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Book by Neil Mackay From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Wolf Trial is a 2017 novel by Neil Mackay.[1][2] 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.[1]
Author | Neil Mackay |
---|---|
Language | English |
Genre | Historical crime |
Published | 2017 |
Publisher | Freight Books |
Pages | 352 |
ISBN | 978-1910449721 |
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.[1] Local military veteran and landowner Peter Stumpf is arrested for the murders, which were followed by cannibalism.[1] His guilt is certain, but it is unknown if he is a human or a werewolf.[1] Should Stumpf be deemed a werewolf, his family will also be punished.[1] The plot therefore centers around an investigation undertaken by Paulus, who is attempting to avoid the collective family punishment.[1]
The story is described as the first ever serial killer trial.[3]
Allan Massie writing in The Scotsman, praises the "acute philosophical argument" presented in the book about the nature of the Christian god.[1] Massie describes Mackay as a wonderful story-teller, and called the book a "remarkable novel", although he also says it needed better editing.[1]
Marc McLean, writing in The Daily Record, described the book as epic.[3] 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.[2]
The book was inspired the actions and trials of Peter Stumpp.[4]
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