Fatal Lies

This is the second Frank Tallis book that I’ve reviewed, and I liked this one as much as the first. This series of books about Max Liebermann takes place in 1902-1910 Vienna. Lieberman is a psychiatrist with a full-time practice, who occasionally consults with the police on difficult cases. His buddy on the police force is Inspector Rheinhardt whose life is made difficult by his bumbling boss, Manfred Brugel, the police commissioner, who micro-mismanages various crimes and the administration of the Viennese police force. Rheinhardt and Liebermann have a wonderful friendship that extends well beyond their professional relationship. Liebermann plays the piano and Rheinhardt is a baritone, so they practice classical pieces together and Tallis weaves musical themes into the story lines. In addition to the unique setting of early 1900s Vienna and the musical themes, Tallis use of vocabulary is wonderful – far better than what we usually see in crime novels.

In this novel, Tallis mixes two main story lines with a number of subplots that help better identify the main characters. Rheinhardt is called to investigate the death of a student at a Viennese high school military academy. It appears that the student died of natural causes, but the inspector’s intuition suggests otherwise. At the same time, Rheinhardt’s fellow inspector, one of equal rank who always gets the better assignments and is treated as if he is Rheinhardt’s superior, is given a mysterious assignment which keeps interfering with Rheinhardt’s investigation into the death at the academy. In the midst of those stories, Liebermann grows angry with his unrequited love, Amelia Lyngate, and he becomes involved with a femme fatale. That’s enough – this is good writing, good plot creation, and good character development. While reading this book, you’ll learn more about societal forces that were at work in Austria. I’ve already gotten the next Liebermann book, so let that stand as my recommendation.