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The Fifth Servant
In 1592 Prague, Emperor Rudolph II sits on the throne; the Papal Inquisitor has arrived to persecute witches and heretics; and the city's Jews live behind the walls of the ghetto. When the body of a young Christian girl is found in a Jewish shop on the eve of Passover, a blood libel charge is brought against the shopkeeper. The relative peace enjoyed by the Jewish community is in peril, and a rabbinic student just arrived from Poland must find the real culprit.
790 pages, Hardcover
First published January 26, 2010
54 people are currently reading
756 people want to read
About the author
K.J.A. Wishnia
19 books19 followersaka Kenneth Wishnia.
Kenneth John Alexander Wishnia's debut novel, 23 Shades of Black, featuring Filomena Buscarsela, was short-listed for the Edgar and Anthony awards for best first novel in 1998. He has written three subsequent Filomena mysteries, Soft Money, The Glass Factory and Red House. Born in New Hampshire, he is a graduate of Brown University and has a Ph.D. in comparative literature from SUNY Stony Brook. He lives on Long Island, New York, with his wife, a native of Ecuador, and their two children, and is a professor in the English Department at SUNY Suffolk.
Kenneth John Alexander Wishnia's debut novel, 23 Shades of Black, featuring Filomena Buscarsela, was short-listed for the Edgar and Anthony awards for best first novel in 1998. He has written three subsequent Filomena mysteries, Soft Money, The Glass Factory and Red House. Born in New Hampshire, he is a graduate of Brown University and has a Ph.D. in comparative literature from SUNY Stony Brook. He lives on Long Island, New York, with his wife, a native of Ecuador, and their two children, and is a professor in the English Department at SUNY Suffolk.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
December 20, 2025
Es una verdadera lástima que no me haya gustado este libro. La verdad, no sé si es eso, pero es muy fácil perderse en la historia. Me sentí atrapado en un laberinto del cual no pude escapar nunca, ni siquiera en el final. A veces pasa que al menos en las últimas 20 páginas el libro se pone interesante, ya que es el descenlace de la historia, pero aquí ni eso.
La idea es muy buena, y de verdad me da pena calificar este libro con 1 estrella ya que todo pasa en Praga, ciudad a la cual amo porque vivo aquí. Las calles que se describieron en este libro las conozco personalmente, ya que he estado en esos lugares más de una vez.
Entendí cuál era el propósito de esta novela, pero la ejecución fue muy mala. Para mí todo fue malo ya que me perdí en todo, pero absolutamente todo. Se mezcla la historia con los personajes, al final no sabes que está pasando ni con quién... al punto que alguien muere y no sabes por qué. No sé, pero lamentablemente no pude seguir la historia, me perdí, intenté varias veces re-leer todo, pero sin éxito.
No sé, no me gusta calificar algo como malo, pero no es para mí. Por más que intenté, no pude seguir el hilo de esta historia. Como dije al principio, una lástima.
La idea es muy buena, y de verdad me da pena calificar este libro con 1 estrella ya que todo pasa en Praga, ciudad a la cual amo porque vivo aquí. Las calles que se describieron en este libro las conozco personalmente, ya que he estado en esos lugares más de una vez.
Entendí cuál era el propósito de esta novela, pero la ejecución fue muy mala. Para mí todo fue malo ya que me perdí en todo, pero absolutamente todo. Se mezcla la historia con los personajes, al final no sabes que está pasando ni con quién... al punto que alguien muere y no sabes por qué. No sé, pero lamentablemente no pude seguir la historia, me perdí, intenté varias veces re-leer todo, pero sin éxito.
No sé, no me gusta calificar algo como malo, pero no es para mí. Por más que intenté, no pude seguir el hilo de esta historia. Como dije al principio, una lástima.
February 22, 2011
I'm really torn on how to review this book. Because on one hand, I think it was absolutely brilliant although at times I felt as if the author was writing for a specific audience and, while I'm on the fringed edge of that audience, there were parts I just couldn't grasp, and on the other hand I found that the mystery was more of a distraction then anything else.
I think the best way to review The Fifth Servant is to look at it two ways; first, as a murder mystery and second, as a historical novel dealing with the friction in 16th century Prague between the Christians and the Jews.
As a murder mystery, I found The Fifth Servant to be lacking. The details of the murder were so lost in all of the politics between religions, the rich descriptions of Prague, the smattering of strange words (although a helpful translation guide is located at the end of the book - something I figured out about 3/4ths of the way through), and the endless debating that the Jews are portrayed to do. While the murder was, initially, a fantastic hook into the story, it just seemed to slowly grow less and less the main focus of the book, although the characters actions tried to keep it a focus. There was simply too much going on.
Which leads me to the second thing this book is, a historical novel. As this, I found the book to be incredible. I knew so little about this time period and place that I found everything to be fascinating. I had no idea that the Jews had their special place (and relative protection) and for the reasons stated in this book. I found the descriptions and language to be completely immersive and, understandably, I felt lost at times because I was not familiar with street names and the Hebrew and Czech languages.
I think for a history buff, and someone interested in the religious and political aspects of this novel, that there are few out there that can compare. It's obvious that Kenneth Wishnia has done his research and spent much time and effort in creating a book that would, as accurately as possible, capture 16th century Prague.
I think the best way to review The Fifth Servant is to look at it two ways; first, as a murder mystery and second, as a historical novel dealing with the friction in 16th century Prague between the Christians and the Jews.
As a murder mystery, I found The Fifth Servant to be lacking. The details of the murder were so lost in all of the politics between religions, the rich descriptions of Prague, the smattering of strange words (although a helpful translation guide is located at the end of the book - something I figured out about 3/4ths of the way through), and the endless debating that the Jews are portrayed to do. While the murder was, initially, a fantastic hook into the story, it just seemed to slowly grow less and less the main focus of the book, although the characters actions tried to keep it a focus. There was simply too much going on.
Which leads me to the second thing this book is, a historical novel. As this, I found the book to be incredible. I knew so little about this time period and place that I found everything to be fascinating. I had no idea that the Jews had their special place (and relative protection) and for the reasons stated in this book. I found the descriptions and language to be completely immersive and, understandably, I felt lost at times because I was not familiar with street names and the Hebrew and Czech languages.
I think for a history buff, and someone interested in the religious and political aspects of this novel, that there are few out there that can compare. It's obvious that Kenneth Wishnia has done his research and spent much time and effort in creating a book that would, as accurately as possible, capture 16th century Prague.
May 2, 2012
The greatest strength of Wishnia’s mystery set in 16th century Prague is its erudition. Filled with heavily detailed descriptions of life in the Jewish quarter, woven through with Talmudic arguments, Yiddish and Hebrew, Jewish law and custom, it is an education in itself. That dedication to research is also its greatest weakness. At times I lost the train of the plot or the vividness of the characters amidst the plenty. I would have preferred a more organic blending of necessary background into the story. Too often I felt removed from his exotic world by all the information rather than absorbed into this fascinating place and time. It is true that a meandering, complicated and multi-stranded form of discussion reflects the Talmudic reasoning of his main characters, and I think that’s at least part of Wishnia’s intent, but fewer tangents would have allowed me to enjoy the whole more. Wishnia brings a dark, ironic sense of humor to his mystery which many will enjoy. His narrative voice is cynical toward both the Jews and Christians. His implicit critique of fanaticism and intolerance within both religions is perceptive and timely, even if his characters are from the 16th century in the likes of a bishop hunting for witches and gleefully torturing pretty young women.
July 1, 2017
If anyone had told me previously that I'd be thoroughly engrossed by a mystery involving a Jewish shammes (or sexton of a synogogue) in 16th Century Prague, I'd probably have been skeptical. However, as the old saying goes, you should never assume, because you know what happens when you do.
Which is to say that THE FIFTH SERVANT by Kenneth Wishnia is every bit as engrossing as any modern detective story I've ever read.
The protagonist, Benjamin Ben-Akiva, is a new Talmudic scholar who's come to Prague under the weight of a few acceptance issues, by his own scholarly crowd as well as his wife, both of whom are more than a little disappointed in him.
Unfortunately, Prague turns out to be, rather than an improvement, a hotbed of Jewish oppression (Jews are confined to life in the ghetto and forced to wear identifying badges) and Catholic domination. Protestants are (sort of) caught in the middle, enjoying a tentative peace with the Jewish merchants with whom they do business. A peace that's shattered when a young girl is found shot to death (with her throat slit, as part of an alleged ritual) in a Jewish merchant's shop.
As an outsider, Benjamin is able to view the situation with a relatively non-judgmental eye. He's clever and tends to crack wise almost as much as a modern day shamus. In fact, the book is prefaced with a short explanation of how the word "shamus" was probably derived from the Yiddish word "shammes." (Clever!)
The story is essentially a private eye story transplanted into an archaic setting. Benjamin is the alienated detective seeking out the clues and following his own credo, while trying to ferret out the truth in a corrupt society. In doing so, he enlists the help of various wise rabbis, with whom he exchanges many Talmudic verses. So the book is not only entertaining, but outright educational.
Wishnia manages the neat trick of writing a great mystery that's also rich in historical detail. He brilliantly folds the conventions of the private eye novel into the 16th Century setting. Along with that, he manages to explore the long history of anti-Semitism, not to mention the many factions within the ranks of each belief system.
The place of women within that society is depicted as well, in subplots involving a suspected witchcraft practitioner and a (forbidden!) romantic interest.
Not only is THE FIFTH SERVANT modeled along the lines of a modern detective novel, but it seems to have a touch of the Western genre to it. Particularly the movie High Noon. To wit, I offer the following (really rough) analogy: the Catholics are the "black hats" riding into town to dominate it; the Jews are the oppressed "white hats" they're after; and the Christians are the townspeople too fearful to intervene.
Like High Noon, the story builds to a huge conflagration. And, after all is said and done, when the real bad guys have been apprehended, one of the Jews even tears his badge off and flings it into the dirt.
And, in the end, our heroes do nothing less than ride off into the proverbial sunset.
Which is to say that THE FIFTH SERVANT by Kenneth Wishnia is every bit as engrossing as any modern detective story I've ever read.
The protagonist, Benjamin Ben-Akiva, is a new Talmudic scholar who's come to Prague under the weight of a few acceptance issues, by his own scholarly crowd as well as his wife, both of whom are more than a little disappointed in him.
Unfortunately, Prague turns out to be, rather than an improvement, a hotbed of Jewish oppression (Jews are confined to life in the ghetto and forced to wear identifying badges) and Catholic domination. Protestants are (sort of) caught in the middle, enjoying a tentative peace with the Jewish merchants with whom they do business. A peace that's shattered when a young girl is found shot to death (with her throat slit, as part of an alleged ritual) in a Jewish merchant's shop.
As an outsider, Benjamin is able to view the situation with a relatively non-judgmental eye. He's clever and tends to crack wise almost as much as a modern day shamus. In fact, the book is prefaced with a short explanation of how the word "shamus" was probably derived from the Yiddish word "shammes." (Clever!)
The story is essentially a private eye story transplanted into an archaic setting. Benjamin is the alienated detective seeking out the clues and following his own credo, while trying to ferret out the truth in a corrupt society. In doing so, he enlists the help of various wise rabbis, with whom he exchanges many Talmudic verses. So the book is not only entertaining, but outright educational.
Wishnia manages the neat trick of writing a great mystery that's also rich in historical detail. He brilliantly folds the conventions of the private eye novel into the 16th Century setting. Along with that, he manages to explore the long history of anti-Semitism, not to mention the many factions within the ranks of each belief system.
The place of women within that society is depicted as well, in subplots involving a suspected witchcraft practitioner and a (forbidden!) romantic interest.
Not only is THE FIFTH SERVANT modeled along the lines of a modern detective novel, but it seems to have a touch of the Western genre to it. Particularly the movie High Noon. To wit, I offer the following (really rough) analogy: the Catholics are the "black hats" riding into town to dominate it; the Jews are the oppressed "white hats" they're after; and the Christians are the townspeople too fearful to intervene.
Like High Noon, the story builds to a huge conflagration. And, after all is said and done, when the real bad guys have been apprehended, one of the Jews even tears his badge off and flings it into the dirt.
