How to Kill a Witch: A Guide for the Patriarchy by Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi, is not an easy read, but it is essential reading in 2025. The two authors formed the Witches of Scotland campaign to shine a light on the historic injustice of the Scottish witch trials. As a result of their work, on International Women’s Day 2022, the First Minister of Scotland issued a formal state apology—the first time in 300 years there had been any formal recognition of those accused and put to death. The authors were also responsible for designing the official Witches of Scotland tartan.

The book is clearly a labor of love. It contains exhaustive research on the people who were unjustly incarcerated, tortured and murdered. Along the way, they clear up many misconceptions regarding what actually happened during these trials. They also include narrative vignettes that put the reader in the shoes of various people involved—both victims and persecutors. This information in the book is heart-wrenching to read at times, especially when they describe the methods of torture used to extract “confessions.” However, this is a crucial part of the story, and they do not shy away from the gory truth.

Yet this book is not simply about the Witches of Scotland. It also compares those events to the Salem witch trials in America and explores how the two persecutions differed. I was surprised to learn that the Salem trials were much smaller in scale than I had previously thought. Furthermore, a public apology was issued much sooner in America than the 300 years it took to receive one in Scotland.

Finally, the authors connect their research to what is happening to women around the world today. This is especially eye-opening when we consider what’s happening in the United States and the ongoing attempts by conservatives to restrict women’s rights and silence their voices.

This is one of the finest books I’ve read in a long time, and I’m certain I’ll be referring back to it time many times. Don’t miss it!

David Taleisin, ©2025, http://www.sabbatsandsabbaths.com