The Wicked of the Earth

October, 1650Traumatised Parliamentarian spy James Archer returns north seeking his sister Meg, missing in the aftermath of Newcastle's recent witch trials. Aloof, enigmatic Elizabeth Thompson draws him to investigate the ongoing killing of women who had worked to free the accused. But when Elizabeth herself becomes hunted, the only chance of escape lies in Archer setting himself as bait. Set against the backdrop of the greed and brutality of Interregnum England, The Wicked of the Earth is an historical thriller perfect for readers of Andrew Taylor, S J Parris, or C J Sansom. The Newcastle Witch Trials of 1649 and the fervour which surrounded the Republic claimed the lives of twenty-six women and one man. Following the English Civil War, the women who had maintained the land and towns of England, came under scrutiny for their elevated position in society. Combined with the Republic's puritanical Christianity, the Newcastle Witch Trials swept through the city. Unlike other trials of the time, the Newcastle "witches" were hung from the scaffold. This book is dedicated to their memory.