The medieval apothecary-turned-detective Melchior returns in this gripping 2nd installment in the fabulous series of whirlwind historical murder mysteries set in 15th-century Estonia.

Perfect for fans of C.J. Sansom and Steven Saylor!

Estonia, 1419.

What links a tower watchman, a prostitute, and a flemish painter?

All 3 claim to have seen a ghost on the same street in 15th-century Tallinn. And all of them have been found dead soon after.

In the aftermath of these seemingly supernatural events, Melchior Wakenstede, the town’s pharmacist and bailiff, takes it upon himself to unearth the truth. When he finds a castrated murder victim outside a supposedly haunted house – the site of some violent murders decades earlier – he begins to research the history of those events and attempts to find out whether, as some believe, ghosts can truly reap their revenge on the living.

In his attempts to solve the riddle, Melchior becomes embroiled in the conflicts and rivalries between religious orders, merchants’ guilds and the Teutonic Knights as they vie with one another for control of the town. As he unravels more and more of these tangled mysteries, what he discovers is more horrifying than any legend…

Full of thrilling twists and loveable characters, this haunting second installment of bestselling Estonian author Indrek Hargla’s Apothecary Melchior Mysteries series will delight readers of richly atmospheric historical mysteries.