It's 1692, and the people of Salem are on edge. Amid squabbles over religion and land and fears of hostile natives lurks the ever-present terror of the devil's influence. When young girls suddenly begin to claim they are being tormented by local "witches," a chilling hysteria grips the town. At the center of the maelstrom is one family, headed by the well-respected Thomas Putnam, whose daughter Ann happens to be one of the accusing girls. Survival, betrayal, and the binding ties of a family's darkest secrets converge as we uncover the haunting secrets that bind the Putnams' legacy.
 

What people are saying about the book:


“A well-written, well-researched endeavor that kept me turning the pages despite my thoughts on the subject matter…the author has given us a 5-star look at the history of the town I live in.”
–Paul Bennet, Hoover Book Reviews
 

 

“Houle is in an advantageous position to examine how this tragedy unraveled in Salem over three hundred years ago. He is a direct descendant of Thomas Putnam Jr. and his daughter, Anna, and he grew up in New England. In his book, the author examines both the personal fears of Thomas Putnam and Anna as well as the wider community and its problems in 1692. Houle gives the reader an excellent picture of life in a rural Puritan village.”
–Historical Novel Society
 

 

“This historical fiction makes incredible use of the historical record, incorporating recorded testimony and sermons, and has a clear basis in the theories of some of my favorite historians’ secondary sources on the subject while still giving an artistic spin. And, I was genuinely surprised by the end!”
–Sarah Healy, @sarahruthreads

 

“When you’re reading it, you feel like you’re living that moment…I’ve read countless books from the Salem Witch trials and this one stood out in being one that made me sit in a different side of an uncomfortable reality.”
–Kaela Robin @lost.within.thepages_

 

“If you’re interested in the events that happened in Salem, this is a great book!”
–Kae @readerkae 

“The thing that I found so compelling was the very unique perspective here-- non-fiction tells you what people DID. The Putnam's of Salem offers insight into what they might have THOUGHT.”
 –E. Prioleau Alexander, author of They Don't Call It the Submission Process for Nothing and Where Have all the Cowboys Gone
 

 

“As a fresh look at history, Houle's work is intriguing. As a descendant, his view is powerful. And as a mirror to our own times, The Putnams of Salem is just this side of terrifying.”

–Julia Park Tracey, author of The Bereaved and Silence