A novel about the most famous werewolf investigation in history. Based on real events.
Devil in the Countryside is a story about the most famous werewolf investigation in history, brimming with intrigue and war, love and betrayal, and long-kept vendettas.
It's 1588, the height of the Reformation, and a killer is terrorizing the German countryside. There are reports that the legendary Werewolf of Bedburg has returned to a once-peaceful land. Heinrich Franz, a cold and calculating investigator, is tasked with finding whomever -- or whatever -- the killer might be. He'll need all the help he can get, including that of a strange hunter who's recently stumbled into town. Though they're after the same thing, their reasons are worlds apart. And through it all, a priest tries to keep the peace among his frightened townsfolk, while a young woman threatens his most basic beliefs.
In a time when life is cheap and secrets run rampant, these four divergent souls find themselves entwined in a treacherous mystery, navigating the volatile political and religious landscape of 16th century Germany, fighting to keep their sanity -- and their lives.
Professional Reviews
A Very Enjoyable Read!
Historical fiction is usually not my genre but when I heard this was about a real-life werewolf investigation I was hooked. I knew of the Salem witch trials in the U.S. but had no idea that during the same period in Europe they were out hunting werewolves.
The story begins in a small German town during the Protestant-Catholic reformations. A woman is found murdered and a smart, ruthless detective sets out to find her killer. As the body count grows, you are soon thoroughly immersed in 16th Century Europe with all its brutality, religious conflict, power and poverty, good versus evil. The perfect backdrop for a great murder mystery and love story.
I found myself savoring this book, taking my time with a memorable cast of characters, solid plot, authentic dialogue – and even learning a little history on the side. In fact, I was sorry it ended. But with talk of a sequel, I'll definitely be back for more.
Best historical crime fiction I have read in a while
Best historical crime fiction I have read in a while. I liked the setting of 'Devil in the Countryside' very much. It's 1588, the height of the Reformation, and a killer 'Werewolf of Bedburg' is terrorizing the German countryside. There was a good level of suspense throughout the book and well-written characters, my favorite ones were investigator Heinrich Franz and Georg Sieghart.
I guess I did I feel like there was something missing from this book, I think the author could have used that brilliant setting more somehow, all in all I'm looking forward to reading the sequel!
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