“An extraordinary novel, which makes a long-vanished culture seem urgent, contemporary, and alive.
Wishnia gets the nuances just right: the Yiddish is used perfectly and the religion, politics, and prejudices
of the old German empire are as real and believable as if they were behind our television screens.”
Sara Paretsky, author of Hardball (and reigning queen of the genre)

"Whatever you are currently reading, I promise you it is not nearly as intelligent, witty, compelling or entertaining as The Fifth Servant by Kenneth Wishnia. A great protagonist, a vivid set of supporting characters,
a winning voice, a gripping plot, and a lively historical context--this book is the total package.
Too many historical novels try to make text books come alive. Wishnia makes history come alive."
David Liss, author of The Devil's Company and The Whiskey Rebels

"In his fiercely intelligent and entrancing novel The Fifth Servant, Kenneth Wishnia gives us a 16th- century Prague that is rich, labyrinthine, and utterly compelling. Drawn in first by its soft wit, we soon find ourselves swept into a tale both intricate and haunting, its twists and turns carrying us breathlessly to the very last page."
Megan Abbott, Edgar Award-winning author of Bury Me Deep and Queenpin

"The Fifth Servant makes me want to scream ‘Dan Brown eat your heart out.’ This astounding novel
proves that academia, wit, and a compelling mystery may all be found in one book.
And what a suspenseful, enthralling story this is – accessible and hugely entertaining."
Ken Bruen, author of Sanctuary

"The richness of the setting of The Fifth Servant is matched by the complexity and appeal of its characters.
With apparent ease Kenneth Wishnia makes solid and real the sounds, sights,
and smells of a vanished and legendary time."
S. J. Rozan, Edgar Award-winning author of The Shanghai Moon

"Well-developed characters and detailed portrayals of life at the time help
make this historical crime thriller a gripping page-turner."
Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Powerful . . . A densely philosophical yet surprisingly witty historical mystery."
 Booklist

"Works nicely on at least three levels: as history, mystery and theology."
Kirkus

"Think Sherlock Holmes with a dash of Woody Allen, Philip Roth and Stephen King. [A] smart funny page turner that I hated to see end."
The Jewish Journal

"Benyamin [and] Rabbi Judah Loew [are] a team worthy of Holmes and Watson with a little CSI thrown in. [Wishnia] has clearly researched a period of history that is rich in history and legend.."
The Jewish Times

"Reading Kenneth Wishnia’s new novel The Fifth Servant has been the most fun this reviewer’s had reading any book since Junot Diaz’s The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao two years ago. Wishnia deftly deploys his vast research to transport us to a very different time and place... and the characters’ psychological complexity only strengthens this richly textured and immensely entertaining book."
The New York Journal of Books

"Wishnia's brilliant, intense, and well-researched tale has more than a touch of Yiddish humor, which keeps the reader engaged and thinking about the many intertwined concepts. This is a fast paced story with so much to teach the readers will want to set aside time to fully enjoy The Fifth Servant."
Jewish Book World

"Breathtaking... there is also considerable wit in the telling. A challenging but rewarding book.."
The Denver Post

"Reads Like a 16th Century 'CSL: Prague.' It keeps you turning pages, and, when you're finished, wanting more."
The Forward

"A brilliantly imagined, beautifully written combination of scrupulously researched historical novel and riveting suspense thriller [with] a uniquely unforgettable protagonist. A richly atmospheric tale of religion, mystery, and intrigue. "
Love a Mystery

"A rollicking good, full-bodied story with delicious dialogue. "
Hadassah Magazine

"Totally engaging. There is a universality about it — both in time and place. If you have an adventurous spirit and the stamina to savor a long multicourse meal, then that is what "The Fifth Servant" successfully offers you. Sweet and savory, heavy and lean, it slowly educates the palate with a subtle richness."
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