Six Women of Salem

Kate Reading guides listeners through this carefully documented record of the trials of six women--accused and accusers--who were central to the Salem witch trials. The first part of the book is background regarding the six women and their status in their communities, as well as a chronology of events. Although the first part of the content is a bit tedious, it sets up the second part, which focuses on the trials, and Reading keeps the pace moving. The descriptions of the periods of imprisonment and the trials are a bit more lively. Reading creates an intimate mood that draws listeners into the lives of these women and their families as they were caught up in a travesty of justice that continues to fascinate. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine