Customer Reviews

Vienna Secrets: A Max Liebermann Mystery (Mortalis)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In any series, some books are stronger than others. The fourth book of Frank Tallis' "Lieberman Papers" falls somewhere in the middle. Set in 1903 Vienna, the many things I have come to enjoy in his series are all here: the epicurian and musical references, the intertwining of Freudian psychoanalysis with the final resolution of the crime, and the friendship between psychologist Max Lieberman and police commissioner Oscar Rhinehardt. Yet _Darkness Rising_ wasn't as taught a mystery as A Death in Vienna: A Novel (Mortalis), nor did it keep me guessing as in Fatal Lies: A Novel (Mortalis). In this installment of the Liberman papers, I was always a step (or two) ahead of Lieberman as he worked the case.

Anti-semitism runs throughout _Darkness Rising_, an ugly feature common to central Europe at the time, and an issue Tallis has shown before. Here, however, it takes a much different turn as Liberman becomes a target of politically motivated hate, even as he works to solve the grisly murders of anti-semites throughout the city. The depth of the anti-semitism almost overshadows the work at resolving the murders themselves, although both are closely intertwined.

Aside from the murders themselves, Tallis treats us to a vivid description of central Europe, this time of Prague, from its Mala Strana and Stare Mastro to the rich Czech cusine - as he has done with Vienna, the flavors, sights and sounds of Prague are brought to life. Likewise he shows us the crucial place Jews had in k.u.k. Austria, with a sense of foreboding of what would be destroyed in a little more than a generation. In fact, this foreshadowing permeates the book, through references to Jung's thesis of the collective self-conscious to statements that "the irrational is an essential part of human nature." In fact, Inspector Rhinehard marvels at the vitriol and bile of anti-semitic groups, asking, "Are stories and symbols so potent? Could they be used to mobilize a whole people?" Echoing the words and thoughts of millions of European Jews, Liberman answers, "We Viennese are far too civilized" for that.

Were that it was so.

Still, the mystery itself was solid, even if a bit overshadowed by the looming cloud that would prove so destructive to so many. Tallis remains a mystery writer I continue to be a fan of. Recommended.

Frank Tallis is one of my favourite crime novelists along with Henning Mankell, Michael Connelly, and Helene Tursten. He has a unique attribute that is unlike any other. His writing is very literary, sometimes a little too much so, rather than colloquial. However, his style fits perfectly with his novels whose historical background is canvasing the turn of the 19th century, when formality, vanity and hierarchical social structure was regarded much like a norm than now. His literary style also plays a big role in making jokes that look deadpan and subtle.

To me, his novel is not for speed reading despite the nature of the story therein - gruesome murder, chasing the suspects, etc. If you are in haste to follow the storyline and to discover how it pans out, you will miss a significant portion of his novel's virtue. His storytelling requires close and slow reading. It should be like ruminating - reading sentences over and over.

Whenever reading Mr. Tallis, that's what I'm trying to do - reading slowly, word by word if possible. And it has always been very satisfying. Reading his novels has been like walking and navigating in a dense forest that also contains a wealth of undergrowth and wildlife.

This is his fourth "Max Liebermann Paper," and it was a good read like previous three books with a range of topics - Jewish mythology, anti-semitism, political tension and corruption, psycho-analysis, Freud, Mahler, medical ethics, you name it. Mr. Tallis has somehow made the era and society in Vienna look fascinating.

It was not always easy to go through this book since I was not familiar at all with Jewish culture and mythology. But in the end, it was an adventurous, satisfying journey that were worth taking.

You'll know very quickly whether this book is for you when you star reading it, but let me try to help you figure that out even sooner.

You'll love this book if:

1) You like historical fiction.
2) Appreciate well written prose with well drawn characters
3) Have interest in turn of the century Vienna, Jewish culture, and/or psychoanalysis
4) Like novels with lots of subplots
5) Like novels with lots of local color about food, surroundings; novels that give you a 'You are there!' feel.
6) Like it when you can see plot developments coming in advance.

You should pass on this book if:

1) The above does not appeal to you.
2) You like action or a fast moving pace of writing.
3) Stylized, measured writing styles turn you off.
4) You like plot twists that surprise or amaze.

I found Vienna Secrets to be a quintessential historical novel. I enjoyed the sense of place but found the exposition over long. This novel is two thirds mystery and one third travelogue of a bygone time, and that ratio was just a little too heavy on the travelogue aspect for me. But for people who fit the six criteria above, it will be a great read.

"Vienna Secrets," by Frank Tallis, is Volume Four of the Liebermann Papers, in which psychiatrist Max Liebermann recounts his experiences in turn-of-the-century Vienna. The year is 1903 and the atmosphere in Austria's capital is volatile. Although the status of Jews as Austrian citizens appears to be secure--after all, they hold important positions in such fields as banking, business, and medicine--their enemies, including "the clerics, the aristocracy, and conservative Slavs" are becoming increasingly vocal.

