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Vienna Blood Audiobook
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(3.02) - 512 listener ratings
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In the grip of a Siberian winter in 1902, a serial killer in Vienna embarks upon a bizarre campaign of murder. Vicious mutilation, a penchant for arcane symbols, and a seemingly random choice of victim are his most distinctive peculiarities. Detective Inspector Oskar Rheinhardt summons a young disciple of Freud—his friend Dr. Max Liebermann—to assist him with the case. The investigation draws them into the sphere of Vienna's secret societies—a murky underworld of German literary scholars, race theorists, and scientists inspired by the new evolutionary theories coming out of England. At first, the killer's mind seems impenetrable, his behavior and cryptic clues impervious to psychoanalytic interpretation; however, gradually, it becomes apparent that an extraordinary and shocking rationale underlies his actions.
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"The second of excellent series set in early 20th century Vienna. Young psychoanalyst Max Liebermann is Freud's student, a talented musician, a middling fencer, a coffeehouse regular, and best friend of a police detective, Oskar Rheinhardt. The hub of culture, science, and political ferment, 1903 Vienna is itself a character in these books. It is the stage on which the personal, intellectual, and historical intersect with well-plotted solutions to puzzling crimes. Each volume illuminates the origins of the horrors that will shake the world: here, clinical psychologist Tallis explores the relationship between literature, The Magic Flute and the seeds of German nationaist supremacy."
— Carolyn (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“A series that, rather like a Viennese pastry, is stuffed almost to bursting with showy delights.”
— New York Times -
“This is the second novel in the Liebermann series and it lives up to the promise of Tallis’ earlier book…At a time when readers know just about every forensic trick, Tallis cleverly takes us back to a moment poised between discredited Victorian theories about criminology and exciting new ideas about the unconscious.”
— Sunday Times (London) -
“Tallis spices things up with a cast of outlandish suspects and colorful witnesses, and a series of mounting suspicions, wrong turns, and dead ends creates an exhilarating chase. The layers of Viennese society are peeled away as delicately as the layers of each mouth-watering Viennese pastry that the portly Rheinhardt makes it his business to devour.”
— Telegraph (London) -
“Frank Tallis’ Vienna Blood is one of the finest literary thrillers I’ve ever read. It’s a dazzling tour de force…the kind of novel Arthur Conan Doyle might have written if he’d been a far better novelist…The first great thriller of 2008.”
— Washington Post -
“A fascinating portrait of one of the most vibrant yet sinister cities of fin-de-siecle Europe. On top of this, Tallis has laid a murder mystery of great intelligence.”
— Times (London) -
“Tallis…cunningly folds psychoanalysis, early forensics, eugenics, music, and literature into a captivating suspense novel that also has its share of runic symbols, erotic swoons, and swordplay. All is held in perfect balance by the strength of complex characters…and the tactile intensity of even incidental descriptions.”
— Boston Globe -
“British clinical psychologist Tallis follows his superior debut, A Death in Vienna, with this gripping sequel…The book’s strength lies in the relationship and interplay between the two detectives, whose friendship, which includes a shared love of music, may remind some of Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey and Maturin. The clever plotting and quality writing elevate this above most other historicals.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“An astute and beautifully written psychological thriller. The author is a practicing clinical psychologist and it shows: his handling of the psychoanalysis and criminal pathology are fantastic. This is a romping tale which takes in secret societies, race theories, Freud, classical music, and literary scholarship with an excellent balance of plot, narrative, and period color.”
