Although Schiff possesses a mind for research, and a clear passion for the subject at hand, she lacks the ability to write in a way that can capture the reader's attention. Bogged down with thrown-around names and an incoherence in how it tells its story, I unfortunately struggled to finish The Witches: Salem, 1692 despite it being a story that is one of the most morbidly riveting of its time. I really did want to enjoy this and just couldn't. 
 I would encourage those interested in learning more about the Salem Witch Trials for formal study to read this, but if you are looking for a concise, focused summary then it is best to look for other options.