“This woman was one of the most impudent, scurrilous, wicked creatures of this world; and she did now throughout her whole trial discover herself to be such a one. Yet when she was asked what she had to say for herself, her chief plea was that she had led a most virtuous and holy life.” —Reverend Cotton Mather, 1692USA Today Bestselling author Heather B. Moore brings the life of her 10th … 10th great-grandmother to center stage. Susannah North Martin, accused of witchcraft in 1692, joins five women in the Salem Jail, all sentenced to death for their crimes. Amidst tragedy, Susannah finds hope and compassion as she remembers a well-loved life, and readers discover that love reaches far beyond the grave as Susannah faces the magistrates in Salem.
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Sad story.
I absolutely loved this book! Not only was it very informative, but the author did a fantastic job switching between life before being condemned as a witch and after, providing both joy and sorrow.
When I took history back in high school, we studied about the Salem witch hunts and all the women who were condemned to death and hanged for being witches. It was frightening to think that could happen in this country. This book’s characters were actual women who were hanged for being witches. It was the story of one of these women who ended up in a jail cell with other women who also were based on the reports from the places where they examined women to determine whether they were witches, and all of those in the book were put to death. I couldn’t put the book down until I got to the very end of it. It contained all the actual findings of the judges and juries who condemned the women. Their faith got them through and helped them deal with their deaths. I highly recommend the book.
The Salem witch hunts have always fascinated me—this was a very realistic story about one of the condemned women.
A lot of thought and research went into this book about the Salem Witch Trials. What I liked about it was that it centered on the loving marriage of one persecuted woman and her loyal husband. Of course we know the tragic ending for those accused, but the realistic details of their suffering are magnified when viewed from their personal relationships. Surely this was a black spot in American history yet we still see unrealistic persecutions today (immigration policies ripping children away from families at the border). A must-read.
excellent read. Brings the historical characters and events to wonderful and vibrant life.
It was a very diverse read the alternating of Susannah’s love story and her ultimate arrest for witchcraft made this a heart wrenching read. I sobbed for all she endured and angered because of the ignorance of that time in history.
Story of a Puritan woman accused of witchcraft for just being a strong willed. Based on court recordings of the day.
Heather B. Moore has done an amazing job with this book. The book is about some of the women accused and executed during the Salem Witch Trials. She has added historical excerpts and actual facts of these ladies lives, accusations, and executions, including dates.
The chapters switch back and forth between the story of Susannah North Martin, historical excepts, and facts. I have watched several shows on the Salem Witch trials as well as read several books. This is one of the best. Although Susannah’s life story may be fiction to some extent the facts about these ladies in the book are some of the best I have read abotu the actual events of 1692.
The audiobook is narrated by Nancy Peterson. her voices grab you and do not let you go. She has done an amazing job with this audiobook.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
While this story is about tragic events, the majority of it is a beautiful love story. The relationship between Susannah and George is so very sweet. Their dedication to each other and family is wonderful. No matter what comes their way they are there for each other forever. The author’s take on a portion of the Salem trials is written in a way that you feel the tragedy but at the same time feel the strength the victims share. One of my favorite stories.
Horrifying and heartwarming
I knew the Salem witch trials were awful from what little I knew of them from history but this story brings it to life and makes it real, more personal. Also, more horrific. Also more depressing. Also more enlightening. Also more…..inspiring, more spiritual, more hopeful, more humble, and forever grateful those days have ended. I will be forever grateful for Ms Moore for all the extensive research she went through to bring us this story. What an excellent job she did in writing it! George and Susannah were an incredible couple. Their love for each other was very heartfelt and it came through in the written word. To all those accusers I say “I hope you have had your day before our maker and we’re found wanting“. To all those family history researchers who work tirelessly to bring us our own family histories I say “more power to you”. We will be forever in their debt.
Moore crafts a chilling look into the Salem witch trials. It’s thought provoking and horrific. It’s well written and nicely paced.
Recommend to those who enjoy compelling historical fiction.
I borrowed a copy through Kindle Unlimited. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
Brilliant story
The story was excellent at all levels.
The time was during the Salem Witch burning and the story is told through the eyes of Susanah. Through Susanah we come to know not only about her, but also other women like her. The surprise in the story was Susanah was herself. Her life and the events which led to her present predicament was brought out so well that the difference in her present and her past was stark and sharp.
