ARTFUL READERS CLUB
SEPTEMBER: THE DARK MONK
SEPTEMBER 27, 2015
This is the second book in a trilogy by Oliver Potzch. Amazingly, it's based on the author's historical research into his own family tree. What we have is a Bavarian town in 1660 surviving after the Thirty Years War... medieval times. It's winter and a time when most people are indoors at night. So, when a parish priest is poisoned, no one is witness to the deed or to the sign he manages to scratch into the frost before his final breath. He had fallen dead on top of a crypt, under which was a hidden tomb of a Knight Templar.
The town's hangman (and alternative doctor,) Jakob Kuisl, ascended from a long line of hangmen before him, is very well versed in untangling mysteries as is his daughter, Magdalena and town physician's son, Simon. Add to the mix, the murdered priest's aristocratic sister and we have the investigators!
The search is on for the parish priest's murderer as well as the alleged "fortune" left behind by the Knights Templar. But this group isn't the only gang after this information and legendary fortune. There's also a team of mysterious and treacherous monks always close behind...and highway gangs of thieves roaming the woods and countryside.
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did Potzsch's first book, THE HANGMAN'S DAUGHTER. The reason... the language used. There were an overwhelmingly large number of "modern" terms... almost modern slang" that fit into a book about TODAY, but NOT 1660! It really took away from the medieval feeling of the book and brought it down for me.
On to next month's book....enjoy your month ahead and please do stop by for regular blog postings.
Big Hugs,
abbyj
The dark and the light....
ReplyDeleteHerzlich Pippa
As I began reading your review it seemed it had potential, love your reason why it didn't work for you !
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