And, in the end, our heroes do nothing less than ride off into the proverbial sunset.
January 25, 2010
My review for the AP:
"The Fifth Servant" (William Morrow, 387 pages, $25.99), by Kenneth Wishnia: Days before Easter in Prague in 1592, a Christian girl is murdered and her body, drained of blood, is dumped in a Jewish shop on the eve of Passover. The death rekindles Christian beliefs that Jews sacrifice humans for blood to use in making matzo for the holiday.
To save the shopkeeper and his family and prevent Christian riots from looting and burning the Jewish ghetto, a rabbinic student must find the child's real killer. Benyamin Ben-Akiva's quest takes him from the dark corners of the ghetto and docks into fine homes, the Christian city and even a meeting with the scientific-minded Emperor Rudolph II.
Kenneth Wishnia has written five previous mysteries under the name K.J.A. Wishnia. "The Fifth Servant," his sixth novel, is a wandering tale of intrigue that guides the reader through Prague as the Roman Catholic Inquisition moves into the city to stamp out Protestantism and witchcraft. Wishnia describes in painful detail the torture of Jews questioned by the Inquisition as a precursor to its persecution of Christian heretics.
But although custom and law keep Christians and Jews separate, Wishnia's inquisitive student rabbi finds a web of illicit trade that binds the two communities.
Wishnia embeds descriptions of 16th-century medicine, divorce, counterfeiting and religious dissent into his tale. But although that makes it intellectually interesting, it ultimately weakens the plot. The book has so many characters, and the plot is rife with so many tangents, it becomes difficult to follow. It also leaves a number of loose ends hanging, although Wishnia tries to tie up the most obvious ones in the final pages.
"The Fifth Servant" aims to be both a thriller and a literary examination of religious strife, but by trying to do too much, it fails to be a good read.
"The Fifth Servant" (William Morrow, 387 pages, $25.99), by Kenneth Wishnia: Days before Easter in Prague in 1592, a Christian girl is murdered and her body, drained of blood, is dumped in a Jewish shop on the eve of Passover. The death rekindles Christian beliefs that Jews sacrifice humans for blood to use in making matzo for the holiday.
To save the shopkeeper and his family and prevent Christian riots from looting and burning the Jewish ghetto, a rabbinic student must find the child's real killer. Benyamin Ben-Akiva's quest takes him from the dark corners of the ghetto and docks into fine homes, the Christian city and even a meeting with the scientific-minded Emperor Rudolph II.
Kenneth Wishnia has written five previous mysteries under the name K.J.A. Wishnia. "The Fifth Servant," his sixth novel, is a wandering tale of intrigue that guides the reader through Prague as the Roman Catholic Inquisition moves into the city to stamp out Protestantism and witchcraft. Wishnia describes in painful detail the torture of Jews questioned by the Inquisition as a precursor to its persecution of Christian heretics.
But although custom and law keep Christians and Jews separate, Wishnia's inquisitive student rabbi finds a web of illicit trade that binds the two communities.
Wishnia embeds descriptions of 16th-century medicine, divorce, counterfeiting and religious dissent into his tale. But although that makes it intellectually interesting, it ultimately weakens the plot. The book has so many characters, and the plot is rife with so many tangents, it becomes difficult to follow. It also leaves a number of loose ends hanging, although Wishnia tries to tie up the most obvious ones in the final pages.
"The Fifth Servant" aims to be both a thriller and a literary examination of religious strife, but by trying to do too much, it fails to be a good read.
April 7, 2012
Set in Prague in 1592, The Fifth Servant, is a page-turner of an education. The book, though fiction, is filled with so many factual events, people and places to qualify as a text book, albeit one that is a joy to read. Dr. Wishnia has indeed done his research. I am not Jewish by either faith or ethnicity, so the fact that I found the book fascinating would only be magnified for Jewish readers. There are many humorous and/or quirky parts - mostly dialogue - to keep the reader from feeling she is in school. Many disturbing events are also detailed, one of which is the requirement that Jews wear yellow badges - this in the 16th century. Chilling.
I recommend The Fifth Servant to anyone interested in historical fiction, historical mysteries or simply looking for a unique read. The author provides a dictionary at the end of the book for the Yiddish and German words he uses. This slows down the reading process, but is essential to the flavor of the mystery as well as the reader's understanding of events.
I recommend The Fifth Servant to anyone interested in historical fiction, historical mysteries or simply looking for a unique read. The author provides a dictionary at the end of the book for the Yiddish and German words he uses. This slows down the reading process, but is essential to the flavor of the mystery as well as the reader's understanding of events.
January 6, 2020
Interesting time frame and place. Witty and biting. The author did a fair job in character sketch, but the people and the place seemed a little 1-dimensional and stereotypical to me.
However, I did learn more about rabbinical Judaism and Catholicism in the 16th century. This was not a feel good story, but maybe there wasn't anything to feel good about in 1592 Prague, for Jews or Christians!
However, I did learn more about rabbinical Judaism and Catholicism in the 16th century. This was not a feel good story, but maybe there wasn't anything to feel good about in 1592 Prague, for Jews or Christians!
May 5, 2014
When I finished reading The Fifth Servant I wasn't really sure what I was feeling. To tell you the truth, I'm still not really sure as I'm sitting here, typing up my review. I think I may end up rambling a bit, so I apologize in advance. If I don't end up doing that, so much the better.
The book sounds like, from the synopsis, that it's going to be a historical murder mystery. One side of that equation worked for me, the other half I'm still a bit wishy washy about. Where this book more than succeeded for me was in bringing the time period to life. It's obvious that the author did a lot of research for the book and that attention to detail made the streets breathe in a way I've not felt in a historical novel before. I could visualize in my mind streets and building as they were being described to me. I could feel the fear and anger expressed by both Jew and Christian as tempers flared as the situation was reaching critical mass. I'm going to be honest in saying that I really never paid all that much attention to the state of Jews in 16th century Europe. Like most people I could have told you that they probably didn't have the best times and that they were persecuted, horrifically at times. But I couldn't have told you much more than that. This book gave me a glimpse into the day to day lives of Jewish people who are forced to live in a walled ghetto, surrounded by thousands of people who would gladly kill them for the smallest reason. I felt that I came out of this book knowing a little more about Jewish culture and religion, and I feel blessed for that.
