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Devil in the Countryside
Devil in the Countryside is a story about the most famous werewolf investigation in history, brimming with intrigue and war, love and betrayal, and long-kept vendettas.
It's 1588, the height of the Reformation, and a killer is terrorizing the German countryside. There are reports that the legendary Werewolf of Bedburg has returned to a once-peaceful land. Heinrich Franz, a cold and calculating investigator, is tasked with finding whomever -- or whatever -- the killer might be. He'll need all the help he can get, including that of a strange hunter who's recently stumbled into town. Though they're after the same thing, their reasons are worlds apart.
And through it all, a priest tries to keep the peace among his frightened townsfolk, while a young woman threatens his most basic beliefs.
It's 1588, the height of the Reformation, and a killer is terrorizing the German countryside. There are reports that the legendary Werewolf of Bedburg has returned to a once-peaceful land. Heinrich Franz, a cold and calculating investigator, is tasked with finding whomever -- or whatever -- the killer might be. He'll need all the help he can get, including that of a strange hunter who's recently stumbled into town. Though they're after the same thing, their reasons are worlds apart.
And through it all, a priest tries to keep the peace among his frightened townsfolk, while a young woman threatens his most basic beliefs.
348 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2017
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1,645 people want to read
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February 6, 2017
History shows dozens of the bloodiest times to be fought In the name of a spiritual belief. The late sixteenth century was no different as the Dark Ages become witness to deceit, treachery and the most foul of sins against humanity in the supposed name of God. Catholic clergy are little more than tyrants who believe themselves to be above the law of mankind. Protestants view heaven and hell as an all or nothing proposition and the infamous Werewolf of Bedbourg is said to be back, with blood and death staining his teeth and fouling his breath. The German countryside is caught in an all-consuming fear as the grizzly death count rises. Has the monster been unleashed by one religion to decimate another? Is it the acts of a paid assassin or a mythical beast?
DEVIL IN THE COUNTRYSIDE by Cory Barclay is historical crime fiction, complete with a hard-boiled investigator, Heinrich Franz, whose commission it is to find out who or what is killing innocents of a particular faith. While the higher clergy look down at the masses as their puppets, a young priest realizes his calling was not that of the church, but as a man and his heart is at war with his duty to celibacy with a young woman promised to another.
Become immersed in the treachery, the hate and the superstitions of the sixteenth century as some church leaders use coercion and misconceptions, open threats and torture to evoke “confessions� that will lead to death, so very much like the Salem Witch Trials. Witness the growing and forbidden love between the young priest and his lover, feel the confusion as the priest discovers he believes in the teachings of the Protestants over the lies spewed from his Catholic leaders. Will the werewolf be found before more innocents are forced to confess crimes they have never committed? How does the investigator fit into this tale?
Cory Barclay remains true to the bones of the history of his tale and fleshes it out into a twisted crime thriller in one of the world’s most volatile and dark times. Tremendous world building, vivid details that will sometimes have you cringing, this historical fiction is a true gem to read and Cory Barclay is an author with a pen so powerful, you will feel as if you are there. Never read gritty historical fiction? Here is your chance!
I received this copy from Cory Barclay in exchange for my honest review.
MY RATING: 4.5 Stars
Publisher: Cory Barclay/ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (January 5, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1541048601
ISBN-13: 978-1541048607
Genre: Historical Fiction
Paperback: 348 pages
Available from:
For Reviews & More:
DEVIL IN THE COUNTRYSIDE by Cory Barclay is historical crime fiction, complete with a hard-boiled investigator, Heinrich Franz, whose commission it is to find out who or what is killing innocents of a particular faith. While the higher clergy look down at the masses as their puppets, a young priest realizes his calling was not that of the church, but as a man and his heart is at war with his duty to celibacy with a young woman promised to another.
Become immersed in the treachery, the hate and the superstitions of the sixteenth century as some church leaders use coercion and misconceptions, open threats and torture to evoke “confessions� that will lead to death, so very much like the Salem Witch Trials. Witness the growing and forbidden love between the young priest and his lover, feel the confusion as the priest discovers he believes in the teachings of the Protestants over the lies spewed from his Catholic leaders. Will the werewolf be found before more innocents are forced to confess crimes they have never committed? How does the investigator fit into this tale?
Cory Barclay remains true to the bones of the history of his tale and fleshes it out into a twisted crime thriller in one of the world’s most volatile and dark times. Tremendous world building, vivid details that will sometimes have you cringing, this historical fiction is a true gem to read and Cory Barclay is an author with a pen so powerful, you will feel as if you are there. Never read gritty historical fiction? Here is your chance!
I received this copy from Cory Barclay in exchange for my honest review.
MY RATING: 4.5 Stars
Publisher: Cory Barclay/ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (January 5, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1541048601
ISBN-13: 978-1541048607
Genre: Historical Fiction
Paperback: 348 pages
Available from:
For Reviews & More:
January 30, 2020
Charles van Buren
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
A weak historical novel.
By Charles van Buren on February 24, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
After reading a short sample I decided to read this novel mainly because it seemed similar to Oliver Potzsch's Hangman's Daughter series of historical mysteries. Those novels are also set in Germany but about a century later than Devil in the Countryside. It turns out that they are also much better written and researched.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
Devil in the Countryside contains too many modern phrases, expressions and idioms to be believable historical fiction. It also lacks any likeable, proactive characters. The only two who come to mind are the priest Dieter and the girl Sybil for whom he abandons Catholicism. But both of these characters spend a lot of time just drifting with the flow and being rescued. They are not the kind of characters on which to build a tale of murder and war. Sybil in particular is annoying in several ways but most noticeably in the way she abandons her beloved brother Hugo and her father. True, she could do nothing to help them but she seems to give them little thought once she and Dieter are on the way to safety.
One of the main protagonists, Heinrich Franz, the "Chief Investigator of Bedburg", is a terrible investigator and a worse person. He knowingly has innocent people tortured and executed for somewhat obscure reasons. He doesn't even close the case afterwards. Then there is the tormented hunter and ex-soldier, Georg Sieghart who is a drunk and possibly a murderous madman. In fact, investigator Franz tells him, for no obvious reason, that he knows that he is the killer known as the Werewolf of Bedburg. He does this after arresting Peter Griswold, known as Peter Stumpf. In both this novel and in history, Stumpf is gruesomely executed as the werewolf. Franz gathers no evidence against Stumpf, just arresting him almost out of the blue and persuading him to confess to save his daughter, Sybil and son, Hugo. All in all, the denouement of the killer known as the Werewolf of Bedburg is very weak and unsatisfactory.
I will not go into detail about Mr. Barclay's obvious lack of firearms knowledge. It is a curious lapse in research for a book which is heavy on war, combat and violence. I will ask a rhetorical question, am I the only reviewer who knows what an arquebus is and how it works?
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
A weak historical novel.
By Charles van Buren on February 24, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
After reading a short sample I decided to read this novel mainly because it seemed similar to Oliver Potzsch's Hangman's Daughter series of historical mysteries. Those novels are also set in Germany but about a century later than Devil in the Countryside. It turns out that they are also much better written and researched.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
Devil in the Countryside contains too many modern phrases, expressions and idioms to be believable historical fiction. It also lacks any likeable, proactive characters. The only two who come to mind are the priest Dieter and the girl Sybil for whom he abandons Catholicism. But both of these characters spend a lot of time just drifting with the flow and being rescued. They are not the kind of characters on which to build a tale of murder and war. Sybil in particular is annoying in several ways but most noticeably in the way she abandons her beloved brother Hugo and her father. True, she could do nothing to help them but she seems to give them little thought once she and Dieter are on the way to safety.
One of the main protagonists, Heinrich Franz, the "Chief Investigator of Bedburg", is a terrible investigator and a worse person. He knowingly has innocent people tortured and executed for somewhat obscure reasons. He doesn't even close the case afterwards. Then there is the tormented hunter and ex-soldier, Georg Sieghart who is a drunk and possibly a murderous madman. In fact, investigator Franz tells him, for no obvious reason, that he knows that he is the killer known as the Werewolf of Bedburg. He does this after arresting Peter Griswold, known as Peter Stumpf. In both this novel and in history, Stumpf is gruesomely executed as the werewolf. Franz gathers no evidence against Stumpf, just arresting him almost out of the blue and persuading him to confess to save his daughter, Sybil and son, Hugo. All in all, the denouement of the killer known as the Werewolf of Bedburg is very weak and unsatisfactory.
I will not go into detail about Mr. Barclay's obvious lack of firearms knowledge. It is a curious lapse in research for a book which is heavy on war, combat and violence. I will ask a rhetorical question, am I the only reviewer who knows what an arquebus is and how it works?
February 11, 2017
Disclaimer: I was sent an ARC copy of this book by the author, Cory Barclay, for an honest review
Opinion: Once again, I am PLEASANTLY surprised with a book that is completely out of the genre that I usually read. This story was AMAZING! I found myself having immense trouble putting it down and doing adult things such as going to work, or sleeping. The writing is perfection. It gives the reader the necessary balance of description and detail, while also eloquently weaving a tale of fantasy and realism.
Based loosely on actual events that took place in Germany over a 20 year span, Devil in the Countryside transports the reader to 1588 as murders in Bedburg start to rise. Fear spreads quickly through the town as gruesome and mangled bodies are found in the countryside, and threats against protestant reform begin to plague the Christian ruled town. As Investigator Heinrich Franz looks into the murders, he enlists the help of a hunter by the name of Georg Stieghart who has a past of being quite vicious. This story also follows Father Nicholas Dieter of the church in Bedburg, and young Sybil Griswold who is the daughter of a wealthy farmer. While the investigator tries to hunt down the Werewolf of Bedburg, the church tries to fight off Protestants from overtaking the town and the minds of their people.
Though I gave you guys a little description up there, I’m going to explain a little bit more about these characters/events so that you really get the idea. Probably the COOLEST thing about this book is the fact that it is based on true events. In 1589 a trial was held for a man that was presumed to be the famous Werewolf of Bedburg, who was accused of murder and cannibalism. Shocked? Me too. The fact that these people actually thought that a man was turning into a werewolf and slashing bodies to pieces is just…beyond me. The again, this was also a time when everyone thought witches were casting spells and dealing in dark magic…and here I thought my generation was cuckoo.
Heinrich Franz is the investigator that is put in charge of finding out who/what the Werewolf of Bedburg is, and he seems to go to any lengths to make someone responsible. I really can’t pinpoint my feelings for this character. He is an evil and emotionally unattached man, but I quite like his ruthlessness and cunning behavior. He is the type of person that will do ANYTHING to close a case, especially if that means framing someone in the process. Georg Stieghart is truly my favorite character in this story. He comes off as a drunken idiot most of the time, but he proves to be a very strong-willed and intelligent person. As Georg seeks revenge for the death of his family, who he assumes is the Werewolf, he assists the investigator and helps him hunt the killer down. The relationship between these two characters is fairly comical. They both act friendly towards one another and share news that they have, but they also don’t trust each other and have their own agendas. I enjoyed how the story turned out for Georg and how his character makes a complete 180. He loses some of his savagery and turns into a truly upstanding person.
Sybil Griswold is the daughter of wealthy farmer Peter Griswold. Sybil goes through a lot of dark events in this story, and I commend her character for taking everything in stride. Not only does a dear friend of hers come up dead, but her father begins to force her into a marriage with a nobleman’s son who proves to be vile and pretentious. Sybil finds solace in her time spent with Father Nicholas Dieter, who is a priest at the church in Bedburg. Father Dieter seems to be the most developed character, and for me, the most interesting. He starts out being a very faithful and dutiful servant to the religion that he preaches for, but soon starts to open his eyes to what is going on in the world around him. The relationship between these two characters brings the romance factor into this story, and gives the reader a little light in this otherwise dark and gritty tale.
This story overall was fantastic! The events that took place were gruesome and unnerving, and I kept picturing a less theatrical Tim Burton setting of gray buildings and woeful expressions. Though I am not a big fan of reading a story with religion being such a central theme, it was obviously necessary to this story but it didn’t overtake the actual plot and events that the author was focusing on. I highly recommend this story to any reader that likes thriller/mystery, or to anyone who wants to dabble in a different type of story. I am REALLY looking forward to see what happens in book 2, hopefully it will come out soon!
Opinion: Once again, I am PLEASANTLY surprised with a book that is completely out of the genre that I usually read. This story was AMAZING! I found myself having immense trouble putting it down and doing adult things such as going to work, or sleeping. The writing is perfection. It gives the reader the necessary balance of description and detail, while also eloquently weaving a tale of fantasy and realism.
Based loosely on actual events that took place in Germany over a 20 year span, Devil in the Countryside transports the reader to 1588 as murders in Bedburg start to rise. Fear spreads quickly through the town as gruesome and mangled bodies are found in the countryside, and threats against protestant reform begin to plague the Christian ruled town. As Investigator Heinrich Franz looks into the murders, he enlists the help of a hunter by the name of Georg Stieghart who has a past of being quite vicious. This story also follows Father Nicholas Dieter of the church in Bedburg, and young Sybil Griswold who is the daughter of a wealthy farmer. While the investigator tries to hunt down the Werewolf of Bedburg, the church tries to fight off Protestants from overtaking the town and the minds of their people.
Though I gave you guys a little description up there, I’m going to explain a little bit more about these characters/events so that you really get the idea. Probably the COOLEST thing about this book is the fact that it is based on true events. In 1589 a trial was held for a man that was presumed to be the famous Werewolf of Bedburg, who was accused of murder and cannibalism. Shocked? Me too. The fact that these people actually thought that a man was turning into a werewolf and slashing bodies to pieces is just…beyond me. The again, this was also a time when everyone thought witches were casting spells and dealing in dark magic…and here I thought my generation was cuckoo.
Heinrich Franz is the investigator that is put in charge of finding out who/what the Werewolf of Bedburg is, and he seems to go to any lengths to make someone responsible. I really can’t pinpoint my feelings for this character. He is an evil and emotionally unattached man, but I quite like his ruthlessness and cunning behavior. He is the type of person that will do ANYTHING to close a case, especially if that means framing someone in the process. Georg Stieghart is truly my favorite character in this story. He comes off as a drunken idiot most of the time, but he proves to be a very strong-willed and intelligent person. As Georg seeks revenge for the death of his family, who he assumes is the Werewolf, he assists the investigator and helps him hunt the killer down. The relationship between these two characters is fairly comical. They both act friendly towards one another and share news that they have, but they also don’t trust each other and have their own agendas. I enjoyed how the story turned out for Georg and how his character makes a complete 180. He loses some of his savagery and turns into a truly upstanding person.
Sybil Griswold is the daughter of wealthy farmer Peter Griswold. Sybil goes through a lot of dark events in this story, and I commend her character for taking everything in stride. Not only does a dear friend of hers come up dead, but her father begins to force her into a marriage with a nobleman’s son who proves to be vile and pretentious. Sybil finds solace in her time spent with Father Nicholas Dieter, who is a priest at the church in Bedburg. Father Dieter seems to be the most developed character, and for me, the most interesting. He starts out being a very faithful and dutiful servant to the religion that he preaches for, but soon starts to open his eyes to what is going on in the world around him. The relationship between these two characters brings the romance factor into this story, and gives the reader a little light in this otherwise dark and gritty tale.
This story overall was fantastic! The events that took place were gruesome and unnerving, and I kept picturing a less theatrical Tim Burton setting of gray buildings and woeful expressions. Though I am not a big fan of reading a story with religion being such a central theme, it was obviously necessary to this story but it didn’t overtake the actual plot and events that the author was focusing on. I highly recommend this story to any reader that likes thriller/mystery, or to anyone who wants to dabble in a different type of story. I am REALLY looking forward to see what happens in book 2, hopefully it will come out soon!
Shelved as 'dnf'
March 6, 2017It's the author's first book, apparently, and he looks young on the picture, so I won't be saying what I think about this book.
May 26, 2017
The author sent me this book to review in an appalling state, the pages are black stained at the top and the bottom and the pages are bent over plus water marks on the side of pages. The book in this state I would feel ashamed to take it to my local charity shop where I take all my books.
But above all this is a really good book, it's a novel based on a true events. This story depicts one such actual werewolf investigation and trial a particularly infamous one that took place in Germany, the birthplace of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation.
So although some characters and events are fictional, the subject matter is not.
In 1588 Near the town of Bedburg, Germany a farmer was walking his dogs he found the body of a fifteen year old girl. Unfortunately Heinirich the investigator sent the farmer to jail. Was he right to that?
The search for the werewolf of Bedburg had gone cold over the previous two years. Prior to that, the terrible beast rampaged across the German countryside for a decade, unopposed. When he vanished, no one knew why.
I recommend Devil in the Countryside a story about the most famous werewolf investigation in history, brimming with intrigue and war, love and betrayal.
But above all this is a really good book, it's a novel based on a true events. This story depicts one such actual werewolf investigation and trial a particularly infamous one that took place in Germany, the birthplace of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation.
So although some characters and events are fictional, the subject matter is not.
