What do you think?
Rate this book
Meister Frantz: A Match Made in Jail
Nuremberg 1580: As the hangman of the free imperial city, Meister Frantz Schmidt is used to being avoided by society for fear of getting tainted by his dishonorable profession. Only the ailing believing in the executioner's special healing powers come to him. Then one of his patients is murdered and her maid Kathi becomes the main suspect. When Max, one of the city's archers, begs Frantz to help spare the girl from torture and his executioner's sword, the hangman's conscience rebels against the thought of inflicting pain on an innocent girl and possibly having to kill her. Frantz comes up with a scheme to keep the maid safe for a little while, but it's risky for him and his new allies. Can Frantz deceive the council of Nuremberg and find the true murderer in time before he might be ordered to hang himself?
- GenresHistorical Fiction
186 pages, Paperback
Published September 30, 2016
About the author
Edith Parzefall
73 books5 followersEdith Parzefall studied literature and linguistics in Germany and the United States. She worked as a technical writer, documentation manager and engineer tamer. Now a full-time writer, she strives to combine her two passions: writing and travelling.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 2, 2016
The authentic voice of an English-speaking Nuremberg resident adds charm to this delightful tale, which shows the human side of a dishonorable profession. This novel won't fill you with horror, but rather give an insight into how people can do the offensive things required of them, knowing the law must be adhered to.
What starts off as a simple tale from the days of old, soon gathers momentum inside the main characters' minds. One baffling thought leads to another, only to fall like a line of cards before a change of track. The hangman, a maid, an archer, and a barkeeper, contribute to the end result of an inquiry into murder. Drama, intrigue, and conflict gather into a cohesive form of behavior from the townsfolk. Underneath it all, people behave with dignity and kindness according to the confines of their society.
The compelling drama draws you along until you can't wait to see what happens next. Well written and charming with allusions to part of the German town's history in darker days. It is fascinating to see how the author has researched the town hangman's records and shown the reader how the residents could have thought at the time.
What starts off as a simple tale from the days of old, soon gathers momentum inside the main characters' minds. One baffling thought leads to another, only to fall like a line of cards before a change of track. The hangman, a maid, an archer, and a barkeeper, contribute to the end result of an inquiry into murder. Drama, intrigue, and conflict gather into a cohesive form of behavior from the townsfolk. Underneath it all, people behave with dignity and kindness according to the confines of their society.
The compelling drama draws you along until you can't wait to see what happens next. Well written and charming with allusions to part of the German town's history in darker days. It is fascinating to see how the author has researched the town hangman's records and shown the reader how the residents could have thought at the time.
October 19, 2019
If you like The Hangman's Daughter series, then you will appreciate this book. It takes place about a hundred years before The Hangman's Daughter series. The setting is Nuremberg. Again a hangman is the main character. He is newly married and they do not yet have children. He is also a Healer. The only thing I didn't like about this book was part of the translation. The translator used a lot of modern idioms and they stood out glaringly. These books are not quite as in-depth as The Hangman's Daughter series, but I certainly recommend them anyway.
March 28, 2018
Great Story
I really loved this book and can't wait to read the next one. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes history and a great mystery.
I really loved this book and can't wait to read the next one. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes history and a great mystery.
March 25, 2020
Good book, I liked it, though it was sometimes sad to see how they didn't respect police procedures in those times, and injustices happened.
March 1, 2017
I've been a big fan of Parzefall's writing for a while and I am always surprised how well she changes genres. This time she even went into deep, dark German history and I just loved it. I read a TON of mysteries, mostly cozies but quite a lot of historical mysteries also. And this book has everything I require to be satisfied with a mystery. There is a big puzzle to solve on who did it and how. There is plenty of suspense and lots of unexpected twists and turns along the way. No POVs give anything away. We see some different perspectives into the investigation, but the POV distinctions are clear and everything makes sense.
Then the very yummy chocolate fudge icing on my mystery cake is the true history behind the story. This explores a very dark time in Nuremberg's history--a time I knew pretty much nothing about. I found the setting very realistic and believable and the characters and their actions very appropriate to the setting and culture presented.
So I completely recommend this book to mystery lovers and historical novel lovers. It has great depth and very fascinating characters. I am impatient for Parzefall to again visit the world of Meister Frantz and give me another enthralling tale.
Then the very yummy chocolate fudge icing on my mystery cake is the true history behind the story. This explores a very dark time in Nuremberg's history--a time I knew pretty much nothing about. I found the setting very realistic and believable and the characters and their actions very appropriate to the setting and culture presented.
