The Hanging Tree's ShadowA Novel Based on the True Story of America's First WitchShe saved lives. They called her evil. History would prove them tragically wrong.
In 1647, Alse Young became the first woman executed for witchcraft in America. Her crime? Knowing how to heal when others could only watch people die.
A gifted healer in a world that feared knowledge...
For thirty years, Alse Young served as Windsor, Connecticut's most trusted midwife and healer. Her skilled hands delivered babies, her herbal remedies broke fevers, and her keen eye could predict difficult births that would claim both mother and child. But in a Puritan community plagued by failed harvests and mysterious deaths, exceptional knowledge looked dangerously like witchcraft.
When fear becomes more powerful than truth...
As suspicion spreads through the settlement like wildfire, neighbors become accusers, dreams become evidence, and healing becomes proof of evil. Young Mary Hoskins claims Alse visits her in spectral form. Grieving parents blame her for deaths she tried to prevent. Even the minister who once respected her begins to question whether her abilities come from God—or something far darker.
A trial that would echo through the centuries...
Based on meticulously researched historical records, The Hanging Tree's Shadow brings to vivid life the story of America's first witch trial—and the remarkable woman at its center. This gripping novel reveals how a community's fear transformed their most valuable member into their greatest threat, and how one woman's tragic death would ultimately change the course of American justice.
From the author: "Alse Young died not because she was a witch, but because she was ahead of her time. Her story reminds us that throughout history, those who seek to heal and help have often paid the highest price for their compassion."
Perfect for readers who loved:
- The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox
- The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
- Salem by Megan Chance
- The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent
What readers are saying: "A powerful reminder that the real evil often lies not in witchcraft, but in the fear that destroys the innocent."
"Beautifully written and historically rich. Alse Young finally gets the story she deserves."
"This novel transforms a forgotten historical footnote into an unforgettable tale of courage, sacrifice, and ultimate redemption."
Historical Fiction • Colonial America • Witch Trials • Women's History • Medical History
Content Advisory: This novel deals with themes of religious persecution, historical injustice, and the execution of an innocent person. Suitable for mature readers.
Discover the true story behind America's first witch trial—and the extraordinary woman whose legacy of healing triumphed over hatred.
