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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
I'm a fan of this series, but found the beginning almost too much. So many horrible things happened to the Kuisls in the first half of the book that I couldn't imagine how this could be resolved. Then I had to remember that it was fiction, and imagination makes all resolutions possible. So, it stretched my ability to suspend disbelief. And, it was well written, as usual. For a translation, it really is wonderful. The translator deserves more credit.
Of the 3 "The Hangman's Daughter" books, this was my favorite (so far..). Jakob Kuisl, the Schongau hangman is arrested in a neighboring city for the murders of his sister and brother-in-law. He is then put through torture that he knows all too well. His daughter, Magdalena and her boyfriend Simon (a doctor) end up in the same city for other reasons only to try to exonerate Jakob and end up teaming up with an underground network of beggars. There are a lot of characters, we learn a lot about the Great War that Jakob was in and never talks about as it is central to the story. The twists and turns and schemes were fast paced and a great ride! I can't wait for the next. I love the characters in these books - they are SO interesting!
I just adore these characters. I am so glad I've stumbled upon this series. I hope Pötzsch keeps writing stories involving Magdalena, Simon, and the Hangman. Beautiful writing, beautiful descriptions.
Not the best in the series, but,once again, there is a keen view into life in Germany in the mid 1600s. Fascinating how early drug smuggling was a thing and also the various herbs that were successfully used for all manner of medical issues back then.
I found that I enjoyed the third installment as much or more than the first two. Patiently (?) waiting for the fourth book.
I grabbed this book off my kitchen table as I was heading out the door for vacation and boy, am I glad I did. The Beggar King is easily one of the best books I've read in a long time. The story, while a tiny bit cliche in some parts, was a perfect mix of historical fiction and murder mystery. It was also a unique experience for me, as most books that I've read set in the seventeenth century took place in England or Italy, so I wasn't very familiar with this time period in Germany. I absolutely love the character of Magdelena, Potzsch did an excellent job with this female protagonist. It was exciting and interesting, and kept me reading pretty much non-stop-- I finished the entire thing in a weekend. I can't wait to get started on the other books in The Hangman's Daughter series!
One of the great parts of this book is it includes a walking tour of the town where the book takes place so if you ever get the chance to go there, you can walk where the characters walked.
Another extremely enjoyable entry in the Hangman’s Daughter series by Oliver Potzsch. This time the stakes are quite high as hangman Jakob Kuisl is charged with the murder of his own sister and her husband and must undergo the kinds of torture he is accustomed to enacting on others. That, however, is just the tip of the iceberg in a book filled with multiple storylines, engrossing characters, and revelations that keep the reader guessing right up to the very end. This is my favorite book in the series so far and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes mysteries, historical novels, and wonderful settings and characters.
Couldn't put it down! So many twists and turns left me guessing to then end! Well done, Mr Potzsch!