Killing the Witches: The Horror of Salem, Massachusetts (Bill O'Reilly's Killing Series)

"Killing the Witches revisits one of the most terrifying and mysterious events in American history that took place in 1692 and 1693, both in Salem Village, Massachusetts. What started as a mysterious illness that affected two girls who had violent episodes and had strange behaviours was passed on to other young women. The rumors of demonic possession and witchcraft swept through Salem. Three women were soon detained on suspicion of being witches. However, when the rumors spread around the world, over 200 were suspected of being witches. Three were held guilty and while twenty were executed, and a few were incarcerated or their lives were destroyed.

"Killing the Witches tells the dramatic story of how the Puritan traditions and authority of the early American ministers helped shape the beginnings of United States, influencing the founding fathers as well as the American Revolution as well as The Constitutional Convention. The consequences of Salem continue to influence the lives of Americans to this day, most notably in the true story of The Exorcist and in contemporary "witch hunts" driven by social media. The result is an incredibly engaging book on the good and evil of social anxiety and how fear can overpower logic and fact.