About the Book Originally published: London: Century, 2005, in series: The Liebermann papers. Book Synopsis An engrossing portrait of a legendary period as well as a brain teaser of startling perplexity -- Chicago Tribune In Vienna at the turn of the twentieth century, Max Liebermann is at the forefront of psychoanalysis, practicing the controversial new science with all the skill of a master detective. Every dream, inflection, or slip of tongue in his hysterical patients has meaning and reveals some hidden truth. When a mysterious and beautiful medium dies under extraordinary circumstances, Maxs good friend, Detective Oskar Rheinhardt, calls for his expert assistance. The mediums body has been found in a room that can only be locked from the inside. Her body has been shot, but theres no gun and absolutely no trace of a bullet. On a table lies a suicide note, claiming that there is such a thing as forbidden knowledge. All signs point to a supernatural killer, but Liebermann the scientist is not so easily convinced. Set in the Vienna of Freud, Klimt, and Mahler, a time of unprecedented activity in the worlds of philosophy, science, and art, A Death in Vienna is an elegantly written novel, taut with suspense and rich in historical details. Review Quotes An engrossing portrait of a legendary period as well as a brain teaser of startling perplexity . . . In Talliss sure hands, the story evolves with grace and excitement. . . . A perfect combination of the hysterical past and the cooler-but probably more dangerous-present -- Chicago Tribune [An] elegant historical mystery . . . stylishly presented and intelligently resolved. -- The New York Times Book Review [A Death in Vienna is] a winner for its smart and flavorsome fin-de-sicle portrait of the seat of the Austro-Hungarian empire, and for introducing Max Liebermann, a young physician who is feverish with the possibilities of the new science of psychoanalysis. -- The Washington Post Frank Tallis knows what hes writing about in this excellent mystery. . . . His writing and feel for the period are top class. -- The Times (London) About the Author Frank Tallis is a writer and clinical psychologist. He is the author of Death and the Maiden , Vienna Twilight , Vienna Secrets , Fatal Lies , and Vienna Blood , as well as five works of nonfiction and two previous novels, Killing Time and Sensing Others . He is a recipient of a Writers Award from the Arts Council of Great Britain and in 2000 he won the New London Writers Award (London Arts Board). His books have been shortlisted for both the Ellis Peters Historical Dagger Award and for the Edgar award. Tallis lives in London.