Something Wicked: The Lives, Crimes and Deaths of the Pendle Witches

by Carol Ann Lee, Unknown Author

On 20 August 1612, ten people from Pendle were executed before a vast crowd at Lancaster's Gallows Hill. The condemned and their associates had endured six months of accusations, imprisonment and torture; their treatment was such that one of the group died in Lancaster Castle's dungeons, while awaiting trial.

Today, a thriving tourism industry exists in and around Pendle, the former home of the so-called witches, yet virtually everything we know about the case originates from a single source: Thomas Potts' Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches, hurriedly published in 1613 and distinctly skewed in favour of the prosecution. Until now...

Sunday Times bestselling author Carol Ann Lee brings an entirely fresh perspective to the story by approaching it as true crime. Having worked in the genre for more than a decade, her research leads to revelatory discoveries, transforming our knowledge of those shadowy figures behind ill-famed names, and the terrible events that befell them.

After four centuries of superstition and surmise, the two central, warring families - each headed by a fiercely independent widow working as 'cunning women' - emerge fully formed, as the book uncovers the reality of their lives and their alleged crimes before exploring the trial and executions.

Along the way, we uncover the truth behind some of the story's most enduring mysteries: the legend of Malkin Tower and the final resting place of the Pendle witches.
This is a ground-breaking book that will take the reader on a spellbinding journey into the dark heart of England's largest and most notorious witch trial.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Audiobook, Witches, 17th Century, Supernatural, Unfinished

398 pages, Paperback

First published October 10, 2024

Reviews

[Chrissie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a meticulously researched history of the so called "Pendle Witches".

There is no mystery to solve - these people were victims of an age of suspicion and belief in many things which we thankfully now know to be false, and were completely innocent of everything of what they were accused.

It was good to find out about the lives of the people involved, as, sadly, they have been lost inside a group name, making them invisible. That is except Jennet, who is usually portrayed as an evil child who caused the events by her accusations. Carol Ann Lee allows the reader to think of Jennet as a small young girl who was cruelly manipulated by the real villains in this story, which I found refreshing, and actually made more sense.

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a huge interest in witchcraft and magic from cultural and societal perspective so was very excited to dive into this book and it doesn't disappoint.
Carol Ann Lee writes with ease and makes all the facts and events easy to follow and understand better. She presents an in-depth record of the Pendle witches trials and for anyone with the interest in the subject, it's a must read.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wasn’t just words on a page, it was an experience I felt in my body. Something Wicked doesn’t read like history, it reveals how fear, superstition, and power turn inward darkness into outward violence, and women become the vessels for a society’s terror.

Lee writes with unflinching clarity and deep empathy, immersing the reader in the lives, fear, and humanity of the women and two men caught in the Pendle witch trials.

Her words brought back the heavy, wordless terror I felt visiting Kilmainham Gaol in 2004, a feeling that bridged nearly four centuries to the Pendle trials of 1612. The prison, where Bridget Butterly (19) and Bridget Ennis (21) were hanged in 1821, marked the last instance of women being executed at this location. Their deaths were a different injustice, yet the terror resonates with the same human cruelty and loss.

Harrowingly gruesome, at times unbearable, yet profoundly important, Lee doesn’t sensationalise, she witnesses. Some stories shouldn’t be comfortable, and this is one of them.

In honouring these women and men, the book restores what history tried to erase: their names, dignity, humanity, and truth.

In remembrance of:
Elizabeth Southerns (Old Demdike), Elizabeth Device, Alizon Device, James Device, Anne Whittle (Chattox), Anne Redferne, Alice Nutter, Jane Bulcock, John Bulcock, Katherine Hewitt, Alice Grey, Isabel (Isobel) Robey, Bridget Butterly, and Bridget Ennis. 🕯️ RIP

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audio Book, five 🌟

This was a fantastic listen, learned so much from this and the narration was great too!