So I completely recommend this book to mystery lovers and historical novel lovers. It has great depth and very fascinating characters. I am impatient for Parzefall to again visit the world of Meister Frantz and give me another enthralling tale.
May 1, 2016
This is a charming cozy mystery about a hangman, an innocent lass, a manly suitor, and a murder in Nuremberg, in 1580. Well, cozy, that is, if you don't mind the descriptions of the tortures and hangings that are part of the hangman's job. But, really, even with the tortures and hangings, it isn't noir. It is a love story, a mystery, and a fascinating well-researched look at life in 16th century Germany.
Katharina is a foundling and has been working as a maid for the Widow Zahlmeisterin. The Widow is poor, really, and her only beloved possession is a precious pearl necklace.
One day, a spiteful and jealous woman, Margareta Beckin, comes to visit the Widow. After she leaves, Kathi (Katharina) goes into the parlor to find the Widow murdered, and the necklace gone. Frightened, she climbs out the window and runs away. As she feared, she is fingered as the culprit. She meets a handsome young guardsman who shelters her, but is eventually forced to turn her into the authorities where she will have to undergo torture so that it can be determined if she is the murderer.
The hangman, disliked and feared by everyone but his adoring wife, is really a decent fellow, a man of compassion, and he puts into action a plan to save Kathi from the duties of the hangman's office. From there, a series of almost comic events ensues. A number of unexpected twists and turns makes the plot one that keeps you turning pages. Will poor Kathi be convicted and be hanged or get her head chopped off? Egad.
You can probably guess who dunnit, but it is just a wonderful story. It is based on real events and people, using historical documents. The hangman, (Meister Frantz Schmidt), his wife, the hangman's assistant, the tailor's Widow Zahlmeisterin, Margareta Beckin, and some other lesser characters actually lived, and were involved in some of the events of the story.
This is the first of a series. A mystery series about a medieval compassionate hangman. You don't come across that very often, do you! I am looking forward to more in the series.
Katharina is a foundling and has been working as a maid for the Widow Zahlmeisterin. The Widow is poor, really, and her only beloved possession is a precious pearl necklace.
One day, a spiteful and jealous woman, Margareta Beckin, comes to visit the Widow. After she leaves, Kathi (Katharina) goes into the parlor to find the Widow murdered, and the necklace gone. Frightened, she climbs out the window and runs away. As she feared, she is fingered as the culprit. She meets a handsome young guardsman who shelters her, but is eventually forced to turn her into the authorities where she will have to undergo torture so that it can be determined if she is the murderer.
The hangman, disliked and feared by everyone but his adoring wife, is really a decent fellow, a man of compassion, and he puts into action a plan to save Kathi from the duties of the hangman's office. From there, a series of almost comic events ensues. A number of unexpected twists and turns makes the plot one that keeps you turning pages. Will poor Kathi be convicted and be hanged or get her head chopped off? Egad.
You can probably guess who dunnit, but it is just a wonderful story. It is based on real events and people, using historical documents. The hangman, (Meister Frantz Schmidt), his wife, the hangman's assistant, the tailor's Widow Zahlmeisterin, Margareta Beckin, and some other lesser characters actually lived, and were involved in some of the events of the story.
This is the first of a series. A mystery series about a medieval compassionate hangman. You don't come across that very often, do you! I am looking forward to more in the series.
February 11, 2017
Excellent!
I bought this book because I liked The Hangman's Daughter series so much. I wasn't disappointed! Set in the 1500's it tells of the hangman and how he tries to help a girl who has been accused of murder, but he thinks she is in innocent. Can he find the real murderer and make her confess before he has to torture the wrongly accused??
I bought this book because I liked The Hangman's Daughter series so much. I wasn't disappointed! Set in the 1500's it tells of the hangman and how he tries to help a girl who has been accused of murder, but he thinks she is in innocent. Can he find the real murderer and make her confess before he has to torture the wrongly accused??
July 12, 2016
Fast paced
Well written. Story moves quickly and works well to keep you enthralled. Great read if you like historical fiction. Great book.
Well written. Story moves quickly and works well to keep you enthralled. Great read if you like historical fiction. Great book.
October 13, 2016
Okay Read
Not an extraordinary story but okay for a mild diversion. At least it is a fast read. I would not recommend if it costs more than $2.00.
Not an extraordinary story but okay for a mild diversion. At least it is a fast read. I would not recommend if it costs more than $2.00.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews