Benjamin Black (John Banville): Prague Nights, Viking (Penguin Random House UK) pub. Date: June1st, 2017, C format paperback,  

(US edition has a different title:  “Wolf on a string”, Henry Holt, hardback)

In 2005 John Banville won the Man Booker prize for his novel “The Sea, the sea”, he received numerous other prestigious awards for his body of work but few probably know he also writes crime novels and historical fiction under the pseudonym Benjamin Black.  His upcoming new novel “Prague Nights” (UK title by Viking) or “Wolf on a string” (US edition) under his pen name Benjamin Black is set in Prague around 1599 /1600.

Christian Stern is a young doctor of science when he reaches Prague from his home town Regensburg; he hopes to further his studies at the famous court of Rudolf, the mad emperor.   But after a drunken night at an inn and a sobering walk, he stumbles across the dead body of a brutally murdered young woman, none other than the emperor’s mistress as it turns out, Magdalena, daughter of another famous member of the court, Dr. Kroll.

Soon he finds himself incarcerated and charged with having murdered the victim by Felix Wenzel, High Steward of the Emperor.  But luck is on his side, in a court rife with intrigues and full of superstitions, none other than Rudolf himself sends out his court chamberlain Philip Lang to free him. Rudolf had a dream and believes Christian Stern is the star Christ himself sent out as a good omen for his throne, Stern meaning star.  Christian is set up in a household of his own in Golden Lane, his fortunes changing by 360 degrees overnight.  But this does not come without a prize; he is given the task by the emperor to investigate who murdered Magdalena Kroll, an investigation  that could possibly cost him his head.   

The novel is less a “whodunit” but more a very colorful, atmospheric portrait of Prague and court life fraught with spies and intrigues during these dark years. John Banville’s story telling is exquisite as one would imagine, giving life to many interesting characters. Some are drawn from real life like Caterina Sardo, the emperor’s and Stern’s mistress in the novel, based on Katherina Strada, Rudolf’s lifelong mistress and mother of six children in reality. Banville’s descriptions are so vivid and real; I could virtually smell the filth and dirt and always had a film in my head while reading this captivating novel.  If you like historical fiction and crime novels, “Prague Nights” will not disappoint you.