In the small town of Schongau in the 1660s, a hangman and a physician work together to find the true murderer when a midwife is accused of killing orphans. Insanely suspenseful and full of wildly interconnecting plotlines, this book is a fascinating foray into the world of witches and hangmen and superstition without being sensationalized. I found it fascinating that Potzsch himself was descended from the Kuisl of the tale, and that the Kuisl's were a real dynasty of executioner's in Bavaria. Would highly recommend if you are in the mood for a suspenseful, historical, and unexpected tale of humanity.