Oliver Ptzsch's Thrilling Tale of Mystery and Adventure: The Werewolf of Bamberg

G. W. Emery: It’s nice to read a bit of historical fiction and I really enjoy this series. Can’t wait to read the next one.

United States on Jul 24, 2023

The doc: I have read many of the books in the Hangman’s Daughter series and they are all fabulous reads. The characters are well rounded and while complex, leave the reader compelled to read on. I had a hard time putting this one down.

United States on Apr 03, 2023

Amazon Customer: Oliver's books are full of suspense with many twists and turns. Jakob is a wonder strong character and not dishonorable at all.
I love these books and will definitely purchase any further writings from the author.

Canada on Jul 25, 2021

Gilliewren: Yes a good story but it was a little long winded and did drag on a bit too long. A good story though and I didn’t figure out the murderer!!!

United Kingdom on Apr 09, 2021

bookgal: There's something happening in Bamberg and it will soon draw in hangman Jakob Kuisl and his family.

Kuisl, his daughter, Magdalena, and her husband, Simon, travel to Bamberg where they are to observe the marriage of Kuisl's younger brother, of whom he has been estranged for most of his life. Mystery number one — what happened and why have they never addressed it before?

But as soon as they arrive, body parts are found in the river and in the trash outside the city. Considering that it's the 1600s, the good citizens begin to think that there is an evil presence, a werewolf, that is in their midst.

In this fifth entry into the Kuisl/Hangman's Daughter series, Oliver Potzsch has once again created a totally riveting murder mystery surrounded with all the details, sights and beliefs of the era. This is a period where science is in its infancy and in small villages and towns, it can become deadly for its many innocent citizens. Such is the case in Bamberg where 40 years before they had a famous witch hunt that cost the lives of hundreds of citizens and has left its devilish marks on its community and its people.

This is intense but pleasurable reading. I...

United States on Mar 19, 2019

LancasterRam: I've enjoyed reading this series of novels. The last one wasn't as good as those that had gone before and my review of it wasn't as enthusiastic. I found this one to be right back on the mark. I enjoyed the plotting, the characters and the story-telling. It's interesting how much you learn about the history and culture of the time and place as well as appreciating the story telling. The title may lead you to think it's going to be a grisly book or have some fantasy in it. This is not really the case. It is more about how superstitious and scheming people treated each other back then. It is essentially a whodunit with a very unique angle concerning a hangman's family.

They are a long read and maybe sometimes a few less pages wouldn't take anything away from the book, however, that's about the only small negative thing I could say for this one.

United Kingdom on Oct 16, 2016

Marise Richardson: Another tale of The Hangman's Daughter.
It could be read without having read the previous Hangman's Daughter tales but I personally think that it is probably more enjoyable if you have read the others and gotten to know the characters.
I enjoyed it.

United Kingdom on Sep 16, 2016

Peanut: I was absolutely taken back to the century that the story of his books took place.
I would recommend his books regarding this time that he has written about to
everyone. He took me to places which were written so realistic and I met the people
who most were unfortunate to live in that time period. I was actually feeling flea bites
and smelling the stomach heaving smells of the streets and seeing the squalid conditions
that these poor families had to endure.
Oliver Potzsch's series of the "Hangmans daughter is educational, fascinating and so realistic
that it makes you feel your living in the midst of it all.

Canada on Feb 22, 2016

Richard E Sepcic: I have read all but one of the books in this series and rate this as one of the best. The author's greatest strength is painting a picture of everyday life in 17th century Bavaria - he presents it with its sounds, sights, and smells clearly with a relative economy of words and in a way that does not detract from the story. The author has made meticulous effort to capture this historic atmosphere and base parts of his story on real historical events - not the kind we read about in normal history books, but more of the every day history of a town or a region. It is not a romantic view of life in those times - it was difficult, and diseases we can cure routinely today killed old and young alike. A strong caste system existed that was built and maintained by privilege. People were very religious, and superstition ran rampant through much of the population. It is against this backdrop that the main characters - the hangman Jakob Kuisl, his daughter Magdalena, and his son-in-law Simon Fronwieser - live and operate. In many ways, within the story they are the small candles of reason and enlightenment within this region that has not yet embraced science.

The mystery itself is...

United States on Feb 09, 2016

MommaMia: Oliver Potzsch is one of my favorite authors. It all began with The Hangman's Daughter and I have read every one of his books since and really enjoyed them all.

In this particular installment in the series, the Kuisl’s travel to Bamberg for the upcoming wedding of the infamous executioner, Jakob Kuisl’s estranged brother. Jakob and his brother have a difficult history, but Bartl’s future wife wants peace in the family and invites the whole clan to their wedding ceremony. In regular Kuisl style, there is much banter, angry threats, coffee drinking, tobacco smoking and mayhem and murder. This time a werewolf is suspected.

People are disappearing from Bamberg homes and surrounding forest almost daily and just in time for the arrival of Jakob, the crime solving hangman. The bodies are dismembered and immediately a large animal is to blame. Naturally, in the superstitious past, thoughts of werewolves were never too far of a stretch of the imagination. Is it the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker? Could it be the bishop, or the troupe of actors new to the town? Everyone is suspect, and everyone is terrified.

This story is well put together, the...

United States on Oct 28, 2015