The Death Instinct by Jed Rubenfeld (reviewed by VivienneR)

I'd appreciate your feedback. This book had so much detail it was difficult to give much of a synopsis.

The Death Instinct by Jed Rubenfeld
This thrilling adventure story is filled with larger than life characters and events. It is reminiscent of Indiana Jones with a heart-throb main character who accomplishes the near-impossible. The title is from a theory of Sigmund Freud who believed humans have both a life instinct and a death instinct.

The story begins with the true-life bombing in Manhattan on September 1920 reminding the reader of the more recent event. Stratham Younger, a Harvard doctor, and his friend James Littlemore of the New York Police Department investigate the explosion that they witnessed. It appears to have some connection with Colette Rousseau, a beautiful young French scientist and proponent of Madame Curie's radium research who is in the United States to try to raise money to buy radium for Curie. The explosion is alternately attributed to Bolsheviks, Italians, Mexicans, Russians, and others as seemingly disjointed information is pieced together. The story involves many topics: war trauma; the effects and uses of radium; theft on a grand scale; international relations; political scandals; greed; and conspiracy. The setting is international and travels to Paris, Prague, Vienna, as well as New York and Washington. It features real people, politics, finance and issues of the time. Marie Curie, Sigmund Freud, Presidents Wilson and Harding, Bill Flynn head of the Bureau of Information (forerunner of the FBI), William McAdoo, Secretary of the Treasury, and other political elite, all make appearances.

Although in real life those responsible were never found, Jed Rubenfeld has created a very cogent and entertaining plot. His knowledge of the complex topics encompassed is impressive. The author's notes, obligingly added in a postscript, explain what is true and what is fiction, which adds considerably to the interest level.

Because many of the events speak of fears that still threaten us today, the story has a contemporary feel that connects the reader more than historical fiction normally would. This is a clever work incorporating more than mere excitement, but a combination of real people and real events finely honed into an action-packed adventure.

Excellant review, makes the book sound really interesting. I think the level of detail you've encompassed is just fine.

I like it. It has also peaked my interest.

Thank you, much appreciated. I was able to post it without worrying about bloopers :)

I liked it. Thumbs up from me!

Thanks.