This book caught my attention a few months back when I saw the author interviewed on the Borders website. The author's own history of being a double-descendant of women who were accused in the Salem witch trials made me more interested in seeing what this book was about. One day day when wandering around the Book section of Target, I saw the book and remembered that I was curious about it.

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I thought, being a academic research type of book, that it would be a little dry and boring. But Howe works the history in with the storyline so well that I found myself becoming more engrossed in the story as I read on. I would say that the story unfolded gently. The pacing was not too fast, not too slow, and each new revelation whetted my appetite for more.

The book took a slight turn to the paranormal, not unsurprisingly, toward the end, and offered interesting viewpoints about time period. In some ways, the book reminded me of the recent tv show WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? which showed celebrities tracing their lineage back in time. This book is not quite like that, as the main character Connie Goodwin is not researching her family history, but information for her doctorate dissertation -- and happens on her own connection to the research somewhat inadvertently.

The journey goes through some triumphs and setbacks, culminating in discovery provided a fascinating read that I would recommend for those who are fascinated by history and/or genealogy.