Rating: 
Summary: A good novel, not a good historical reference of Salem W
Review: First of all, Starkey is not a historian she is a journalist who were interested writing about the witchcraft. The book was more like a novel (with lots of drama) than arguments or explain why did the Salem Witchcraft evoked during the year of 1692. She focused on the trials and what the characters did, but she did not explain or argued why certain characters, such as Ann Putnam, did what she did during the outbreak of witchcraft. If you are interested reading about the Salem witchcraft, instead of trying to understand what really happened, this would be a good book for you. Besides that, I don't recommened anyone reading it unless you like drama, because at the end of her book she complicated the story with her opinions and random facts.
Rating: 
Summary: A history of mass-hysteria - still possible today
Review: I first read, "The Devil in Massachusetts" in the late1960s as part of a colonial history course. Having also an interest in psychology at that time, I was impressed with the story of the mass-hysteria and the book made a lasting impression on me.I re-read the book following a visit to Salem, Massachusetts this summer. I had noticed the same mass-hysteria involving false charges of child-sexual abuse along with the recovered memory movement during the 1980s an 1990s. Although Starkey necessarily presents her tale against a background of religion and religious delusions, the contempory mass-hysteria has no apparent connection to religion but the reactions of the public (society) shows a distrubing duplication of the process of hysterical contagion. Once a "cause", whether it be sexual abuse, gun control or other "hot-button" issue, is pushed into the limelight and kept there by fanatics of whatever stripe, abetted and given publicity by the media, the society (public) has almost a religious need to curtail critical thinking, accept accusation as proven fact, believe stories of impossible events and destroy their fellow citizens without compunction. And that is the horror that is demonstrated by Starkey's work; and the naivete of the old, standby reassurances, "It couldn't happen in this day and age", "It could never happen here".
Rating:
Summary: Very mind opening
Review: I found Marion Starkey's presentation of the Salem Witch Trials very mind opening and thought provoking. She gives footnote and reference after reference proving that she was not just spouting this information off the top of her head, she gave a well researched and developed presentation of the materials she researched and I found that that is more than you can say about other books that have been written. She has gathered much evidence to support her positions on the Salem Witch Trials, that is someone who cares about her work. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to think for themselves and think outside the box.
Rating: 
Summary: 'DEVIL IN MASS.' a enjoyable perspective on Salem
Review: I normally don't like books like this, especially books that pass themselves of as scholarly. However, I've always been interested in the Salem Witch Trials, and Starkey's "Devil in Massachusetts" is definitely not to be overlooked. This may not be the best, or the most thorough account of the trials, but if you're looking for the basics, as well as a little background info, "Devil" provides a very intriguing and interesting read. At times, Starkey's wording and verbosity seem a little exhaustive and can be overlooked. But for the brunt of it, Starkey provides enough information to justly conclude what did happen in Salem, what caused it, and the events that followed. Be scholarly, verbose reads your cup of tea or not, if you're looking for some great, solid information on the bleakest event of undemocratic justice ever to stain American history, Marion Starkey's "Devil in Mass." will definitely shed some reason and light on the "bubble, bubble, toil and trouble" of the Salem Witch Trials.
Rating:
Summary: 50 year old book relevant today
Review: I normally don't like books like this, especially books that pass themselves of as scholarly. However, I've always been interested in the Salem Witch Trials, and Starkey's "Devil in Massachusetts" is definitely not to be overlooked. This may not be the best, or the most thorough account of the trials, but if you're looking for the basics, as well as a little background info, "Devil" provides a very intriguing and interesting read. At times, Starkey's wording and verbosity seem a little exhaustive and can be overlooked. But for the brunt of it, Starkey provides enough information to justly conclude what did happen in Salem, what caused it, and the events that followed. Be scholarly, verbose reads your cup of tea or not, if you're looking for some great, solid information on the bleakest event of undemocratic justice ever to stain American history, Marion Starkey's "Devil in Mass." will definitely shed some reason and light on the "bubble, bubble, toil and trouble" of the Salem Witch Trials.
Rating: 
Summary: The Devil in Massachusetts
Review: I really enjoyed Starkey's version of the trials. One complaint I have seen is the inaccuracy of this book, however, I have seen many inaccuracies in many things. Truth beknown, a lot of "theory" is out there, from a time that there are scads of missing records from. Look at how many theories abound on the reason behind the hysteria itself. I very much enjoyed this book, and reccomend adding this to your Salem library.
Rating:
Summary: Worthwhile read
Review: I really enjoyed Starkey's version of the trials. One complaint I have seen is the inaccuracy of this book, however, I have seen many inaccuracies in many things. Truth beknown, a lot of "theory" is out there, from a time that there are scads of missing records from. Look at how many theories abound on the reason behind the hysteria itself. I very much enjoyed this book, and reccomend adding this to your Salem library.
Rating:
Summary: Not the most thorough, but good
Review: In reading this book, I thought that I would learn about the psychological aspects of the Salem Witch Trials in depth. Although it was interesting and there is something to learn here, I didn't get the feeling that I was getting an exhaustive study. I did learn a bit more of the social background of the accusers and some of the accused which I found to be very helpful to understanding this dark time in our history.
Rating:
Summary: The Devil in Massachusetts
Review: The Devil in Massachusetts is based on the Salem Witch Trials, one of the most interesting things in U.S. History, the author just made it very boring and from her own understanding of the Witch Trials. This book is designed to be read for college level students. First of all, the different chapters in the book were very confusing, a different character a chapter then bringing back up the same character after many chapters. Although she does provide enough information leading to the trials and what happened afterwards, however it was plain and very hard to follow. For example, who was John Indian? She keeps mentioning him on and off, which got me confused of whom and what he stands for in the book. Overall, Starkey's view of the witch craft hysteria was confusing and very boring; though it had a lot of information, it was inaccurate. I'd recommend this book to college level students and to people who have an interest in the witch trials, not of what really happened and what really went on in Salem Town in 1692.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable and interestingq
Review: This was a great book about the witch trials in Massachussetts. I was amazed at how it all began, and how quick the citizens were to jump to conclusions. While I can not attest to the historical accuracies, the book is definitely worth a read!
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