What really brought the "reality" home for me was the use of language. The author uses Czech, German, and Yiddish throughout the book. I'm going to admit that I found the foreign words a distraction in the beginning, especially when I had to flip back and forth to the glossary in the back. But as the story progressed I found myself, not necessarily understanding the words, becoming more familiar with them. They didn't seem out of place after a while and I think without them, the story would have been lacking. If ever I read a book where words mattered, this would be one of them.
Now where this story didn't really grab me was in the mystery side. I found the murder itself to be almost an afterthought and not really well developed. Instead of the murder and the subsequent investigation being the vehicle and driver of the story, it seemed to interrupt the narrative. I found myself not caring all that much and wanting to get back to the rest of the story. I still can't really tell you how Benyamin solves it because the end is so rushed that I'm sure I missed something.
My only other quibble, and it's slight, is the point of view the story is told in. When Benyamin is on the page, it's all told in the first person. When the story shifts, it's told in the third person. Now I know most people wouldn't notice or care about that, but I found myself getting annoyed at times. It didn't do any damage to my enjoyment of the story since I plan on reading this one again. I have a feeling this will be a book that on each reread, I will discover something new.
The book sounds like, from the synopsis, that it's going to be a historical murder mystery. One side of that equation worked for me, the other half I'm still a bit wishy washy about. Where this book more than succeeded for me was in bringing the time period to life. It's obvious that the author did a lot of research for the book and that attention to detail made the streets breathe in a way I've not felt in a historical novel before. I could visualize in my mind streets and building as they were being described to me. I could feel the fear and anger expressed by both Jew and Christian as tempers flared as the situation was reaching critical mass. I'm going to be honest in saying that I really never paid all that much attention to the state of Jews in 16th century Europe. Like most people I could have told you that they probably didn't have the best times and that they were persecuted, horrifically at times. But I couldn't have told you much more than that. This book gave me a glimpse into the day to day lives of Jewish people who are forced to live in a walled ghetto, surrounded by thousands of people who would gladly kill them for the smallest reason. I felt that I came out of this book knowing a little more about Jewish culture and religion, and I feel blessed for that.
What really brought the "reality" home for me was the use of language. The author uses Czech, German, and Yiddish throughout the book. I'm going to admit that I found the foreign words a distraction in the beginning, especially when I had to flip back and forth to the glossary in the back. But as the story progressed I found myself, not necessarily understanding the words, becoming more familiar with them. They didn't seem out of place after a while and I think without them, the story would have been lacking. If ever I read a book where words mattered, this would be one of them.
Now where this story didn't really grab me was in the mystery side. I found the murder itself to be almost an afterthought and not really well developed. Instead of the murder and the subsequent investigation being the vehicle and driver of the story, it seemed to interrupt the narrative. I found myself not caring all that much and wanting to get back to the rest of the story. I still can't really tell you how Benyamin solves it because the end is so rushed that I'm sure I missed something.
My only other quibble, and it's slight, is the point of view the story is told in. When Benyamin is on the page, it's all told in the first person. When the story shifts, it's told in the third person. Now I know most people wouldn't notice or care about that, but I found myself getting annoyed at times. It didn't do any damage to my enjoyment of the story since I plan on reading this one again. I have a feeling this will be a book that on each reread, I will discover something new.
December 18, 2015
I am fascinated by the medieval Jewish community. What they were accused of, and how they survived is a marvel, when almost no one liked them and they were accused of everything bad that ever happened in the areas they lived.
I think this story did a fantastic job of describing the lives of those in the Prague Jewish ghetto. It also creates a very believable atmosphere for the city, both in and out of the ghetto, when the Jewish are accused of killing a Christian girl. The author obviously did a vast amount of research and it shows in the quality of historical fact in the book.
I think this story did a fantastic job of describing the lives of those in the Prague Jewish ghetto. It also creates a very believable atmosphere for the city, both in and out of the ghetto, when the Jewish are accused of killing a Christian girl. The author obviously did a vast amount of research and it shows in the quality of historical fact in the book.
April 8, 2016
The Fifth Servant is an entertaining adventure with something for everyone: mystery, action, suspense, romance and even a little humor. Both mystery fans and fans of historical fiction will enjoy the novel. With much of it set in Prague’s Jewish Quarter and our heroic protagonist a brilliant Talmudist, I highly recommend The Fifth Servant to Jewish readers. Wishnia did a fine job painting a rich and vibrant picture of what the Jewish section of Prague looked like so many centuries ago. This is a wonderful novel.
December 6, 2021
16th century Prague in the grip of religious hysteria. Genuine historical scholarship. Jewish folklore and symbolism in Costco-size packages. A protagonist with a wry sense of humor.
I soooo wanted to like this book but failed. Seemed to be trying a bit too hard, and it all got to be a bit too chaotic and filled with too many characters I didn't quite care about. Towards the end, I just wanted the agony to end. A better book in the same genre and setting is https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8....
I soooo wanted to like this book but failed. Seemed to be trying a bit too hard, and it all got to be a bit too chaotic and filled with too many characters I didn't quite care about. Towards the end, I just wanted the agony to end. A better book in the same genre and setting is https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8....
March 24, 2015
The premise is fascinating, but the book was way too complicated for me. Several of the characters were too similar to keep them straight, and the plot was too circuitous with too many dead ends. I know the author is a scholar, but the book reads too complex for a mystery and too superficial for a scholarly work.
January 13, 2014
It started off really well with an interesting case,setting and historical background, but further on in the book I felt some parts were missing or glossed over and the crime was solved very quickly in the end and not as a result of Benjamin's investigations.
January 24, 2024
In late sixteenth century Prague, the small Jewish community lives behind walls and must wear circular badges to identify themselves. But all is not as insulated as it seems. Just before Easter, a Christian child is found murdered in a Jewish shop. How can the Jews defend themselves from the absurd, but believed, charge of Blood Libel?
