Assured of Klimt’s innocence, Werthen and Gross search for the real murderer.  

But the mystery in this novel has a far greater scope than one mad serial killer. The combination of current and past events and their ramifications make Werthen and Gross think a conspiracy is afoot, one that pervades the aristocracy and may lead to the Habsburgs themselves. Questions still remain about how Prince Rudolf, heir to Emperor Franz Josef died. Most believe in 1889 he killed his fiancée and then committed suicide at Mayorling, the country estate, but others suspect murder, perhaps for his openness to Hungary regarding the Austria-Hungary imperial duality. And is his death somehow related to the assassination of Empress Elisabeth in Geneva in 1898? 

J. Sydney Jones combines fictional and historical figures in this fascinating mystery, the first in his Viennese Mystery series. Along with Klimt and Gross, we meet other historic figures including Mark Twain, Theodor Herzl, the father of the Jewish state and Richard Krafft-Ebing, a student of mental illness. Jones mentions Freud as well, but he was on vacation so we never learned his take on the cut-off noses. Jones writes in a formal, literary style, reminiscent of fin-de-siecle literature, and the story as well as the characters is reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. In fact, Gross complains that Doyle takes his ideas for his main character, Holmes. At times bossy and pretentious, Gross is likeable and intelligent. He and the more sensitive and contemplative Werthen play well off each other in banter and more important discussions. 

Jones lived in Vienna for more than two decades and has written numerous non-fiction books about the city. This knowledge comes through with flying colors, making Vienna as much a character in this novel as Werthen, Gross or Werthen’s love interest, Berthe.  

At times, it seems Jones knows too much and slows down the story with too much detail but for the most part, the story moves ahead at a steady pace. The mystery serves as the focal point, but the addition of politics, romance, history and conspiracy make this a compelling tale. I look forward to reading the second installment in this series, The Requiem in Vienna.

--Katherine Petersen