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[authorstiner]

The Dark Monk (The Hangman's Daughter # 2) by Oliver Pötzsch #thedarkmonk #oliverpötzsch #thehangmansdaughterseries #newbook #stephanietiner https://www.instagram.com/p/CgSQfjRAnDB/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[therealmobonix]

#minneapolis Get ready for the wrek! METAL FACE INVASION tonight at #THECABOOZE #mobonix #miccrenshaw #kuriousjorge #djkoolakiem #djverbx #tallpaul #thedarkmonk #insgorillaz

[therealmobonix]

Loaded up for "Machine Man" invasion of Charlotte, NC AT SNUG HARBOR TONITE!!!!!! #mobonix #thedarkmonk #blackostume #snugharbor #machinemantour

[whatsshereading]

The Dark Monk by Oliver Potzsch

I was so excited for the beginning of September, because it meant I could borrow the next book in The Hangman's Daughter series.  As I mentioned before, I really loved the first book, but I was more than a little anxious as to how the second book would be in comparison.

I'm happy to report that I think Potzsch's second novel had a very decent showing.  There were some annoyingly repetitive similarities between the two books, but there were also enough differences to keep me interested and entertained.  The biggest difference between this book and the first, is that the hangman's daughter, Magdalena, had more of a starring role. 

The Dark Monk picks up not long after The Hangman's Daughter ended.  It is winter in Schongau, and things seem to be back to normal after the excitement involving Martha Stechlin, the murdered children and the supposed witchcraft.  The fragile peace is shattered when a priest from the neighboring town is found dead.  Schongau's young physician, Simon Fronwieser, is summoned to attend to the dead priest.  He quickly determines that the priest was poisoned.

Before dying, the priest was able to leave behind a series of clues suggesting that he found a great treasure prior to being murdered.  The clues intrigue Simon, Magdalena, and the hangman, and they begin following them to understand not only the mystery behind the priest's death, but also where the treasure can be found.  The group quickly realizes the mystery centers around the elusive and enigmatic world of the Knights Templar.

Potzsch uses the reader's familiarity with his characters to introduce sub-plots and play with character interactions more than he did in the first book.  For example, a plot twist removes the hangman, Jakob Kuisl, from a good portion of the "investigative" part of the book, which allows Magdalena to step up and fill his void (which she does quite well, I might add).  This story also extended to the cities surrounding Schongau, which introduces the reader to additional characters and settings within Potzsch's 17th century Bavaria.  It will be interesting to see if he uses these new locations and people in the subsequent stories.

All, in all, I was happy with this sequel.  The story was undeniably fun and interesting, and I once again found myself in a "just-can't-put-it-down" situation.  I also learned quite a bit about the Knights Templar.  Similar to the last book, I'm anxiously waiting the start of October so I start the next book in the series, The Beggar King.