The Council Of Twelve

Based on the real-life witch hunts in 17th century Europe, this “excellent” (Booklist) mystery in the acclaimed Hangman's Daughter series is sure to fascinate modern readers—and chill them to the bone. Germany, 1672: Hangman Jakob Kuisl and his family travel to Munich for a meeting of the Council of Twelve, the leaders of the hangmen’s guild. But something dark is happening behind the scenes: in the past weeks, young women have begun turning up dead. At first, the authorities assume they are a rash of suicides but, when Kuisl notices that each woman possesses a matching amulet, suspicions arise that someone is murdering these women. With no prime suspect, the superstitious townsfolk of Munich blame the hangmen’s guild, certain that they have called the devil upon the city. Soon it’s up to Kuisl who, along his daughter’s help and the support of the Council, must solve the mystery behind the murders…or find himself the next victim.

Oliver Pötzsch, born in 1970, has worked for years as a scriptwriter for Bavarian television. He is a descendant of one of Bavaria’s leading dynasties of executioners. Pötzsch lives in Munich with his family.