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ultimatekate's review against another edition
3.0
Really interesting premise and a quick, engaging read. Once I got into it I couldn't put it down.
nicoletallywhite's review against another edition
3.0
Good book. I listened to audio and think I would have liked it more if I had read the book. I did not care for the narrator. (Grover Gardner)
suvata's review against another edition
4.0
I've read many books that center around witch trials and the related time period. This particular book was interesting and well written. Nothing new in the content depart but how much can be said that hasn't already been revealed. Rating: 3.5 for those who have read other "witch trial" books - 4.0 to those new to the genre.
the_schaef's review against another edition
4.0
An enjoyable mystery in a very unusual setting, 17th century Germany. It gave an interesting glimpse into what life was like 400 years ago and the way people thought and acted. You wonder if we have actually progressed much at all. The main character is a very likable, hangman from a small town outside of Munich. He has both common sense and compassion, in a town that seems to have very little. The title is a mis-direciton, and should have been called The Hangman's Dilemma.
intheattic's review against another edition
4.0
A little bit slow, but a great story with excellent character development.
cyrenasea's review against another edition
4.0
The writing leaves a little to be desired, as the author often ignores the "show don't tell" axiom. But it's a good mystery with original and compelling characters.
nderiley's review against another edition
4.0
I don't really get the title as the story more followed the Hangman and not his daughter but regardless the story was really entertaining. I often dislike mysteries but this one passed in my book!
ana_milardovic's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
elisebrancheau's review against another edition
1.0
I so wanted this book to be good, especially since I accidentally bought the second book in the series, "The Dark Monk," before I bought this one. It had all the right ingredients: cool setting of 17th century Bavaria, witchcraft, murder, torture, mystery... But unfortunately this was one of the worst books I've read in a long time. I know that it has gone through translation, but I don't think that is the problem here, or at least the main problem. In fact, there are several problems with this book:
1. The writing is just bad, in pretty much every way. It's clumsy, it's cliché, the characters' dialogue is cringe-worthy (I'm pretty sure the phrase "crapped your pants" was not in use back in the 1600s). The dialogue shifts from ultra-modern slang to that stupid trying-to-sound-old-fashioned lingo, with lots of "May the good Lord in heaven" or "I swear by the Holy Mother of God," and characters always "curse" to themselves. The book could also use some serious proofreading/editing. It's just amateur writing and I couldn't get past that.
2. The plot somehow managed to not intrigue or interest me at all. Maybe it's because I didn't care about the extremely one-dimensional characters. I don't think any of the characters actually changed at all throughout the story; the villains were 100% evil, the protagonists were super enlightened (to a level which I find very unlikely for the time period), the hangman's daughter was your typical beautiful, independent woman who outsmarts stupid men, with no personality traits that make her different from any other female heroine in other crappy "historical fiction" books like this.
3. Back to the plot...it seemed stagnant for the majority of the book, and even when the big mystery was solved, it was yawn-worthy. By the time everything was tied together I was just praying for the book to be over so I could start reading something else. I guess it takes a certain amount of skill to take such promising elements and turn it into a completely boring experience. Such a disappointment.
I'm not sure why this book is an "international bestseller," but I guess in a world where "Twilight" and "Fifty Shades of Gray" also share this honor, it's sadly not that surprising. If you actually enjoy reading books that will make you think, feel, empathize, and that are *gasp* actually written well, then I suggest you don't waste your time on this book.
1. The writing is just bad, in pretty much every way. It's clumsy, it's cliché, the characters' dialogue is cringe-worthy (I'm pretty sure the phrase "crapped your pants" was not in use back in the 1600s). The dialogue shifts from ultra-modern slang to that stupid trying-to-sound-old-fashioned lingo, with lots of "May the good Lord in heaven" or "I swear by the Holy Mother of God," and characters always "curse" to themselves. The book could also use some serious proofreading/editing. It's just amateur writing and I couldn't get past that.
2. The plot somehow managed to not intrigue or interest me at all. Maybe it's because I didn't care about the extremely one-dimensional characters. I don't think any of the characters actually changed at all throughout the story; the villains were 100% evil, the protagonists were super enlightened (to a level which I find very unlikely for the time period), the hangman's daughter was your typical beautiful, independent woman who outsmarts stupid men, with no personality traits that make her different from any other female heroine in other crappy "historical fiction" books like this.
3. Back to the plot...it seemed stagnant for the majority of the book, and even when the big mystery was solved, it was yawn-worthy. By the time everything was tied together I was just praying for the book to be over so I could start reading something else. I guess it takes a certain amount of skill to take such promising elements and turn it into a completely boring experience. Such a disappointment.
I'm not sure why this book is an "international bestseller," but I guess in a world where "Twilight" and "Fifty Shades of Gray" also share this honor, it's sadly not that surprising. If you actually enjoy reading books that will make you think, feel, empathize, and that are *gasp* actually written well, then I suggest you don't waste your time on this book.
greaydean's review against another edition
4.0
This book transported me back to the 17th century and delighted me. It was a dark and grubby time that I am glad I didn't live in, but the author uses it to set an unconventional mystery in motion. While rolling along at a fine pace, he leaves himself enough time for description, but never incites boredom.