Rated of 5
by Sue B. (White Bear Lake, MN) The Fifth Servant
I didn't like this book and struggled to finish it. The storyline and characters were not well developed. The book became bogged down with too many Jewish references and words. It was tiresome and boring to read.
Rated of 5
by Belma M. (Odessa, Texas) 5th Servant
This book was good. It was a little hard with the different languages switching back and forth but I was able to keep up. This book is for anyone who likes a mystery.
Rated of 5
by Susan B. (Rutledge, MO) Fascinating!
I'm not normally a mystery reader, so I chose this due to the setting, namely the Jewish ghetto in Prague in 1592. I enjoy languages and there are plenty in this book-- Yiddish, Hebrew, Czech, German, Polish, sprinkled throughout the text -- but understanding the non-English words is fairly easy, either from context or the very helpful glossary provided. I found the plot compelling, the historical, religious and cultural details fascinating, and the way the story was told intriguing.
What began as a slight frustration became something of a game for me: while reading I found myself wanting to pay extra-close attention to characters and events in (what seemed to be) the background, because I never knew which, if any, might become the focus of the next chapter. Regular mystery readers, or those who read more slowly and/or carefully, might not experience this, and while my fellow quick-and-dirty readers might find it annoying, I found it an engaging challenge.
I found some of the Inquisition details too graphic for my taste, but all in all it was an extremely enjoyable read; highly recommended.
Rated of 5
by Lesley F. (San Diego, CA) Historical Mystery The Fifth Servant by Kenneth Wishnia is all it purports to be: an intelligent mystery, an entertaining story, a fascinating history, and a great lesson in Talmudic thought and linguistics. It is one of those books that keeps me up all night, crying, "Just one more chapter." I would recommend it to all who love a mystery such as Dick Francis's Proof and Alex Haley's Money that teach a subject while you solve the crime! There is a glossary - wish it had pronunciation key as well.
Rated of 5
by Portia A. (Mount Laurel, NJ) A Taste of History and Mystery
I started this book with some trepidation because the time (16th Century) and the place (Prague) were not good times to be a Jew. I soon found myself immersed in the excellent writing and I found the book to be a good choice. Though it isn't a happy story, it is one worth reading.
Rated of 5
by Lorraine R. (Southampton, New York) The Fifth Servant
This novel, set in the middle ages, was a mystery whose background was the mindless persecution of Jews in the city of Prague. I don't think it will have a wide appeal because of the topic. It portrays life in a ghetto and the hypocrisy of rules that governed Jews. Cleverly written with excellent research.
A bold, mesmerizing novel about the woman known as "Typhoid Mary," the first known healthy carrier of typhoid fever in the burgeoning metropolis of early twentieth century New York.
Z, the novel about the life of Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald is at points charming and; like another reviewer, I kept thinking of the movie, "Midnight...
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Although heavy on the scientific details, which slowed down the story for me (OK, I admit, I was one of those liberal arts majors who skipped out on...
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Loved this book. Magical, quirky, enchanting I could go on. All books do not have to be literary fiction, sometimes it is just so comforting to read...
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British Parliament asks Amazon to clarify why it pays $9 million in income tax on $23 billion of UK sales.(May 20 2013) Amazon will be called back to give further evidence to members of the British Parliament "to clarify how its activities in the U.K. justify its low corporate...
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of 5
by Sue B. (White Bear Lake, MN) 
of 5
by Belma M. (Odessa, Texas) 
of 5
by Lesley F. (San Diego, CA) 
of 5
by Lorraine R. (Southampton, New York) 
