- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Minotaur Books,US; 1 edition (4 Jan 2010)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0312607539
- ISBN-13: 978-0312607531
- Product Dimensions: 21 x 14 x 2.5 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 976,898 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
"A colourful story that neatly combines fact and fiction." The Washington Post "Jones's absorbing whodunit succeeds both as a mystery and as a fascinating portrait of a traditional society in ferment.... Jones delivers a meaty historical that bodes well for further adventures." Publishers Weekly (starred review)." --Publishers Weekly
Product Description
The summer of 1898 finds Austria transfixed by a series of brutal murders. When renowned painter Gustav Klimt's female model becomes the fifth victim, the artist is fingered as the culprit. Klimt's lawyer Karl Werthen and the famed criminologist Inspector Gross must delve into a nationwide conspiracy in order to acquit the eccentric and unpredictable artiste. With an unmatchable knowledge of Vienna's history, culture, and politics, J. Sydney Jones introduces a gripping new mystery series set in a cosmopolitan city at the height of its artistic and social importance.
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Amazon.com:
34 reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
"We are battling a powerful enemy."
20 Jan 2009
Format:Hardcover
"The Empty Mirror," by J. Sydney Jones, is set in Vienna in the summer of 1898. Lawyer Karl Werthen has been bored since he abandoned criminal law six years earlier to specialize in estates and trusts. His life is about to take an unexpected turn as a result of a series of tragic events. An apparent madman has killed five people, both male and female, in the past two months. He mutilated his victims and dumped their bodies in Vienna's Prater amusement park. The police suspect the painter Gustav Klimt of the crimes, since the fifth victim was one of his young and beautiful models. Werner agrees to represent the painter, and in addition, he asks his friend, Hanns Gross, a renowned criminologist, to help investigate the crimes. Unsurprisingly, the two men decide to play sleuth, tracking down leads, interviewing witnesses, and placing themselves in grave danger as they edge ever closer to the truth.
Jones knows Vienna intimately, and he provides colorful details about the culture, architecture, cuisine, and history of this fascinating world capital at the turn of the century. He enjoys name-dropping, inserting such luminaries as Theodor Herzel, Mark Twain, and psychiatrist Krafft-Ebing into the narrative. Unfortunately, the dense plot becomes ever more turgid as the novel progresses, and the aforementioned luminaries are shoe-horned into the story rather than inserted seamlessly. Red herrings abound, leading us to believe that the killings could be the work of an anti-Semite, an anarchist, or someone else with a hidden agenda. By the time the red herrings are disposed of and the puzzle solved, most readers will have lost interest.
Werthen and Gross are an odd couple. The former is a man of means who has been trained by his parents to hide his Jewish roots and behave like an Austrian gentleman. Gross is a Catholic, an intellectual, an author, and a professor, whose eccentricities Karl finds alternately endearing and irritating. The hyperkinetic Gross drags Karl along on an adventure that will lead them to a deadly confrontation with a cunning and ruthless adversary. "The Empty Mirror" has stilted dialogue, minimal suspense, a tepid romance (Werthen meets a young woman with whom he immediately falls in love), and too much background information about the power struggles within the Austrian Empire. For a more intriguing and better-constructed mystery, try "Vienna Blood" by Frank Tallis.
Jones knows Vienna intimately, and he provides colorful details about the culture, architecture, cuisine, and history of this fascinating world capital at the turn of the century. He enjoys name-dropping, inserting such luminaries as Theodor Herzel, Mark Twain, and psychiatrist Krafft-Ebing into the narrative. Unfortunately, the dense plot becomes ever more turgid as the novel progresses, and the aforementioned luminaries are shoe-horned into the story rather than inserted seamlessly. Red herrings abound, leading us to believe that the killings could be the work of an anti-Semite, an anarchist, or someone else with a hidden agenda. By the time the red herrings are disposed of and the puzzle solved, most readers will have lost interest.
