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Die Henkerstochter #6
The Play of Death
The mysterious sixth entry in the Hangman’s Daughter series.
It is 1670 and Simon Fronwieser is in the town of Oberammergau to bring his seven-year-old son to boarding school. As he bids his boy a tearful farewell, news comes of a shocking murder: the man who was to play the part of Christ in the town’s Passion play has been found dead, nailed to the set’s cross. As there is no doctor in town, Simon is brought in to examine the body. The opportunities to spend more time with his son and to investigate the murder quickly convince him to stay.
Soon he is joined by his father-in-law, Jakob Kuisl, the Schongau hangman, and the two begin piecing together the puzzle of the actor’s death. Was he murdered by a jealous rival? Are the recently arrived and unpopular immigrant workers somehow involved? Or is it a punishment from God for the villagers’ arrogance in trying to schedule the play four years earlier than prescribed by ancient custom? Once again it looks like it is up to the Kuisls to unravel the mystery and bring a town’s dark secrets to light.
512 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 15, 2016
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About the author
Oliver Pötzsch
39 books2,190 followersOliver Pötzsch is a German writer and filmmaker. After high school he attended the German School of Journalism in Munich from 1992 to 1997. He then worked for Radio Bavaria. In addition to his professional activities in radio and television, Pötzsch researched his family history. He is a descendant of the Kuisle, from the 16th to the 19th Century a famous dynasty of executioners in Schongau.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 335 reviews
May 13, 2019
This is the sixth and penultimate book in the Hangman’s Daughter series, and I’m slowly running out of things to say.
Perhaps this was not quite as good as the last one, although it surely has got a lot to offer. Set in Schonau, home to the Kuisl family, but mostly in the village of Oberammergau and the surrounding mountain region, best known nowadays for its Passion Play: In 1633 the dwellers of the village vowed they would produce a play every 10 years depicting the life and death of Jesus Christ, if God spared them from the plague. The story is set in 1670, so the play is still rather new, and it starts, fittingly, with the crucifixion of Jesus:
Jesus hung on the cross and died, but this time he will not be resurrected.It’s not a staged murder either. This time the real actor of Jesus got really murdered and it won’t be the last crime either. It’s up to the Kuisls to solve the mystery, which will turn out to be far greater than expected.
What I liked most was how the author had interwoven the most diverse motifs and themes into a engaging story. As so often, it’s about greed for money and lust for power, about superstition, mysterious symbols
and dwarf-like creatures; it’s about exploitation of the poor by the rich, and, last but not least, about xenophobia. Parallels with today’s situation with refugees in Europe and elsewhere cannot be overlooked, and the demagogues who mess with peoples’ minds are not missing either. On the private/family level my favourite character, the executioner Jakob Kuisl, falls into a crisis of meaning, which, I think, is described quite well. Apart from the rather gloomy and threatening general mood there are also some hilarious scenes, especially during the rehearsals for the Passion play. All in all this is still an entertainment and history novel, so don’t expect too much. But it’s one of the better kinds and I can recommend it, but only after at least two other novels in the series.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
May 27, 2017
Although a little overly long, I enjoyed this well-written historical mystery. Jacob's drinking lands him in trouble and gives the council a reason to possibly oust him as hangman, Barbara is bringing shame on her dishonorable family, and Magdalena has a secret. I liked that the characters continue to develop and that we learn a lot about the social and political climate of the times. One of my favorite series.
January 27, 2016
Es geht weiter mit den Geschichten um den Henker Jakob Kuisl!
"Hab schon von ihm gehört. Ein wilder Hund soll das sein,
jähzornig und gradaus, dabei schlau wie ein Fuchs." S. 204
Ich wollte ja eigentlich von so weit fortgesetzten Reihen keine Rezensionen mehr schreiben, da sie kaum gelesen werden, aber bei diesem tollen Buch muss ich euch einfach meine Meinung weitergeben, weil diese Reihe sich auf jeden lohnt! Natürlich spoilerfrei ;)
1670 a.d., Schongau - Oberammergau (Bayern)
Auch im sechsten Band geht es spannend weiter mit der Henkerstochter!
Schon nach den ersten Seiten war ich sofort wieder drin. Die Familie der Kuisls ist mir schon sehr ans Herz gewachsen und Oliver Pötzsch schafft es jedes Mal wieder, mich mit den ersten Seiten zu packen! Die Atmosphäre dieser ursprünglichen Zeit ist perfekt getroffen und ich liebe den leicht bayerischen Dialekt, der dem ganzen seinen besonderen Reiz verleiht.
Magdalena ist die Tochter des Schongauer Henkers Jakob Kuisl und hat in den vergangenen Jahren schon einiges mit ihrem griesgrämigen, temperamentvollen und scharfsinnigen Vater mitmachen müssen. Immer wieder gerät die Familie durch den unehrenhaften Beruf in verzwickte Morde, die dem alten Sturschädel Kuisl keine Ruhe lassen. Seine Neugier lässt ihn seine Nase überall reinstecken, ohne Rücksicht darauf, der Obrigkeit damit eventuell in die Quere zu kommen.
Dieses Mal gibt es zwei Handlungsstränge, denn nicht nur der Bader Simon Fronwieser, der mit der Familie Kuisl verbunden ist, sieht sich einer Mordserie im fernen Oberammergau gegenüber; auch Barbara, die andere Tochter des Henkers, manövriert sich durch ihre Unbedachtheit in ein sehr gefährliches Ränkespiel, das die ganze Familie in Bedrängnis bringen könnte. Viele kleine Puzzlestückchen, die scheinbar wenig miteinander zu tun haben und sich am Ende zu einem runden Abschluss verbinden.
Durch den Wechsel zwischen den beiden Ereignissen wird die Spannung immer weiter voran getrieben und steigert sich konstant, weswegen ich das Buch kaum aus der Hand legen konnte. Ich war auch trotz Anzahl der Seiten viel zu schnell damit durch, aber es lässt einen einfach nicht mehr los.
Wie erwartet hat Oliver Pötzsch auch hier wieder die Hintergründe perfekt recherchiert und im Nachwort findet man auch die ganzen kleinen Details, die er sich für diese Geschichte mühevoll zusammen gesammelt hat. Sowas liebe ich in historischen Geschichten, wenn man dabei auch authentische Fragmente aus der Vergangenheit erfährt, die dabei noch so gekonnt in eine interessante und sehr unterhaltsame Geschichte verpackt werden.
