Books like Vienna Blood by Frank Tallis

Set in the frigid streets of 1902 Vienna, the novel follows Detective Inspector Oskar Rheinhardt as he confronts a serial killer who targets victims with brutal mutilations, odd arcane symbols, and an erratic choice of victims. To crack the case, Rheinhardt enlists Dr. Max Liebermann, a young disciple of Freud. Their investigation uncovers Vienna’s clandestine circles of German literary scholars, race theorists, and scientists influenced by the latest evolutionary theories from England. Though the killer’s mind initially appears beyond psychoanalytic reach, gradual revelations expose a shocking rationale behind the murders. Amid the turmoil, Liebermann struggles with his own psychological battles, a patient plagued by paranoia, and an unsettling attraction to the enigmatic Amelia Lydgate, all threatening to derail his impending marriage. The story intertwines a chilling mystery with deep psychological exploration against a historical backdrop of early 20th‑century Vienna.

First publish date: 2006