The investigation raises The Fifth Servant far above the usual historical novel. Wishnia creates complex characters in a tumultuous society. The Catholic Church is more interested in combating Protestants and witches than prosecuting Jews. Jews are divided between "traditional " who deny contact with outsiders and "Freethinkers" who interpret the Law as mutable.
Benyamin Ben-Akiva is a man of his time, on the cusp between the old ways and the new heresies of religion and science. Unlike too many historical protagonists, his attitudes are not modern. His investigation does not rely on a process known only to him. Everyone in the book is flawed, following their own agenda, from the Emperor, Rudolph II, to the beggar in the street. While the story is true to the time and place, the motivations and actions in this brilliant book, are eternal.
The investigation raises The Fifth Servant far above the usual historical novel. Wishnia creates complex characters in a tumultuous society. The Catholic Church is more interested in combating Protestants and witches than prosecuting Jews. Jews are divided between "traditional " who deny contact with outsiders and "Freethinkers" who interpret the Law as mutable.
Benyamin Ben-Akiva is a man of his time, on the cusp between the old ways and the new heresies of religion and science. Unlike too many historical protagonists, his attitudes are not modern. His investigation does not rely on a process known only to him. Everyone in the book is flawed, following their own agenda, from the Emperor, Rudolph II, to the beggar in the street. While the story is true to the time and place, the motivations and actions in this brilliant book, are eternal.
March 19, 2018
16th century Jewish Prague is a bustling ghetto filled with those who embrace the isolation from the larger community and those that chafe against it. After a young Christian girl is found murdered in a Jewish shop just outside the ghetto, mere days after the fifth shammus (translated as servant) of the community arrives to start his employment, the community fears the worst: that they will be blamed and collectively punished regardless of whether or not a Jew was involved in the crime.
Fortunately, the shammus is a budding detective and starts investigating. Told mostly from his point of view, we see a wide range of the community, as well as the lives of some of the gentiles that interact with it.
Fortunately, the shammus is a budding detective and starts investigating. Told mostly from his point of view, we see a wide range of the community, as well as the lives of some of the gentiles that interact with it.
June 20, 2019
Takes the reader back to 16th century Prague. I was there 3 years ago and am glad it wasn't 400 years ago. If you were Jewish back then, you faced horrendous living conditions and hatred for your religion. This novel seemed quite realistic. Unfortunately, if you aren't Jewish, you might have to look up many of the novel's aspects referring to Judism at the time. If you enjoy authentic historical novels combined with mystery, then give it a try. This tale is intelligent, informative, powerful, and witty. Richly descriptive images of the era along with Wishnia’s use of Hebrew and Yiddish layer the story’s authenticity.
May 17, 2022
An interesting mystery that takes place in Prague in 1592. The body of a young girl is found inside floor a business in the Jewish ghetto of Prague and the population of the city is up in arms believing that the girl has been murdured and drained of her blood by the Jews of the city. It is up to Benjamin Ben-Akiva to find the real murderer and save the Jews of Prague from a mass uprising against them. Although he encounters barriers at every turn, Ben-Akiva is successful but justice for a hated minority group, as in our own time, does not necessarily mean what it should.
September 20, 2018
Really historically accurate! Intelligent humor, deep cultural references, and intriguing plot.
I loved feeling immersed in 16th century Prague. I learned a lot about Jewish culture and rituals from this book.
It was just kind of too long for me and the ending came slowly. The punchline, when we finally find the killers and have the chance to bring them to justice... not enough of a payoff for me.
I loved feeling immersed in 16th century Prague. I learned a lot about Jewish culture and rituals from this book.
It was just kind of too long for me and the ending came slowly. The punchline, when we finally find the killers and have the chance to bring them to justice... not enough of a payoff for me.
March 15, 2019
Set in Prague in the 1500s a young man from Poland (Benyamin) tries to solve the mystery of who brutally murdered a 7 yo girl. The Christians think is was the jews who are forced into living in a ghetto. Benyamin enlists the King, a Christian maid, several rabbis, a butcher, and an apothecary to solve the mystery. Sometimes funny, very real descriptions of life in the ghetto and the punishments inflicted on the Jews.
January 12, 2025
Because the story comes from a few different perspectives, each new chapter can be confusing until you figure out who is speaking. I enjoyed the history of Prague in the late 16th century and learning about the Jewish, Christian, and Catholic faiths and how they interacted. There was a lot to digest and each chapter took a little longer to get into, but I'm glad I finished it.
December 28, 2017
Not much of a mystery but entertaining nonetheless.
May 13, 2019
Interesting historical, but I found it a bit disjointed and a weak ending.
October 28, 2020
I enjoyed the depiction of place and time and the struggles of the Jewish community in Prague, but there were too many story threads that didn't really come together.
July 12, 2022
This book was incredible - this review really nailed it:
"Works nicely on at least three levels: as history, mystery, and theology."
"Works nicely on at least three levels: as history, mystery, and theology."
April 4, 2010
When I first read the description of Kenneth Wishnia's novel, The Fifth Servant, I knew I had to read it. Set in late 16th century Prague during the inquisition when Catholics and Protestants are battling for control, the Jewish people in the ghetto are going about their lives, hoping attention is not turned on them. When the body of a young Christian girl is found on the floor of a Jewish businessman's shop, however, all eyes focus on the Jewish community and what is perceived as their Jew-magic. Shammes Benyamin comes upon the scene hoping to sort it out only to find himself more deeply involved than he could have anticipated. Suddenly it is on his shoulders to find out what really happened, prove that it was not a blood crime, and save the ghetto from complete destruction by the angry mobs outside the gates.
Benyamin is an outsider even in his own community. He is a newcomer who hasn't yet proven his value. He traveled from his home in Poland, following his wife, a woman who feels betrayed by him. Benyamin still has hope that he could win her back. With the prejudices and biases of the authorities involved with the murder investigation, Benyamin knows he has a difficult road to travel to get to the truth. He knows he cannot do it alone.
Anya is a Christian woman, the daughter of a butcher. She earns extra money by working as a servant in a Jewish home despite the prohibition by the Catholic Church against Christians working for the Jews. Because of Anya's foot in both worlds, she is the perfect person to ask for help with the investigation into the girls' murder, a friend of both Christians and Jews. She is observant and intelligent but must be careful.
There was much in the way of Talmudic thought and discussion throughout the novel, which I found quite interesting. I have long been interested in the Jewish faith and history. The author clearly did a lot of research into the traditions and history of the time period. The hostility between the various religious factions was a big focus of the novel. The Catholic Church in that region was very powerful and punitive. It seemed to be a fearful time, one where a cry of witchcraft or blasphemy by a neighbor would be enough to warrant punishment, even torture without a full investigation. My heart went out to the midwife who was only trying to make her living, having to watch her every step for fear she'd be accused of witchcraft.
The novel was told from the perspective of both Benyamin and Anya, one in first person the other in third. The Fifth Servant takes place over three days, but is not a fast paced book for all the author tries to accomplish, both in conveying the historical aspects of the time period as well as the more philosophical discussions that take place between the characters. There are also the personal stories: Benyamin's attempts to reconcile with his wife and Anya with her own internal struggles, including whether or not to pursue forbidden love. There is building tension, especially as Benyamin's deadline to bring forward the real killer approaches and the angry mob outside the gates grows more and more violent. The mystery itself, the search for what happened to the murdered girl, seemed almost secondary to the other events taking place in the book. Still, it definitely is what moved the story forward.
The Fifth Servant was not quite I expected, but I did enjoy it. I would have preferred there to have been more of a balance between the mystery itself and the other aspects of the novel; however, there was so much going on that I can see how challenging that might be. The inquisition is an interesting and sad part of our world's history, and I was inspired to do a little research into the time period and setting of the novel after finishing it--always a good sign.
Source: Review Copy provided by publisher.
Benyamin is an outsider even in his own community. He is a newcomer who hasn't yet proven his value. He traveled from his home in Poland, following his wife, a woman who feels betrayed by him. Benyamin still has hope that he could win her back. With the prejudices and biases of the authorities involved with the murder investigation, Benyamin knows he has a difficult road to travel to get to the truth. He knows he cannot do it alone.
Anya is a Christian woman, the daughter of a butcher. She earns extra money by working as a servant in a Jewish home despite the prohibition by the Catholic Church against Christians working for the Jews. Because of Anya's foot in both worlds, she is the perfect person to ask for help with the investigation into the girls' murder, a friend of both Christians and Jews. She is observant and intelligent but must be careful.
There was much in the way of Talmudic thought and discussion throughout the novel, which I found quite interesting. I have long been interested in the Jewish faith and history. The author clearly did a lot of research into the traditions and history of the time period. The hostility between the various religious factions was a big focus of the novel. The Catholic Church in that region was very powerful and punitive. It seemed to be a fearful time, one where a cry of witchcraft or blasphemy by a neighbor would be enough to warrant punishment, even torture without a full investigation. My heart went out to the midwife who was only trying to make her living, having to watch her every step for fear she'd be accused of witchcraft.
The novel was told from the perspective of both Benyamin and Anya, one in first person the other in third. The Fifth Servant takes place over three days, but is not a fast paced book for all the author tries to accomplish, both in conveying the historical aspects of the time period as well as the more philosophical discussions that take place between the characters. There are also the personal stories: Benyamin's attempts to reconcile with his wife and Anya with her own internal struggles, including whether or not to pursue forbidden love. There is building tension, especially as Benyamin's deadline to bring forward the real killer approaches and the angry mob outside the gates grows more and more violent. The mystery itself, the search for what happened to the murdered girl, seemed almost secondary to the other events taking place in the book. Still, it definitely is what moved the story forward.
The Fifth Servant was not quite I expected, but I did enjoy it. I would have preferred there to have been more of a balance between the mystery itself and the other aspects of the novel; however, there was so much going on that I can see how challenging that might be. The inquisition is an interesting and sad part of our world's history, and I was inspired to do a little research into the time period and setting of the novel after finishing it--always a good sign.
Source: Review Copy provided by publisher.
February 17, 2011
“The Fifth Servant” by Kenneth Wishnia is a fictional mystery set in 1592 at Jewish Ghetto in the city of Prague. The book is rich with Jewish culture and the tensions between Jews and Christians.
Benyamin Ben Akivah is a shamash, the caretaker of a temple, and new to the Jewish community. Benyamin is not only a scholar but a proud Jew with a temper which he finds difficult to control. When a Christian girl’s body is found in the ghetto just before Passover Benyamin must prove to the Christian community that it is a blood libel case before the ghetto is destroyed.
Working together with the freethinker Rabbi Lowe they must work fast while keeping the Jewish laws and restrictions regarding the holiday of Passover.
“The Fifth Servant” by Kenneth Wishnia is told through the eyes of Benyamin Ben Akivah, a Talmudic scholar who follows his disgruntled wife from Poland to Prague. The book takes place over three days and two nights when Benyamin tries to solve a blood libel incident which weighed down the Jewish communities up until the 20th Century.
This is a clever book, filled with excellent research, vivid imagery, and good writing sprinkled with humor. The medieval ghetto life is convincing and rich in detail, city of Prague comes to life even though it wouldn’t be a place I’d want to live in (especially not at that time). While the book is a mystery it is not formulaic and uses a new and unique voice which examines the ancient Jewish texts like the bible, Talmud, Torah, Kabbalah and to my joy The Book of Zohar to tell the story.
There are many conflicts in the book, not only between Jews and Christians but also between rich and poor, men and women, freethinking rabbis and their conservative counterparts as well as leaders of the Christian church who see the role of the inquisition as fleshing out heretics and those who are just a bit too happy to use it as an excuse to torture Jews and take their fortune (splitting it between the emperor and the Church as was the costume).
I liked the way that Mr. Wishnia imagined how people in the 16th Century thought. Women, who were part of the community, had to do things in secret even though they were pillars of the community. There is great insight on how Jews were persecuted and the struggles they faced. However, the author uses these adversities to highlight the Jewish spirit and perseverance.
There are many characters in the book but and they are all very well drawn. Besides the protagonist a standout characters was Anya, a bright Christian girl, daughter of a butcher as well as Sheriff Zizska of Prague, Rabbi Loew and even Emperor Rudolph II made an appearance.
