The Beggar King

The Beggar King by Oliver Potzsch

This is the third book in the Hangman's Daughter series and it does not disappoint.

I really enjoy this series.  There is intrigue and mystery as well as the peek into life in a historical world.  I'm not sure if I'll ever need to know about various forms of torture or the implements used in torture but it is interesting nonetheless.  Also interesting is that the hangman would need to be able to heal his victims so that they could endure more torture the next day.  Just proves what sick creatures humans are to come up with that idea.

The hangman's daughter, Magdalena, and her secret lover, Simon, get themselves into trouble as usual but this time they are also having to save Magdalena's father, the hangman.  Complete with politics, medicines, poisons and social commentary, this book offers it all.

At the end of the book, just like the last, the author provides a modern guide through the city of the story.  He takes you through the streets of the novel and gives you information on the main buildings that you can see if you were to travel to Regensburg Germany.

I highly recommend this book but if you haven't read the others, start with The Hangman's Daughter and then read them in order.

Already Gone

Already Gone by John Rector

This is a crime thriller.  On page two our protagonist gets his finger cut off with bolt cutters.  If you can't handle that, don't read this book.

This isn't a crime thriller from the perspective of the police or even the criminal.  This is told from the voice of the guy who now only has 9 fingers.  He can't figure out what's going on and who he needs to be looking over his shoulder for.  He's a newly appointed University professor but he didn't start out all normal and straight laced and therein lies his dilemna.

This was a pretty good book and the first big twist I saw coming probably just because all other avenues had been exhausted and  I've read tons of these types of books.  The ending annoyed me big time though.  If you like crime drama, check it out and then let me know if you liked the ending or if you agree that it should have ended differently.  I mean, that one guy shouldn't have died, you know???