The novel is about the Pendle witch trials in Lancaster (1612). It seems to focus on the sexual abuse of women of all ages and how they are brought to trial and, ultimately, death, through plotting of others. Sadly, the novel does not focus on the actual proceedings of the trial beyond a few paragraphs.
SPOILERS BELOW
(in case you would like to be surprised by the story's development and conclusion)
None other than William Shakespeare makes a surprise cameo as himself but a version of himself that believes in other worlds and warns our ill-fated heroine, Alice Nutter, of her apparently unavoidable death. That she is going to die is a given from the very start of the book, how she will die is easily guessed at as well.
The character of Christopher Soutworth is rather unbelievable. On a more practical note, it is said that he made love to Alice Nutter at some point during his stay at her house, this is all fine and well but what about him having had is genitalia removed as part of an elaborate torture to try to make him talk?
O well. One for the charity shops.
