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braydin's review
4.0
Another entry into the Jewish historical mystery/ 'police' procedural genre. I read this book mostly because David Liss blurbed the back cover and I am a big fan of his historical fiction.
I wasn't disappointed. Where Liss introduces a less-than-completely observant (in the religious sense) private investigator, Wishnia's 'detective' is a shammes who is studying to become a rabbi. As a result, Jewish religious beliefs figure much more prominently in the story.
Set in Prague in the 16th century, Benyamin Ben-Akiva is newly arrived in Prague when he stumbles upon a murder in which a family from the Jewish community is charged with committing. The story follows Benyamin's investigation as he is forced to race against the clock to try and save not only the accused, but the entire Jewish community from a violent uprising.
The story was well paced and kept me interested throughout. There are a few slower parts, when religion takes a more prominent role in the story, but even these passages were interesting.
I'd recommend to anyone with an interest in historical fiction/mysteries.
I wasn't disappointed. Where Liss introduces a less-than-completely observant (in the religious sense) private investigator, Wishnia's 'detective' is a shammes who is studying to become a rabbi. As a result, Jewish religious beliefs figure much more prominently in the story.
Set in Prague in the 16th century, Benyamin Ben-Akiva is newly arrived in Prague when he stumbles upon a murder in which a family from the Jewish community is charged with committing. The story follows Benyamin's investigation as he is forced to race against the clock to try and save not only the accused, but the entire Jewish community from a violent uprising.
The story was well paced and kept me interested throughout. There are a few slower parts, when religion takes a more prominent role in the story, but even these passages were interesting.
I'd recommend to anyone with an interest in historical fiction/mysteries.
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