The first Max Liebermann mystery I have read.

Lieberman is a psychoanalyst who often works with Detective Inspector Oskar Reinhardt, around the turn of the 19th - into - 20th century. This case is certainly one for the mental health books: A priest is found with his head torn off, on church grounds.

In Vienna in these days anti-semitic sentiment ran high. The priest had been a vocal anti-semite. When another body is discovered, head torn off, and this second person is also discovered to be virulently anti-semitic, Liebermann and Reinhardt turn to the Hasidic community. Although usually peaceful as a group, some Hasidic Jews have been known to become violent at times.

A feature of the beheadings is the force required to tear a head off. No single person could have done it. So is there a group? A group that is similarly inclined? The detectives look into small groups led by Rebbes, influential leaders of Judaism. Could a strong Rebbe be leading a group to do these murders?

There is an interesting array of suspects, ranging from two wealthy women out to protect women from abuse to seedier characters. The mystery of who would do such a thing is fodder for Liebermann's brain, along with the mystery of how it was done.

I enjoyed the characters, from Liebermann and his diary (much agony over love interests) to the character of Vienna itself. ( )

" Darkness Rising," the fourth Liebermann Papers novel by Frank Tallis, opens with the grisly discovery of a monk whose head has literally been torn from his shoulders, a feat seemingly beyond human capabilities altogether. As Detective Inspector Rheinhardt investigates, he learns that the apparently well-loved monk had another side to his nature, that of a virulent anti-Semitic who wrote inflammatory articles in an effort to discredit Jews in Vienna. At the same time, Rheinhardt’s friend, Jewish psychiatrist Max Liebermann is facing anti-Semitic problems of his own when his actions concerning a dying patient in hospital are interpreted as religious agitation against Christians, and his position in the hospital is quite seriously under threat. As the gruesome murders mount and Liebermann’s position deteriorates, he finds himself in Prague, where clues might be found to solve both his problems and Rheinhardt’s case…. This is another excellent entry in Frank Tallis’s turn of the century series, bringing into the already potent mix of music, psychiatry, pastries and philosophy the additional element of Jewish legends and folklore; very nicely done indeed. Recommended! ( )

This is the most explicit exploration of the rise of antisemitism and fascism, though of course, they are still far into the future. There's a lot of exploration of symbols and meaning and whether they can be used to mobilize people. The murders in this book are more political than in others and reach higher into the halls of power. Lieberman himself comes under attack when he blocks a priest from offering last rites to a dying patient who is happily contemplating his next drunken adventure, not knowing he is dying. Lieberman believes there is no reason to tell him he's dying when he's so happily drugged and unaware - touching off a religious tempest that could cost him his career - and also serve as a potent political symbol for the religious fanatics who are trying to stir up antisemitic hostility.

I thought this was less satisfying than others in the series, in large part because the plotting was so obvious. The danger with an omniscient narrator is that sometimes too much time is spent with the bad guys - weakening the suspense. One of the themes explored is the way frustrated and mediocre talents seek alternate explanations for their failings. They are not talentless hacks, it's that this or that group is favored by the elites - sounding like bitter rejects for a Jesse Helms ad, there's a lot of that sort of talent envy. One thing the book offers is a new alternative to the horrible "those who can't, teach" such as "those who can't, conspire" or "those who can't, whine" Let's just say that the lesser talents whose jealousy of the successes of other artists sound exactly like those who complain about affirmative action and immigrants today.

The politics of resentment stay the same - across the generations - only the targets change. That is one insight that is repeated in all his books - though most explicitly in this one.

( )

Vienne 1903, un moine est retrouvé décapité. Tous les indices semblent accuser la communauté juive orthodoxe de la capitale. Est-ce une réaction extrémiste aux vexations auxquelles elle est confrontée, ou au contraire, une manière de l'accuser une fois de plus? L'inspecteur Reinhardt et le psychiatre Liebermann mènent à nouveau l'enquête à l'aide des théories de Freud. ( )

A little on the obtuse side because of all the psychological mumbo-jumbo/jargon but otherwise an interesting look at antisemitism in post WW I Vienna. ( )