The Apothecary Melchior series plunges the reader into 15th century Tallinn when Estonia is at the edge of Christian lands and the last foothold before the East: a town of foreign merchants and engineers, dominated by the mighty castle of Toompea and the construction of St Olaf's Church, soon to become the tallest building in the world...

Apothecary Melchior is a divisive figure in the town: respected for his arcane knowledge and scientific curiosity but also feared for his mystical witchdoctor aura. When a mysterious murder occurs in the castle, Melchior is called in to help find the killer and reveals a talent for solving crime. But Tallinn has a serial killer in its midst, and Melchior is tested to the limit in a plot with as many twists and turns as the turreted castle itself. Melchior uncovers a mystery surrounding St Olaf's church and a secret society that has been controlling the town for years, uncovering truths about the town that may spell danger...

Indrek Hargla has created a unique character in detective and historical fiction: a chemist turned-sleuth who battles ignorance and superstition - as well as killers - in a beautiful setting and in a gripping and mysterious era of history.

Apothecary Melchior and The Mystery of St Olaf's Church is the first in a series of books that have taken Europe by storm and are soon to be filmed; essential reading for fans of Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael novels and other historical mysteries.

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