[Sarah Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

In October almost every corner is festooned with gaping, grimacing pumpkins and beguiling broomsticks. But behind the seasonal witchery that we celebrate today are stories of grinding poverty, curdling friendships, precarious faith and betrayal spreading like fire through thatch.

I’ve really enjoyed this book and Lee's exploration of the Pendle Witches of the late 1500s: whose dreadfully handled case shattered into the early seventeenth century. This book feels like the accused move off their gallows and become living souls again. Haunting reminders of the fever-dream of the age. Where others have treated the Pendle witches as a lurid footnote in English history, Lee treats them as flesh and bone as well as terrific imaginings of what it felt like to be a woman in the gloomy outreaches of Northern England.

Pendle was a land steeped in misfortune and which at times was full of damp isolated cottages, hunger in the belly and a neighbour’s glance that might spell ruin. Lancashire becomes the stage, the atmosphere and the very marrow from which the terrifying Pendle trials were born. A wild place where belief and survival were intertwined. Lee writes so brilliantly about the time period, not just focusing on reliving history but setting a dark mood.

At times it felt like stepping through a ghost story. I think what makes Lee’s account so hauntingly incisive is her willingness to challenge the “official” narrative, primarily shaped by Thomas Potts’ Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches (1613), a source steeped heavily in prosecution bias and far fetched evidence. In a way she forces us to remember injustice and reckon with history. King pleasing men who were just as obsessed with rooting out witchcraft as James. Crafted show trials and propaganda all played their part in the nefarious downfall of such a staggering number of women, including beldams (older women) ✨

I myself certainly would not have had the guts or the bravery back then 🖤

[Kathryn McCarrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an interesting book. A hell of a lot of information and therefore something that feels more like a study book than informative throughout. Despite this I now have a bible relating to the Pendle witches. The structure of the book was so clear and I really enjoyed that other aspects of witchcraft and history were brought in. Would definitely recommend.

[julia bialy · Rating 3 out of 5]

meticulously researched history but gosh was it hard to get through it, sometimes getting lost because it seems you’re expected to know the history already to follow the book 📖 on to something lighter now!

[Alannah Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something Wicked is a dark, gripping and brilliantly researched account that draws you in from the very first page. Carol Ann Lee has an exceptional ability to balance meticulous factual detail with a deeply human perspective, bringing every person involved vividly to life. What I appreciated most was how she explores such harrowing subject matter with empathy and restraint — never sensationalising, but instead allowing the truth and psychology of the case to speak for themselves.

The pacing is excellent, the writing clear and compelling, and Lee’s insight into human nature is both unsettling and fascinating. It’s the sort of true crime book that stays with you long after you’ve finished, not because of the horror, but because of the understanding it offers.

A haunting, intelligent and unforgettable read — one of the finest true crime books I’ve read.

[Agnes Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

has everything i value in a book!! a map, family trees, glossary etc.

worth noting how many ‘witches’ were called agnes…

[Elle Andrews]

Audiobook 🎧

The first book I’ve ever read about the ‘Pendle Hill Witches’ despite having some previous knowledge of the involved families and related literature.

Many of these individuals have been grouped under the ‘Pendle Hill Witches’ despite having individually complex lives, and complex relationships with each other. I feel that this book attempts to uncover what the experiences of these people, what their lives were like and sometimes even how they looked.

I also like that this book questions the intentions of Thomas Potts when writing about the trials - why he describes some of the women in certain ways. I.E. why are his depictions of these women always that they are decrepit?

I also loved that this book explores the use of children in trialling witches. I feel that with the Pendle Hill trials, Jennet is demonised to be the villain in the story, having testified against her whole family. But through this book, we learn that this was not an isolated experience. Children testified against people for many reasons. This book leans to suggest that Jennet was manipulated by those around her to uphold their case as their main witness. Children are easy targets for grooming and manipulation, especially in a world where they are viewed as unimportant.

