those realities.
This book is a gripping tale in the genre of historical fiction. Some of the characters in the book were real people; others are entirely fictional. The book is well-researched and thoughtfully written. I recommend it to anyone interested in that tragic time in our country's history.
