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When Light Breaks Through: A Salem Witch Trials Story
Win a free kindle copy of this book!
7 days and 08:52:27
100 copies available
U.S. only
When Light Breaks Through takes us beyond the witch trials to tell a riveting, expansive story of what happened in Salem Village.
1692. In what begins as a daring adolescent game, twelve-year-old Ann Putnam becomes a ringleader of the “afflicted children” who accuse scores of people of witchcraft, resulting in twenty executions and untold misery for those imprisoned and their families in Massachusetts and Maine.
1697. Joseph Green, a young schoolteacher who is in love and eager to marry, takes on the Salem Village ministry that no one else wants and sets about mending the bitter discord that divides the congregation and the village. With his wife Elizabeth, he gradually earns the respect and trust of his congregation, eventually taking some dramatic actions that move the people to confront their future together as a community.
1706. With Joseph’s help, Ann delves into the darkness of her past, uncovering startling truths about her family and her childhood motivations. Standing before the neighbors whose loved ones she has sent to jail or to their deaths, she makes an appeal that could finally unite the people in forgiveness.
The compelling narrative takes us from the girlhood friendship of Ann and Abigail Williams, the other ringleader in the witch trials, to the intense, often shocking drama of the trials themselves, and to the small farming village on the edge of the frontier in 17th-century Massachusetts where Joseph Green pursues his quest to unite a bitterly divided people.
When Light Breaks Through is fact-based historical fiction. Its characters are based on real people. Its account of the witch trials and the public events surrounding them is grounded in public documents and historical research.
1692. In what begins as a daring adolescent game, twelve-year-old Ann Putnam becomes a ringleader of the “afflicted children” who accuse scores of people of witchcraft, resulting in twenty executions and untold misery for those imprisoned and their families in Massachusetts and Maine.
1697. Joseph Green, a young schoolteacher who is in love and eager to marry, takes on the Salem Village ministry that no one else wants and sets about mending the bitter discord that divides the congregation and the village. With his wife Elizabeth, he gradually earns the respect and trust of his congregation, eventually taking some dramatic actions that move the people to confront their future together as a community.
1706. With Joseph’s help, Ann delves into the darkness of her past, uncovering startling truths about her family and her childhood motivations. Standing before the neighbors whose loved ones she has sent to jail or to their deaths, she makes an appeal that could finally unite the people in forgiveness.
The compelling narrative takes us from the girlhood friendship of Ann and Abigail Williams, the other ringleader in the witch trials, to the intense, often shocking drama of the trials themselves, and to the small farming village on the edge of the frontier in 17th-century Massachusetts where Joseph Green pursues his quest to unite a bitterly divided people.
When Light Breaks Through is fact-based historical fiction. Its characters are based on real people. Its account of the witch trials and the public events surrounding them is grounded in public documents and historical research.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 15, 2023
72 people are currently reading
11563 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Murphy
62 books71 followersBrenda Murphy is the author of more than twenty books, mostly about American drama and theater. Recently she has been writing biography, memoir, and biographical fiction. Her latest books include When Light Breaks Through: A Salem Witch Trials Story (2023), Becoming Carlotta: A Biographical Novel (2018), based on the life of the actress Carlotta Monterey, Eugene O’Neill Remembered (2017, with George Monteiro), a biography in documents, and After the Voyage: An Irish American Story (2016), historical fiction based on the experience of her immigrant family in the Boston area from 1870 until the 1930s. After teaching at universities in New York and Connecticut, Brenda now lives in Maryland where she enjoys writing full time surrounded by deer and horse farms.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 24, 2025
This was a really interesting book. I’ve read a lot of literature on the Salem witch trials, but this one differs significantly from any other ones I’ve read before.
The book is not actually completely about the trials. The first half is. But the second half deals with the aftermath of the trials.
So it really is like two different books.
Anne Putnam is the primary focus of the first half of the book. It is described how she got sucked into doing what she did, and this particular novel takes the approach that Anne was not the original instigator that Abby was and Ann who is a friend of Abby’s just got sucked in.
Nothing is minimized, and frankly, the first half of the book is really creepy. You may get a shiver down your spine because it goes into lurid detail about what the girls did and the horrific effects on the communities around them.
It is deeply disturbing but I’ve read so much literature on this subject. I was able to get through it, and it was really well written.
The second half however, it’s almost like a completely different book. The focus changes to a young pastor who is given the job of uniting his congregation in Salem. At this Point many years have gone by and though people outwardly are getting along, there is a lot of hurt and anger hiding beneath the surface and not hiding that deep down either.
You’ve got to understand by this time multiple people have been accused and hanged. Many hurt feelings abound.
So this young pastor comes into the community and the story shifts , to the aftermath of Salem and the healing process.
Dear, I say it? I like part one better. It’s not that I’m not into forgiveness. It’s not that the second part wasn’t brilliantly written because it was.
It was kind of like part one was the storm cloud filled with poisonous cumulus, and part two was the rays of sunlight coming out after a long, and unending storm.
It is beautifully written and I can say I feel the better for having read this. But the second half really doesn’t have a specific plot line although Anne Putnam does reenter the picture.
