Death of a Bawdy Belle

By: M.E. Kemp

Narrated by: Darla Middlebrook

Salem, Massachusetts, 1692:

Arabella Edwards, a mysterious beauty, is found hanging from the Salem gallows, yet the courts had nothing to do with her death.

It is up to Hetty Henry, a wealthy widow past 25 years of age, to help with the inquiries. The first thing Hetty notices is an expensive lacy shift hidden beneath the plain clothes of the victim. The second thing she notices is what should be there but isn't: a hood to cover her hair, a travel cloak, a chain of household keys....

Hetty Harris and Increase Cotton, a local minister, are determined to solve her murder.

©2014 Hilliard & Harris (P)2020 Hilliard & Harris

A witch hanging in Salem

A “witch” is found hanging in Salem but this woman wasn’t tried as a witch. As a matter of fact no in Salem recognizes her. Hetty Harris a wealthy widowed businesswoman and Increase Cotton (Cotton Mather’s cousin) team up to investigate this woman’s death. There are some interesting daily life and societal facts throughout the book. Women’s lives from the Minister’s wife, wealthy widower to the bawdy belle are revealed during the process of the murder investigation. There seemed to be one too many “modern viewpoints” that I had to suspend belief for me to feel confident referencing this as historical fiction. It’s more of a well written cozy mystery set in the time of the Salem Witch trials. The mystery is solid, well built and will keep you guessing until the end.