There is so much to love about this book in spite of its tragic storyline about researching the lives of women descended from a woman hanged in the Salem Witch trials.

First, is the title. It piqued my interest from the moment I read it. Next comes the list of characters. Each is intriguing in his or her own right, and especially as their bloodline is traced and the importance of their names in succession is revealed. Third, the plot line held my interest, as did the descriptions of the libraries and their old books, the hidden house with its almost sentient garden, and the magical little dog that appears and disappears unnoticed.

Finally, that the storyline is set amidst the rigorous and often frantic halls of academia and scholarly research is a unique and brilliant touch.

I’ve read many fiction and non-fiction books centered around the Salem Witch trials, and this is definitely among the top 10.