Dark Scriptures: History's greatest misogyny (Dark Scriptures)

Step into 1670 France to unravel a mystery of intrigue, superstition and courage, at time of early medical experimentation when the terrors of the plague and syphilis ravaged society. Within this milieu witch hysteria finds its niche. The destruction of families and communities by the witch persecutions remains as one of our darkest and unexplored corners of history, while the rabid, central role played by the church in history's greatest misogyny, is conveniently whitewashed.

The Catholic Church in Paris dispatches Colonel Montpellier to St Raphael in la Loire valley, where he is ably assisted by Bishop Bernard, to curb a reported rise in witchcraft. Incarcerations, torture, and bigoted public trials follow. Detective Bertrand Duval (32), a witch dissenter and meticulous investigator, tracks clues through crime scenes, a local apothecary, body snatchers and public autopsies, searching for the perpetrators of the deaths of an 11-year-old boy and two wealthy landowners. Whilst Duval concludes that the landowners died from poisoning, he must battle against the injustice of the court who declare witchcraft is to blame. Meanwhile Mara (16), a country girl, is found guilty at trial for practicing herbal medicine but gains reprieve when the town carouser, Dr Pierre Laurent (24), convinces the court that she be released under his care to continue her experiments of highly promising herbal discoveries.

When a soldier's body is found floating in la Loire the witch hunters escalate their work. Mara's temporary sanctuary is threatened if her secret romance is exposed, and all Duval's investigative skills are required to shield those who are innocent and ensure the real killers are brought to justice.