Aberglaube und Fremdenhass sind dieses Mal ein großes Thema, das der Autor in seinem Nachwort in wenigen Worten perfekt zusammenfasst: „Geschichte wiederholt sich. Und wie es aussieht, lernen wir nur sehr selten etwas aus der Vergangenheit.“ S. 630
Fazit
Ich hoffe sehr, dass diese Reihe noch lange weitergeht, denn ich bin jedes Mal wieder aufs Neue total begeistert von der Ideenvielfalt und der Authentizität, die uns Oliver Pötzsch mit so viel Charme und Kompetenz in seinen Büchern näher bringt.
© Aleshanee
Weltenwanderer
"Hab schon von ihm gehört. Ein wilder Hund soll das sein,
jähzornig und gradaus, dabei schlau wie ein Fuchs." S. 204
Ich wollte ja eigentlich von so weit fortgesetzten Reihen keine Rezensionen mehr schreiben, da sie kaum gelesen werden, aber bei diesem tollen Buch muss ich euch einfach meine Meinung weitergeben, weil diese Reihe sich auf jeden lohnt! Natürlich spoilerfrei ;)
1670 a.d., Schongau - Oberammergau (Bayern)
Auch im sechsten Band geht es spannend weiter mit der Henkerstochter!
Schon nach den ersten Seiten war ich sofort wieder drin. Die Familie der Kuisls ist mir schon sehr ans Herz gewachsen und Oliver Pötzsch schafft es jedes Mal wieder, mich mit den ersten Seiten zu packen! Die Atmosphäre dieser ursprünglichen Zeit ist perfekt getroffen und ich liebe den leicht bayerischen Dialekt, der dem ganzen seinen besonderen Reiz verleiht.
Magdalena ist die Tochter des Schongauer Henkers Jakob Kuisl und hat in den vergangenen Jahren schon einiges mit ihrem griesgrämigen, temperamentvollen und scharfsinnigen Vater mitmachen müssen. Immer wieder gerät die Familie durch den unehrenhaften Beruf in verzwickte Morde, die dem alten Sturschädel Kuisl keine Ruhe lassen. Seine Neugier lässt ihn seine Nase überall reinstecken, ohne Rücksicht darauf, der Obrigkeit damit eventuell in die Quere zu kommen.
Dieses Mal gibt es zwei Handlungsstränge, denn nicht nur der Bader Simon Fronwieser, der mit der Familie Kuisl verbunden ist, sieht sich einer Mordserie im fernen Oberammergau gegenüber; auch Barbara, die andere Tochter des Henkers, manövriert sich durch ihre Unbedachtheit in ein sehr gefährliches Ränkespiel, das die ganze Familie in Bedrängnis bringen könnte. Viele kleine Puzzlestückchen, die scheinbar wenig miteinander zu tun haben und sich am Ende zu einem runden Abschluss verbinden.
Durch den Wechsel zwischen den beiden Ereignissen wird die Spannung immer weiter voran getrieben und steigert sich konstant, weswegen ich das Buch kaum aus der Hand legen konnte. Ich war auch trotz Anzahl der Seiten viel zu schnell damit durch, aber es lässt einen einfach nicht mehr los.
Wie erwartet hat Oliver Pötzsch auch hier wieder die Hintergründe perfekt recherchiert und im Nachwort findet man auch die ganzen kleinen Details, die er sich für diese Geschichte mühevoll zusammen gesammelt hat. Sowas liebe ich in historischen Geschichten, wenn man dabei auch authentische Fragmente aus der Vergangenheit erfährt, die dabei noch so gekonnt in eine interessante und sehr unterhaltsame Geschichte verpackt werden.
Aberglaube und Fremdenhass sind dieses Mal ein großes Thema, das der Autor in seinem Nachwort in wenigen Worten perfekt zusammenfasst: „Geschichte wiederholt sich. Und wie es aussieht, lernen wir nur sehr selten etwas aus der Vergangenheit.“ S. 630
Fazit
Ich hoffe sehr, dass diese Reihe noch lange weitergeht, denn ich bin jedes Mal wieder aufs Neue total begeistert von der Ideenvielfalt und der Authentizität, die uns Oliver Pötzsch mit so viel Charme und Kompetenz in seinen Büchern näher bringt.
© Aleshanee
Weltenwanderer
February 3, 2021
I’m not entirely sure how to respond to this book. On the one hand I did find the setting and mystery compelling, and the ending was unpredictable and made a certain degree of sense. I also liked seeing somebody actually take advantage of Kuisl’s obviously uncommon sleuthing skills. Like, if you’re an ambitious man with a brain and your local hangman keeps defying you in order to use his unique skills to solve unsolvable crimes isn’t it more profitable to find ways to take advantage of this gift than to keep putting him in opposition to you? On the other hand, I’m not wholly sure the conclusion makes sense and the big reveal gave me whiplash. It’s such a surprise it really makes you stop for a second and rethink everything you thought was going on. And that’s either brilliant or insane. Actually, I think it’s somewhere in the middle. Some elements it explains much better than you would have thought. Others it seems to fit less well. And the extra cherry on top is a bit less plausible (and oddly obvious).
Like the last two books, this one aims to explore more local German myths – in this case dwarves mining for gold in the Bavarian Alps. In truth, this is more of a side story and the main action lies in the insular and distrusting nature of the villagers and the obvious mystery, but it certainly adds seasoning to everything. There is definitely a pattern in these books – they alternate between being set in Schongau or scenic locations nearby and being set in the big cities of Bavaria (but oddly not Munich yet, even though the author is from there). This time we’re about a day away in Oberammergau, a nice village in the Bavarian Alps famous for its once-a-decade passion play (with over 500,000 visitors last time) and distinctive mountain peak the Kofel. Guess where we’re spending most of our time?
The mystery is good as is the social commentary (Germany is hardly alone in this, but the paranoid fear of foreigners is alive and well in the 21st century). For me though, what made the story work were the two main conflicts.