Against this menacing backdrop, Detective Inspector Oskar Rheinhardt asks his good friend and confidante, Max, to view an extremely grisly crime scene. Someone has murdered and decapitated Brother Stanislav, a monk known for his hatred of Jews. What makes this murder particularly noteworthy is that the monk's head was literally ripped from his torso. What human being could be powerful or barbaric enough to commit such a deed? The police are baffled by this crime and by subsequent acts of butchery that also involve decapitation. Could someone with supernatural powers have exploited the secrets of ancient mysticism to unleash a vengeful monster?

Meanwhile, Max has other problems preying on his mind. After breaking his engagement to Clara, he hoped to become closer to Amelia Lydgate, but their relationship has remained maddeningly platonic. In addition, Max's efforts to protect a patient have backfired, and as a result, he has incurred the wrath of some powerful people. Still, he derives comfort from playing the piano, dining on Viennese pastries, smoking cigars, and tending to his patients, one of whom has particularly bizarre symptoms. Sigmund Freud, with whom Max is well acquainted, makes an appearance, and there is much talk about the subconscious, dreams, metaphor, and symbolism. The sizeable and varied cast of characters includes a passionate Jewish sage and his followers, two society women who raise money for charitable causes, ambitious and corrupt politicians, a wealthy Jewish philanthropist, and two intellectual brothers--one, a doctor and the other, a struggling playwright.

Tallis is a scholarly and literate writer whose research is apparent in the book's thought-provoking discussions on philosophy, theology, psychology, and history. The author takes great pains to drive home a point that he has made before. Many Jews living in Vienna during the early 1900's were oblivious of the danger to come. They could not have imagined that a charismatic and fanatical leader would arise in Germany who would tap into the frustration and bigotry of the masses, and persecute the very people who had made so many invaluable contributions to society. Although it is an ambitious and enlightening work, "Vienna Secrets" is not an unqualified success. It is a talky and lengthy novel crammed with so many extraneous subplots that it gradually loses some of its focus and impact. Furthermore, its many disparate elements do not always come together smoothly. Those who enjoy thematic historical fiction will enjoy "Vienna Secrets," while those who crave a realistic whodunit with a satisfying resolution are bound to be disappointed.

Vienna Secrets is the fourth book from Frank Tallis featuring the duo of Psychiatrist Max Liebermann and Detective Oskar Reinhardt. I have read the first book in this series (A Death in Vienna: A Novel (Mortalis) - see my review), but I have not read the two books between. The main thing readers will lose out on without any context for the characters is the groundwork for the subtleties in interaction between Liebermann and Reinhardt. While these are assumed in the fourth book, the first gives some more background. This is not essential to following the story, but readers will miss a few things here and there. There are also some minor characters with which Tallis assumes the reader has some prior familiarity, but again these are not essential to the core story. Yet, there is another area that is more essential for readers to have some background. There is a strong tie-in between the plot of Vienna Secrets and a Sixteenth Century Kabbalist from Prague, Rabbi Loew. More by chance than plan, I had recently read The Fifth Servant: A Novel (see my review) whose story deals with Rabbi Loew sufficiently to have enriched my reading of Vienna Secrets. A lack of this backstory does not entirely kill Vienna Secrets, but the plot will seem to leap to conclusions otherwise.

With the background established let us turn to Vienna Secrets itself. The plot revolves around brutal murders in which seemingly unrelated people are killed in a very strange manner of decapitation. As Liebermann and Reinhardt attempt to unravel the mystery, they discover two extreme sides in play - a group of strongly anti-Semitic Christians and Hasidic Jews. The desire of the former to eliminate the Jews that they consider a plague causes the latter group to recall their great figure history Rabbi Loew. Their whispers among the people are along the lines of not "who" but "what" has committed these murders. Liebermann and Reinhardt are left to sort out whether the killings are supernatural in nature or not.

The conflict of anti-Semitism runs along multiple threads in Vienna Secrets. Although not a practicing Jew, Liebermann runs afoul of his hospital administration for his handling of the death of a Christian Baron. Readers will find the connection and resolution of this aspect of the plot satisfying to varying degrees. I thought that it could have been better, but I understand its necessity to the story.

One other plot thread will test readers a bit. The story of the two young affluent Jewish women who pursue charity work among the poor seems largely disconnected for much of the novel, but it is Tallis' style to run plot lines in parallel only to bring them together later in his novels.

While the main parts of the story are kept to a core set of characters, the total number of people who come and go throughout the novel may overwhelm some readers. Use your judgment as to whether this is important to you or not.

