Starred review from January 12, 2009
St. Florian's Military Academy outside Vienna serves as the forbidding backdrop for Tallis's stellar third historical to feature Insp. Oskar Rheinhardt and Dr. Max Liebermann (after 2008's Vienna Blood
). Harshly ruled by headmaster Julius Eichmann, St. Florian's is the scene of bizarre initiation rites—some involving torture, and murder. The body of the most recent victim, a 15-year-old Czech boy, has numerous cuts and lacerations across his arms and torso. During their meticulous inquiries at St. Florian's, Rheinhardt and Liebermann learn of illicit liaisons among female staff and sex-starved students and also between an elusive math teacher and the murdered boy. The thinkers and writers of early 20th-century Vienna play their parts, including Liebermann's idol, Sigmund Freud, and philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, whose “übermensch” theory inspires one student's brutalities. Several late twists lead to a startling resolution of this compelling tale.
Starred review from January 1, 2009
A young boys body is found in the science laboratory of a military school just outside Vienna. Police inspector Oskar Rheinhardt is called to investigate, and while it first appears that the boy died of natural causes, a closer look at his body reveals a series of bizarre hidden wounds. Fearing that the pupils at the school are involved in bullying or violent ritualistic practices, Rheinhardt appeals to his old friend Max Liebermann, a disciple of Freud, for help with the case. But Liebermann has his own problems. Unlucky in love, he has fallen head over heels for a beautiful violinist. But all is not as it seems, and Liebermann is drawn into a dark world of intrigue and deceit. Meanwhile, another boy mysteriously disappears from the military school. Feeling this is confirmation of his worst fears, Rheinhardt becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth. Tallis has crafted an intricate, taut, and compelling plot, with an ending that is as shocking as it is inevitable. What is basically a murder mystery becomes something quite extraordinary as Tallis skillfully weaves in the politics, history, music, and social customs of turn-of-the-century Vienna. Another outstanding entry in an erudite and mesmerizing series; a must for historical-mystery devotees.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)