While I truly enjoyed this book, it is not for everyone (but really, what book is?). The book is filled with my kind of humor, sarcastic, self deprecating and sardonic however it is not a light or easy read. This book will most likely appeal to those interested in Jewish history, Jewish folklore and/or the time period.
There are many Hebrew, Yiddish and some German words/phrases peppered throughout the book, the author does translate the important ones and also includes and excellent glossary at the end to assist the readers.
For more book reviews please visit: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
Benyamin Ben Akivah is a shamash, the caretaker of a temple, and new to the Jewish community. Benyamin is not only a scholar but a proud Jew with a temper which he finds difficult to control. When a Christian girl’s body is found in the ghetto just before Passover Benyamin must prove to the Christian community that it is a blood libel case before the ghetto is destroyed.
Working together with the freethinker Rabbi Lowe they must work fast while keeping the Jewish laws and restrictions regarding the holiday of Passover.
“The Fifth Servant” by Kenneth Wishnia is told through the eyes of Benyamin Ben Akivah, a Talmudic scholar who follows his disgruntled wife from Poland to Prague. The book takes place over three days and two nights when Benyamin tries to solve a blood libel incident which weighed down the Jewish communities up until the 20th Century.
This is a clever book, filled with excellent research, vivid imagery, and good writing sprinkled with humor. The medieval ghetto life is convincing and rich in detail, city of Prague comes to life even though it wouldn’t be a place I’d want to live in (especially not at that time). While the book is a mystery it is not formulaic and uses a new and unique voice which examines the ancient Jewish texts like the bible, Talmud, Torah, Kabbalah and to my joy The Book of Zohar to tell the story.
There are many conflicts in the book, not only between Jews and Christians but also between rich and poor, men and women, freethinking rabbis and their conservative counterparts as well as leaders of the Christian church who see the role of the inquisition as fleshing out heretics and those who are just a bit too happy to use it as an excuse to torture Jews and take their fortune (splitting it between the emperor and the Church as was the costume).
I liked the way that Mr. Wishnia imagined how people in the 16th Century thought. Women, who were part of the community, had to do things in secret even though they were pillars of the community. There is great insight on how Jews were persecuted and the struggles they faced. However, the author uses these adversities to highlight the Jewish spirit and perseverance.
There are many characters in the book but and they are all very well drawn. Besides the protagonist a standout characters was Anya, a bright Christian girl, daughter of a butcher as well as Sheriff Zizska of Prague, Rabbi Loew and even Emperor Rudolph II made an appearance.
While I truly enjoyed this book, it is not for everyone (but really, what book is?). The book is filled with my kind of humor, sarcastic, self deprecating and sardonic however it is not a light or easy read. This book will most likely appeal to those interested in Jewish history, Jewish folklore and/or the time period.
There are many Hebrew, Yiddish and some German words/phrases peppered throughout the book, the author does translate the important ones and also includes and excellent glossary at the end to assist the readers.
For more book reviews please visit: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
February 28, 2011
The Fifth Servant by Kenneth Wishnia is a complex historical fiction murder mystery, taking place in 1592 in Prague where Jews take refuge within the gated walls of a ghetto in one of the few places they are actually allowed to live. All that may be forced to change when the body of a young Christian girl with her throat slashed is found in a Jewish shop on the eve of Passover. The shopkeeper and his family are arrested, but more is at stake than just their freedom as the Christians may use this as an excuse to destroy the Jews. With less than three days to find the real killer, Talmudic scholar Benyamin is left to try to solve the crime.
In The Fifth Servant, Wishnia does a great job of combining the historical with his murder mystery plot line, although I do think the historical aspects work much better than the mystery part, as it is waded down by all the details and more characters than I could easily keep straight. It's also not Wishnia's fault but when everyone goes by Rabbi or Reb I get easily confused trying to recall who has done what and sometimes the novel became too complicated for me. This wasn't helped by constantly throwing in interesting, but often irrelevant, historical facts and philosophical debates. In particular, I think the first 150 pages could have been trimmed down slightly as it took quite awhile to actually get into the story. Once I had settled into the book, I was able to enjoy the story even if it went occasionally off-topic.
The novel contains a lot of words in other languages, particularly Yiddish and Hebrew, and although there is a small glossary at the back I really think footnotes would have been beneficial in this case. It really interrupts the flow of the book to constantly be flipping around, especially since the glossary isn't even completely at the back at the book but actually precedes a bonus chapter about what happened to one of the characters. One aspect I appreciated about The Fifth Servant was the surprising sense of humour, particularly when it came to jokes about faith and religion between the various Rabbis and other individuals. However when it came to actual character development there were simply too many people in the story for all of them to feel dimensional and many came across as caricatures, for example the prostitute with the heart of gold or the friendly giant with mental disabilities.
The Fifth Servant offers so much to the reader, insight on everything from history to religion, that at times it becomes overwhelming and difficult to follow. I wanted to understand what was going on, but at times the story simply became too complex and with too much random information for it to really be clear in my head. There is a lot about the book that is interesting and well-written, but ultimately Wishnia simply overreaches and the result is that The Fifth Servant is an intelligent but overly confusing novel that is heavy on the historical and light on the actual mystery component.
In The Fifth Servant, Wishnia does a great job of combining the historical with his murder mystery plot line, although I do think the historical aspects work much better than the mystery part, as it is waded down by all the details and more characters than I could easily keep straight. It's also not Wishnia's fault but when everyone goes by Rabbi or Reb I get easily confused trying to recall who has done what and sometimes the novel became too complicated for me. This wasn't helped by constantly throwing in interesting, but often irrelevant, historical facts and philosophical debates. In particular, I think the first 150 pages could have been trimmed down slightly as it took quite awhile to actually get into the story. Once I had settled into the book, I was able to enjoy the story even if it went occasionally off-topic.
