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Zusatztext "Pötzsch brilliantly juggles multiple story lines in his highly suspenseful sixth historical novel . . . The town’s creepy, oppressive atmosphere enhances the intricate plot." -- Publishers Weekly , starred review "The plot is layered and complex, every corner a surprise as danger hides in smoke-filled taverns, lurks along muddy trails and in the forested mountains . . . Another provocative mystery in an uncommon setting." -- Kirkus Reviews Informationen zum Autor Born in 1970, Oliver Pötzsch is the New York Times bestselling author of The Hangman’s Daughter series and the Leopold von Herzfeldt series and has worked for years as a scriptwriter for Bavarian television. A descendant of one of Bavaria’s leading dynasties of executioners, Pötzsch lives in Munich with his family. Klappentext The mysterious sixth entry in the Hangman's Daughter series. When an actor in a Passion play is murdered?crucified just like the character he is playing?Jakob Kuisl and his family must investigate a town's dark secrets in order to unravel the mystery. 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 chance 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. Prologue Oberammergau, Just Before Dawn, May 4, Anno Domini 1670 Jesus was nailed to a cross and died, but this time there would be no resurrection. Though it was pitch black, Dominik Faistenmantel could see the rough outlines of the gravestones in front of the Oberammergau village church. Now and then he could hear the fluttering of wings and assumed the sound came from ravens sitting on the gravestones, watching him curiously. The huge, intelligent birds were no rarity in the Ammergau Valley. Their nests were high up in the mountains, but they often came down into the valley to hunt and forage for rotting carcasses. Faistenmantel shuddered. If help didn’t come soon, he too would be a corpse for them to feed on. The young woodcarver groaned, and when he tried to raise his head, a searing, almost unearthly pain shot through the tense sinews in his neck. His cry was muffled by the filthy rag filling his mouth. He slumped down again, coughed, and gasped for air, but the only sound that came through the gag was a rattling gurgle. This is the way our savior died, he thought. What agony! With the burden of the world on his shoulders. Lord, come and help me! But the Lord did not come, no one came, and once again, despite the gag, Dominik tried to shout for help. It was not yet dawn, and most people in the village were sleeping. Wouldn’t the sacristan for early Mass be awake? His house stood right next to the cemetery wall, just a few yards away, but no matter how hard Dominik tried, all he could do was groan and whimper. It was so cold, so damned cold. Here, in this Alpine valley, even ...