Werthen and Gross are an odd couple. The former is a man of means who has been trained by his parents to hide his Jewish roots and behave like an Austrian gentleman. Gross is a Catholic, an intellectual, an author, and a professor, whose eccentricities Karl finds alternately endearing and irritating. The hyperkinetic Gross drags Karl along on an adventure that will lead them to a deadly confrontation with a cunning and ruthless adversary. "The Empty Mirror" has stilted dialogue, minimal suspense, a tepid romance (Werthen meets a young woman with whom he immediately falls in love), and too much background information about the power struggles within the Austrian Empire. For a more intriguing and better-constructed mystery, try "Vienna Blood" by Frank Tallis.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Bland prose with occasional spates of excellence
22 April 2009
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
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J. Sydney Jones, a talented author, tells the story of earnest lawyer Werthen and the occasionally quirky but brilliant criminologist Gross on the trail of a very tricky serial killer in turn-of-the-century Vienna. The story opens in a rather familar way -- a prologue describes a young woman walking alone in the night who is frightened. She turns to see who is following her, says "hello" as if she knows the man, and then, we are to understood, is killed. Werthen and Gross form an unlikely partnership that spans several years as they attempt to delve into this and several other deaths. Naturally things take a political turn with a mysterious assassination and various machinations that slow down the duo but do not, of course, stop them. Gustav Klimt, the famous Viennese author appears and reappears in this story as do a few other historical characters of note and we are treated to very detailed descriptions of Viennese streets, foods, and drinks. Unfortunately the prose turns especially bland at these moments. When I saw on the back cover that Jones also writes travel guides, this made more sense to me.
Werthen and Gross became for me almost interchangable in this story -- despite their different backgrounds and I think this is because their "banter" is so heavy and expository. Jones may be trying to go for a Sherlock Holmes and Watson approach, but it simply isn't working here, perhaps partially because of the anonymity of Gross and Werthen.
The plot is interesting -- although decidedly complex -- and Jones seems to know the period and locale well. Still, in the end, I found myself losing interest in the narrative -- perhaps I wanted more at stake for the heroes or to worry about Werthen does become a bit more passionately engaged towards the end of the book when he fears that a young woman is in danger but it took a long time to reach this point in the book.
I don't recommend against this one -- I am sure it will be to some readers' tastes. But I would suggest reading the book's first chapter or so before purchasing -- just to get a feel for the prose.
Werthen and Gross became for me almost interchangable in this story -- despite their different backgrounds and I think this is because their "banter" is so heavy and expository. Jones may be trying to go for a Sherlock Holmes and Watson approach, but it simply isn't working here, perhaps partially because of the anonymity of Gross and Werthen.
The plot is interesting -- although decidedly complex -- and Jones seems to know the period and locale well. Still, in the end, I found myself losing interest in the narrative -- perhaps I wanted more at stake for the heroes or to worry about Werthen does become a bit more passionately engaged towards the end of the book when he fears that a young woman is in danger but it took a long time to reach this point in the book.
I don't recommend against this one -- I am sure it will be to some readers' tastes. But I would suggest reading the book's first chapter or so before purchasing -- just to get a feel for the prose.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
An Elegantly Atmospheric Habsburg Empire Mystery
12 April 2010
Format:Paperback
It is 1899 in Vienna, a city at its cultural apogee. Famed painter Gustav Klimt is accused of murdering his beautiful model who has been killed in a ritualized manner. Klimt hires his attorney, Karl Werthen, and his misanthropic side-kick, Professor Hanns Gross, a renown criminalist to clear his name. As more killings occur that are seemingly related, Werthen and Gross, uncover a plot that involves the highest levels of the Habsburg Empire, perhaps even Emperor Franz Joseph himself. The twists and turns of the plot will keep you reading until the last page.
Author Jones knows the historical context of Vienna and the Hapsburg Empire well, and creates a fascinating portrait of the city right down to its famed sites and delicious food. If you are interested in the fin de siecle period of Austrian history you will find this novel richly rewarding and enjoyable.
Author Jones knows the historical context of Vienna and the Hapsburg Empire well, and creates a fascinating portrait of the city right down to its famed sites and delicious food. If you are interested in the fin de siecle period of Austrian history you will find this novel richly rewarding and enjoyable.
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