When Norman Saylor discovers his wife is practicing witchcraft, his demand that she abandon her craft triggers a catastrophic collapse of his carefully ordered academic life. Norman, a rationalist professor, views his wife's occult activities as a threat to his logic-driven worldview and forces her to destroy her charms. As the protective spells protecting his career and social standing vanish, he finds himself besieged by malevolent forces orchestrated by the wives of his professional rivals. The narrative follows Norman's desperate attempt to navigate a hidden reality where domestic life is a battlefield of supernatural influence.

Readers frequently highlight the novel's ability to blend academic satire with genuine supernatural dread. Discussion often centers on the unsettling premise that domestic stability is maintained through hidden, occult means. Critics often point to the author's sharp prose and the effective escalation of tension as the protagonist's rational world crumbles. The book remains a notable example of mid-century horror that challenges traditional gender roles through a dark, speculative lens. Many readers find the psychological shift in the protagonist to be the most compelling aspect of the narrative.