The year is 1645 and the infamous Matthew Hopkins, self-styled Witchfinder General is sweeping through Essex leaving a trail of torture and death behind him. It needs only a careless word or the spiteful gossip of a neighbour to bring the helpless and the innocent to the gallows. The Nokes family are real witches and their attempts to outwit Hopkins lead them into many terrifying situations. Black magic, rape and a midnight Esbat of naked revellers are features of this thrilling novel which has a frightening degree of authenticity.