The Heretic's Daughter

A mother and daughter face accusations of witchcraft and bedevilment in 1692 Salem and devise a devilish plan that will save only one of them. While researching the Salem witch trials and others in Europe, I learned this horrible truth: the only way an accused woman could save herself was by admitting that she was a witch. In this astonishing novel based on her great-9x grandmother, the author weaves a spellbinding tale of love, fear, and devotion as a mother and daughter make a tortured decision in the face of hate and religious zealotry.

I recommend this book because of my fascination with the Salem witch trials and how they affected innocent victims. I also recommend it because Kathleen Kent is a 10th generation descendant of Martha Carrier, one of the 19 victims to be executed. I believe her personal connection enabled her to capture the setting and the emotions of those involved so distinctly, as she’s writing about her own family members. The story is told by Sarah Carrier Chapman in a letter to her granddaughter, revealing that her mother, Martha, was condemned and hanged as witch in 1692. The Salem Village… show more.