The Beggar King

The year is 1662. Alpine village hangman Jakob Kuisl receives a letter from his sister calling him to the imperial city of Regensburg, where a gruesome sight awaits him: her throat has been slit. Arrested and framed for the murder, Kuisl faces firsthand the torture he’s administered himself for years.

Jakob’s daughter, Magdalena, and a young medicus named Simon hasten to his aid. With the help of an underground network of beggars, a beer-brewing monk, and an Italian playboy, they discover that behind the false accusation is a plan that will endanger the entire German Empire.

Chock full of historical detail, The Beggar King brings to vibrant life another tale of an unlikely hangman and his tough-as-nails daughter, confirming Pötzsch’s mettle as a writer to watch.

*May Contain Spoilers*

I never know what to expect from nor how I will enjoy historical novels. Though most historical fiction does entertain me, most of the time I find the history part of the book a bit boring. However, that is most definitely untrue when it comes to Oliver Pötzsch. The Beggar King is an intense trip to the 1600s complete with blunt facts of how life was at that time. It's more than a story, more than a novel. The Beggar King is an experience. 

Jakob, Magdalena, and Simon are the three main characters of this piece. Jakob is the Hangman for a town called Schongau. Therefore, he is often criticized and cursed, believed to be aligned with the devil himself. As readers witness Jakob lured into a trap and his actions following, they see his honest nature. Jakob may be a man of death, but it isn't an enjoyable act for him. Being an executioner is something he inherited, not strove for. It has to be incredibly difficult as a writer to have one of the main characters be a hangman who tortures people, sometimes innocent, yet successfully appeal to the reader's understanding nature in such a way that they will feel connected with him. Though Pötzsch pulls it off with ease. 

Magdalena is a fun, entertaining, smart-mouthed, blunt, force of nature. She's rowdy and naive with a mean streak. And, somehow she is still trusting, loving, and hopeful. Basically Magdalena is a lovely mess. Readers will definitely enjoy the tongue thrashings that she doles out freely. As well as her tendency to get into heaps of trouble and slip away like an eel. Though, when she's mean to Simon, I always found myself taking his side. As his temper was a bit more controllable. Simon is a medicus. He did study medicine though never graduated from school. Simon is a planner. He's helpful, giving, and strong. Yes, at times he is a little jealous, but I believe he had a right to be. Readers will like Simon for Magdalena as he takes care of her and goes along with most of her crazy plans. He also plays the hero a few times. 

The plot of The Beggar King beings with a letter that Jakob receives saying that his sister is deathly ill. With a bag full of herbs, he sets off for the city of Regensberg only to arrive in the middle of a set-up. He is immediately arrested and charged with double homicide. Meanwhile, Magdalena and Simon realize that because of their class difference, the small town of Schongau will never let them be together in peace. They decide to run away and set their sights on Regensberg, where anything can happen and freemen earn their classes. Once they arrive, they are horrified to find out what has happened to Jakob. Magdalena knows that his only chance lies with them and they must uncover the truth. Easier said than done in a city of cruel guards, rich beggars, and living shadows. Fantastic depth of characters and incredible entertainment outlined with rich detail and dwindling hope, The Beggar King is a must read for lovers of mystery and historical fiction.

Rating: 4/5 Cups

The Hangman's Daughter

Wrap Up: August

August was a month full of mixed feelings. Some books I absolutely loved while others I nearly loathed. Best book of the month was Twelve Months, as it made a 5 Cup Review. :) 

What books did you read this month that you loved or loathed? Share your wrap-up posts below.

The Hangman's Daughter

A historical thriller set in Germany, 1660: When a dying boy is pulled from the river with a mark crudely tattooed on his shoulder, hangman Jakob Kuisl is called upon to investigate whether witchcraft is at play in his small Bavarian town. Whispers and dark memories of witch trials and the women burned at the stake just seventy years earlier still haunt the streets of Schongau. When more children disappear and an orphan boy is found dead—marked by the same tattoo—the mounting hysteria threatens to erupt into chaos.

Before the unrest forces him to torture and execute the very woman who aided in the birth of his children, Jakob must unravel the truth. With the help of his clever daughter, Magdelena, and Simon, the university-educated son of the town’s physician, Jakob discovers that a devil is indeed loose in Schongau. But it may be too late to prevent bloodshed.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Oliver Pötzsch turns family history into fiction with his novel, The Hangman's Daughter. A murderer is upon the town of Schongau, killing orphan children, and the town clerk is determined to place the blame on the shoulders of a "witch" in order to calm the town in the quickest way possible. While the townspeople accept this notion, two men fight to prove the "witch's" innocence. 

Jakob, the hangman, and Simon, a physician's son, are the two main characters of this novel. The story revolves around them searching for clues to bring the real murderer to justice. Jakob has a rather gentle soul for an executioner, and he's a rather easy character to connect with. He lets his emotions, and gut instincts, lead him through this mystery, satisfied only by the truth he finds. 

Simon, a young man who wants to by a physician himself, turns to Jakob for guidance and instruction. He sees the hangman as a role model who can teach him the ways of a great doctor. He is also in love with Magdelena, the hangman's daughter. Readers will be able to connect with Simon as they will also see Jakob as a role model. 

The love story that goes on between Simon and Magdelena will create another bond between readers and the characters. As everyone in the novel is against them being together, readers will join the fight to see them happily paired. 

The plot that Pötzsch creates is well crafted with twists and turns, leading readers to a number of possible conclusions. It is well organized with so many different factors that readers won't know who to believe, or who to trust. As the town council searches for a scapegoat, the real murderer continues to hunt down the children, and the devil walks among the townspeople. Readers will be drawn in to the story, though it does take a few chapters before the novel starts to evolve. 

Definitely a recommended read for those who love historical fiction and murder mysteries. 

Rating: 3/5 cups

The Hangman's Daughter

on Amazon

WWW Wednesday (16)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

01. Currently Reading:
The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch. A mystery set in the 1600's in which the devil is murdering orphan children while the town tries to place the blame on a midwife, claiming that she's a witch. An interesting novel so far. It hasn't completely captivated my attention, but I am enjoying the mystery. 

02. Recently Finished:
Dangerous Waters by Anne Allen. I really enjoyed reading this novel as it included so many different genres. And the story line was an impressive weaving of detail. 

03. Reading Next:
Golden Lies by Barbara Freethy. "A novel about three remarkable families -- the fifty-year-old promise that once bound them together, the fiery betrayal that tore them apart, and the ancient bronze dragon that could destroy their future ..." - Amazon. Sounds very intriguing. 


What have you been reading? Leave a link to your own WWW post. :) 

Teaser Tuesday (24)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Hangman's Daughter (p.4)
     -Oliver Pötzsch

"But his father had a hard, serious trade that demanded a lot of experience. It was from him that Jakob learned the difficult craft of killing."


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