First, Kuisl is suffering a lot from the loss of his wife and the gradual moving on of his family and has turned to drink. Just like his father. This is a development that feels very much in character while still feeling like a major shift. Kuisl is getting on in years (the real man would live for another 25 years, but at 58 he’s definitely past his prime) and a long life of killing people brutally for money is catching up to him.
Second, Simon is saying goodbye to his son Peter who he’s sending off to school in Oberammergau. The two are close, but Simon really is self-absorbed with his own affairs and doesn’t have enough time for his family. That unsurprisingly hurts those he loves.
This book’s really somewhere between a 3 and a 4 for me. It’s not as good as the last one but it’s much better than the second one (still the worst in the series imo). But since I did enjoy it I’m erring on the positive side. I’m very happy to note that there’s no noticeable decline in quality as these books go on. They’ve declined in plausibility since the first one, sure, but that seems an inevitable result of turning a standalone into a series. The characters are still compelling, the setting interesting, and the mysteries might actually be getting better. Recommended.
Here’s an odd fact: the real Jacob Kuisl was succeeded by his son Johannes who should be 23 by now. Unless that’s a cousin… where is he? Of all the family members to skip, how odd that it’s the one who succeeded him. No wonder the man became a drunk.
Like the last two books, this one aims to explore more local German myths – in this case dwarves mining for gold in the Bavarian Alps. In truth, this is more of a side story and the main action lies in the insular and distrusting nature of the villagers and the obvious mystery, but it certainly adds seasoning to everything. There is definitely a pattern in these books – they alternate between being set in Schongau or scenic locations nearby and being set in the big cities of Bavaria (but oddly not Munich yet, even though the author is from there). This time we’re about a day away in Oberammergau, a nice village in the Bavarian Alps famous for its once-a-decade passion play (with over 500,000 visitors last time) and distinctive mountain peak the Kofel. Guess where we’re spending most of our time?
The mystery is good as is the social commentary (Germany is hardly alone in this, but the paranoid fear of foreigners is alive and well in the 21st century). For me though, what made the story work were the two main conflicts.
First, Kuisl is suffering a lot from the loss of his wife and the gradual moving on of his family and has turned to drink. Just like his father. This is a development that feels very much in character while still feeling like a major shift. Kuisl is getting on in years (the real man would live for another 25 years, but at 58 he’s definitely past his prime) and a long life of killing people brutally for money is catching up to him.
Second, Simon is saying goodbye to his son Peter who he’s sending off to school in Oberammergau. The two are close, but Simon really is self-absorbed with his own affairs and doesn’t have enough time for his family. That unsurprisingly hurts those he loves.
This book’s really somewhere between a 3 and a 4 for me. It’s not as good as the last one but it’s much better than the second one (still the worst in the series imo). But since I did enjoy it I’m erring on the positive side. I’m very happy to note that there’s no noticeable decline in quality as these books go on. They’ve declined in plausibility since the first one, sure, but that seems an inevitable result of turning a standalone into a series. The characters are still compelling, the setting interesting, and the mysteries might actually be getting better. Recommended.
Here’s an odd fact: the real Jacob Kuisl was succeeded by his son Johannes who should be 23 by now. Unless that’s a cousin… where is he? Of all the family members to skip, how odd that it’s the one who succeeded him. No wonder the man became a drunk.
April 21, 2024
Volim ovaj serijal još od Krvnikove kćeri.. Ova mi je jedna od boljih!
May 24, 2017
Potzsch always writes a great book, but his insistence on drawing parallels between Oberammergauers hating outsiders and the Islam problem in Europe today is unforgivable.
In his notes, he mentions the "right wing hate groups" he modeled that part of the story after. Sorry Potzsch, but one doesn't have to be right wing, or hate people to realize that Europe is chock full of more rapes, violence, and terrorist attacks thanks to unfettered islamic immigration. Islam is to be feared. And its not racism. Its not xenophobia. It's using the brain God gave us all.
Islam wants us dead. Even Islam apologists like Oliver Potzsch.
In his notes, he mentions the "right wing hate groups" he modeled that part of the story after. Sorry Potzsch, but one doesn't have to be right wing, or hate people to realize that Europe is chock full of more rapes, violence, and terrorist attacks thanks to unfettered islamic immigration. Islam is to be feared. And its not racism. Its not xenophobia. It's using the brain God gave us all.
Islam wants us dead. Even Islam apologists like Oliver Potzsch.
Read
August 12, 2017why have I read these books up til now? beats me as I actually bought a number of them and usually did not enjoy the reading experience. Note to Self: Stop
May 29, 2017
Poor
I was disappointed in this book, politics had no place in it, I wonder how you feel now with all the Terrorist attacks going on. Right wing extremism? I am done with your books, not what I want to read.
I was disappointed in this book, politics had no place in it, I wonder how you feel now with all the Terrorist attacks going on. Right wing extremism? I am done with your books, not what I want to read.
March 25, 2018
It’s not my favorite, but I enjoyed it well enough. I think it’s probably time for this series to wrap up.
November 11, 2021
It is 1670. Jakob Kuisl is the hangman in Schongau, Bavaria. His daughter, Magdalena, married an almost-doctor (he didn’t quite finish his study/training), Simon, a while back. Even still, hangmen and their families are the lowest of the low in society. Simon is taking his oldest son, Peter to the next town over, Oberammergau, so he will have a better chance at a good education (which is harder for him to get in Schongau, with the prejudices toward him as the hangman’s grandson). Peter will stay with a former teacher of Simon’s, who will teach Peter at the schoolhouse there.
The morning Simon takes Peter to Oberammergau, however, one of the town’s residents is found crucified on a cross. Oberammergau has been planning and rehearsing for a Passion play, and the young man playing Jesus is the one found on the cross. One of the town’s council members (a rich man – whose son is the one who died) asks Simon to stay a while to help figure out what happened and to help out as a doctor, as Oberammergau is currently without one. In the meantime, back home in Schongau, Magdalena’s younger sister, Barbara, is finding herself in trouble.
I like historical fiction and I like mysteries, but historical mysteries don’t always pull me in. However, I really like this series. I feel like it’s gotten better as it goes along. This is actually a translation and the author discovered he actually has a hangman in his family’s history, so the series is based on that. There actually ends up being a lot more going on in this than my summary suggests. I’m happy to see that the series continues.
