I must confess now, I’m picky and finicky. If I weren’t, I probably would have to find another job, by the way. But I’m finicky about murders too – no, no, I’m talking mysteries here. And while this is the third novel by Frank Tallis I’ve been reading, there is still something slightly annoying, slightly unpalatable that keeps me from being a total fan.

Frank Tallis’ mysteries are set in 1900s Vienna, a multicultural city where modern ideas are springing up from everywhere, while the imperial Austrian society is still very much closeted by strict, military-inspired conventions and morals and a lot of Victorian taboos. Tallis’ heroes are a stout policeman, Oskar Rheinhardt, very opened to new methods of investigations and a doctor specialized in psychiatry, Max Liebermann, fascinated by the new theories developed by a little-known doctor named Freud. They become friends and form a pair that doesn’t lack talent or zest but still is a TV-show stereotype. This time around, the main story is set in a military school where a disadvantaged student is discovered dead in the science lab, apparently from natural causes, but bullying is soon suspected. A secondary plot dwells on the attempt to catch an unknown spy.

Tallis is a psychiatrist himself and he obviously knows his stuff. His numerous references to Freud make sense, but I couldn’t help but feel slightly patronized by the constant explaining that the doctor delivers to his policeman-friend. There is a lot of research behind each of his mysteries, a lot of name-dropping too (musician Mahler’s strange walk is even referenced in the after-word!), but something rings wrong. Places, food (Viennese desserts are part of the action, as many brainstorming sessions between the two friends are held in quaint cafes), arts, all those things are right, but I can’t really feel the 1900s, European atmosphere. I almost see, hear and feel 21C American people disguised in late 19C Viennese clothes, especially when it comes to women. Tallis’ heroines may be in advance for their time, but too much of that ruins the credibility of the whole cast of characters.

I guess the first plot was too thin so Tallis needed a secondary story to add substance and help develop the main characters (there are continuing stories on the inspector’s and the doctor’s personal lives linking all novels just like in a TV-show), but this is too much of a traditional recipe executed with dedication but without grace. I found the secondary intrigue weak and unnecessary, unless Tallis wanted to show off his knowledge on Vienna in ways he couldn’t connect with the first story. Spy stories and mysteries are two separated subgenres and he’s much better in the second in my opinion. I would have liked to know more about the military school, but apparently, as was (so ingenuously!) made clear in the acknowledgments, this story was inspired by Musil’s works, so I guess I know where to go next. Any other recommendation on this Turn-of-the-century period?

Edited to add: despite all the above criticism, I almost forgot to mention that it’s still a very enjoyable read! When I said I was picky…