 | |
| Author | Neil Mackay |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical crime |
| Published | 2017 |
| Publisher | Freight Books |
| Pages | 352 |
| ISBN | 978-1910449721 |
The Wolf Trial is a 2017 novel by Neil Mackay. It is a historical crime novel about a werewolf trial in Germany that presents a subtext questioning if the Christian god is good or evil.
Plot summary
Set in 16th-century Germany during the Lutheran reformation, the novel's protagonist is Melchior Paulus, who is tasked with investigating a mass murder in the township of Bideburg. Local military veteran and landowner Peter Stumpf is arrested for the murders, which were followed by cannibalism. His guilt is certain, but it is unknown if he is a human or a werewolf. Should Stumpf be deemed a werewolf, his family will also be punished. The plot therefore centers around an investigation undertaken by Paulus, who is attempting to avoid the collective family punishment.
The story is described as the first ever serial killer trial.
Critical reception
Allan Massie writing in The Scotsman, praises the "acute philosophical argument" presented in the book about the nature of the Christian god. Massie describes Mackay as a wonderful story-teller, and called the book a "remarkable novel", although he also says it needed better editing.
Marc McLean, writing in The Daily Record, described the book as epic. Eloise Millar, writing in The Guardian, described it as brilliantly epic and lamented the lack of attention that literary reviewers gave it outside of Scotland.
Inspiration
The book was inspired the actions and trials of Peter Stumpp.
See also
References
- ^ Massie, Allan (30 April 2016). "Book review: The Wolf Trial by Neil Mackay". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ Millar, Eloise (21 December 2016). "Hits and misses: indie publishers pick their books of 2016". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ McLean, Marc (13 May 2016). "West Dunbartonshire literary festival proving a big hit". Daily Record. Archived from the original on 14 May 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- Sgroy, Adrian (31 October 2019). "La loca teoría de que Trump es descendiente del "hombre lobo de Bedburg", un asesino serial alemán". Diario Uno (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2022.