Play Audiobook Sample
The Dark Monk Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.01) - 4,014 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
The Dark Monk is the second book in Hangman’s Daughter, the million-copy bestselling series.
1660: Winter has settled thick over a sleepy village in the Bavarian Alps, ensuring every farmer and servant is indoors on the night a parish priest discovers he’s been poisoned. As numbness creeps up his body, he summons the last of his strength to scratch a cryptic sign in the frost.
Following a trail of riddles, hangman Jakob Kuisl, his headstrong daughter, Magdalena, and the town physician’s son team up with the priest’s aristocratic sister to investigate. What they uncover will lead them back to the Crusades, unlocking a troubled history of internal church politics and sending them on a chase for a treasure of the Knights Templar.
But they’re not the only ones after the legendary fortune. A team of dangerous and mysterious monks is always close behind, tracking their every move, speaking Latin in the shadows, giving off a strange, intoxicating scent. And to throw the hangman off their trail, they have ensured he is tasked with capturing a band of thieves roving the countryside attacking solitary travelers and spreading panic.
Delivering on the promise of the international bestseller The Hangman’s Daughter, Oliver Pötzsch takes us on a whirlwind tour through the occult hiding places of Bavaria’s ancient monasteries. Once again based on prodigious historical research into Pötzsch’s family tree, The Dark Monk brings to life an unforgettable, compassionate hangman and his tenacious daughter, painting a robust tableau of seventeenth-century Bavaria and quickening our pulses with a gripping, mesmerizing mystery.
Download and start listening now!
"For some reason I just loved this book! It was fresh and original for me. Now I don't think the writing is all that amazingly lyrical or anything....I really think it was the setting that I liked. Some of the main characters are the Hangman, the Hangman's Daughter, the Medicus, and a great many priests. The mystery is set in 1600s Bavaria. Maybe part of the attraction for me is also that I have a couple of lines of my family who are from Bavaria too. See, the author, Oliver Potzsch, has done some of his genealogy and he is actually descended from this line of notorious hangmen, the Kuisls. So in his stories, central characters are the hangman and his daughter, also of that name. I love that whole idea and find it very inspirational. Maybe I will do something like that someday with one of my lines. How about the Christnacht one? :) (This means Christmas Eve in German, but what we don't know is why the family was named after Christmas Eve!) Anyway,I must read the other two that have been translated soon."
— Cathy (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
Swift and sure, compelling as any conspiracy theory, persuasive as any spasm of paranoia, The Dark Monk grips you at the base of your skull and doesn’t let go.
— Gregory Maguire -
Oliver Pötzsch takes readers on a darkly atmospheric visit to seventeenth-century Bavaria in his latest adventure. With enough mystery and intrigue to satisfy those who like gritty historical fiction, The Dark Monk has convincing characters, rip-roaring action, and finely drawn settings.
— Deborah Harkness -
Weaving together the mystery of a murdered priest, a Templar treasure, and a kind-hearted hangman, Oliver Pötzsch’s The Dark Monk is a labyrinth of clues and rich characters in seventeenth-century Bavaria. Pötzsch keeps the action boiling, the clues intriguing, and the history fascinating and authentic.
— William Dietrich -
I loved every page, character and plot twist of The Hangman’s Daughter, an inventive historical novel about a seventeenth-century hangman’s quest to save a witch—from himself.
— Scott Turow
The Dark Monk Listener Reviews
-
" In 1660, the priest of the local church is found dead of poisoning in the crypt of his church with his finger pointing to the writing on the plaque. Jakob Kuisl, his daughter Magdalena, the priest's sister Benedikta, and the doctor's son Simon begin investigating. They soon find out they are trying to find a treasure hidden by the Knights Templar. As they follow the clues from one old church to another, they soon realize there are others searching as well. They have to chase down robbers, and get themselves into very dangerous situations with monks also trying to find the treasure. Magdalena and Benedikta also show evidence of jealousy over Simon. "
— Scilla, 2/8/2014 -
" I loved this book. I can't wait for Oliver Potzsch's next one in January. I'm very found of Magdalena and her father as characters. "
— Angela, 1/26/2014 -
" This second installation of the series, the Hangman's Daughter, failed to live up to the excellence of its predecessor. Not only did the writing seem not as intelligent but the plot was lacking credibility. In addition, and to my utmost dismay, were the flaws and errors of historical and cultural accuracy. I can only hope that the next novel in this series improves upon this disappointment. "
— Miranda, 1/26/2014 -
" Not as good as the first one but still good. This one seemed a little more religious to me, which is fine, but not really my cup of tea. I have a habit of always liking the first book in every series the most though so that also plays against all forthcoming novels in any series. Magdelena is still a strong female character but her jealous rampages about the medicus and her "female" type daydreams annoy me a little. Simon annoyed me greatly in this book for more reasons than i care to mention but Kuisl was the same lovable hangman(oxymoron?)that we grew to love in the former novel. Anyways, certainly a worthwhile read, even if it's not as good as The Hangman's Daughter. "