In 1588 Near the town of Bedburg, Germany a farmer was walking his dogs he found the body of a fifteen year old girl. Unfortunately Heinirich the investigator sent the farmer to jail. Was he right to that?
The search for the werewolf of Bedburg had gone cold over the previous two years. Prior to that, the terrible beast rampaged across the German countryside for a decade, unopposed. When he vanished, no one knew why.
I recommend Devil in the Countryside a story about the most famous werewolf investigation in history, brimming with intrigue and war, love and betrayal.
May 20, 2017
The author claimed this book, Devil in the Countryside, was based upon true events in Germany in 1588. I googled the Werewolf of Bedburg. Sure enough, Wiki had an interesting article about it. I’m not going to copy and paste the article because it would be a spoiler.
This is a who-done-it, which was very well written. Not a lot of laughs in it, very dark mood. I suppose Goths would enjoy the tone of the story. After meeting the characters, you’ll be glad you weren’t living in their village. They’re mostly folks headed to hell on a highway paved with good intentions. The backdrop for the werewolf’s killings is the Reformation with Catholics and Protestants going at each other with tooth and claw, a nightmare in itself.
I think the author, Cory Barclay, has a future.
This is a who-done-it, which was very well written. Not a lot of laughs in it, very dark mood. I suppose Goths would enjoy the tone of the story. After meeting the characters, you’ll be glad you weren’t living in their village. They’re mostly folks headed to hell on a highway paved with good intentions. The backdrop for the werewolf’s killings is the Reformation with Catholics and Protestants going at each other with tooth and claw, a nightmare in itself.
I think the author, Cory Barclay, has a future.
January 3, 2019
An interesting premise with a killer cover. Why 4 stars? The plot dragged a bit in spots but other than that, a solid read. I look forward to reading more from Cory Barclay.
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
February 15, 2017
Devil in the Countryside is a story about the most famous werewolf investigation in history, brimming with intrigue and war, love and betrayal, and long-kept vendettas.
It's 1588, the height of the Reformation, and a killer is terrorizing the German countryside. There are reports that the legendary Werewolf of Bedburg has returned to a once-peaceful land. Heinrich Franz, a cold and calculating investigator, is tasked with finding whomever -- or whatever -- the killer might be. He'll need all the help he can get, including that of a strange hunter who's recently stumbled into town. Though they're after the same thing, their reasons are worlds apart.
And through it all, a priest tries to keep the peace among his frightened townsfolk, while a young woman threatens his most basic beliefs.
Rating: 4.5/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: creeptastic to the penguinth degree; LOVE the many different POVs; I'd never heard of the Werewolf of Bedburg before, and now I'm intrigued; super entertaining, informative, and fast-paced; Cory Barclay brought so many different personalities to life, I'm in awe; some of the practices in 1588 disturbed me greatly
Huge thanks to Cory Barclay and CreateSpace for sending me a free digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review! This in no way altered my read of or opinions on this book.
An hour later, Heinrich was back at the jailhouse, staring at a bloody table of matted fur and intestines. In front of him, Karl Achterberg's hounds were carved open, and Heinrich peered inside their open stomachs.
Since Karl Achterberg had sent Heinrich on a wild chase, the investigator reneged on his deal.
He didn't release the man's dogs.
Okay, penguins. This was SUPER out of my comfort zone--in a lot of ways--but OH MY PENGUIN GLOBS, did I enjoy stepping off that cliff! I am going to take a second to talk about trigger warnings, though--this book has some pretty mature subjects floating around throughout, including: rape; gore; graphic violence/descriptions; assault. Please, PLEASE be careful if you're easily triggered and/or bothered by such things!
Now that that's out of the way.... THIS BOOK! The plot is fantastic--fast-paced, full of drama and intrigue, and super creeptastic in the best of ways. I could feel the terror, the upheaval of emotions, churning at me through the pages. The character's emotions bled from these words and seeped into my own mind, leaving me breathless and curious about what was happening, what would happen. At all moments, I was enthralled and intrigued--this is definitely an informative, edge-of-your-seat read!
"But why are you so sad? Shouldn't this be a joyous occasion?"
Sybil shook her head. "I said you don't understand."
Peter pointed a finger toward the roof. "Ah, your humors are unbalanced. Right. I saw this with your mother."
We're given several varying POVs throughout, as well--but they didn't feel muddied or rushed. Instead, each character brought a new and unique vantage point to the events surrounding this journey. Also, their personalities are complex and well-rounded, bringing more depth and delicious story-telling mastery to this tale. This is, as I'm sure some of you deduced, based on real life events...but Cory Barclay portrayed the pertinent details in such entertaining and interesting ways, the suspension of disbelief wasn't once broken for me.
I had an awesome journey diving into and reading about this time-period, and will be seeking out more information about the Werewolf of Bedburg in the future. While there were some very difficult moments to read in this title, I was enthralled by the fast-paced action and air of intrigue surrounding the chapters. I recommend this to lovers of historical fiction, those interested in this time period, and readers seeking a journey outside their normal safety nets. Sink your teeth into this book, penguins; just beware the full moon.
April 27, 2017
Great historical detail! I felt as if I was an observer inside the story. Will be purchasing other books by Mr. Barclay.
February 11, 2017
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really don’t read as much historical fiction as I’d like to so I’m extremely pleased with myself for having read this book. And now that I’m done patting myself on the back� I’ll get on with it. Sorry.
For all intents and purposes, this is a murder mystery. The mutilated bodies of young girls are being found and the main suspect of these crimes is an elusive werewolf who is thought to be the devil incarnate. Now the “hunter� is the one being hunted and it seems like everyone in this small town is looking for the devil in the countryside. But who is evil and who is good?
This mystery takes place in the 1500s, right in the midst of the Reformation. Due to the setting, the story is largely focused around opposing religions and war (and really, those things never stop being relevant). You’d think that we would have learned from history by now but apparently we still don’t know how to accept different religions. But that’s a conversation for a different time. I just wanted to note how much I enjoyed the fact that this book made me think about more than just the book, you know?
We are introduced to a large cast of characters who are all morally questionable and frankly, quite unlikable. You could kill off any of these characters and I wouldn’t really care (but maybe that’s just saying something about my Grinch-sized heart). Initially, I was worried that the several points of view would overwhelm me but it was done quite well and only aided in developing all the side characters. In fact, it didn’t really feel like anyone was a side character at all. They were all fleshed out and I really appreciated that. I feel like these varied perspectives also contributed to the overall themes of humanity and Good vs Evil in this book. Or maybe not.
Maybe I’m just reading between the lines here (and oh my goodness, I hate myself for dropping my blog name like that) but I really feel as if this book is exposing humans for what we are: weak. No one is inherently good or bad but we all have the potential to be misguided or self-righteous. With that being said, we also have the potential for redemption. I just think it’s interesting how every character in this book sees things in a different way, but at no point does one character seem more right than another. They’re all a little fucked up, honestly. And maybe that’s the point.
This werewolf investigation truly brought out the viciousness of each character, no matter how “pure� their intentions were to begin with. And it goes without saying that even the most earnest of beings are capable of the most inhumane things.
Overall, the novel was very well-written and easy to follow. I’d like to congratulate Barclay for writing such an impressive debut novel. The future of his books shall be ripe with (fictional) bloodshed and destruction. The good kind. The kind that’s fun to read about. Okay, I’ll stop now.
I really don’t read as much historical fiction as I’d like to so I’m extremely pleased with myself for having read this book. And now that I’m done patting myself on the back� I’ll get on with it. Sorry.
For all intents and purposes, this is a murder mystery. The mutilated bodies of young girls are being found and the main suspect of these crimes is an elusive werewolf who is thought to be the devil incarnate. Now the “hunter� is the one being hunted and it seems like everyone in this small town is looking for the devil in the countryside. But who is evil and who is good?
This mystery takes place in the 1500s, right in the midst of the Reformation. Due to the setting, the story is largely focused around opposing religions and war (and really, those things never stop being relevant). You’d think that we would have learned from history by now but apparently we still don’t know how to accept different religions. But that’s a conversation for a different time. I just wanted to note how much I enjoyed the fact that this book made me think about more than just the book, you know?
We are introduced to a large cast of characters who are all morally questionable and frankly, quite unlikable. You could kill off any of these characters and I wouldn’t really care (but maybe that’s just saying something about my Grinch-sized heart). Initially, I was worried that the several points of view would overwhelm me but it was done quite well and only aided in developing all the side characters. In fact, it didn’t really feel like anyone was a side character at all. They were all fleshed out and I really appreciated that. I feel like these varied perspectives also contributed to the overall themes of humanity and Good vs Evil in this book. Or maybe not.