The morning Simon takes Peter to Oberammergau, however, one of the town’s residents is found crucified on a cross. Oberammergau has been planning and rehearsing for a Passion play, and the young man playing Jesus is the one found on the cross. One of the town’s council members (a rich man – whose son is the one who died) asks Simon to stay a while to help figure out what happened and to help out as a doctor, as Oberammergau is currently without one. In the meantime, back home in Schongau, Magdalena’s younger sister, Barbara, is finding herself in trouble.
I like historical fiction and I like mysteries, but historical mysteries don’t always pull me in. However, I really like this series. I feel like it’s gotten better as it goes along. This is actually a translation and the author discovered he actually has a hangman in his family’s history, so the series is based on that. There actually ends up being a lot more going on in this than my summary suggests. I’m happy to see that the series continues.
June 3, 2017
(Thank you Netgalley for an early reader copy in exchange for an unbiased review)
I loved "The Play of Death", Oliver Potzsch's latest in book in The Hangman's Daughter series. With the usual cast of characters (Magdalena, the hangman's daughter; Jakob Kuisl, the hangman of Schongau; Simon, Magdalena's wife; and assorted neighbors, politicians and so on), the story moves from Schongau to nearby Oberammergau, home of the famous Passion Play. Simon is taking his son Peter to Oberammergau to attend school there, where he can hopefully be free of the taint of being the hangman's grandson, and can get the education that will give him more opportunities in life. But the two arrive in town to find that a grisly murder has just occurred; the man who is to play Jesus in the Passion Play have been crucified and left to die. Simon leaves Peter with his good friend Georg Kaisel who is the local schoolmaster, and is asked by a senior member of the council to remain a few extra weeks as medicus to serve the local population. But all is not as it should be in not so peaceful Oberammergau. The established population has it out for the immigrant population, and to add to the tension, additional actors in the Passion Play are murdered, one by one. And what are those lights around the top of the spooky mountain? Who are the small figures seen flitting around at night in the dark?
Meanwhile, back in Schongau things aren't going any better. Corrupt council members plan a coup to take over the town council and control all the trade that goes through the town. The Kuisel family is having issues of it's own: younger daughter Barbara can't seem to stay out of trouble, Magdalena is having problems with her son Paul, and then of course there are all the challenges that come along with being a "dishonorable" family, as those like the hangman are called.
Just to keep us even more engaged, The Play of Death has several different crises happening in different places...or are there links between them? The Play of Death is 500+ pages which I read in 2 1/2 days, finally throwing in all pretence and reading it to conclusion at 1am because I couldn't wait to know how the mysteries resolved.
You don't need to have read the other books in The Hangman's Daughter series to enjoy this one but it does help to be familiar with the characters, as they develop over time in the previous books. I also enjoyed the historical note at the end of the book, comparing the actions of the Oberammergau-er's towards the newcomers in their community, and the attitudes today in some parts of the world to immigrants. It brought to mind the expression "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it!" The Play of Death is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it!
I loved "The Play of Death", Oliver Potzsch's latest in book in The Hangman's Daughter series. With the usual cast of characters (Magdalena, the hangman's daughter; Jakob Kuisl, the hangman of Schongau; Simon, Magdalena's wife; and assorted neighbors, politicians and so on), the story moves from Schongau to nearby Oberammergau, home of the famous Passion Play. Simon is taking his son Peter to Oberammergau to attend school there, where he can hopefully be free of the taint of being the hangman's grandson, and can get the education that will give him more opportunities in life. But the two arrive in town to find that a grisly murder has just occurred; the man who is to play Jesus in the Passion Play have been crucified and left to die. Simon leaves Peter with his good friend Georg Kaisel who is the local schoolmaster, and is asked by a senior member of the council to remain a few extra weeks as medicus to serve the local population. But all is not as it should be in not so peaceful Oberammergau. The established population has it out for the immigrant population, and to add to the tension, additional actors in the Passion Play are murdered, one by one. And what are those lights around the top of the spooky mountain? Who are the small figures seen flitting around at night in the dark?
Meanwhile, back in Schongau things aren't going any better. Corrupt council members plan a coup to take over the town council and control all the trade that goes through the town. The Kuisel family is having issues of it's own: younger daughter Barbara can't seem to stay out of trouble, Magdalena is having problems with her son Paul, and then of course there are all the challenges that come along with being a "dishonorable" family, as those like the hangman are called.
Just to keep us even more engaged, The Play of Death has several different crises happening in different places...or are there links between them? The Play of Death is 500+ pages which I read in 2 1/2 days, finally throwing in all pretence and reading it to conclusion at 1am because I couldn't wait to know how the mysteries resolved.
You don't need to have read the other books in The Hangman's Daughter series to enjoy this one but it does help to be familiar with the characters, as they develop over time in the previous books. I also enjoyed the historical note at the end of the book, comparing the actions of the Oberammergau-er's towards the newcomers in their community, and the attitudes today in some parts of the world to immigrants. It brought to mind the expression "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it!" The Play of Death is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it!
April 1, 2018
I have read all six of these novels and I’ve grown to care for the Kuisl family, from Jacob the hangman to Magdalena and Simon, his daughter and son-in-law to the twins, Peter and Paul, Jacob’s grandsons. Their adventures are very in-depth with all myriad twists and turns. Plus you get a rich history of Bavaria and all their customs and superstitions along the way. Thoroughly enjoyable. Thank you Oliver Potzsch!
December 30, 2018
Crime in the mid 1600's Germany doesn't pay. It usually ends up with a date with the hangman. Yet, there's never a shortage of fodder for the hangman's craft. This installment kept all members of the family in danger. I anxiously turned the pages (figuratively since this was an ebook) hoping that justice would prevail.
June 12, 2024
"Iza svakog djela, koliko god bilo đavolsko, kriju se ljudi."
Obično kako nastavci serijala odmiču, tako se čovjek zasiti... Ovo je potpuna suprotnost i ja jedva živa dočekam prevod sljedećeg nastavka 😅
Obično kako nastavci serijala odmiču, tako se čovjek zasiti... Ovo je potpuna suprotnost i ja jedva živa dočekam prevod sljedećeg nastavka 😅
December 2, 2019
This is the most unusual book series: the main characters are a hangman, Jakob Kuisl, and his family, all considered unclean in the suspicious 1600s but a vital part of their community because they are also healers. And because of that, they are sometimes called upon to solve mysteries that can't be explained by witchcraft and the devil.