— Scotland on Sunday
Vienna Blood Listener Reviews
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" Tallis writes so intelligently,I can't sing his praises enough. I really enjoyed reading this book. A great Turn of the Century police procedural, with psychoanalysis, even Freud himself, thrown into the mix. "
— Linda, 2/17/2014 -
" Struggling a little even though I like the setting -- early 1900s in Vienna. Struggled for a year...gave up. Am enjoying Sydney Jones mysteries set in the same time, same place. "
— Faith, 2/3/2014 -
" I enjoyed this second volume of the Liebermann Papers more than the first. Again, the author demonstrated an overwhelming knowledge of Viennese coffees and pastries; one only wished for an illustrated glossary! "
— Phil, 2/2/2014 -
" Yet again, Frank Tallis has drawn me into the rich life of Vienna, music art, food and human passion - a wonderful read....... "
— Jenny, 1/30/2014 -
" This is the second installment of Tallis's murder mystery psychoanalytical series pairing up homicide detective Reinhardt and Freudian psychologist Leibermann. A serial killer has been unleashed in Vienna - massacring innocent victims with unspeakable violence. As Reinhardt seeks out the murderer, a secret Masonic society is carrying on in the Austrian underground. Leibermann works with a patient suffering from a delusion that a wealthy monarch is in love with him and that her every move is calculated to convey messages to him. Leibermann also questions his engagement to Clara, and increasingly finds ways to involve Miss Lydgate and her ever-developing theories of serology in his cases. Like the first book, Reinhardt and Leibermann test out their theories and mull over possiblities while playing classical music and eating pastries in cafes. And of course, Liebermann's break-throughs with his patients will have direct insight into finding the killer. I find Liebermann to be a very likeable character, despite his social awkwardness and while Vienna Blood didn't blow me away, it was a fun entertaining mystery. "
— Anne, 1/21/2014 -
" I enjoyed reading about Vienna 1905. Loved the middle especially. Gory in the beginning but I got thru it and was happy to get to the middle. "
— Donna, 1/20/2014 -
" First novel completed in 2012....I'm a little behind schedule on my 50 books goal. But this was a great way to start -- a fun, smart genre novel in 1900 Vienna. Love the language, the pastries and the Freud cameos! "
— Emily, 1/19/2014 -
" Disappointing. A good storyteller hamstrung by ideological subjectivity so obvious that it begins to grate. "
— Johan, 1/18/2014 -
" Very enjoyable but more for its descriptions of 1902 Vienna, classical music and cakes than the actual crime plot. "
— Annji, 1/7/2014 -
" This is an intelligent series, and I enjoyed this second installment of the Liebermann papes. Though the plot seems a little scattered (Jack the Ripper, The Magic Flute, and Masons), it all ties together for a satisfying conclusion. "
— Daniele, 12/4/2013 -
" I have the book already, but haven't finished reading it yet... "
— Ardi, 11/27/2013 -
" lots of fun and wonderfully written mystery set in victorian vienna. The main characters are a delight, solving crimes using the budding field of psychology (Freud is a character). Great visuals. "
— Jacque, 11/19/2013 -
" I enjoyed the story but I find the main character, Max Lieberman, a bit stiff, and the writing suffers from the same lack of flow. "
— Heidi, 10/19/2013 -
" FYI, no, I haven't learned another language - I have an English version! "
— SallyJo, 9/23/2013 -
" An historical mystery set in Vienna in 1902. Inspector Rheinhardt and Dr. Liebermann, a psychologist, search Vienna's secret societies to find a serial killer. The scene where they are pursuing the killer through the sewers of Vienna reminded me of the movie "The Third Man." "
— Georgene, 8/9/2013 -
" This book is more enjoyable than the first in the series. I find the 2 main characters quite compelling, and the setting in early 1900s Vienna fascinating. The author portrays the anti-Semitism and secret societies, educating me as he weaves his story. "
— Cyndee, 4/25/2013 -
" Always interesting to read historical mysteries that take place in cities I have visited. Brings back fond memories. A psychological 'thriller' with a well known personage from the times. "
— James, 3/22/2013 -
" not finished yet...but i can't leave this box empty. hehehe...hope there's another paper to see how the love story goes, beside the smart way of solving the crime. yet, this one...perhaps, not as stunning as the previous one. the previous one was smart. "
— Ika, 2/16/2013 -
" A little heavy on the Freudianism (which here allows Lieberman to surpass Holmes in his unlikely powers of deduction), but both highly entertaining and historically interesting. "
— Shawn, 12/11/2012 -
" Given to me by mama on 8/30/09 "
— 'stina, 11/12/2012 -
" A well-crafted murder mystery set in Vienna, 1902. Very original characters and plot. I learned a lot about the Freemasons and about Mozart's The Magic Flute, among other things. "
— Barb, 7/13/2012 -
" I find all of Talis's books engrossing. He is a good story teller. That the psychoanalytic influence is throughout adds to the character development. "
— Arthur, 3/18/2012
About Frank Tallis
F. R . Tallis is a writer and clinical psychologist. He has received or been nominated for numerous awards, including the New London Writers’ Award, the Ellis Peters Historical Dagger, the Elle Prix de Letrice, the CWA Historical Dagger Award, and two Edgar Awards.
About Robert Fass
Robert Fass is a veteran actor and twice winner of the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. He has earned multiple Earphones Awards and been named in AudioFile magazine’s list of the year’s best narrations for six years.