Maybe I’m just reading between the lines here (and oh my goodness, I hate myself for dropping my blog name like that) but I really feel as if this book is exposing humans for what we are: weak. No one is inherently good or bad but we all have the potential to be misguided or self-righteous. With that being said, we also have the potential for redemption. I just think it’s interesting how every character in this book sees things in a different way, but at no point does one character seem more right than another. They’re all a little fucked up, honestly. And maybe that’s the point.
This werewolf investigation truly brought out the viciousness of each character, no matter how “pure� their intentions were to begin with. And it goes without saying that even the most earnest of beings are capable of the most inhumane things.
Overall, the novel was very well-written and easy to follow. I’d like to congratulate Barclay for writing such an impressive debut novel. The future of his books shall be ripe with (fictional) bloodshed and destruction. The good kind. The kind that’s fun to read about. Okay, I’ll stop now.
May 7, 2021
Not what I would typically expect a werewolf book to be. The violence is typical. Still, definitely a good idea.
March 20, 2017
Actual Rating 4.5 Stars
Its been a long time since I read some really good Historical Fiction; so I couldn’t pass the chance up to read this brilliant book by a debut author.
The blurb itself got to me! History has always played favourites with conspiracies, paranormal or otherwise and so many of them are still unexplored till date.
First, I have to say I loved that this book wasn’t based in America or had anything to do with the British Royalty � I have to be honest; one of the main reasons I had lost interest in this genre was because almost every book (fictional or non-fictional) was written in those countries; and while I loved reading them, they did become a little stale for my tastes after a while.
But the fact that this book is based in Germany, 1558 grabbed my attention; and I am glad that I did � this one was a treat right from the start; even if it took me a while to get used to the writing style!
Written in multiple perspectives � which to be honest took a while for me to get used to or even like, I am more of dual POV kind of a girl � but from the first page, the story grabbed me.
Set in the religious turmoil circumstances of 1558 Germany; you get to see a side of the history that is usually unknown to one who is not the resident of the country (at least that’s what I hope otherwise my education has been sorely lacking :P); one side the Protestants and Christians were colliding and on the other, a young woman was dead and there could be only one reason for it � The Werewolf of Bedburg had returned.
My biggest apprehension when I realised that this book had multiple perspectives was “will this debut author be able to handle this writing style?� Because it isn’t easy to actually to handle such a huge diversity without loosing your focus, but Mr. Barclay handles with panache that I have rarely seen even in seasoned authors.
Germany is an unexplored subject for me; and the fact that Mr. Barclay has seamlessly stitched different ideas and perspectives into something that gives the reader a diverse perspective.
And if you aren’t a fan of historical fiction, don’t be shy to jump into this book, for there’s a whole lot of genres to scratch through and you can only do that if you are brave enough to try out a different genre!
For a debut author, this book was something commendable � not only does it grab the reader’s attention from the first page, but it also gets you interested in something that happened ages ago, but still feels like yesterday!
I am definitely giving Mr. Barclay a place on my “to keep a look-out list� and I am looking forward to what he has in store for us next!
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February 28, 2018
Intriguing and definitely worth the read. Enjoyed this one a lot!
Full review to come!
Full review to come!
March 27, 2017
()
In Devil in the Countryside, we follow multiple perspectives. It sets in Bedburg, a village in Germany. The year is 1588, and it’s yet another eventful year in terms of religion in Germany. The Protestant and Christian religion collide. And that isn’t the only thing that is happening: The werewolf of Bedburg has returned, who took the life of a young woman. The oh-so-quiet village suddenly isn’t oh so quiet anymore.
The book starts with the perspective of Heinrich Franz, chief investigator of Bedburg. The story immediatly begins on the first page, and as a result, the book exciting from the start. The writing style of this book is great. It makes it for pretty much everyone quite easy to read. Wheter you’re native in English or not. Even though the book takes places in 1588, the writing style doesn’t tell you. If you didn’t know the year, you could easy imagine it taking place in the 20-century, which is a bit of a downside, but nevertheless does not take the fun away from the book.
Every chapter starts with a different perspective. In total there are four perspectives. Each perspective adds something new to the story. Every character that gets introduced in the book is actually relevant to the story. There are no useless characters we get to see for one page but never return the story after their one page fame. Every piece of information we get introduced to as readers, is useful fort he story and will return in the book.
The multiple characters and perspectives can be a bit confusing in the beginning, but thanks to Cory Barclay’s writing style it is limited to a minimum. It is also a matter of not knowing the characters very well, and just getting used to the story in general. Something Barclay does to reduce this confusion, is by introducing the new perspective in the chapter you’re currently reading, so you already know something about that person. I know this sounds a bit confusing, but I am trying to explain it the easiest way.
Usually I do not read historical fiction, but this book opened my eyes to this genre. I really enjoyed the book, and it was a good book to start with the genre. This book also contains enough other elements that makes this book a diverse read. It has something for every reader, from thriller to romance, and from romance to horror. Cory Barclay is great at writing gory horror stuff. He writes it the way you would see it if you are standing next to it. Which is great if you ask me.
I am also a big fan of the short chapters, the quote we all know as readers (“Only one more chapter�) really applies to this book. The chapters are short, so you feel like you haven’t read a lot, so you read one more chapter. And after that one, another one. And that just continues until you have read 5 chapters without realizing it. Which is great.
The only downside of this book, were the historical facts. They came rather suddenly and there wasn’t a story written around them. Just a bunch of history facts. You just had a page full of information, that you didn’t really need to understand the story. Fortunately the information-packed pages limited to a minimum,so if you aren’t a big fan of historical information, you can skip the pages and just focus on the story.
This book is definitly a book I would recommend, even if you have never read historical fiction. I was one of those people who never read historical fiction before and I really enjoyed this book!
And because I enjoyed it so much, I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.
[Sorry if my English isn't perfect, not a native speaker :) )
In Devil in the Countryside, we follow multiple perspectives. It sets in Bedburg, a village in Germany. The year is 1588, and it’s yet another eventful year in terms of religion in Germany. The Protestant and Christian religion collide. And that isn’t the only thing that is happening: The werewolf of Bedburg has returned, who took the life of a young woman. The oh-so-quiet village suddenly isn’t oh so quiet anymore.
The book starts with the perspective of Heinrich Franz, chief investigator of Bedburg. The story immediatly begins on the first page, and as a result, the book exciting from the start. The writing style of this book is great. It makes it for pretty much everyone quite easy to read. Wheter you’re native in English or not. Even though the book takes places in 1588, the writing style doesn’t tell you. If you didn’t know the year, you could easy imagine it taking place in the 20-century, which is a bit of a downside, but nevertheless does not take the fun away from the book.
Every chapter starts with a different perspective. In total there are four perspectives. Each perspective adds something new to the story. Every character that gets introduced in the book is actually relevant to the story. There are no useless characters we get to see for one page but never return the story after their one page fame. Every piece of information we get introduced to as readers, is useful fort he story and will return in the book.
The multiple characters and perspectives can be a bit confusing in the beginning, but thanks to Cory Barclay’s writing style it is limited to a minimum. It is also a matter of not knowing the characters very well, and just getting used to the story in general. Something Barclay does to reduce this confusion, is by introducing the new perspective in the chapter you’re currently reading, so you already know something about that person. I know this sounds a bit confusing, but I am trying to explain it the easiest way.
Usually I do not read historical fiction, but this book opened my eyes to this genre. I really enjoyed the book, and it was a good book to start with the genre. This book also contains enough other elements that makes this book a diverse read. It has something for every reader, from thriller to romance, and from romance to horror. Cory Barclay is great at writing gory horror stuff. He writes it the way you would see it if you are standing next to it. Which is great if you ask me.
I am also a big fan of the short chapters, the quote we all know as readers (“Only one more chapter�) really applies to this book. The chapters are short, so you feel like you haven’t read a lot, so you read one more chapter. And after that one, another one. And that just continues until you have read 5 chapters without realizing it. Which is great.
The only downside of this book, were the historical facts. They came rather suddenly and there wasn’t a story written around them. Just a bunch of history facts. You just had a page full of information, that you didn’t really need to understand the story. Fortunately the information-packed pages limited to a minimum,so if you aren’t a big fan of historical information, you can skip the pages and just focus on the story.
This book is definitly a book I would recommend, even if you have never read historical fiction. I was one of those people who never read historical fiction before and I really enjoyed this book!
And because I enjoyed it so much, I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.
[Sorry if my English isn't perfect, not a native speaker :) )
February 7, 2017
Best historical crime fiction I have read in a while. I liked the setting of 'Devil in the Countryside' very much. It's 1588, the height of the Reformation, and a killer 'Werewolf of Bedburg' is terrorizing the German countryside. There was a good level of suspense throughout the book and well-written characters, my favorite ones were investigator Heinrich Franz and Georg Sieghart.
