A Death in Vienna: A Max Liebermann Mystery

Turn of the century Vienna - at the time, the social, cultural and scientific centre of a Europe rapidly entering the modern world of the twentieth century - serves as the setting for Frank Tallis' debut historical mystery - a provocative, head-scratching locked room mystery. The very deceased and brutally murdered body of the colourful and beautiful medium Fräulein Löwenstein has been found in her apartments - securely locked and bolted from the inside. The puzzle deepens and becomes even more cryptic as an autopsy reveals a gunshot wound to the heart. There is a very clear entrance wound but there is no exit wound and there is also no bullet to be found in her body. Detective Oskar Rheinhardt, an ardent fan of the newest applications of criminology and psychology, frequently finds himself at odds with his superiors who believe in a more dogged persevering application of older tried and true procedures in the solution of crimes. Rheinhardt and his companion, Max Liebermann, a physician who is also exploring the cutting edge possibilities of his own area of expertise - the developing science of psychoanalysis - believe the murderer can be found among the small group of somewhat eccentric folks that form Fräulein Löwenstein's regular séance circle. To be sure, "A Death in Vienna" is a very workmanlike, well-constructed and completely entertaining locked room murder mystery but it is also so very much more. It is a wonderfully informative essay on some of the advances in modern medicine that were being developed at that time such as shock therapy, psychoanalysis, blood typing and blood transfusion. It is an enthusiastic travelogue of what is arguably the most beautiful, charming and exciting city in all of Europe - the coffee shops, the scrumptious, tantalizing pastries, the Ringstrasse, the Opera House and the Musikverein, Karlskirche and Stephansdom, the Riesenrad ferris wheel and Prater Park. Through Tallis' wonderful narrative skills, one can almost imagine hearing the romantic music of the time and admiring its flamboyant composers who were such an important part of the Viennese social and cultural scene at the time - Chopin, Brahms, Beethoven, Schubert and, in particular, the contentious and controversial Gustav Mahler, who had held the post of the Director of the Vienna Opera since 1897. Tallis accurately portrays the breathless, often scandalized reaction of the Viennese artistic community to Gustav Klimt's racy and often overtly sexual style of painting that was, in only a few years time, to form the core of the Viennese Secessionist movement now celebrated in the Belvedere Palace. Last but not least, he breathes life into his complex characters who are so credible, so human, so complete and so well-crafted as to turn other more experience and vastly more celebrated authors completely green with envy. For once, I completely agree with some of the marketing information on the cover. The New York Times Book Review called it an "eleg

From all aspects this is a truly wonderful find. With characters well formed and intriguing, and a setting that does not disappoint, this read accelerates quickly from page turner to page burner! I will not go into plot details, (you can read that on your own!) but I found the plot to be provocative and the flow of the story to be quite affable. I will surely continue with Mr. Tallis throughout the remainder of this series.

I picked up this book after reading a short review in the Economist and enjoyed every second of it. The mystery is well done. It has the mark of the English mysteries where the suspects are a small group of people, each of whom is interesting. The crime was ingenious and the detective work is fascinating. The real strength of the book, however, is the setting in Vienna in 1902. We see the City and the culture. Max Lieberman the main character is fascinating. We see the development of psychology in its early stages. There is also a good deal by the occult. If one reads Larson's book about Marconi that we set at the same time one can understand that the developments in science were so amazing that people would not really know what was truth. I have recommended this to friends. It was a treat and was pleased to see there is a sequel that I will read next

This is a well-written and interesting mystery, but be aware that "Mortal Mischief" and "A Death in Vienna" are the same book! One is the British title, the other the title used in the States. Don't buy both.

Frank Tallis's "A Death in Vienna" features psychiatrist Max Liebermann, who is a disciple of Sigmund Freud. Vienna is a cosmopolitan capital that delights the senses with its beautiful music, architectural wonders, scenic vistas, and culinary delights. It is also the birthplace of psychoanalysis, of which Max is an expert practitioner, much to the disdain of his superior, Professor Wolfgang Gruner. Gruner prefers to treat hysteria with electricity, while Max feels that it is far more productive and humane to to help his patients by exploring their dreams and subconscious memories. Max's best friend and confidante is Detective Oskar Reinhardt, who often calls on Max for his expert opinion. It seems that Max's superior powers of observation and his expertise in diseases of the mind make him an excellent amateur sleuth. Oskar presents his friend with a enigma involving a beautiful young woman, Charlotte Lowenstein, who is found dead in her sitting room. She was apparently shot, but no bullet or exit wound was found. In addition, suicide can be ruled out, since there there was no murder weapon at hand. To make matters even more bewildering, the sitting room door was locked from the inside and no one could have climbed out of the window. Since Charlotte was a medium who frequently conducted seances, some people suspect that a supernatural force killed her. However, Max scoffs at this idea and he sets out to help his friend solve the crime. In addition, Max is preoccupied with treating a patient named Amelia Lydgate, who is suffering from partial paralysis. He uses hypnosis in an attempt to uncover the source of his patient's distress. Frank Tallis has written an engaging novel that is also a travelogue of Vienna in the late nineteenth century. Max is an appealing character, who is courageous, brilliant, insightful, and compassionate. His friendship with Oskar extends not only to professional matters, but the two also enjoy music, meals, drinks, and cigars together. Oskar is a happily married man whom Max intends to emulate when he settles down with the woman he has been seeing, the lovely Clara Weiss. "A Death in Vienna" is a clever "locked room" mystery with a truly ingenious solution. Tallis depicts his large cast of characters with flair, and he includes pointed social commentary about the political situation in Vienna, the role of women during the turn of the century, and the ugly specter of anti-Semitism that was already poisoning the atmosphere in Austria. The book has a cliffhanger ending which will entice readers to stay tuned for the next installment in this series.