In the end Vienna Secrets is a satisfying period piece mystery that is true to Tallis' prior novels in the series. Although it was night quite up to A Death in Vienna, that is a pretty high bar. Fans of the prior adventures of Liebermann and Reinhardt are sure to be satisfied with this installment.

Overall: B

Frank Tallis completely wowed me with this literary thriller, the fourth in a series, which is chock full of magnificent descriptions of turn-of-the-century Viennese architecture, medicine, music, food, romance, history, sociology, religion, mythology, and, of course, mystery! And if that sounds impossible, just read this fascinating novel and discover for yourself that it's all there.

Tallis' language is, quite simply, beautiful, and, as another reviewer said, deserves to be savored slowly, like a fine wine. His incredible descriptions of actual artwork and buildings around Vienna and Prague made me want to book a ticket right now to go and see for myself. If you happen to be so lucky as to go, taking along a copy of this book could make for a wonderful self-guided tour around these cities, not only of the physical aspects of the cities, but also of the regional food extravaganzas, mostly desserts, which sound mouth-wateringly delicious.

Historical and cultural allusions add authenticity and color to the tale, as well. The time around the turn of the century in Austria was a time of turmoil, and this backdrop adds tension and suspense to the circumstances surrounding the murders. The injustices focused on the Jews were overwhelming and, as other reviewers have said, were indicative of the evils that were to come later in the century. Tallis' command of Jewish history and religion, specifically as relates to the practices of kaballah, is impressive.

As for the mystery itself, it almost gets lost in the bedazzlement of the book's descriptions. Admittedly, if you are looking for a page-turner, this may not be for you, but I had trouble putting it down. The organization of the book, which consisted of short chapters that changed locale, time, and viewpoint, could have made for a choppy reading experience, but I found that it actually whetted my appetite for whatever might come next. The story is told primarily from the point of view of Dr. Max Liebermann, a psychiatrist who followed Freud's developing theories. Freud appears in the story as a character occasionally, and his theories are applied throughout. Dr. Liebermann happens to be a good friend of Detective Inspector Oskar Rheinhardt, and together they work to solve the crimes as they have in the previous books of the series. As heinous and brutal as the murders are, they also appear to be politically inspired, but their very nature suggests the possibility of supernatural elements. The period detail and the impressive delineation of Jewish mysticism contribute to the atmosphere of creepiness.

I've left the plot out of this review, as it has been covered in other reviews, but I give this book my highest recommendation to those who appreciate a command of the English language and who respect an audacious intellect, both of which this author has in abundance. Frank Tallis is a London-based psychiatrist, and his medical background and knowledge of history are definitely displayed to full advantage in this absorbing and entertaining mystery.

I should preface this review with the explanation that I am not a regular reader of detective or historical fiction. The story is one which combines elements of Judaism, Antisemitism, Psychoanalysis, turn-of-the-century Vienna, Kabbala, Music and Murder Mystery. Dr. Tallan a London-based Clinical Psychologist offers a deep and enthralling picture of turn-of-the century Vienna,with exquisite explanation and use of the English Language. His knowledge of Psychoanalysis and a variety of other background fields is obvious. There is somewhat heavy foreshadowing of the events which would affect Jews and general European society later in the twentieth century. As a reader I was somewhat amused that his use of Kabbalistic symbolism followed Gershon Scholem and other biased academic writings on Kabbala rather than on an examination of primary sources and their symbolism. The book is an excellent historical novel with exquisite writing, but one should be wary of considering it a textbook in any of the fields to which it refers.

--Ira Laefsky

"Vienna Secrets" takes place in 1903 Vienna and Prague and contains all the elements that make Tallis's books enjoyable: good food, fine music, clever historical references, and strong characters. Even Sigmund Freud is present and he makes an interesting addition as the interplay between crime and Freudian theory is well done.

The mystery takes place against a background of rising anti-Semitism and Tallis does a wonderful job of working in kabbalistic references in a compelling and natural way. One of the things I most enjoyed about the book is that it provides a believable intellectual history of Freudian theory without being in the least dogmatic or interrupting the plot of the book - quite an accomplishment!

The mystery itself is interesting and compelling, though not quite as mysterious as some of the earlier Liebermann mysteries. All in all, a fine addition to the series - I look forward to more of these!

If this had been the first or second Max Liebermann mystery novel, I would have given it five stars. However it is the fourth book in the series and not quite as strong as some of the others, though still a very good book.

