The Interpretation of Murder opens on a hot summer night in 1909 as Sigmund Freud arrives in New York. Among those waiting to greet him is Dr. Stratham Younger, a gifted physician who is one of Freud’s most ardent American supporters. And so begins the visit that will be the great genius’s first–and only–journey to America. The morning after Freud’s arrival, in an opulent penthouse across the city, a woman is discovered murdered–whipped, mutilated, and strangled with a white silk tie. The next day, a rebellious heiress named Nora Acton barely escapes becoming the killer’s second victim. Yet, suffering from hysteria, Miss Acton cannot remember the terrifying incident or her attacker. Asked to consult on the case, Dr. Younger calls on the visiting Freud to guide him through the girl’s analysis. The Interpretation of Murder is an intricately plotted, elegantly wrought entertainment filled with delicious surprises, subtle sleights of hand, and fascinating ideas. Drawing on Freud’s case histories, Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and the rich history of New York, this remarkable novel marks the debut of a brilliantly engaging new storyteller.
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"I so enjoyed this book. I only read the occasional mystery/detective book, but the intersection of Freud's visit, the psychiatry debates and the secrets of NY hotels and tunnels made this story unique and mesmerizing. "
— Sarah (4 out of 5 stars)
" Some of the story was riveting, with a great sense of place in 1909 NYC. I found the Jung/Freud stuff tedious at times. Vacillating between expert storytelling and less expert convolusions, cul de sacs (culs de sac?), and side-trips. "
— Adrienne, 5/5/2011" I usually like the combination of historical fact and fiction, but in this instance...it didn't do much for me...Freud only visited American once and never again...and I never really cared why... "
— Richard, 4/11/2011" A new Michael Crichton! The ending wasn't quite as good as the story that built up, but the historical setting was cool, and it's a perfect beach book (which I was lucky enough to be on while I read it!) "
— Mallory, 4/9/2011" Wasn't a great mystery, but had good characters and worked as historical fiction. Probably worth reading the sequel. "
— Eli, 3/20/2011" not bad for a book I bought at the dollar store. Learned a little about Freud and Jung, a little about Hamlet, and mixed in with a good page turner mystery. "
— John, 3/19/2011Jed Rubenfeld is the author of the
international bestseller The
Interpretation of Murder. He is a professor at Yale University Law School
and is one of the country’s foremost experts on constitutional law. He wrote
his undergraduate thesis at Princeton University on Sigmund Freud. He lives in
Connecticut with his family.
Kirby Heyborne is a musician, actor, and professional narrator. Noted for his work in teen and juvenile audio, he has garnered over twenty Earphones Awards. His audiobook credits include Jesse Kellerman’s The Genius, Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother, and George R. R. Martin’s Selections from Dreamsongs.