I guess I did I feel like there was something missing from this book, I think the author could have used that brilliant setting more somehow, all in all I'm looking forward to reading the sequel!
I guess I did I feel like there was something missing from this book, I think the author could have used that brilliant setting more somehow, all in all I'm looking forward to reading the sequel!
March 30, 2017
'When the big man reached the door, he turned and had a mischievous grin on his face. "You're here to find the werewolf? Well, I'm here to kill him."'
I honestly had no idea what to expect from this book. This is the first book I have read by Cory Barclay and it was amazing! Devil in The Countryside is definitely not your average book. This book is actually based on true events and I think that made this book even better! I had no prior knowledge of Bedburg and the werewolf investigation. When I finished the book I immediately had to do a little research myself. I was so intrigued by this story and its events!
Devil in the Countryside is about Bedburg and the people who live there. Everything changes when the werewolf who once haunted Germany returns. This book has a lot more going on than just werewolf killings though! You will see betrayal, love, friendship, death, war, and so much more! Barclay introduces us to Sybil and her family. Sybil finds herself right in the middle of the werewolf drama when she catches on to her dad's secrets. Why is her dad lying? Sybil knows something is up and in the process of trying to figure things out, she falls for a man. A man she is not supposed to love.
"They were becoming close - too close for a catholic priest and a beautiful young woman. But he couldn't stop his wandering mind, body, and soul. His years of training did little to prepare him for an actual encounter with such an alluring girl."
Heinrich is an investigator who wants someone or something to be guilty for the werewolf killings. He will not stop until he finds someone to blame. Does that mean he will accuse the innocent? We also meet Georg, who somewhat teams up with Heinrich. The two are trying to find the wolf behind the killings, but have completely different reasons for doing so. There are many more characters and people involved! Barclay gave us some amazing characters and I will let you guys read the book for yourself so you can meet them. I do try my hardest not to give away any spoilers. I know it is a little hard sometimes..
Barclay did an awesome job bringing an event like this back to life. He wrote about the Catholics and Protestants in such a real way. Even though these events happened in 1588/1589, I easily was able to relate to the book and put myself into it. You know you are an awesome author when your readers can relate to a set of events that we weren't even alive for. I was a little worried when I read that this book was based off of true events. Those type of books are either really good or really bad! I was surprised with how good Barclay made this story. He gave us a historical, crime, thriller which I could not stop reading until I was done with every last word.
"He realized at that moment that he looked more like a monster than he ever thought possible."
I am very impressed with this book and Barclay should be so proud! His writing is amazing, detailed, and easy to follow. I really enjoyed this book and I think you guys will too! Yeah, we have werewolf and vampire books floating all over now days, but how many werewolf stories out there are based on true events? I can only assume that there are not many!
I honestly had no idea what to expect from this book. This is the first book I have read by Cory Barclay and it was amazing! Devil in The Countryside is definitely not your average book. This book is actually based on true events and I think that made this book even better! I had no prior knowledge of Bedburg and the werewolf investigation. When I finished the book I immediately had to do a little research myself. I was so intrigued by this story and its events!
Devil in the Countryside is about Bedburg and the people who live there. Everything changes when the werewolf who once haunted Germany returns. This book has a lot more going on than just werewolf killings though! You will see betrayal, love, friendship, death, war, and so much more! Barclay introduces us to Sybil and her family. Sybil finds herself right in the middle of the werewolf drama when she catches on to her dad's secrets. Why is her dad lying? Sybil knows something is up and in the process of trying to figure things out, she falls for a man. A man she is not supposed to love.
"They were becoming close - too close for a catholic priest and a beautiful young woman. But he couldn't stop his wandering mind, body, and soul. His years of training did little to prepare him for an actual encounter with such an alluring girl."
Heinrich is an investigator who wants someone or something to be guilty for the werewolf killings. He will not stop until he finds someone to blame. Does that mean he will accuse the innocent? We also meet Georg, who somewhat teams up with Heinrich. The two are trying to find the wolf behind the killings, but have completely different reasons for doing so. There are many more characters and people involved! Barclay gave us some amazing characters and I will let you guys read the book for yourself so you can meet them. I do try my hardest not to give away any spoilers. I know it is a little hard sometimes..
Barclay did an awesome job bringing an event like this back to life. He wrote about the Catholics and Protestants in such a real way. Even though these events happened in 1588/1589, I easily was able to relate to the book and put myself into it. You know you are an awesome author when your readers can relate to a set of events that we weren't even alive for. I was a little worried when I read that this book was based off of true events. Those type of books are either really good or really bad! I was surprised with how good Barclay made this story. He gave us a historical, crime, thriller which I could not stop reading until I was done with every last word.
"He realized at that moment that he looked more like a monster than he ever thought possible."
I am very impressed with this book and Barclay should be so proud! His writing is amazing, detailed, and easy to follow. I really enjoyed this book and I think you guys will too! Yeah, we have werewolf and vampire books floating all over now days, but how many werewolf stories out there are based on true events? I can only assume that there are not many!
March 24, 2017
I received this book from the author for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.
Exciting. Thrilling. And brimming with adventure, Devil in the Countryside is a historical suspense novel with the twist of paranormal. Because it is based on the true historical werewolf hunt, it is different than most werewolf-containing novels, though it still has it's fair share of heart-stopping moments.
The characters are all very-well developed and so different that the story always seems to have a fresh take on the mysterious murders. There are a few instances where cursing is used frequently, as well as some sexual comments/actions that are in the bars of the small town. Because this takes place during the Reformation, there is a lot of religious talk between the Protestants and the Catholics, the fighting gets escalated between the two parties, and there is a lot of talk of "devilry" and black magic.
So overall, I really did enjoy this book and learning a bit about the werewolf hunt (because my curiosity had me reading some documentaries at the same time) and this might be a good side-read if you're studying the time of the Reformation.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to readers older than 15 years of age.
This review was originally published on Literature Approved ().
Exciting. Thrilling. And brimming with adventure, Devil in the Countryside is a historical suspense novel with the twist of paranormal. Because it is based on the true historical werewolf hunt, it is different than most werewolf-containing novels, though it still has it's fair share of heart-stopping moments.
The characters are all very-well developed and so different that the story always seems to have a fresh take on the mysterious murders. There are a few instances where cursing is used frequently, as well as some sexual comments/actions that are in the bars of the small town. Because this takes place during the Reformation, there is a lot of religious talk between the Protestants and the Catholics, the fighting gets escalated between the two parties, and there is a lot of talk of "devilry" and black magic.
So overall, I really did enjoy this book and learning a bit about the werewolf hunt (because my curiosity had me reading some documentaries at the same time) and this might be a good side-read if you're studying the time of the Reformation.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to readers older than 15 years of age.
This review was originally published on Literature Approved ().
June 14, 2017
The story takes place in Germany. The year is 1588. People are being murdered, torn to pieces in what looks like a vicious animal attack. Rumors abound that the Werewolf Of Bedburg had returned.
Investigator Heinrich Franz is tasked with discovering who or what is behind the killings and putting an end to it. He’s joined by three people who, whether willingly or by choices not their own, combine their knowledge to kill the beast and save their town.
This book reads like a movie. I felt like I was watching events as they took place. The settings were so visually written and it was steeped in suspense and horror as the characters delved into the mystery and more people were torn apart.
The historical aspect was well written. Especially the religious and political agendas of the times. It was a bloody battle on both sides. And there is quite the cast of characters. I wasn’t sure any of them could be called good people. They all had secrets and hidden agendas.
And is there really a werewolf? I wasn’t sure right up til the end.
Investigator Heinrich Franz is tasked with discovering who or what is behind the killings and putting an end to it. He’s joined by three people who, whether willingly or by choices not their own, combine their knowledge to kill the beast and save their town.
This book reads like a movie. I felt like I was watching events as they took place. The settings were so visually written and it was steeped in suspense and horror as the characters delved into the mystery and more people were torn apart.
The historical aspect was well written. Especially the religious and political agendas of the times. It was a bloody battle on both sides. And there is quite the cast of characters. I wasn’t sure any of them could be called good people. They all had secrets and hidden agendas.
And is there really a werewolf? I wasn’t sure right up til the end.
June 17, 2017
Based on historical events, this book gives us a look into what may have been happening in Bedburg leading up to the events of the trial. I liked the four different points of view in this story, with each of them giving a slightly different point of view to look upon, even if Dieter and Sybil's become kind of interchangeable towards the end of the book.
Mr. Barclay does a wonderful job of setting up the atmosphere and setting for this story. Keeping true to the religious and political turmoil of the times, he weaves them in wonderfully with the story of trying to catch the Werewolf. There are times where I forgot that it was the late 1500s, and I could see some of these conversations and scenes come up during a read in the modern day.
Be warned fellow reader, there are some heavy themes alluded to in here. While the details are not alluded to within the pages, one only has to read between the lines to figure out what is going on. I highly recommend diving into this read when you get a chance reader. Step back into the past, and chase down the Werewolf yourself.
Mr. Barclay does a wonderful job of setting up the atmosphere and setting for this story. Keeping true to the religious and political turmoil of the times, he weaves them in wonderfully with the story of trying to catch the Werewolf. There are times where I forgot that it was the late 1500s, and I could see some of these conversations and scenes come up during a read in the modern day.
Be warned fellow reader, there are some heavy themes alluded to in here. While the details are not alluded to within the pages, one only has to read between the lines to figure out what is going on. I highly recommend diving into this read when you get a chance reader. Step back into the past, and chase down the Werewolf yourself.
January 10, 2018
One word describes this book electrifying, at a time of deep religious unrest between Catholics and Protestants, witch hunts and werewolf hunts, these set the pace of this thrilling gruesome murder mystery, it also shows the law of the time as a quack, that uses torture as his tool for solving a crime. A glimpse of man's fickleness, their jealousy and even in the face of all this inevitable war brewing, true love was found but not without emotional and physical loss. A Catholic father falling in love and a bishop involved in committing evil things to young men, this book was very entertaining and puzzling as to who done it. I did like Investigator Frantz way of doing things, he was hateful and cruel and a fat liar who chooses the easy way out but his character in no way detracted from the awesomeness of this book. It is amazing to think this was base on a true story, it has been a most interesting, gripping and enlightening read.
May 20, 2017
Rare for me to give a 5. I also don't normally like Historical Fiction quite so much. This was a very engaging book. Difficult to set down for very long. But alas, I do have a job ...
This chunk of history is a sad period in our European heritage, and it seems fairly presented not to take sides. There are no real obvious exclusively good or bad characters or groups. It is a war, after all, and the victor, should there be one, will rewrite history to suit their marketing position. (in this case while battles were won and lost, ultimately it resulted in an uneasy truce as it played out over the centuries)
The wrap-up could have been skipped. Writing excellently edited. There is a very interesting tidbit of activity in the wrap-up that subtly hints at a different interpretation of events in the book. Very interesting indeed.
The author clearly states there is a probable sequel, and I might have to keep my eyes open for it. I am intrigued by that tidbit.
The werewolf? Certainly you don't believe in actual werewolves in 16th century Europe, do you?
This chunk of history is a sad period in our European heritage, and it seems fairly presented not to take sides. There are no real obvious exclusively good or bad characters or groups. It is a war, after all, and the victor, should there be one, will rewrite history to suit their marketing position. (in this case while battles were won and lost, ultimately it resulted in an uneasy truce as it played out over the centuries)
The wrap-up could have been skipped. Writing excellently edited. There is a very interesting tidbit of activity in the wrap-up that subtly hints at a different interpretation of events in the book. Very interesting indeed.
The author clearly states there is a probable sequel, and I might have to keep my eyes open for it. I am intrigued by that tidbit.
The werewolf? Certainly you don't believe in actual werewolves in 16th century Europe, do you?
March 2, 2017
Did u know when Salem witch trials in the U.S. were happening, during the same period in Europe they were out hunting werewolves? I did not know this! Historical fiction is not something I read very much but this book was more interesting than I expected! I think the book was well written and the author did a great job keeping me reading on and wanting to know what was going to happen next. * I received this book from the author--This is my honest review*
June 16, 2017
I've said it before, I'll say it again -- I prefer liking books, I like liking things. I do not enjoy giving anything other than recommendations -- but sometimes, I just can't do anything else. This is one of those times.
This is a historical fiction but the history is bad. Before we even get to the first chapter -- in an introductory note we're told "By the early 1500's," Europe was in a time called the Protestant Reformation. The traditional starting point for the Protestant Reformation was October 31, 1517 -- but things didn't really get moving for a few years. So "by" the early 1500's is not really accurate. The same paragraph says, "while across the ocean in North America witch-hunts were gaining traction." Now, I guess it's possible that some of the Spanish colonies or Native American tribes were conducting these hunts, but I'm pretty sure Barclay intends us to think of the Salem Witch Trials, which started more than a century after the events of this novel. We're not even to chapter 1 and we've got a paragraph with two glaring historical flubs -- it'd be difficult (but not impossible) to recover from this. Barclay doesn't.
With historical fiction, you have to decide on the character's vocabulary -- will you attempt to get it chronologically-appropriate, or will you take some liberties and use contemporary language and ask your readers to suspend disbelief to allow for everyone's ease? Most take the latter, and most audiences play along. It is difficult to get period-dialogue correct if you're not immersed in it, and many readers find it difficult or boring to read. While it's understandable to use contemporary phrasing, I'm not sure I'm willing to buy 16th century people talking about "teenage angst." Nor should we get people drinking coffee, wearing high heels (at least not among the peasant class), or making references to zippers. These kind of anachronisms are just lazy, sloppy -- and it takes the reader out of the moment.
If you're going to set something during the 3rd generation of the Reformation, and make the conflict between Lutherans, the Reformed and Roman Catholics (and the state powers that use those groups to mask their machinations) core plot points -- you should, get the theology right. Which is just the same point as above, I realize -- but man . . . when it's such a major component of the book, you owe it to your readers to put in the effort. (also, Barclay suggested I'd like the book as a "theology nerd," so I should be expected to look at it as one). We shouldn't have Roman Catholic priests consulting German translations of the New Testament, nor should we have Lutheran ministers conducting baptism by immersion -- particularly not of someone already baptized. Martin Luther, like all the Protestant Reformers, had very harsh things to say about that practice. In general, every religious sentiment (at least those expressed by the devout) was in conflict with the point of view it was supposed to be espousing -- most of them not sounding like 16th Century Lutheran, Reformed or Roman Catholic believers but some sort of vague 21st Century theism.
This book is also a mystery. As such, um, it wasn't really a success. There wasn't real effort put into finding answers, just finding good candidates to pin something on. At least officially -- those who actually looked for answers were stopped by one way or another. If we were talking about a novel about 16th Century politics and the ways they impacted lives of individuals -- including crime victims and survivors -- this might have worked.
I'm just piling on now, and I really don't want to do that. So, I'll ignore the grammatical errors, typos, a handful of words that basically demand Inigo Montoya to tap the author on the shoulder to say " I do not think it means what you think it means." Nor will I get into the lazy plots revolving around Roman Catholic clergy sexually molestation or father forcing a daughter to marry a horrible person for his own financial gain.
Barclay can probably produce a decent book -- there were some good moments in this book, but not enough of them. This is just not worth the time and trouble.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for this post -- I do appreciate it, even if the book didn't work for me.
This is a historical fiction but the history is bad. Before we even get to the first chapter -- in an introductory note we're told "By the early 1500's," Europe was in a time called the Protestant Reformation. The traditional starting point for the Protestant Reformation was October 31, 1517 -- but things didn't really get moving for a few years. So "by" the early 1500's is not really accurate. The same paragraph says, "while across the ocean in North America witch-hunts were gaining traction." Now, I guess it's possible that some of the Spanish colonies or Native American tribes were conducting these hunts, but I'm pretty sure Barclay intends us to think of the Salem Witch Trials, which started more than a century after the events of this novel. We're not even to chapter 1 and we've got a paragraph with two glaring historical flubs -- it'd be difficult (but not impossible) to recover from this. Barclay doesn't.
With historical fiction, you have to decide on the character's vocabulary -- will you attempt to get it chronologically-appropriate, or will you take some liberties and use contemporary language and ask your readers to suspend disbelief to allow for everyone's ease? Most take the latter, and most audiences play along. It is difficult to get period-dialogue correct if you're not immersed in it, and many readers find it difficult or boring to read. While it's understandable to use contemporary phrasing, I'm not sure I'm willing to buy 16th century people talking about "teenage angst." Nor should we get people drinking coffee, wearing high heels (at least not among the peasant class), or making references to zippers. These kind of anachronisms are just lazy, sloppy -- and it takes the reader out of the moment.
If you're going to set something during the 3rd generation of the Reformation, and make the conflict between Lutherans, the Reformed and Roman Catholics (and the state powers that use those groups to mask their machinations) core plot points -- you should, get the theology right. Which is just the same point as above, I realize -- but man . . . when it's such a major component of the book, you owe it to your readers to put in the effort. (also, Barclay suggested I'd like the book as a "theology nerd," so I should be expected to look at it as one). We shouldn't have Roman Catholic priests consulting German translations of the New Testament, nor should we have Lutheran ministers conducting baptism by immersion -- particularly not of someone already baptized. Martin Luther, like all the Protestant Reformers, had very harsh things to say about that practice. In general, every religious sentiment (at least those expressed by the devout) was in conflict with the point of view it was supposed to be espousing -- most of them not sounding like 16th Century Lutheran, Reformed or Roman Catholic believers but some sort of vague 21st Century theism.
This book is also a mystery. As such, um, it wasn't really a success. There wasn't real effort put into finding answers, just finding good candidates to pin something on. At least officially -- those who actually looked for answers were stopped by one way or another. If we were talking about a novel about 16th Century politics and the ways they impacted lives of individuals -- including crime victims and survivors -- this might have worked.
I'm just piling on now, and I really don't want to do that. So, I'll ignore the grammatical errors, typos, a handful of words that basically demand Inigo Montoya to tap the author on the shoulder to say " I do not think it means what you think it means." Nor will I get into the lazy plots revolving around Roman Catholic clergy sexually molestation or father forcing a daughter to marry a horrible person for his own financial gain.
Barclay can probably produce a decent book -- there were some good moments in this book, but not enough of them. This is just not worth the time and trouble.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for this post -- I do appreciate it, even if the book didn't work for me.
February 17, 2017
I was given an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really don't read Historical Fiction, but I'm pretty happy that I decided to venture out from my usual genres! This novel was so different from my usual reads and I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Devil in the Countryside is centered on the collision between the Catholics and the Protestants around the time of 1588. The Catholics see that they are slowly losing more and more people to the Protestant faith and they are trying to do anything in their power to make sure that their faith is the one that reigns superior. While all this crazy things are going on between both faiths the Wolf of Bedburg strikes and kills a young girl in this once quiet town.
This book is told in four perspectives detective Henrinch, hunter Georg, Priest Dieter, and Sybil the daughter of a farmer. All these characters bring something different to the story and I really connected with some and others I have a love/hate relationship with particularly the Detective that man was insufferable, but he also had some moments where he had me saying “damn this man is a genius". This book hooked me from the first page and didn't let me go until the end, I want more! Cory took these events and made them his own he twisted an amazing story that had me at the edge of my seat and even made me cringing at some points. I have never read anything like it and I can safely say that I want to read more Historical Fiction because of this book. The world building, the character development was all so greatly done and I can't wait to read more from Cory. I highly recommend this to people who like historical fiction and even if you don't this book will change your mind on this genre.
-SandraTheBookWorm
I really don't read Historical Fiction, but I'm pretty happy that I decided to venture out from my usual genres! This novel was so different from my usual reads and I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Devil in the Countryside is centered on the collision between the Catholics and the Protestants around the time of 1588. The Catholics see that they are slowly losing more and more people to the Protestant faith and they are trying to do anything in their power to make sure that their faith is the one that reigns superior. While all this crazy things are going on between both faiths the Wolf of Bedburg strikes and kills a young girl in this once quiet town.
This book is told in four perspectives detective Henrinch, hunter Georg, Priest Dieter, and Sybil the daughter of a farmer. All these characters bring something different to the story and I really connected with some and others I have a love/hate relationship with particularly the Detective that man was insufferable, but he also had some moments where he had me saying “damn this man is a genius". This book hooked me from the first page and didn't let me go until the end, I want more! Cory took these events and made them his own he twisted an amazing story that had me at the edge of my seat and even made me cringing at some points. I have never read anything like it and I can safely say that I want to read more Historical Fiction because of this book. The world building, the character development was all so greatly done and I can't wait to read more from Cory. I highly recommend this to people who like historical fiction and even if you don't this book will change your mind on this genre.
-SandraTheBookWorm
March 1, 2017
Told from several viewpoints, there is a werewolf on the loose in the town of Bedburg and two women have been killed so far. An investigator tries to get to the truth using any means necessary. This was an interesting read. There were some well written characters and it did keep you guessing as to what was going on. I did think that it seemed like it should have been set a few hundred years later in terms of the investigation methods etc, but it was a good read and I would recommend it.
March 14, 2017
Won as a goodreads giveaway. Found it to be a very enjoyable read, providing many different points of view for the conflicts taking place. Would recommend to others.
May 31, 2017
A bizarre true story brought to life in a novel that moves across genres. I write this review as part of Rosie’s Book Review Team. Thanks to Rosie Amber and to the author for offering me an ARC copy of this book that I freely chose to review.
This is a book based on a real case (although so many years later and with the few documents and written clues available it is difficult to know what might have been ‘real� and ‘true� at the time) that has all the elements to be a fabulous novel, or a TV investigative documentary, or a movie. You can check the Werewolf of Bedburg and you’ll find a lot of information (or rather, a bit of information elaborated upon and repeated everywhere, but not many different sources). It’s easy to understand why the author would become fascinated with the subject and I also see how a writer would feel that the bare bones of the case that can be found through research would make a great starting point to write a fully-fledged and fleshed-out story. And that is what the author decided to do. In such a case, decisions have to be made as to how close to keep to the facts (such as they are) and how many fictional elements should be introduced. With this particular story, there were also many possibilities with regards to genre. Should it be a historical novel, researching the place and times and fitting in the specifics of the story around the findings? Should it be a mystery/thriller, chasing and investigating an early example of a serial killer? Should it be a horror novel? Personally, I’m not sure what I would have done, but as a reader, this novel was not what I expected. This has probably more to do with me than with the book itself but, in my opinion, it tries to be too many things.
The novel has elements of historical fiction. The author explains, in an end note, who were the real characters, and who the ones he created, and also briefly exposes some of the liberties he took. The historical background and facts are fairly accurate (although if you research the story, it seems that the fate of the daughter was very different to the one in the book, that seems an attempt at introducing a romance and a happy ending of sorts, that, in my opinion, does not befit the subject), and one of the things that the author does very well is to reflect the conflict between Catholics and Protestants at the time, the atmosphere of deep suspicion and hostility, and the paranoia that permeated all levels of society, whereby nobody was safe and anybody could be betrayed and accused of being a follower of the wrong faith. The author uses modern language, a perfectly good choice to ensure more readers access the text, but there are anachronisms and expressions that felt out of place (and perhaps using a more neutral, rather than a very casual language would have been less jarring, as some expressions sounded particularly weird in such setting. We have references to teenager, an expression only in use in the XXc. , characters drink coffee whilst it was never introduced to Germany until the late part of the XVII century�). I also wondered about some of the characters� actions. Sybil, a young girl who lost her mother and looks after her father and younger brother, challenges her father’s authority with no consequences, goes out by herself and does things I would have thought would be out of character (but I will try and not offer too many spoilers). Dieter is a young and pious priest that seems to change his faith and his mind practically overnight (no matter what he thought about the bishop, the religion he’d dedicated years to, one would expect it would mean more to him than that) as a result of falling in love at first sight (as there is nothing in common between him and the girl) and in general I felt most of the characters were not psychologically consistent. I am not an authority on that historical period, although I have read other books about that era that created a clearer picture in my mind, about the historical period and also about the society of the time.
Whilst the novel opens as if it was going to be a straight investigation into bizarre murders, with a suggestion of the paranormal, there are some elements of investigation (following people, plenty of intrigues, researching paperwork), but a lot of the novel is taken up by telling (more than showing) us about the religious situation, the machinations of the powerful of the time (particularly Bishop Solomon, not a real character who is truly despicable and has no redeeming features at all) and it stirs the book towards the territory of the intrigue/conspiracy-theory novel Ìý(it appears likely that those aspects played a big part during the trial of the man who was found guilty of being the werewolf).
Although at the beginning there is the suggestion that there might be elements of horror in the novel that is not the case. Or rather, the real horror is the way the truth is sacrificed to political and religious interests and how no side is above using any means to win (the Catholics come out of it slightly worse off, but nobody is truly blameless).Ìý There is action, violence (some for comic relief, but some extreme and graphic, including torture scenes and gross deaths), and war, so this is not a gentle novel for people intent on learning a bit about the historical era, but it is not scary in sense horror lovers would expect.
The story is told in the third person from the point of view of different characters, and each chapter starts with the name of the character whose point of view we share, although at times we get reflections and comments from an omniscient point of view (comments about character’s feelings or motivations that do not seem to come from them). Heinrich, the investigator, is an enigmatic character we never get to know well, as although we see things from his point of view, we aren’t privy to his full motivations (and that is aided by the third person narration). He is at times presented as weak and ineffective (a bit like Johnny Depp’s depiction of Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow) and at others, he is clever and manipulative (and the ending is quite eerie, but no, I won’t say anything else). He seems determined to carry on with his investigation and get to the truth one minute, and then he settles for what he knows is a lie, behaving as a corrupt cog-in-the-machine.
