Mahler belittles the attempts on his life, calling them accidents, but when more attempts occur, even he admits something untoward is going on.  Werthen and his new bride, Berthe, work with criminologist Hans Gross to catch the would-be murderer before Mahler can be fatally attacked.  Could the threat include other musicians as well?  Are all of Vienna’s musicians under threat?

In this fascinating tale, set in a vibrant moment in Vienna’s history, J. Sydney Jones reveals his knowledge of the people, the place, and the culture.  His characters bring alive the city’s obsession with music and the arts, while revealing dark undercurrents of anti-Semitism and Byzantine politics.  Whether fictional like Karl and Berthe, or historic like Mahler and Gustav Klimt, the characters waltz through the story against the backdrop of a living city.  It is lively writing, despite the rather old-fashioned, slightly formal style that so exactly fits the time and place depicted.

My one reservation about the book is the sprinkling of German words throughout.  I was able to dust off my decades-old memory of German and managed fine, but a reader unfamiliar with the language might not find it so easy.  Who could fail to be daunted and puzzled by such words as Regierungsrath?  I would not suggest substituting English words in the text, as the German provides a certain spice to the story.  However, a brief glossary of the more important terms would help the reader enjoy this interesting book more thoroughly and would be well worth the extra page or two required.

I did not expect to enjoy this story, as I care neither for opera (those shrieking sopranos!) nor Mahler’s compositions, but in the event I found it a pleasant and engaging read.  The snapshot of Viennese history is fascinating, the details of food and culture are diverting, and the characters are well portrayed and believable.  Refreshingly enough, Karl Werthen and his wife are in love.  The mystery itself is enough of a puzzle to keep us wondering right up to the end.

Requiem in Vienna is the second book in a series featuring Karl Werthen.  The first book, The Empty Mirror, came out in paperback in Jan 2010, and I will definitely seek it out and read it.  

--Nancy McIntyre