I enjoyed the language and setting of the scene. The story felt a bit predictable halfway through, but that didn't detract from the vividness of the setting for me. I love that this was based on real people in the author's family, and that he can so convincingly conjure this town as if he had lived there himself. I wish more had been detailed about Walpurgisnaught, since it was mentioned so much. When the evening came in the story, it wasn't mentioned at all. I would have liked to read more about the title character. As a title character, I thought the story would shift towards her at some point, but she is not the focus here. All in all, an enjoyable read (and my attention is hard to capture: if I finished the book, it was highly entertaining for me). Note to self: DO NOT listen to suspense fiction with cliffhangers at the end of every chapter. As a reader, I skip around, move back and forth...but listening? I was trapped...as trapped as my characters often were.This book took me to a time and place that was new: Shongau, Bavaria, in the late 1600's. A tiny town, but big enough to need their own hangman, executioner, torturer. And the hangman is Jakov Kuisle, a bear of a man. But learned, a healer. A devoted father. A survivor of the 30-years war, a soldier. A killer. A beautiful, complex character who does the town's dirty work and is soundly shunned for his pains. Grisly deaths of children propel the town into its default position on mystery: It's witchcraft. And they target the midwife, another healer. The town needs a quick confession, and a quick burning. Then everything will be back to normal. And the hangman is charged with getting the confession. But he knows the midwife is innocent, and certainly not a witch. He has just days to prove it, or he must kill an innocent woman...the woman who brought his children into the world.The title character, Magdalena, is a headstrong, brilliant healer herself. She should be shunned because of her father's profession, but her beauty breaks the normal rules. She is drawn to the young doctor who understands he has so much to learn from Jakov. The three race against time to solve the murders...Along the way they get into a conspiracy, a hunt for buried treasure, and a confrontation with the Devil with a bone hand. Strong characters I care about...and an ancestral connection to the author...he's a descendant of the real Jakov Kuisle!Loved it...will READ the sequels so I can cheat.
What do You think about Die Henkerstochter (2008)?
I bought this as a Kindle deal a few years ago, so had no expectations going in. I was able to add the Whispersync audio for a couple of dollars and gave it a try. I ended up switching back and forth between the book and audio. I was very pleasantly surprised. The narrator was very good and I found the story interesting and fast-paced…. I really enjoyed the three main characters, especially the hangman. The book was gruesome in parts, but I enjoyed learning about this very disturbing time in history. There were a couple of things with the writing that gave me pause, however, I hate to be too critical of a book that is translated. Overall the story was very good. I went back and forth between 3 and 4 stars and this is another time I would love to give 3.5. A good read and be sure to read the author's note at the end about the connection to his real family history.
—danni1989
I am not flattering myself--because I think it's more embarrassing than distinguishing!--when I say that I should be the perfect audience for the (very tiny sub)genre of the early modern murder mystery. The venn diagram of early modern scholars and suckers for good crime/suspense fiction has an itty bitty place where the circles overlap, and that is where I live. But I was so borrrrreeeedddddddd. I couldn't bear to finish this. Life is too short. So I'm reading David Cronenberg's novel instead. Just started, completely hooked.
—silvester_ly
3.5Historical murder mystery and I loved the fascinating details of a hangman's life and duties.
—tianalstone
Wonderful historical mystery set in 1659 Germany. Well-written and translated!
—lchialin