I suspect it was partly because of the point of view changes but I found it difficult to connect with the characters (my favourite was Georg, a conflicted character whose motivations are easier to understand and who was, despite his flaws, a good man.Ìý I felt sorry for Sybil but her character didn’t quite gel for me) although it is impossible not to be horrified at what went on and I didn’t manage to get the timing of the events straight in my mind.
Some of the comments expressed unhappiness with the ending, but for me, that is well resolved (perhaps apart from the happy ending part of it, but then that is a matter of genre) and I did not find its openness a problem but rather a plus.
Most of my difficulties with the book stem from my own expectations about what the story was going to be about and how it was going to be told. I’ve read many positive reviews about the book, and as I said, it does create a sense of dread, paranoia, and suspicion that can help us imagine what living in that historical period, so uncertain, must have been like. ÌýAnd it has a chilling and eerie ending. So, if you are intrigued by the history behind it, don’t take my word for it and check a sample of the book. And do a bit of research. It will prove, once more, that reality can be stranger than fiction.
This is a book based on a real case (although so many years later and with the few documents and written clues available it is difficult to know what might have been ‘real� and ‘true� at the time) that has all the elements to be a fabulous novel, or a TV investigative documentary, or a movie. You can check the Werewolf of Bedburg and you’ll find a lot of information (or rather, a bit of information elaborated upon and repeated everywhere, but not many different sources). It’s easy to understand why the author would become fascinated with the subject and I also see how a writer would feel that the bare bones of the case that can be found through research would make a great starting point to write a fully-fledged and fleshed-out story. And that is what the author decided to do. In such a case, decisions have to be made as to how close to keep to the facts (such as they are) and how many fictional elements should be introduced. With this particular story, there were also many possibilities with regards to genre. Should it be a historical novel, researching the place and times and fitting in the specifics of the story around the findings? Should it be a mystery/thriller, chasing and investigating an early example of a serial killer? Should it be a horror novel? Personally, I’m not sure what I would have done, but as a reader, this novel was not what I expected. This has probably more to do with me than with the book itself but, in my opinion, it tries to be too many things.
The novel has elements of historical fiction. The author explains, in an end note, who were the real characters, and who the ones he created, and also briefly exposes some of the liberties he took. The historical background and facts are fairly accurate (although if you research the story, it seems that the fate of the daughter was very different to the one in the book, that seems an attempt at introducing a romance and a happy ending of sorts, that, in my opinion, does not befit the subject), and one of the things that the author does very well is to reflect the conflict between Catholics and Protestants at the time, the atmosphere of deep suspicion and hostility, and the paranoia that permeated all levels of society, whereby nobody was safe and anybody could be betrayed and accused of being a follower of the wrong faith. The author uses modern language, a perfectly good choice to ensure more readers access the text, but there are anachronisms and expressions that felt out of place (and perhaps using a more neutral, rather than a very casual language would have been less jarring, as some expressions sounded particularly weird in such setting. We have references to teenager, an expression only in use in the XXc. , characters drink coffee whilst it was never introduced to Germany until the late part of the XVII century�). I also wondered about some of the characters� actions. Sybil, a young girl who lost her mother and looks after her father and younger brother, challenges her father’s authority with no consequences, goes out by herself and does things I would have thought would be out of character (but I will try and not offer too many spoilers). Dieter is a young and pious priest that seems to change his faith and his mind practically overnight (no matter what he thought about the bishop, the religion he’d dedicated years to, one would expect it would mean more to him than that) as a result of falling in love at first sight (as there is nothing in common between him and the girl) and in general I felt most of the characters were not psychologically consistent. I am not an authority on that historical period, although I have read other books about that era that created a clearer picture in my mind, about the historical period and also about the society of the time.
Whilst the novel opens as if it was going to be a straight investigation into bizarre murders, with a suggestion of the paranormal, there are some elements of investigation (following people, plenty of intrigues, researching paperwork), but a lot of the novel is taken up by telling (more than showing) us about the religious situation, the machinations of the powerful of the time (particularly Bishop Solomon, not a real character who is truly despicable and has no redeeming features at all) and it stirs the book towards the territory of the intrigue/conspiracy-theory novel Ìý(it appears likely that those aspects played a big part during the trial of the man who was found guilty of being the werewolf).
Although at the beginning there is the suggestion that there might be elements of horror in the novel that is not the case. Or rather, the real horror is the way the truth is sacrificed to political and religious interests and how no side is above using any means to win (the Catholics come out of it slightly worse off, but nobody is truly blameless).Ìý There is action, violence (some for comic relief, but some extreme and graphic, including torture scenes and gross deaths), and war, so this is not a gentle novel for people intent on learning a bit about the historical era, but it is not scary in sense horror lovers would expect.
The story is told in the third person from the point of view of different characters, and each chapter starts with the name of the character whose point of view we share, although at times we get reflections and comments from an omniscient point of view (comments about character’s feelings or motivations that do not seem to come from them). Heinrich, the investigator, is an enigmatic character we never get to know well, as although we see things from his point of view, we aren’t privy to his full motivations (and that is aided by the third person narration). He is at times presented as weak and ineffective (a bit like Johnny Depp’s depiction of Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow) and at others, he is clever and manipulative (and the ending is quite eerie, but no, I won’t say anything else). He seems determined to carry on with his investigation and get to the truth one minute, and then he settles for what he knows is a lie, behaving as a corrupt cog-in-the-machine.
I suspect it was partly because of the point of view changes but I found it difficult to connect with the characters (my favourite was Georg, a conflicted character whose motivations are easier to understand and who was, despite his flaws, a good man.Ìý I felt sorry for Sybil but her character didn’t quite gel for me) although it is impossible not to be horrified at what went on and I didn’t manage to get the timing of the events straight in my mind.
Some of the comments expressed unhappiness with the ending, but for me, that is well resolved (perhaps apart from the happy ending part of it, but then that is a matter of genre) and I did not find its openness a problem but rather a plus.
Most of my difficulties with the book stem from my own expectations about what the story was going to be about and how it was going to be told. I’ve read many positive reviews about the book, and as I said, it does create a sense of dread, paranoia, and suspicion that can help us imagine what living in that historical period, so uncertain, must have been like. ÌýAnd it has a chilling and eerie ending. So, if you are intrigued by the history behind it, don’t take my word for it and check a sample of the book. And do a bit of research. It will prove, once more, that reality can be stranger than fiction.
February 22, 2017
Here's a short review for you all. Longer review to come on my blog.
I was sent this copy for review and I have to admit I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. I found it a very interesting and captivating novel but also one that I actually learned things from. I really enjoyed that it was based on real events and I think the author managed to write it really well.
The only thing though is I am a bit confused about the ending. I don't think I understood it well or maybe it's just the fact that there's a sequel coming out.
Overall, a really surprising and amazing book that I will definitely be recommending.
I was sent this copy for review and I have to admit I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. I found it a very interesting and captivating novel but also one that I actually learned things from. I really enjoyed that it was based on real events and I think the author managed to write it really well.
The only thing though is I am a bit confused about the ending. I don't think I understood it well or maybe it's just the fact that there's a sequel coming out.
Overall, a really surprising and amazing book that I will definitely be recommending.
February 15, 2017
I don't usually read historical fiction and if I do it's usually set around World War 2. It was so amazing to read a book that was set in the 1500s, because I have never read any other books set in this time period.
The writing was brilliant and the plot was so intriguing and suspenseful with just the right amount of gruesomeness for a crime/thriller novel. I really enjoyed the different points of view and especially liked that the whole story was loosely based on real historical events. I really found this book to be a remarkable debut.
I am so thankful that I read this book because it's not something I would usually read and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a good historical fiction/crime thriller novel or anyone just looking for a good book, that's well written with a fascinating plot.
The writing was brilliant and the plot was so intriguing and suspenseful with just the right amount of gruesomeness for a crime/thriller novel. I really enjoyed the different points of view and especially liked that the whole story was loosely based on real historical events. I really found this book to be a remarkable debut.
I am so thankful that I read this book because it's not something I would usually read and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a good historical fiction/crime thriller novel or anyone just looking for a good book, that's well written with a fascinating plot.
February 22, 2017
Really. Fine Read
Good mystery. Too many plot turns to count. Nice love story behind the mystery. A nice love story behind the mystery.
Good mystery. Too many plot turns to count. Nice love story behind the mystery. A nice love story behind the mystery.
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