There is some light spoilers here, so if you’re interested in reading this, please don’t read any further.
SPOILERS
I also just have to say this – I don’t want to lie here. I don’t know, were that me if I would’ve had the spiritual strength
To forgive the way, the people in the story did. And it’s not unrealistic not at all.
I’ve heard about this kind of thing on the news. Somebody’s murdered, and the family of the victim forgives the murderer. I’ve always been in awe of these people. But I can’t pretend I could ever be one of them. Perhaps I could but I don’t think so. In the case of Salem, this offers a beautiful take on the aftermath of the trials and it really does get you thinking about forgiveness and spirituality and even religion, though I am not a religious person I do consider myself spiritual one in someways.
So I would recommend this, but just know what you getting into before you read it. It’s not a story that you’ll ever be able to forget. I’ll tell you that much. The Salem witch trials are a stain on America’s history, but the subject matter remains fascinating to me as a reader.
.
The book is not actually completely about the trials. The first half is. But the second half deals with the aftermath of the trials.
So it really is like two different books.
Anne Putnam is the primary focus of the first half of the book. It is described how she got sucked into doing what she did, and this particular novel takes the approach that Anne was not the original instigator that Abby was and Ann who is a friend of Abby’s just got sucked in.
Nothing is minimized, and frankly, the first half of the book is really creepy. You may get a shiver down your spine because it goes into lurid detail about what the girls did and the horrific effects on the communities around them.
It is deeply disturbing but I’ve read so much literature on this subject. I was able to get through it, and it was really well written.
The second half however, it’s almost like a completely different book. The focus changes to a young pastor who is given the job of uniting his congregation in Salem. At this Point many years have gone by and though people outwardly are getting along, there is a lot of hurt and anger hiding beneath the surface and not hiding that deep down either.
You’ve got to understand by this time multiple people have been accused and hanged. Many hurt feelings abound.
So this young pastor comes into the community and the story shifts , to the aftermath of Salem and the healing process.
Dear, I say it? I like part one better. It’s not that I’m not into forgiveness. It’s not that the second part wasn’t brilliantly written because it was.
It was kind of like part one was the storm cloud filled with poisonous cumulus, and part two was the rays of sunlight coming out after a long, and unending storm.
It is beautifully written and I can say I feel the better for having read this. But the second half really doesn’t have a specific plot line although Anne Putnam does reenter the picture.
There is some light spoilers here, so if you’re interested in reading this, please don’t read any further.
SPOILERS
I also just have to say this – I don’t want to lie here. I don’t know, were that me if I would’ve had the spiritual strength
To forgive the way, the people in the story did. And it’s not unrealistic not at all.
I’ve heard about this kind of thing on the news. Somebody’s murdered, and the family of the victim forgives the murderer. I’ve always been in awe of these people. But I can’t pretend I could ever be one of them. Perhaps I could but I don’t think so. In the case of Salem, this offers a beautiful take on the aftermath of the trials and it really does get you thinking about forgiveness and spirituality and even religion, though I am not a religious person I do consider myself spiritual one in someways.
So I would recommend this, but just know what you getting into before you read it. It’s not a story that you’ll ever be able to forget. I’ll tell you that much. The Salem witch trials are a stain on America’s history, but the subject matter remains fascinating to me as a reader.
.
May 30, 2023
Very enjoyable read! Really personified and brought some of the key players of the Salem witch trials to life. The details are rooted in fact, and the dialogue is very believable and helps explain the characters motivations. Definitely worth a read for any fans of the historical fiction genre or those interested in the Salem witch trials.
January 4, 2024
I screamed when I got the Goodreads notification that I won this book! I love witch type books! I really enjoyed reading this book! Loved at the end of the book the list of The Major Characters and the Historical Chronology! Plus the Index to Salem Village Map at the front of the book! Keeper on my bookshelf!!
July 2, 2023
If you enjoy historical fiction, you will love When Light Breaks Through. It is historically accurate and written in such a compelling manner that I couldn't put it down. Before reading it, I thought of the people involved in the Salem witch trials only in terms of historical figures. This book humanized the people involved and left me feeling devastated for many of whom I previously had felt no sympathy.
March 30, 2025
Brenda Murphy's fictional book brings the characters, based on real persons who lived through the Salem witch trials, to life. It's about good and evil, hate and forgiveness, truth and lies. Ms. Murphy has found immense amounts of data, that she has turned into a gripping saga from 300 years ago.
December 30, 2023
The Rest of the story
I have read many books about the Salem Witch Trials. This is the first I've read that takes the story beyond the trials. It discusses the healing process of Salem. Reverend Joseph Green was instrumental in helping Salem heal. A wonderful story.
I have read many books about the Salem Witch Trials. This is the first I've read that takes the story beyond the trials. It discusses the healing process of Salem. Reverend Joseph Green was instrumental in helping Salem heal. A wonderful story.
September 13, 2023
Interesting historical fiction about the Salem Witch Trials. This focuses mostly on the aftermath and not the actual witch trials.
September 3, 2024
An intriguing twist on popular knowledge of the Salem trials. Well written, worth the read.
October 14, 2024
Won in Goodreads giveaway; never received book. Will update rating if and when I receive it.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews