 | |
| Author | Neil Mackay |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical crime |
| Published | 2017 |
| Publisher | Freight Books |
| Pages | 352 |
| ISBN | 978-1910449721 |
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]
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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