[Abigail Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got the audio book and fair warning, there are some factual errors (some of the royal references are incorrect, geography - distances to places were way out occasionally - and most annoying placename pronoucations were irritatingly incorrect - Whalley is never pronounced Wally. There are also bits that were repeated several times and by the time we get to the trials there is the same disclaimer every 5 minutes “there is no way of knowing for certain…”

But all in all this is a very comprehensive study of the witch trials in Pendle, with a long research into the history of families and friends and distant relatives. As well as lots of local history (it did feel like some was unnecessary and going off at a tangent)

[Graham Connors · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book. It is exhaustively researched, and, for me, this contributed to it being both a good and a bad read. Early on, I grew annoyed, bored, and confused by the endless stream of names and establising connections between people and families. It became very distracting. But the story this book tells is fascinating, and this keeps you interested.

Would I recommend this book? Em, not as an essential or fun read, no. It is worth reading, though.

[Gabriella Simons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this pretty interesting, well written and got some personal joy of hearing the history of places in my home county. I also find it interesting that in my time in Lancashire I've heard many of the same last names that are in the book. I wonder how many of them are descendants of the historical figures involved in the witch trials .

[Erin Cahill · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
I think that listening to this as an audio book was a disservice because I had to keep skipping back to keep track of who was being discussed - still a really interesting deep dive into the Pendle Witches

[Kimberly Pendleton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this as much as The Five, I think I got confused with all the similar names and struggled to keep track. However, still very interesting, especially with my surname, and that I'm from Lancashire!

[Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling re-examination of the circumstances surrounding the sentencing of the Pendle witches. It’s baffling to consider what people are capable of believing when they are united on a grave misconception. What I enjoy most is how the author unravels these meagre accusations which then quickly spiral into something completely beyond sense and rationality. It is a sobering reminder that witch hunts are happening all the time in society and you’ll never guess who will be hunted next.

[Elsa Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a long detailed account of the trial in 1612. Perhaps too long. However, the details give an insight into the social history and politics of the time. Catholicism and anti-catholic.

[Violet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very good. I had never heard of the author before but Carol Ann Lee does a great job at examining records, presenting the evidence, trying to give a bit of flesh to people who have left no records themselves. I thought I knew roughly what happened during the Pendle witch trials, but it was actually a lot more complicated than I expected, partly because a lot of the characters have the same first names (mothers and daughters often do), the same last names without being exactly related, and because there's a lot going on, with characters all linked through various ways - so and so's daughter's goddaughter was the neighbour of so and so, who accused the former's sister in law, etc. It can be hard to follow at times, but Carol Ann Lee also did an excellent job at giving a context I didn't have - I read a few other books on witchcraft the past couple of years so I knew what books had been published back then and what the legal system said, but she also goes at length about the religious context and the persecution of Catholics. There's a chapter about the White Pater Noster that the Device family used as a "charm" and its regional variations, and the suspicion that fell on anyone who may be a papist, with your neighbours watching you and using it against you. She's also very detailed when it comes to the abject poverty that people experienced. Overall I think I had come to think of witchcraft solely or mostly as a feminist theme, and she made it about this and about economic inequalities and religious persecution.

Free ARC sent by Netgalley.

[Soozee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was all set to be an exciting and interesting book exploring the lives of the famous Pendle witches. Unfortunately it is not written in a particularly readable style, as while the author is clearly very knowledgable about their story, background and geographical setting, she does throw every bit of knowledge she holds at the reader, whether it be relevant to the tale or an aside detailing something vaguely linked to persons or area. Yet, strangely, there were no footnotes to confirm the sources used.

I felt the reader really needed to know the story and characters involved before reading this, as the author makes assumptions that we will know who is linked to whom and what they did. Having read 'Mist over Pendle' which is a fictional account based on fact, I at least had some knowledge and persevered and did enjoy the plethora of information about witches, trials and the area that is offered.