In this outing, Kuisl's son-in-law, Simon Fronwieser travels to the community of Oberammergau to leaves son at boarding school ... and comes across a murder. Soon the whole family is drawn into the passions, secrets and recriminations brought about by the passions of those living in the community. And soon Kuisl is brought into it as well. The stakes grow for the two men and their family at home, creating a tense drama that will keep you glued to your seat.
Potzsch is a talented writer who brings his country's history, as well as his own, to colorful, three-dimension. This is great drama and first-rate reading.
In this outing, Kuisl's son-in-law, Simon Fronwieser travels to the community of Oberammergau to leaves son at boarding school ... and comes across a murder. Soon the whole family is drawn into the passions, secrets and recriminations brought about by the passions of those living in the community. And soon Kuisl is brought into it as well. The stakes grow for the two men and their family at home, creating a tense drama that will keep you glued to your seat.
Potzsch is a talented writer who brings his country's history, as well as his own, to colorful, three-dimension. This is great drama and first-rate reading.
January 11, 2022
3.5 Stars. My favorite in the series so far. The story takes place in the German village of Oberammergau, where the Passion Play started in 1634 and is still presented in that city once every 10 years. The Plague visited Oberammergau in 1633 and the people came up with the idea of the Passion Play in an attempt to be spared in the future. In our story, the entire Hangman's family gets embroiled in the drama of the Play, salt thieves and children being used as "slave" miners.
January 10, 2018
Another splendid book in the Hangman's Daughter series. The writing is consistently good throughout the books. I enjoy seeing how the characters develop over the span of years, from the first book through the sixth. I'm looking forward to the 7th book that will be out in May.
June 20, 2020
Spannend bis zum Schluss könnte man theoretisch das Buch kaum aus der Hand legen. Dumm nur, dass ich dann nachts grüble, wie es weitergeht. Mir hat Band 6 am besten bisher gefallen. Die volle Punktzahl !!!
https://sunsys-blog.blogspot.com/2020...
https://sunsys-blog.blogspot.com/2020...
May 25, 2017
Awesome, as usual! i love this series so much!
September 3, 2017
A timely story of xenophobia and mob rule
Another excellent volume in this series. This story highlights the current battle over refugees and immigrants and tries to impart the lessons of history to help us see we are all the same. Oh - and there is of course a great mystery or two.
Another excellent volume in this series. This story highlights the current battle over refugees and immigrants and tries to impart the lessons of history to help us see we are all the same. Oh - and there is of course a great mystery or two.
October 17, 2020
The good historical novel can teach as well as entertain the reader. Certainly, German author Oliver Potzsch does both in "The Play of Death", his sixth book in his "The Hangman's Daughter" series.The play referred to is the every-ten-year production of the Passion Play in the small city of Oberammergau, in the Bavarian region south of Munich. The novel is set in 1670, not long after the first Passion Play in Oberammergau. (Evidently, there are Passion Plays in many cities, but the one in Oberammergau is the most famous and well-attended.)
"The Play of Death" is the sixth book in the series. I haven't read any of the preceding books, but caught up with the main characters pretty well. Potzsch helpfully gives a "Dramatis Personae" in the beginning of the book, as well as a couple of maps, one of the city of Oberammagau and the other of the greater area. The book is very, very complicated, which can either be a detriment to the casual reader or a boon to the reader who wants to "know" things. Potzsch's main characters - hangman Jakob Kuisl and his two daughters, son-in-law, and two grandsons - are involved in all sorts of mayhem and danger, from both their position in society and their intelligence and cunning. The action takes place both in their own village of Schongau and in the larger village of Oberammagau. (There's also a village called "Unterammergau" in case you're interested.)
Jakob and his son-in-law become involved in the series of murders taking place around the out-of-sequence production of the every-ten-year production of the Passion Play. Most of the villagers want to put on the extra play, but are frightened by the odd murders which occur. With trouble also in Schongau, the reader goes back and forth between the two villages and all the various villains. Potzsch also puts some current day societal concerns into the book. It's a fun learning experience and I'm very glad I read it. I'll probably go back and read some of Potzsch's backlist. By the way, the translation from German to English by Lee Chadeayne is superb.
"The Play of Death" is the sixth book in the series. I haven't read any of the preceding books, but caught up with the main characters pretty well. Potzsch helpfully gives a "Dramatis Personae" in the beginning of the book, as well as a couple of maps, one of the city of Oberammagau and the other of the greater area. The book is very, very complicated, which can either be a detriment to the casual reader or a boon to the reader who wants to "know" things. Potzsch's main characters - hangman Jakob Kuisl and his two daughters, son-in-law, and two grandsons - are involved in all sorts of mayhem and danger, from both their position in society and their intelligence and cunning. The action takes place both in their own village of Schongau and in the larger village of Oberammagau. (There's also a village called "Unterammergau" in case you're interested.)
Jakob and his son-in-law become involved in the series of murders taking place around the out-of-sequence production of the every-ten-year production of the Passion Play. Most of the villagers want to put on the extra play, but are frightened by the odd murders which occur. With trouble also in Schongau, the reader goes back and forth between the two villages and all the various villains. Potzsch also puts some current day societal concerns into the book. It's a fun learning experience and I'm very glad I read it. I'll probably go back and read some of Potzsch's backlist. By the way, the translation from German to English by Lee Chadeayne is superb.
March 12, 2018
The Whole Family
The first thing I always like about The Hangman's Daughter series is the verisimilitude. I couldn't tell you a thing about 1600's era Germany, but Oliver Potzsch sure makes me think HE could.
In book 6 of the series, the entire Kuisl/Fronheiser family gets in on the act. Simon Fronheiser, the Schongau medicus and bathhouse keeper, has decided to bring his son Peter, the most scholarly of his children, to Oberammergau, site of the famed Passion Play, so that Peter might gain an education from Georg Strang, Simon's former schoolmaster. The trouble is: the actor cast in the role of Christ in the Passion Play is found crucified in the town cemetery. Being a medicus, the local chair of the town council engages Simon to serve as coroner and temporary bathhouse keeper while the crime is investigated.
