Witch's Trinity

A haunting tale of paranoia and fanaticism

Human nature can be strange. The mentality of a mob for example, shows how brutal people can become when surrounded by others who are filled with passionate anger. Erika Mailman shows us through the eyes of an elderly woman what it would have been like to live in the Middle Ages when witchcraft was thought to be the cause of any misfortune. The famine described in this small village of Tierkinddorf, Germany is haunting. It made me feel strange reading the novel while having my lunch. I began to feel guilty knowing that the characters were willing to accuse others of witchcraft just to get a bite to eat. A scapegoat was needed to place all the blame of the village's misfortune. It was thought that then, all things would revert back to days of plenty. That the famine would end. Paranoia and suspicion gripped the community, while some used this an opportunity to point the finger of blame at those they held a grudge. An accusation of milk spoiling was enough to damn someone to being burned to death, and you didn't even have to bring forth the spoiled milk as evidence. Your word was enough, if coupled with other such scurrilous complaints, to condemn someone to death. Given today's sensibilities the thought of public execution is abhorrent. However, it is a gruesome part of our history that drawing and quarterings, beheadings, hangings, and burning at the stake were all done in the village square to serve as a lesson to all. Beware or it may happen to you. The Witch's Trinity is a potent tale whose ending surprised me. I highly recommend it.

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

A beautifully written page turner

A well-told tale full of vivid characters and details of village life in early 16th century Germany. Tense, and sometimes terrifying, the story of Gude's (and others') deprivation and persecution at the hands of the powerful makes the novel as relevant to citizens of the 21st century as to those of Gude's time. A suspenseful, moving story told with great empathy by a writer of exceptional skill.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Bought based on the Title alone, proved a great read

This is very historically correct, interesting and frightening all at once. Characters very interesting. Plot, excellent. Bad guys, really bad. Good guys, really good. Wow. I do not often break out of my mold in buying books, but this was really good. (I stick to historical romances or the classics, Jane Austen, etc)

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

compelling

A study of human ignorance and superstitions...well written.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Review by Mirella Patzer - Historical Fiction Author

THE WITCH'S TRINITY By Erika Mailman In the 16th century, a great famine ravages the town of Tierkinddorf, Germany. As the villagers slowly starve, a ruthless Dominican friar arrives. He has been on a mission, travelling from location to location to town to purge Germany of witches. The villagers are desperate to blame the famine on someone or something. Gude, an old woman, lives with her only son, Jost the miller, his wife Irmeltrud, and their children Alke and Mattern. Irmeltrud deeply resents having to share what little food they have with her old mother-in-law and is cruel-hearted towards her behind Jost¿s back. Meanwhile, the witch hunt continues and Kunne, the village healer and herbalist and Gude¿s dearest friends is accused of witchcraft. She is blamed for turning milk sour and for someone¿s hen refusing to lay eggs. Gude can do nothing as she watches her friend burned at the stake on false accusations. And still, the famine continues. While Jost is away hunting for food with several other men from the village, suspicion and hatred turn and point on Gude, fuelled by the false testimony of her own daughter-in-law, Irmeltrud. The accusation lands Gude in the witch¿s tower to await trial. Soon, the witch hunt turns upon Irmeltrud when a barren neighbour blames her for witchery to claim the children as her own. Sprinkled with elements of paganism, mystical dreams, dementia, and hatred, Erika Mailman explores the effect of starvation and fear upon the human spirit in this marvellous novel about witch trials in the late middle ages. Mailman¿s passion for witches and witch trials is born from her own heritage where one of her own ancestors was accused of witchcraft during the early years of American history. A deeply moving book which churns the emotions and keeps you turning the pages.

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

This is a book I'll never forget!

This is a book I'll never forget!

Good read, I have recommended this book to friends!

Well done and a fast read. Those who appreciate historical fiction will enjoy this book.

The Trinity

A quick read on a subject matter that has been written about over and over. This story had some new twists, not everyone gets burned at the stake, but over all nothing substantial to it. The characters are mildly developed and great leaps are taken through out the book linking some of the story lines together. Not the best on the subject, but definitely not the worst. Only recommend for a quick, light, mindless read.

Excellent!

The Witch's Trinity by Erika Mailman is definitely one of the best books I've ever read and will be part of my permanent library. Don't assume it is the typical story of the witch hunts, though this is a subject that you can guess the outcome you can not do so in this suspenseful, heart wrenching story. The characters are so exquisitely depicted and the words are practically poetry, so artistically gathered and spilled off the authors pen. I loved this book and if you love the art of writing and storytelling you will, too!

Great historical fiction

In 1507, the villagers of Tierkinddorf are hungry and angry as this is the ¿second year of no harvest¿ that follows several poor harvests. They begin to believe a witch has cast an evil satanic curse on them causing nasty weather that led to poor harvests and now just about no crops.

A Dominican friar traveling from town to town to expose witches arrives to the rejoicing of most of the villagers who believe he will uncover the identity of the culprit. He points the finger at Kunne the healer who swears to God she is innocent. Her dismayed best friend elderly Gude feels helpless as she watches Kunne burned at the stake. She also is concerned with her nightmares about witches, the devil and her late husband. Thinking one less mouth to feed, Gude¿s resentful daughter-in-law Irmeltrud begins a campaign when her spouse is away desperately hunting that accuses her widowed mother-in-law of witchcraft.

The atmosphere that leads to cynicism, paranoia and witch hunts is incredibly thick as Erika Mailman provides a deep look at a small early sixteenth century German village blaming famine on witches cursing the villagers. The Friar¿s presence quickly leads to neighbors pointing the fingers at one another. Although Gude as the narrator at times is hard to understand because of her mental instability that adds to the feel of the era in which a bit of craziness means witch. Fans will enjoy this engaging look while wondering whether Gude¿s ¿visions are supernatural or deranged in origin.

Harriet Klausner

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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