Death And The Maiden

Death and the Maiden by Frank Tallis In 1903 Vienna, the luxurious villa of operatic diva Ida Rosenkrantz is found to have been the scene of a tragic death. A broken rib discovered during autopsy suggests that her demise was not as straightforward as initially thought. As Detective Inspector Oskar Rheinhardt and his friend Dr Max Liebermann begin their investigation, they uncover a complex web of corruption and deceit that threatens to destroy the city's social hierarchy. Their inquiry takes them from the majestic opera house where Gustav Mahler struggles to maintain artistic integrity, to the Hofburg palace and the mysterious Lord Marshal's office. As they dig deeper, they are placed in great personal danger, exposing the dark underbelly of Vienna's high society. Meanwhile, Liebermann pursues two private obsessions: a coded message in a piece of piano music and an alluring Englishwoman. As the investigation unfolds, romance and high drama collide with the threat of scandal and ruin hanging over the Habsburg Empire. With its intricate plot and complex characters, Death and the Maiden is a gripping mystery that explores the darker side of Vienna's imperial past.