Loved the beginning...really good writing...but it turned dark and I could not stay with it. ( )

The idea is great, and the first few chapters allow intrigue, but then the book falls apart at the seams. Overall, this was a very disappointing experience. I was not able to connect with any of the characters and the writing style was virtually stagnant throughout it's duration. I was expecting something much better judging by the reviews of the famous outlets listed on the book itself. I would not recommend it; the experience was not a joyful one.

2 stars. ( )

This book had great potential, but it was never realized. It was a good period piece in that it described Austria in the early 1900's very well. The book moved ever so slow with many red herrings--which I usually like; but in this case I'm thinking to myself: yet another red herring to slow down the plot! Another complaint is that there must have been over 1200 German (I would suppose) words used in 300 pages--just because they could? I got tired of looking them up. And lastly, had I known this was a werewolf book, I would have never never purchased it or read it. Sorry, this book just seems like a mish-mash of different topics strung together lightly to produce a book; no coherence. 311 pages. ( )

Decadence, the rise of forensic science, and exotic cultural clash in fin-de-siecle Vienna. The narrative voice is intriguing and the cauldron of Vienna at the turn of the century is excellently invoked. Yes, the typical mystery arc is skewed, but the author beautifully wove together the exotic elements and created a strange and eerie psychological tenor. ( )

Frustrating book with most of the characters (the Inspector, his wife Elzabeth, her TG friend Wally, and his trainee) at cross purposes. Interesting descriptions of Vienna, and Elzabeth's Hungarian/gypsy background, but little else to recommend it. Story focuses on finding out who killed a young woman. ( )