There Came a Contagion

By: Doug Ingold

Narrated by: Lee Rush

Inspired by events that took place near Trier, Germany late in the 16th century, this novel tells the story of the Helgen family, three brothers respected in their village as skilled and resourceful farmers. With their widowed mother, their wives and children, they build a stable if difficult life together raising rye, barley and swine.

But, when the weather turns erratic and harvests begin to fail, a scapegoat is sought. Jews are banished from the territory as are the followers of Luther and Calvin. The Archbishop then discovers a pestilence of witches: people believed to have forsaken God and sworn allegiance to the Devil. Elsebett Helgen, a midwife and herbal healer, is 20 when the Archbishop’s men arrive in the village.

©2021 Douglas A. Ingold (P)2022 Douglas A. Ingold

Enjoyable

Simple by current standards; however the overall theme is relevant today. This is a good story. There are a lot of characters that span many years. Superstitions without applying commonsense are how decisions are made. And, geesh, once again helpless men making life or death decisions using physical force to get their way. The author wrote what the times demanded for men.

All-in-all, the book is just okay for me. The story is well-written. I felt the characters. I didn't love any of them.

Out of nowhere I did cry in the last couple minutes as if I was watching a news snippet. I was heartbroken, frustrated, and then relieved. I'm not spoiling the book.

If you enjoy a story, read the synopsis, this may be for you. It ran long for me, and thus 3.5 stars on a scale that doesn't acknowledge half stars. I'm rounding up.