I am tempted to disqualify myself as a reviewer of Frank Tallis's dark novel of 2010, VIENNA SECRETS: A MAX LIEBERMAN MYSTERY. For I love Vienna and its Franz Josef years too much to be objective. I studied Greek and Philosophy at the University of Vienna 1959-60 and my future wife, at my suggestion, then did her post-doctoral Fulbright year there 1963-64 in Theater. My wife read this novel shortly before I did and lingered lovingly over every fictional visit to well remembered coffee houses, patisseries as well as being a fly on the wall during the gemuetliche musical evenings of the novel's two sleuths, Inspector Oskar Rheinhardt and Dr Maxim (Max) Lieberman. Depend on philosphy major me to notice the frightening role of the novel's Philosophy Professor Priel.

It also struck me that Englishman Frank Tallis must also be a close reader of the late, great Austrian novelist, Heimito von Doderer (1896 -1966). I taught myself German as a college undergraduate. The very first novelist I read in that language was Jewish Austrian Stefan Zweig (1881 - 1942), beginning with his novella Amok A Story. I became hooked on all things Austrian, including its historians, philosophers and playwrights, some of whom appear in VIENNA SECRETS.

While still in college I read (and 40 years later re-read) a half dozen works of von Doderer, who spent most of his life in Vienna and wrote of that Imperial city in such lavishly detailed works as The Demons. Volumes One and Two. 2 Volume Set.. In both Doderer and Tallis characters linger over tobacco, schnaps, meals, desserts; they take long walks with friends, pausing to observe plague monuments and churches, debating politics and religion. Frank Tallis did not write in a literary vacuum. I believe that he imbibed the style and something of the mind-set of the older master, Heimito von Doderer.

Doderer had been an atheistic Nazi, but converted to Catholicism in 1940. Both novelists are serious students of Central European medieval history. I do not know Tallis's religion but he writes as if Judaism (cultural, mystical, historical) is as important to him as Catholicism was to von Doderer. And the differing religious mindsets of the two lead to distinct but complementary world views in their novels.

In VIENNA SECRETS Sigmund Freud is portrayed as determined to prevent the learned world of both his day and the future from seeing psychoanalysis as another non-universally valid, arcane Jewish Weltanschauung like kabbala or belief in legendary golems created from mud to protect Jews. Yet interest in dreams and Jewish techniques of text interpretation are also seen by Freud and/or a disciple as having the power to dissect and understand the human soul. If nothing else, VIENNA SECRETS is a long, loving reminder of what all the world owes the Jewish elements of Franz Josef's Austro-Hungarian Empire in general and its capital Vienna in particular. I say, bravo, Frank Tallis.

-OOO-

This is a masterpiece of historical fiction. No schlocky pulp from crime magazine. This is scholarly, literate Austrian noir in fin-de siecle Vienna. The scene is quickly set on the cobbled streets of early 20th century Vienna with a decapitated corpse. Sigmund Freud struts upon the scene expounding on his dream theory-- larger than life. The author, a Limey wordsmith par excellence, cross-cuts rapidly and frequently between multiple characters and
perspectives to advance the police procedural at a staccatto pace. Max Liebermann is a jewish atheist psychiatrist. He and Detective Inspector Rheinhardt are the Starsky and Hutch team of old Vienna. So these are the ingredients that FT is sprinkling in. We have a blood libel and rabidly anti-semitic newspapers. We have prominent Jewish bankers, doctors, philanthropists and professors. On the religious side we have regular rabbis and messianic Kabbalists. And throw in some greedy politicians and mixed martial artist street thug enforcers. It is a rancid anti-semitic stew about to boil over; just like what really happened. The author is scholarly in his architectural, historic, music, pastry and period knowledge. If you are looking for mindless trash; dont read this. This is award winning historical fiction wrapped up in a pot-boiler. So cocky Max Liebermann has an ethical, religious, and moral choice. A morally bankrupt minor Baron in the throes of advanced syphlis is shot up with morphine and dying. Should Max allow the Baron the comfort of his delusions or allow a priest to administer the sacrament of the last rites? Max rolls snake eyes. He endangers his career and needs to make a clean get away to Prague. Freud comes out of the closet as an expert on Kabbalah. It feels like a Golem is lurking in the background. Dont worry; the suspense doesnt prevent the characters from stuffing their pie holes in coffee shops with delectable Viennese pastry. At page 200 this is still a worthwhile read. VIENNA SECRETS is a camera obscura capturing in freeze frame the jews of fin de siecle Vienna; and the soon to be forgotten legends of dybuks(ghosts) and golems(Frankenstein monsters). Max Liebermann is the sina qua non personification of the sophisticated, well-educated, assimilated jews of Austria and Germany. In their conceit they bet their lives that the pogroms to the east and of the past could never happen again... never happen to them. A fine effort. A must read. Kudos FT. The role of dreams in Kaballah and as a catalyst for Freud is an interesting intellectual brain teaser for a police procedural; quite a matzoh ball. FT elevates the genre with VIENNA SECRETS.