The story is frightening considering the power that men held over women in most parts of the world during this period.

Seventeenth century Agnes is a healer but she incurs the wrath of a Witchfinder who is determined to weed out so called witches from England. Mary is by association in the same category and it is very easy to play on the superstitions of people who have nothing to guide them and become a flaming mob. Agnes was found guilty and sentenced to death. She died before the sentence could be carried out, enraging the Witchfinder who then turned on Mary. The death of a husband of one of Mary’s friends is found murdered with strange markings on his body and this was the final blow to Mary. She turned to a stranger for protection and assistance to get to the bottom of the mystery markings.

The story of alchemy and its vast influence in Europe is touched upon in this story along with Mary’s role in solving this mystery in this small village in England. She was one of the lucky ones.

Interesting reading for those whose knowledge on the subject of witches and the harassment they underwent whether justified or not.

Sent by Lake Union Publishing for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley