Thursday, December 6, 2007

A Death in Vienna by Frank Tallis

My Rating: 9.5/10

I have been away for a long time...caught in the rat-race of modern living; couldnt write about what I am reading...Shuffling between work and home life is taking away all my time but interestingly, I am managing to read! So, here is the latest psychological thriller by Frank Tallis...

It is an astute and beautifully written psychological thriller. I must say, after a long long time, I found something so refreshing to read; Tallis himself is a practising clinical psychologist and it definitely shows in the details. He has an outlandish style of writing; his descriptions of colorful suspects and witnesess, rich and dark Viennese society of the time and his psychoanalysis of mundane details adds scintillating charm to the plot. The unexpected presence of Sigmund Freud( yeah, the famous phychologist!) in the story brings higher level of anticipation...overall, a fascinating and must-read novel for all mystery/thriller aficionados!

Here's what it is about:

In Vienna at the turn of the twentieth century, Max Liebermann is at the forefront of psychoanalysis, practicing the controversial new science with all the skill of master detective. Every dream, inflection, or slip of tongue in his hysterical patients has meaning and reveals some hidden truth.

When a mysterious and a beautiful medium dies under extraordinary circumstances, Max’s good friend, Detective Oskar Rheinhardt, calls for his expert assistance. The medium’s body has been found in a room that can only be locked from inside. Her body has been shot, but there’s no gun and absolutely no trace of bullet. On a table lies a suicide note, claiming that there is ‘such a thing as forbidden knowledge’.

All signs points to a supernatural killer, but Liebermann the scientist is not so easily convinced. HE interviews the members of the medium’s séance’s circle- a nervous looking lock-smith, a flamboyant count, a stage magician and other. Then one of the suspects is brutally murdered, and the pieces fall into place in Max and Oskar’s hunt.

You can buy the book here.

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