Overall it is a detailed, well researched account, although there were a couple of errors, most notably talking about ousting 'Queen Elizabeth from her throne and replace her with Mary, her Roman Catholic sister'. I suspect the author meant her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots, since Elizabeth did not become queen until the death of her sister Mary.

Definitely a book to read if you have an interest in the witches in Lancashire, but I'd advise doing a little pre-reading first and brace yourself - its a fairly turgid read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Been looking forward to this release for at least six months, maybe a year, and it doesn't dissappoint. Carol Ann Lee applies her typical deep-dive, highly detailed approach to a historical case. She takes the case and follows the timeline along all the reported instances of witchcraft in the case up until the trial and regularly jumps into tangents to build a picture of period and of the changing nature of witchcraft as a crime. She does an amazing job too. The sheer lack of records meant that so many people are little more than names on a page (and there are tonnes of them!) that it can be a bit hard to follow at times but that's not really the authors fault and it's nowhere near so difficult to keep track you'd have to give up. All in all, this was well worth the wait - i hope she tackles more historical stuff!

[A N N A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for a review.

I have always been obsessed with history and the witch trials in particular so this was right up my street. It was a wonderfully researched look into the lives and deaths of the people involved in the Pendle Witches case of 1612 in Lancashire.
The poverty of these people was put across well, as well as the beliefs of the time which were teetering on the line with what was believed to be "witchcraft" it seems impossible to me for these people to be found not guilty - yet poppets and the like was an everyday thing for so many.
I look forward to other books by this author.

[Shar · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 Stars: A Thoroughly Enjoyable and Well-Researched Account of the Pendle Witches

I recently listened to Something Wicked: The Lives, Crimes and Deaths of the Pendle Witches by Carol Ann Lee on Audible, and I have to say, it was an absolute delight. The book is a brilliant exploration of one of England's most infamous witch trials, and I found myself completely engrossed from start to finish.

Lee has clearly done her research, providing a richly detailed and historically accurate account of the events surrounding the Pendle witch trials of 1612. Her writing is both captivating and informative, weaving together historical facts with the chilling atmosphere of fear and superstition that gripped 17th-century England. The depth of her research is evident, but it's never overwhelming—it’s the perfect balance of engaging storytelling and factual history.

The narration on Audible was equally impressive. The narrator’s performance brought the characters and events to life, making the story even more immersive. The pacing, tone, and emotion in the narration were spot-on, enhancing the overall experience.

I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this book and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in historical true crime, witch trials, or British history. It’s a fascinating, well-written, and expertly narrated exploration of a dark chapter in history. A full five stars!

[Colin Garrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Audiobook)

In 1612, ten people from Pendle were executed as witches. Most of the information known comes from Thomas Potts’ Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches, but now true-crime author Carol Ann Lee takes an in-depth view of the case, exploring the lives of the people involved, their backgrounds and the communities they came from.

I’ve read several books by this author, including those concerning the White House Farm murders, and her biography of Ruth Ellis, so I’m familiar with her accessible writing style and eagled-eyed attention to detail. Subtitled The Lives, Crimes and Deaths of the Pendle Witches, this is a comprehensive and well-researched book that delves into the reality of the two main families involved in the trial, unpicking Potts’ jaundiced view of the proceedings and suggesting possible alternatives to his ‘history’ of those events. It’s true to say that the book is a long one, unearthing a huge amount of information that could easily overwhelm the casual reader. The audiobook comes with a PDF showing the Southerns/Device and Whittle/Redfearn family trees, the main and subsidiary characters, and a glossary of some of the more obscure words used in the book.

Superbly narrated by Emma Gregory, this is a fascinating, scary and troubling account of one of the most notorious witch trials in British history.

[Pamela (Here to Read Books and Chew Gum) · Rating 3 out of 5]

While Carol Ann Lee's Something Wicked is well-researched, the book assumes an existing contextual familiarity to really get the most out of it. I found the reading experience incredibly overwhelming, as very little context is given in the opening from which a reader can orient themselves.