The novel contains a lot of words in other languages, particularly Yiddish and Hebrew, and although there is a small glossary at the back I really think footnotes would have been beneficial in this case. It really interrupts the flow of the book to constantly be flipping around, especially since the glossary isn't even completely at the back at the book but actually precedes a bonus chapter about what happened to one of the characters. One aspect I appreciated about The Fifth Servant was the surprising sense of humour, particularly when it came to jokes about faith and religion between the various Rabbis and other individuals. However when it came to actual character development there were simply too many people in the story for all of them to feel dimensional and many came across as caricatures, for example the prostitute with the heart of gold or the friendly giant with mental disabilities.
The Fifth Servant offers so much to the reader, insight on everything from history to religion, that at times it becomes overwhelming and difficult to follow. I wanted to understand what was going on, but at times the story simply became too complex and with too much random information for it to really be clear in my head. There is a lot about the book that is interesting and well-written, but ultimately Wishnia simply overreaches and the result is that The Fifth Servant is an intelligent but overly confusing novel that is heavy on the historical and light on the actual mystery component.
February 18, 2011
Here's a book that combines some of my favorite things - history, detailed information about a relatively unfamiliar culture, a basis in folklore, and a mystery. The Fifth Servant is a wonderful and playful book based in part on the legend of Rabbi Loew's creation of the Golem that saved the ghetto of Prague. It's a legend that never fails to delight me and this book goes on my list of favorites based on it, including He, She, and It by Marge Piercy and The Golem by Issac Bashevis Singer. All are very different, but all tell a story of ingenuity and courage in the face of great peril and of winning out against all odds through wit and intelligence.
This was a great story and once I started reading I was immediately hooked. The language is relatively modern, but the author makes an argument about this by talking about old tales written in Yiddish that are colloquial and very modern in their sound. I think this was a good choice. There's nothing worse than reading historical fiction where the dialogue sounds like that one person from your high school drama class that has that phony snooty stage voice (or that pretentious classical music announcer that thinks a fake British accent makes them smarter). Bleh.
This is a complicated story, but the author balances the plot complexities and the mix of cultures and languages deftly by giving each character (no matter how minor) a clear voice that is related to the individual's shared culture. It makes it easier to keep track of all the pieces.
The brilliant reminder of the oppression faced not just by Jews, but by Protestants and by the poor is a wonderful reflection of our own time. We all need to be more concerned with social justice and with our histories and this book amply illustrates that (although not in a didactic way). I also loved the detail about daily life, about being an apothecary or a butcher or a Jewish prostitute. The celebration of learning and reading and language as a tool for rising above circumstances of all kinds was also a big hit with me.
What a lovely book - not run of the mill, but combining the best of several genres into its own tale.
This was a great story and once I started reading I was immediately hooked. The language is relatively modern, but the author makes an argument about this by talking about old tales written in Yiddish that are colloquial and very modern in their sound. I think this was a good choice. There's nothing worse than reading historical fiction where the dialogue sounds like that one person from your high school drama class that has that phony snooty stage voice (or that pretentious classical music announcer that thinks a fake British accent makes them smarter). Bleh.
This is a complicated story, but the author balances the plot complexities and the mix of cultures and languages deftly by giving each character (no matter how minor) a clear voice that is related to the individual's shared culture. It makes it easier to keep track of all the pieces.
The brilliant reminder of the oppression faced not just by Jews, but by Protestants and by the poor is a wonderful reflection of our own time. We all need to be more concerned with social justice and with our histories and this book amply illustrates that (although not in a didactic way). I also loved the detail about daily life, about being an apothecary or a butcher or a Jewish prostitute. The celebration of learning and reading and language as a tool for rising above circumstances of all kinds was also a big hit with me.
What a lovely book - not run of the mill, but combining the best of several genres into its own tale.
March 3, 2011
Only at the outset was it slow to keep my attention - while I was enthralled by the imagery Wishnia provided, I was put off by the modernization of the dialogue. And although Wishnia includes an author's note clarifying his reasons for bringing 16th century conversations to a more contemporary approach, I did (only initially) struggle with it. I much prefer historical fiction to be representative (or as closely as it can be, or maybe even how it is imagined it would be) to the actual speech patterns and word usage that are found during that time so it did make it difficult to get into the rhythm of the book.
Once I did, though, it was a highly enjoyable read. I appreciate Jewish fiction and especially historical fiction, so to be able to combine the two and then throw a murder mystery on top of that, added to my overall pleasure. While I do wish the mystery played a more central part throughout the story, I could accept that the primary discussion Wishnia focused on was of the interaction and struggles that the Jewish community experienced during this time. The spiritual and personal challenges of Ben-Akiva and others provided fantastic character development, and I enjoyed the insight into these characters. Wishnia does provide a helpful glossary in the back of the book, however he does a fantastic job of sentence structure to contextualize it so that you may not need to use the glossary.
Richly described and exuding the smells and sounds of what 16th century Prague surely must have been like, Wishnia has clearly researched thoroughly for The Fifth Servant, and it is a strikingly beautiful and gritty look into this time period. Whether it is a group of Jesuits walking on the cobbled streets, or a tough scene of torture and interrogation of a potential "witch," Wishnia has superbly captured scenes so vivid that in several instances, a moment of reflection was needed before proceeding. I look forward to more of his work.
Once I did, though, it was a highly enjoyable read. I appreciate Jewish fiction and especially historical fiction, so to be able to combine the two and then throw a murder mystery on top of that, added to my overall pleasure. While I do wish the mystery played a more central part throughout the story, I could accept that the primary discussion Wishnia focused on was of the interaction and struggles that the Jewish community experienced during this time. The spiritual and personal challenges of Ben-Akiva and others provided fantastic character development, and I enjoyed the insight into these characters. Wishnia does provide a helpful glossary in the back of the book, however he does a fantastic job of sentence structure to contextualize it so that you may not need to use the glossary.
Richly described and exuding the smells and sounds of what 16th century Prague surely must have been like, Wishnia has clearly researched thoroughly for The Fifth Servant, and it is a strikingly beautiful and gritty look into this time period. Whether it is a group of Jesuits walking on the cobbled streets, or a tough scene of torture and interrogation of a potential "witch," Wishnia has superbly captured scenes so vivid that in several instances, a moment of reflection was needed before proceeding. I look forward to more of his work.
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