From America to Bury St Edmunds: The Story Behind Madeline Martin’s A Time of Witches

What connects Bury St Edmunds with one of America’s bestselling historical fiction novelists? A fascinating and tragic chapter of English history that continues to capture the imagination centuries later.

For New York Times bestselling author Madeline Martin, the inspiration for A Time of Witches began with a recurring nightmare she experienced as a teenager: a vision of being burned alive at the stake as a witch. The dream stayed with her for more than 25 years, until she began researching witch trials as the foundation for a novel.

Her research led her to Bury St Edmunds and the infamous witch trials of 1645. Fascinated by the history, Madeline travelled from the United States to Suffolk to learn more about the people, events and circumstances behind this dark period.

During the 1645 witch-hunt, around 140 people from across Suffolk were brought to Bury St Edmunds for examination and trial. On 27 August 1645, 18 people were executed in one of the most notorious episodes of witch persecution in English history. The self-proclaimed Witchfinder General, Matthew Hopkins, played a prominent role in the persecution of suspected witches across East Anglia.

For Madeline, however, the story was about more than the historical events. It was about the people caught up in them: ordinary individuals whose lives were devastated by accusation, suspicion and fear.

In October 2026, Madeline returned to Bury St Edmunds from the USA for the exclusive UK launch of A Time of Witches at the Bury St Edmunds Literature Festival — bringing her research journey full circle.

Having travelled to the town to explore the history that inspired her novel, she returned to share the finished book in the very place where so much of its story began.

In conversation with Bury St Edmunds Tour Guide Lynn Whitehead, Madeline discussed the inspiration behind the novel, her historical research and the enduring connection between Bury St Edmunds and her story.

Set across two timelines, A Time of Witches explores the lives of women separated by centuries but connected through themes of family, identity, fear and the power of female relationships.

In present-day Savannah, USA, Lilith Legare’s life is unravelling. Meanwhile, in Bury St Edmunds in 1645, Sybil Brantham stands accused of witchcraft.

Through these parallel stories, Madeline explores the human cost of persecution and the lasting consequences of fear and prejudice. The novel draws on the history of the Bury St Edmunds witch trials to create an atmospheric story that connects the past with the present.

The character of Sybil also carries a local connection: she was named after Sybil Andrews (1898–1992), the renowned artist born in Bury St Edmunds who became internationally recognised for her modernist linocut prints.

Bury St Edmunds is more than a historical backdrop to the novel. Its past is woven into the story, making the town an important part of the book’s identity.

Bringing a story rooted in real events to life required detailed research, and Madeline drew on the knowledge of local people with a deep understanding of the town’s history.

Bury St Edmunds Tour Guides John Saunders, Lynn Whitehead, Terry O’Donoghue and Stephen Moody shared their expertise through guided tours, helping Madeline explore the history and context of the witch trials.

She also spent time at Moyse’s Hall Museum, where Dan Clarke shared his extensive knowledge of the town’s past. Guildhall herbalist Dr Sue Thompson provided insight into the area’s herbal history, adding another dimension to Madeline’s research.

These encounters helped Madeline build a richer understanding of the historical setting and the lives of the people who inhabited it.

Reflecting on her research, Madeline said: “The Bury St Edmunds Tour Guides were amazing and were integral to my research. I took some fascinating tours with John Saunders, Lynn Whitehead, Terry O’Donoghue, and Stephen Moody that were both entertaining and educational. I also truly appreciated my time at Moyse’s Hall Museum, where Daniel Clarke kindly shared his extensive knowledge with me. Additionally, Sue Thompson generously shared information about the area’s herbal history.”

The town’s history of witch trials extends beyond 1645. In 1662, two women from Lowestoft, Amy Denny and Rose Cullender, were tried at Bury St Edmunds, accused of witchcraft.

An account of their trial, A Tryal of Witches, was published in the 1680s and reprinted in 1716. The trial became an important part of the documented history of witchcraft prosecutions in England and their wider influence.

The published account was later associated with the legal and historical precedents considered in the context of the Salem witch trials in Massachusetts in 1692. Today, this shared history is reflected in a partnership between Moyse’s Hall Museum in Bury St Edmunds and the Salem Witch Museum in Massachusetts, strengthening the connection between the two places and their intertwined histories of witchcraft trials.

A copy of the 1716 reprint is held at Moyse’s Hall Museum, connecting visitors with a remarkable piece of the town’s history.

You can discover more about this historical connection in our guide to the Bury St Edmunds and Salem witch trials connection.

Madeline Martin’s journey from America to Suffolk demonstrates how the town’s history continues to inspire new stories and reach audiences far beyond the UK.

Through A Time of Witches, the events of 1645 are brought to a new generation of readers, encouraging them to look beyond the familiar names and dates to consider the people whose lives were shaped by this period.

As Madeline said: “It truly is such an honour to be invited to speak at the Bury St Edmunds Literature Festival. So much of this story belongs to Bury St Edmunds.”

Her words capture the special relationship between the novel and the town that helped inspire it. For Bury St Edmunds, A Time of Witches is a reminder that its rich and sometimes unsettling history remains a powerful source of inspiration for storytellers today.