I loved the Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, but I’ve been somewhat disappointed by Howe’s follow-ups. Here, she returns to her “roots”, writing about a modern-day woman who discovers her connection to one of the original Salem witches. Connie Goodwin has always been fascinated with the history of supposed witchcraft in the United States, perhaps in large part because she is descended from a Salem witch who may have actually had some of the powers her Salem neighbors were so terrified of. In her quest to uncover the truth about her ancestor and all the Hobbs women who came before her, Connie begins the research that will bring the women of her family to life, giving them a chance to finally have their voices heard. Traveling between past and present, this was a novel I could really sink my teeth into, and since I stayed up most the night to read it, I think it’s fair to say that Howe has got her groove back.