The times of the story, the gullibility of the people, their naivety and the evil in some people – all the things was expressed so beautifully, that the story took me to that time.
Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Never a read story like this… never thought puritans of new England did such things… its heart breaking… makes you cry…
**I RECEIVED AN ARC COPY OF THIS BOOK.**
Heather B. Moore’s Condemn Me Not is an incredible historical fiction-ish. Heather is a direct descendent of Susannah North Martin, one of the many women hung during the Salem Witch Trials.
As time and distance and research has taught us, the Salem Witch Trials were a travesty of prejudice taken to the extreme. While Condemn Me Not does highlight the fact that the Trials were primarily the result of a family moving into the area and taking over everything by using the trials to get rid of obstacles, it is definitely not the main focus of the book.
Condemn Me Not switches back and forth between Susannah’s time in the Salem prison leading up to her hanging and when she was a young woman, first meeting her husband George Martin. Their love story, while occurring under the strict rules of the Puritan lifestyle, is not staid and boring. It is a truly beautiful story of enduring love and faithfulness. And while Heather didn’t exactly have all of her great (many times over) grandmother’s diaries to work with, she had a lot of evidence to base Susannah and George’s story on.
Learning a bit more about the Trials, along side this beautiful love story was very interesting. I wasn’t sure at first that I’d like it. After all, wrongful imprisonment paralleling a Puritan courtship? Sounds thrilling. (note the sarcasm in that last sentence.) But it truly was. Heather balanced Susannah’s fiery personality with her compassion for people. It was much more balanced that I originally thought it would be. And the excerpts from the Trials themselves were more interesting than I had expected.
If I were to sum up this book with one quote, it would be this one. Days before her hanging, Susannah dreams George (who had been dead for seven years already) came to collect her to go home. Here’s what he looked like when he came:
“The lines around his eyes and mouth are ones that I am familiar with. They represent our years together, working side by side, raising our children, loving each other, fighting with each other. Forgiving each other.”
This was truly a beautiful love story, set in the midst of Trails. It is well worth the read.
There are many dark stains in our American history, things that cannot be taken back or pushed under a rug no matter how much we wish they could be. From the first time I read The Crucible in school the Salem Witch Trials have haunted me. I could not understand why so many people would turn on innocent people, accuse them of things they did not do, and kill them. It wasn’t until many years later that those that died because of these accusations were acquitted of all the charges against them, but it was too late.
I have read several of Heather B. Moore’s books and was intrigued to find out that she is the 10th great granddaughter of one such accused woman. Susannah North Martin was her name. Condemn Me Not is her story.
Knowing what I know about the Salem Witch Trials, I was instantly intrigued. The author did a wonderful job of weaving the story of the 70-year-old condemned woman wasting away in a abominable jail cell, surrounded by others who are accused of the same crime, and awaiting trail and the 25-year-old spinster Susannah meeting and falling love with the man next door.
My emotions felt like they were on a rollercoaster as the book went on and you knew Susannah was getting closer to her trial. Your heart breaks as she tells about the other women and the humiliation they endured during the trials. The examinations, the inhumane living conditions, and why? The only thing I can say from the research that I have done myself is that it was all fueled by fear and hatred and is a sad time in our American history.
As many of you know, Susannah Martin was one of four women hung for the crime of witchcraft on July 19, 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts. The way the author wrote the final breaths that Susannah Martin took made me catch my own breath. It was beautifully heartbreaking.
Out of all the books that I have read by Heather B. Moore I believe this one is my favorite. You can feel the kinship that she shares with this woman and it is fascinating. I highly recommend this book!
Great story about the Salem witch trials, made even better because of the author’s connection to the main character. A sad part of our past brought to life in a memorable tale.
Condemn Me Not kept me captivated as the characters were revealed as real people in a tragic event. The Salem Witch Trials were a time in history when fear and harshness was a way of life. The author brings out the love and compassion of the inmates as they endure the suffering and humiliation of being falsely accused while still maintaining dignity. I found I was not able to put it down until I finished reading about this tragic time in history.
The witch trials have been examined every way possible. Except for this very accurate, but fictional first person account. Brilliant and tragic.
This book delved into the life of a woman accused of witchcraft. Her background and her current time in jail with others accused also. Even a 4 year old. Given that we know it was all lies, this book is quite tragic.