Meanwhile, back in Schongau, the Hangman's OTHER daughter, 17 year old Barbara, has gotten herself into trouble by refusing the sexual advances of the town doctor, a respected citizen who considers himself a dandy, and cannot believe a girl so far beneath him could refuse him. Barbara's father, the eponymous hangman, Jacob Kuisl, complicates matters by conking the good doctor a sound shot on the head with a beer stein. Jacob is in real trouble now, but a local official offers temporary refuge by commanding that Kuisl accompany him to Oberammergau, ostensibly to help investigate the crucifixion. Sound complicated? This is NOTHING compared to the numerous mysteries, assaults, crimes and sins that the entire family encounters once Jacob departs.
If there is anything to dislike about this series, it's the unevenness of the translation. Many times, anachronistic language finds its way into the storytelling, and it's just flat out jarring when that happens. But the story is worth the deciphering. This may be the wildest, most multifaceted adventure yet. It is absolutely worth hanging (see what I did there?) In there until the end.
The first thing I always like about The Hangman's Daughter series is the verisimilitude. I couldn't tell you a thing about 1600's era Germany, but Oliver Potzsch sure makes me think HE could.
In book 6 of the series, the entire Kuisl/Fronheiser family gets in on the act. Simon Fronheiser, the Schongau medicus and bathhouse keeper, has decided to bring his son Peter, the most scholarly of his children, to Oberammergau, site of the famed Passion Play, so that Peter might gain an education from Georg Strang, Simon's former schoolmaster. The trouble is: the actor cast in the role of Christ in the Passion Play is found crucified in the town cemetery. Being a medicus, the local chair of the town council engages Simon to serve as coroner and temporary bathhouse keeper while the crime is investigated.
Meanwhile, back in Schongau, the Hangman's OTHER daughter, 17 year old Barbara, has gotten herself into trouble by refusing the sexual advances of the town doctor, a respected citizen who considers himself a dandy, and cannot believe a girl so far beneath him could refuse him. Barbara's father, the eponymous hangman, Jacob Kuisl, complicates matters by conking the good doctor a sound shot on the head with a beer stein. Jacob is in real trouble now, but a local official offers temporary refuge by commanding that Kuisl accompany him to Oberammergau, ostensibly to help investigate the crucifixion. Sound complicated? This is NOTHING compared to the numerous mysteries, assaults, crimes and sins that the entire family encounters once Jacob departs.
If there is anything to dislike about this series, it's the unevenness of the translation. Many times, anachronistic language finds its way into the storytelling, and it's just flat out jarring when that happens. But the story is worth the deciphering. This may be the wildest, most multifaceted adventure yet. It is absolutely worth hanging (see what I did there?) In there until the end.
December 28, 2018
I originally found this series through subscription to Kindle Unlimited, and through it read the earlier books completely free. However, I lost access to them after cancelling the subscription. Recently I found this installment as part of a kindle deal. So I bought it, read it, and enjoyed it.
In contrast to some stories, I like the historical context to these (typically explained by the author at the end of the book) as it does not overpower the narrative itself. Indeed I read this particular installment at the perfect time as I subsequently read newspaper reports of preparations for the real passion play on which the book is based. The books have also always felt more real for knowing the author’s ancestral history.
In tone, they are reminiscent of Agatha Christie, with twists and turns that I always think I’ve worked out but never quite do. The writing needless to say is not quite Agatha Christie, but then, so rarely is it that I can’t hold that against the author. But this really does not stop the stories being thoroughly enjoyable. About the right length to keep interest going. Slightly more-ish from the end of one chapter to the start of the next.
As I haven’t reviewed any of the earlier books in the series, I will say here that I find it slightly odd that the series is named for the Hangman’s Daughter when typically she seems to be the lesser of the three main characters. I suspect the ‘Hangman’s Son-in-Law’ didn’t have quite the same ring to it.
This particular storyline was ever so slightly far fetched but, well, it’s a good thing to push the boundaries of reality a little bit every now and then.
Looking forward to the next installment that I purchased at the same time.
In contrast to some stories, I like the historical context to these (typically explained by the author at the end of the book) as it does not overpower the narrative itself. Indeed I read this particular installment at the perfect time as I subsequently read newspaper reports of preparations for the real passion play on which the book is based. The books have also always felt more real for knowing the author’s ancestral history.
In tone, they are reminiscent of Agatha Christie, with twists and turns that I always think I’ve worked out but never quite do. The writing needless to say is not quite Agatha Christie, but then, so rarely is it that I can’t hold that against the author. But this really does not stop the stories being thoroughly enjoyable. About the right length to keep interest going. Slightly more-ish from the end of one chapter to the start of the next.
As I haven’t reviewed any of the earlier books in the series, I will say here that I find it slightly odd that the series is named for the Hangman’s Daughter when typically she seems to be the lesser of the three main characters. I suspect the ‘Hangman’s Son-in-Law’ didn’t have quite the same ring to it.
This particular storyline was ever so slightly far fetched but, well, it’s a good thing to push the boundaries of reality a little bit every now and then.
Looking forward to the next installment that I purchased at the same time.
May 9, 2017
Modern views of the German village of Oberammergau and its famous Passion Play may be shaken by the darker portrait of the place and the drama in this sixth entry in the Hangman's Daughter series.
Simon Fronwieser, Magdalena's husband, escorts their precocious seven-year-old son to Oberammergau where he is to receive schooling under Simon's old mentor and friend. They arrive in the village just in time for the barbarous murder of the star of the Passion Play, which has been moved up from its normal schedule to suit the financial ambitions of a merchant.
Simon is joined by Jakob Kuisl, his father-in-law, the Schongau hangman, and they begin investigating this murder and other mysterious goings on in the village. Meanwhile back home, Jakob's younger daughter Barbara is accused of witchcraft by a local doctor and town official who are plotting to take over Schongau's government in the absence of the local elector.
A pregnant Magdalena sets off on a perilous journey to save her sister and warn of the underhanded goings on in Schongau.
Potzsch weaves a complex plot involving greed, superstition, hidden treasure and smuggling which puts all members of the family in danger before the mysteries are finally unraveled.