While I know it's difficult for a writer to share complicated family and social relationships with readers, especially when there are very few primary sources available, it is still the job of the author to communicate that to their audience. In that respect, I don't think that Carol Ann Lee did a very good job. She's a good writer, but does a great deal of editorialising, and shared far too much information in an attempt to set the scene, even when it wasn't directly relevant. It was such a shame, because her opening was really strong. When she writes directly and personally, she really shines. But as soon as we got into the meat of the story, she just really struggled to keep everything grounded.

Ultimately, Something Wicked was dense and convoluted. It jumped from idea to idea, gave very little context for readers not already familiar with the subject, and was just really frustrating to follow.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been interested in the history of the women accused at Pendle for a long time now, and have read much about the case, both fictional and non-fictional, but this book surprised me a number of times. A true testament to the idea of history as a series of stories not facts, there has been some thorough research done here, presented in a relaxed and easy to follow format. There was a sense that the story we have been told is not necessarily the true story, and not necessarily based on court evidence, or backed up with further sources. For example we look at who documented the case, their bias, and the edits that information received, what physical evidence it was based on and how much was embellished to make a good story. I felt that I learnt a lot. One of those books where I raced to the end but wish there was more. (Listened as an audiobook - the Spotify version was very well read)

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been fascinated by the Pendle witches for a long time. This is a very long, well researched non fiction looking at the lives, crimes and deaths of the Pendle witches who were hanged in 1612.

This was a really interesting read, particularly around 'charms' the Device family used i.e the white Paster Noster, the feuds between the two families and why they might have claimed to have familars that they sent out to do their bidding, and why an 11 year old girl might have condemned her entire family to be accused of witchcraft.

The book also gave me more insight into the witch finding crazes of the 17th century generally and how it was perhaps as terrible a crime to be a Roman Catholic as it was to be a witch.

[Haxxunne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forensic exploration of the accused witches and the whole world around them

Lee brings her eye for detail to the barely recorded lives of the many women (and a few men) accused of witchcraft in Pendle in the 1610s, twining the clues into a branching narrative full of folklore and historical detail. In a mash-up of true crime and the occult, Lee walks the reader through the years and months leading up to the eventual execution of the accused witches, and the feverish climate of England at the time, riven by religious divisions at all levels of society. In giving voices to the voiceless, Lee uncovers nuggets of detail, historic, occult and religious, and brings the story slap bang up to date.

Three and a half stars, rounded up to four.

[weemarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook from the library 🎧 and spooky season read!

3.5 ✨ rounded down.

Synopsis:
A well-researched account of the Pendle witches.

Review:
I didn't know anything about the Pendle witches going in and I feel like you'd get more out of this book if you did know about the history. However, I still got some knowledge and enjoyment from this intricate history of this period of history. The people involved were fleshed out and made human, something not easy to do when the gap of history is so wide and the sources so few.

I'm glad I read this book (especially because it's added a lot to a novel on witchcraft I'm reading) but didn't quite get what I wanted out of it.

[Rachel N · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book covering the Pendle Witch Trials of 1612, going into as much detail as is possible given the time past and records available (if anything, it goes into a little too much detail and that slows it down at times). The author also uses imagination and supposition to fill in some gaps, especially around how people ‘must’ have been feeling, which is always a little jarring to me but she is obviously passionate about the subject and it shows.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been experimenting more with Non-Fiction because I love learning and finding out niche facts. I do find the idea of witchcraft and the trials really interesting as I tend to be quite a logical person and I find it fascinating at how some women genuinely believed they were performing witchcraft. I have never been to Pendle Hill, but I have heard about it and it is relatively close to me. This book helps to humanise all the people involved and give a glimpse into what their lives could have been like. I will definitely be reading more books like this. I would recommend this as it was relatively easy to read despite all of the information provided!