The Begger King: A Hangman's Daughter (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
I enjoy the Kuisl's 17th century adventures in Bavaria- the first in the series really seemed too gruesome to me but, deciding to give Poetzch work another try, the 2nd novel really captivated me with its history and superb storytelling. This 3rd book in the series didn't disappoint either. It was a faster read for me and more dramatic with many more plot twists and turns than the previous novels and not too lurid to offend my sensibilities. I only gave it 4 instead of 5 stars because I kept seeing way took many far fetched escapes and reprieves which made the rational part of my mind shout "too unrealistic". Fortunately these instances were also the very same things that kept one excited, moving forward and less inclined to put the book down. Oliver Potzsch's "Hangman's Daughter" series (for the present, I refer only to the first three books; I've yet to obtain the fourth) is an interesting change of pace in the thriller/mystery department, as it combines a rich array of historical fact and nail-biting (although I've never been one for nail-biting, thankfully) suspense. Treated alone, the stories are entertaining, and they have been known to force a chuckle or two out of me. The first installment intrigued me when I read the back cover and discovered that it was about witch trials (I've always been enamored by witches, especially the breed that does not have a wart on the nose), but was slightly disappointed that there actually were no witches once I started to read. Okay, that has nothing to do with the novel itself, I was just bummed out.There are a few problems with this series, however, and they have often irritated me so badly that I, on numerous occasions, considered putting the book down altogether. I think that part of the blame rests with Potzsch's translator. Despite the series being written for an adult audience, I sometimes had the impression that the language was childish and the dialogue thin. This alone would not turn me off the series, except that the writing clashed horribly with the adult content found within. Often there is blood, gore, sex, and cursing mingled with petty bantering between Magdalena and her father, or another senseless fight between Magdalena and Simon (yes, Magdalene fights with everybody, and no, this does not make her an interesting character at all). There is also an awful amount of cliches, which I suspect were used by the translator in the hopes of reaching out to a common English speaking audience. All it really did was make me grit my teeth.And then there are the characters. Aside from the Hangman himself, none of Potzsch's characters really have redeeming features. Magdalena, who is supposed to be a proud, high-strung, tomboyish young woman with a sense of adventure, comes off as catty, noisy, and downright annoying. This is a problem, especially when one considers that the series is named after her (she is the Hangman's daughter). And don't let me get started on Simon. He's not quite as terrible as his romantic interest, but he's a very unbelievable character. He's more concerned with his clothing than practicing medicine, and he'd rather go for another round with Magdalena and sip on some coffee instead of just solving the latest mystery in town. This would be just fine in the present day: but the series does not take place in the 21st century, and this type of behavior is simply hard to digest when one comes to understand the backdrop of this "historical" series. And that's another thing: I would not say that "The Hangman's Daughter" is historical fiction. It's just fiction, which happens to take place in the past. Aside from presenting some information concerning this time frame, there is really nothing historical about the series.Despite all of this, the series is worth reading. Again, the stories are entertaining and for many readers, that is all that is required. If you can get past Magdalena's incessant squabbling and Simon's never-ending urge to curse, "Oh, my God," then you will surely find a tale worth experiencing.
What do You think about The Begger King: A Hangman's Daughter (2010)?
I've enjoyed reading about the Kuisl family and this book was especially interesting since most of it takes place in Regensburg, a place I've visited. When Jakob is falsely accused of murder, it's up to Simon and Magdalena to save him from the hangman's noose. I liked that we got to meet a new hangman in this novel; he was just as fun as Jakob. I honestly don't know if I'll read more of this series. It's interesting but something is lacking, though I can't pinpoint what. Series are always hard for me as future character development is always a challenge, it seems, for authors.
—Nickiscool
I really enjoy this series and I think this installment is my favorite so far. It really kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat. Like the previous two, I enjoy how it weaves together historical events, folklore, and the ideologies regarding medicine/midwifery and religion. I feel like I really learn about how life must have been like during the 1600s in Germany. I really recommend this series!
—Domomono
Recommended by Katherine Neville, author of The Eight
—morgance
