The story begins in 1618, in the small town of Leonberg where Katharina Kepler is accused of being a witch. Katharina is an illiterate widow, known by her neighbours for her herbal remedies. So when the deranged and insipid Ursula Reinbold accuses Katharina of offering her a bitter, witchy drink that has made her ill, Katharina is in trouble. Facing the threat of financial ruin, torture, and even execution, Katharina tells her side of the story to her friend and next-door neighbour Simon, a reclusive widower imperiled by his own secrets.
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