— Laura, 1/25/2014 -
" Fast read. Not as good as first book but entertaining. "
— Vicki, 1/17/2014 -
" I love the description of the people, architecture and places. And really enjoyed the afterword about his family and the guided tour. "
— Kat, 1/8/2014 -
" I really liked the first book. did not like this one. In fact I struggled to get thru it and never even finished. "
— Rebeca, 1/5/2014 -
" Another wandering adventure with the Hangeman, his wayward daughter and the rebel doctor. Slow but a great escape and somehow addictive. "
— Louise, 1/4/2014 -
" I am in LOVE with this series. I never thought I would've liked it so much. I highly recommend. "
— Chris, 12/29/2013 -
" Why did I continue reading this series :( "
— Taylor, 12/21/2013 -
" Even better than the first in the series! "
— Bill, 12/20/2013 -
" While I liked the first book (Hangman's Daughter) I am somewhat lukewarm about this and the next book of his. I think possibly the whole Hangman's Daughter thing is pretty much done to death (pun intended) by now. "
— Julie, 11/9/2013 -
" Pretty interesting story. It continues with the same characters as the first the book. The ending has a nice twist to it. There is a murder in a church and the hangman, the doctor become involved to solve the mystery of why and who. "
— Joan, 11/7/2013 -
" I really liked the first book in the series and found this one to be well worth the read although not the equal of "the hangmans daughter" . I have ordered the third book and hopefully will find it interesting. "
— Missy, 10/22/2013 -
" I just could never say enough good things about this series. I want to name my first kid Magdalena. Scratch that, I want to BE Magdalena. It is KILLING me that I have to wait another month for the third book to be translated and become available in the US. "
— Courtnee, 10/15/2013 -
" It was good but I enjoyed the first Hangman's Daughter book much better. There were parts of this story that seemed to drag, but still loved the characters and have pre-ordered the third book to come out. "
— Kristin, 10/10/2013 -
" I had mixed feelings about this, maybe it was because I read it in snippets. It was reminiscent of Angels and Demon's with Templars looking for a treasure. I figured out the mystery before it was revealed so it seemed a bit anticlimactic. "
— Kim, 10/3/2013 -
" Even better than the first! "
— Sue, 7/1/2013 -
" Another great historical fiction from Oliver Poetzsch. I can picture the places and religious conflicts. I like the mystery he creates. A read that pulls you along for the ride. I'm already on to his next book! "
— Julie, 6/4/2013 -
" Hangman's Daughter was a good read. I really enjoyed coming back to visit the characters in the Dark Monk. Excited to see where the author will takes us in the next book. "
— Joanne, 5/6/2013 -
" Enjoyed this one more than the first. Love the mystery, the history and that it is based on people related to the author. Will definitely read a 3rd one if it comes out. "
— Stefanie, 3/17/2013 -
" A very nice sequal to the Hangman's daughter. I love this series in part because of the high suspense but also because of how much I am learning about European history. I have to say it began to drag for awhile in the middle but definitely made up for it with a can't put it down ending. "
— Theresa, 3/7/2013 -
" Third book in the series of the Hangman's Daughter. It kept my attention. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. "
— Mary, 3/4/2013 -
" Love this series!! Think there are 2 more that I have to look for! "
— Karen, 3/1/2013 -
" A poisoned priest, a mad monk, a band of thieves led by a woman pretending to be the deceased priest's sister. Cryptic riddles dating to the Crusades leading to a long-lost Templar treasure. Twisted and sometimes corrupt church politics. All make for an engrossing and fast-moving tale. "
— Kathy, 1/13/2013 -
" good follow- up to the hangman's daughter "
— Estelle, 12/19/2012 -
" Potzsch's novels should be praised by all lovers of reading. His novels are (novels like his) the reason I enjoy reading. Transported to a time and place and we get to live a different life, even if just for a little while. "
— Mike, 12/7/2012 -
" I loved this book. Historical novel about 17th century Bavaria, "inquisitions," victims of "Dark Ages" thinking (they didn't have a chance!), and what life was like for an executioner and his family. "
— Vicky, 12/2/2012 -
" Spellbinding page turner, can't wait till the next book, "
— Mary, 8/18/2012 -
" Better than the first one I think. Much better at not leaving a loop hole or plot hole around. "
— Megan, 8/11/2012 -
" Love the characters. Enjoy the period 1600,s Bavaria. I think the translation was very well done. "
— Kerrie, 6/17/2012 -
" Better than The Hangman's Daughter. Really enjoyed it ... Like, I chose to read it over going to sleep or playing with the iPad -- so ... Pretty darn good! "
— Becca, 6/12/2012
About Oliver Pötzsch
Oliver Pötzsch worked for years as a journalist and scriptwriter for Bavarian television. He is the author of seven books in the international bestselling Hangman’s Daughter historical series, the Black Musketeers series, and several stand-alone novels. His work has been translated into more than twenty languages.
About Grover Gardner
Grover Gardner (a.k.a. Tom Parker) is an award-winning narrator with over a thousand titles to his credit. Named one of the “Best Voices of the Century” and a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine, he has won three prestigious Audie Awards, was chosen Narrator of the Year for 2005 by Publishers Weekly, and has earned more than thirty Earphones Awards.