The Life & Times of Sarah Good, Accused Witch: Salem Stories Prequel

Sandra Wagner-Wright

Nov 2025 · Wagner-Wright Enterprises

About this ebook

Perfect for fans of Stacy Schiff’s The Witches, Kathleen Kent’s The Heretic’s Daughter, or Francis Hill’s Deliverance from Evil.

"Wagner-Wright tells an exciting version of the events in Salem, with plenty of drama between characters. But the book’s compassion for its titular accused witch is what makes it truly stand out.” —Chanticleer Book Reviews

"History buffs and American historical fiction fans will surely enjoy another angle on the infamous Salem witch trials." —IndieReader

“[Wagner Wright’s] use of period phraseology…and descriptions of social customs convey the socially suffocating atmosphere to which women were subjected.… When the narrative enters the 1690s, it becomes a chilling and infuriating tale of horror…in a frightening display of group hysteria. Disturbing and historically rich.” —Kirkus

“…deeply moving and profoundly unsettling. Sandra Wagner-Wright breathes life into one of the most tragic figures of the Salem witch trials...” —Seattle Book Review

“Wagner-Wright vividly captures the panic and mania that invade Salem, and tragic figures such as Sarah illustrate the power of fear and greed when directed at society’s most vulnerable.” —BookLife by Publishers Weekly

“…meticulous and fascinating... accessible and endlessly interesting…” —Readers’ Favorite

In 1672, Sarah Solart Poole Good and Ann Carr Putnam begin life on seemingly equal footing—both daughters of well-off families in colonial Massachusetts. But as the years pass, their fortunes diverge. Sarah’s life spirals into poverty, homelessness, and mental distress. Ann marries into wealth and stability, becoming the wife of Thomas Putnam, the Younger, heir to one of Salem Village’s most powerful families.

Yet even privilege cannot shield the Putnams from misfortune. Thomas is disinherited in favor of his younger brother, and Ann’s expected inheritance proves meager. By 1692, their lives are simmering with disappointment and resentment.

Then the witchcraft hysteria begins. In February, their daughter—Ann Putnam, the Younger—is struck by strange fits. She claims Sarah Good is tormenting her with witchcraft. Her father, Thomas, publicly accuses Sarah of witchcraft.

In June, Sarah Good is convicted. By July, she is hanged.

This is the harrowing true story of three lives intertwined by social ambition, economic frustration, and the tragic frenzy that overtook Salem Village during one of the darkest chapters in American history.

Ratings and reviews

Sad desperation in early colonial times😢For me, the real emotional pull is the swift descent of Sarah Poole Good from a not well-to-do but respectable daughter & sister to a desperate widow of a short marriage, to a vagrant who had no defenders or family support. Even her second husband, who was unable to provide for Sarah & their young children, turns his back on her when the witch accusations start flying. Ann Putnam's story, IMO, is told for contrast. Quick, informative on the era, tragic.

About the author

Sandra Wagner-Wright holds a PhD in history and formerly taught women’s global, and American history at the University of Hawai‘i. Now a full-time author of historical fiction, she is known for her meticulous research and commitment to historical accuracy, diving deep into primary sources and overlooked details to bring the past vividly to life. Sandra specializes in stories about strong women navigating pivotal moments in history. The Life & Times of Sarah Good, Accused Witch is her sixth historical fiction novel.