Simon Fronwieser, Magdalena's husband, escorts their precocious seven-year-old son to Oberammergau where he is to receive schooling under Simon's old mentor and friend. They arrive in the village just in time for the barbarous murder of the star of the Passion Play, which has been moved up from its normal schedule to suit the financial ambitions of a merchant.
Simon is joined by Jakob Kuisl, his father-in-law, the Schongau hangman, and they begin investigating this murder and other mysterious goings on in the village. Meanwhile back home, Jakob's younger daughter Barbara is accused of witchcraft by a local doctor and town official who are plotting to take over Schongau's government in the absence of the local elector.
A pregnant Magdalena sets off on a perilous journey to save her sister and warn of the underhanded goings on in Schongau.
Potzsch weaves a complex plot involving greed, superstition, hidden treasure and smuggling which puts all members of the family in danger before the mysteries are finally unraveled.
January 7, 2018
Every time a new Hangman's Daughter book comes out, I am never disappointed. I always wonder what else in Bavaria could Jakob Kiesl get himself into! This particular story takes Simon and Jakob on a mystery adventure while Simon is taking his son to another village to be educated by an old schoolmaster and friend. The story takes all kinds of twists and turns, and shows us why Bavaria is a place of legend.
This series has been an absolute favorite of mine since I discovered it. It is a great blend of historical fiction and adventure that keeps you thinking right until the very end.
This series has been an absolute favorite of mine since I discovered it. It is a great blend of historical fiction and adventure that keeps you thinking right until the very end.
December 23, 2017
Exceptionally good novel in a wonderful series
Brings the era to life in a set of intertwining mysteries. A balance of harsh realities and occasional humor in a well told tale of the Kuisl family. Interesting characters and settings are at the heart of the novel. Highly recommended.
Brings the era to life in a set of intertwining mysteries. A balance of harsh realities and occasional humor in a well told tale of the Kuisl family. Interesting characters and settings are at the heart of the novel. Highly recommended.
May 12, 2017
This book doesn't disappoint the reader. The author is in my top three favorite. I hope the series continues with a book 7.
March 6, 2020
Popsugar Reading Challenge 2020: A book you meant to read in 2019.
Barbara deserved better.
Barbara deserved better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2017
Disclaimer: I received a Kindle download of this book through a Goodreads giveaway to facilitate this review. No other compensation was offered or requested.
The year is 1670, and the people of Oberammergau are preparing their every-ten-years Passion Play…though some of them think it might be sacrilegious to be doing so four years early. When the actor playing Jesus Christ is found actually crucified on the prop cross, the villagers suspect the Devil is afoot. The deaths of other actors in the manner of the Biblical figures they’re portraying certainly lends credence to that hypothesis. Or perhaps it’s God’s wrath, and there’s always the slim possibility of less supernatural murderers.
As it happens, medically trained bathhouse operator Simon Fronwieser is in town to enroll his son Peter in grammar school. The town medicus having recently died, Simon is drafted to examine the crucified body for clues and treat the town’s sick people. He’s soon joined by his father-in-law Jakob Kuisl, the hangman of Schongau, who has come with the district secretary to investigate the strange goings-on.
But are these murders tied in to the wooden Pharisees? The little men from Venice? Ancient pagan sacrifice? The wrathful quaking of the very mountain under which Oberammergau sits? As the mysteries mount, can the medicus and hangman survive?
This is the sixth in The Hangman’s Daughter mystery series to be translated into English; I have not read any of the previous volumes. Naturally, the hangman’s daughters also come into the story. Magdalena is pregnant with what she hopes will be her and Simon’s third child, and waits anxiously for her husband back in Schongau. But Barbara has just reached the age where she is flirting with young men, and she attracts the attentions of a lustful doctor.
When Barbara rejects her unwelcome suitor and Jakob backs her up, the doctor vows vengeance and soon he’s using his political connections to have Barbara accused of witchcraft. (It doesn’t help that the young woman has books containing spells under her bed.) There’s a conspiracy on the Schongau town council, and Magdalena must make the perilous voyage to Oberammergau to alert her menfolk to the danger.
There’s a lot going on in this book, and much of the solution is figuring out which of the mysterious happenings are directly connected to each other, which are outliers, and which are just coincidence. There’s some topical material: Jakob is struggling with his binge drinking, and the Oberammergau villagers both exploit and hate the immigrant laborers who have come to their valley.
Content issues: In addition to the expected violence (including a suicide), there’s also rape and child abuse in the story. Torture occurs off-stage; as the hangman, Jakob is a skilled torturer, but prefers to avoid this part of his job whenever possible (he’s okay with torturing people he personally knows to be guilty.) Other hangmen are not so scrupulous. Classism is a constant issue. (This leads me to a translation quibble: while “dishonorable” might be a direct translation of the German word for despised occupations, the connotations in English make it a bad fit.)
Good: The plot is nicely convoluted, providing plenty of cliffhanger moments, while wrapping up nicely with no important threads dangling.
Not so good: Some of the villains are cardboard cutouts, with no redeeming qualities to explain how they got into the positions they occupy.
Recommended for fans of historical mysteries, especially those who haven’t read a German mystery yet and might enjoy the setting.
The year is 1670, and the people of Oberammergau are preparing their every-ten-years Passion Play…though some of them think it might be sacrilegious to be doing so four years early. When the actor playing Jesus Christ is found actually crucified on the prop cross, the villagers suspect the Devil is afoot. The deaths of other actors in the manner of the Biblical figures they’re portraying certainly lends credence to that hypothesis. Or perhaps it’s God’s wrath, and there’s always the slim possibility of less supernatural murderers.
As it happens, medically trained bathhouse operator Simon Fronwieser is in town to enroll his son Peter in grammar school. The town medicus having recently died, Simon is drafted to examine the crucified body for clues and treat the town’s sick people. He’s soon joined by his father-in-law Jakob Kuisl, the hangman of Schongau, who has come with the district secretary to investigate the strange goings-on.
But are these murders tied in to the wooden Pharisees? The little men from Venice? Ancient pagan sacrifice? The wrathful quaking of the very mountain under which Oberammergau sits? As the mysteries mount, can the medicus and hangman survive?
