My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The authentic voice of an English-speaking Nuremberg resident adds charm to this delightful tale, which shows the human side of a dishonorable profession. This novel won't fill you with horror, but rather give an insight into how people can do the offensive things required of them, knowing the law must be adhered to.
What starts off as a simple tale from the days of old, soon gathers momentum inside the main characters' minds. One baffling thought leads to another, only to fall like a line of cards before a change of track. The hangman, a maid, an archer, and a barkeeper, contribute to the end result of an inquiry into murder. Drama, intrigue, and conflict gather into a cohesive form of behavior from the townsfolk. Underneath it all, people behave with dignity and kindness according to the confines of their society.
The compelling drama draws you along until you can't wait to see what happens next. Well written and charming with allusions to part of the German town's history in darker days. It is fascinating to see how the author has researched the town hangman's records and shown the reader how the residents could have thought at the time.
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