The story, set in the fictional Rhode Island town of Eastwick in the late 1960s, follows the witches Alexandra Spofford, Jane Smart, and Sukie Rougemont, who acquired their powers after leaving or being left by their husbands (although Alexandra is a widow). Their coven is upset by the arrival of a devil-like character, Daryl Van Horne. The mysterious Daryl seduces each of the women, encouraging them to play with their powers and creating a scandal in the town.