This is the sixth in The Hangman’s Daughter mystery series to be translated into English; I have not read any of the previous volumes. Naturally, the hangman’s daughters also come into the story. Magdalena is pregnant with what she hopes will be her and Simon’s third child, and waits anxiously for her husband back in Schongau. But Barbara has just reached the age where she is flirting with young men, and she attracts the attentions of a lustful doctor.
When Barbara rejects her unwelcome suitor and Jakob backs her up, the doctor vows vengeance and soon he’s using his political connections to have Barbara accused of witchcraft. (It doesn’t help that the young woman has books containing spells under her bed.) There’s a conspiracy on the Schongau town council, and Magdalena must make the perilous voyage to Oberammergau to alert her menfolk to the danger.
There’s a lot going on in this book, and much of the solution is figuring out which of the mysterious happenings are directly connected to each other, which are outliers, and which are just coincidence. There’s some topical material: Jakob is struggling with his binge drinking, and the Oberammergau villagers both exploit and hate the immigrant laborers who have come to their valley.
Content issues: In addition to the expected violence (including a suicide), there’s also rape and child abuse in the story. Torture occurs off-stage; as the hangman, Jakob is a skilled torturer, but prefers to avoid this part of his job whenever possible (he’s okay with torturing people he personally knows to be guilty.) Other hangmen are not so scrupulous. Classism is a constant issue. (This leads me to a translation quibble: while “dishonorable” might be a direct translation of the German word for despised occupations, the connotations in English make it a bad fit.)
Good: The plot is nicely convoluted, providing plenty of cliffhanger moments, while wrapping up nicely with no important threads dangling.
Not so good: Some of the villains are cardboard cutouts, with no redeeming qualities to explain how they got into the positions they occupy.
Recommended for fans of historical mysteries, especially those who haven’t read a German mystery yet and might enjoy the setting.
July 12, 2025
It’s been a hot minute since I last picked up one of the Hangman’s Daughter books. I loved the first in the series and gave it a solid five stars. I was completely drawn in by the dark historical setting and the compelling characters. Unfortunately, books two through five didn’t quite live up to the same standard. While not bad, they lacked the spark of the original, and I found myself giving the last couple of entries only three stars. I wasn’t particularly excited to dive into the next installment, but I’m happy to say that The Play of Death was a pleasant surprise.
Jakob Kuisl is nearing the end of his career. He’s grieving the recent death of his wife and feeling the distance from his eldest son. Disillusioned and withdrawn, he’s spending more time with his drink than with the people around him. Back in Shongau, his daughter Magdalena and her fiery younger sister Barbara are keeping the family bathhouse running. Meanwhile, the ever-exasperated Simon has traveled to Oberammergau with their son Peter, to enroll the boy in school.
As fate would have it, a gruesome murder occurs just as Simon arrives in Oberammergau, quickly followed by others. Simon and Jakob find themselves once again caught up in unraveling a deadly mystery. Back in Shongau, Barbara overhears a local official conspiring with a mysterious stranger, and when she tries to report what she heard, she ends up imprisoned by the very people she hoped to stop. Magdalena immediately sets out to save her sister. Meanwhile, young Peter has made new friends among the poor children of the town, but it becomes clear they are hiding something dangerous.
The story moves at a brisk pace and successfully juggles several plot threads: the political intrigue in Shongau, Magdalena’s mission to help Barbara, the murder investigation in Oberammergau, and Peter’s uneasy new friendships. Potzsch moves between characters with skill, allowing each subplot to develop without slowing down the momentum. I stayed fully engaged throughout and was genuinely curious to see how all the pieces would connect, which they do, in a satisfying and well-wrapped conclusion.
That said, I remain frustrated with how little development there is in the relationship between Simon and Magdalena. She is still overly critical and domineering, while he continues to play the role of the meek, beleaguered husband. It’s a stale, one-dimensional dynamic that hasn’t really changed much over the series. What’s most frustrating is that both characters show occasional glimpses of real depth. They’re smart, capable, and devoted to their family, but those qualities are rarely given room to shine. I wish Potzsch would put more effort into exploring who they are beyond the tired stereotype.
Despite that flaw, The Play of Death is a strong entry in the series. I’m giving it four stars for its clever and intricate mystery, well-paced narrative, and vivid historical setting. It definitely reignited my interest in the Kuisl family’s ongoing story.
Jakob Kuisl is nearing the end of his career. He’s grieving the recent death of his wife and feeling the distance from his eldest son. Disillusioned and withdrawn, he’s spending more time with his drink than with the people around him. Back in Shongau, his daughter Magdalena and her fiery younger sister Barbara are keeping the family bathhouse running. Meanwhile, the ever-exasperated Simon has traveled to Oberammergau with their son Peter, to enroll the boy in school.
As fate would have it, a gruesome murder occurs just as Simon arrives in Oberammergau, quickly followed by others. Simon and Jakob find themselves once again caught up in unraveling a deadly mystery. Back in Shongau, Barbara overhears a local official conspiring with a mysterious stranger, and when she tries to report what she heard, she ends up imprisoned by the very people she hoped to stop. Magdalena immediately sets out to save her sister. Meanwhile, young Peter has made new friends among the poor children of the town, but it becomes clear they are hiding something dangerous.
The story moves at a brisk pace and successfully juggles several plot threads: the political intrigue in Shongau, Magdalena’s mission to help Barbara, the murder investigation in Oberammergau, and Peter’s uneasy new friendships. Potzsch moves between characters with skill, allowing each subplot to develop without slowing down the momentum. I stayed fully engaged throughout and was genuinely curious to see how all the pieces would connect, which they do, in a satisfying and well-wrapped conclusion.
That said, I remain frustrated with how little development there is in the relationship between Simon and Magdalena. She is still overly critical and domineering, while he continues to play the role of the meek, beleaguered husband. It’s a stale, one-dimensional dynamic that hasn’t really changed much over the series. What’s most frustrating is that both characters show occasional glimpses of real depth. They’re smart, capable, and devoted to their family, but those qualities are rarely given room to shine. I wish Potzsch would put more effort into exploring who they are beyond the tired stereotype.
Despite that flaw, The Play of Death is a strong entry in the series. I’m giving it four stars for its clever and intricate mystery, well-paced narrative, and vivid historical setting. It definitely reignited my interest in the Kuisl family’s ongoing story.
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