A Matter of Breeding: A Mystery Set in Turn-of-the-Century Vienna: 5 (A Viennese Mystery) - Hardcover

Jones, J. Sydney

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0727883801 ISBN 13: 9780727883803

Publisher: Severn House Publishers Ltd, 2014

Synopsis

October, 1901. Lawyer and private enquiries agent Karl Werthen accepts an assignment to protect the famous Irish writer Bram Stoker while on a speaking tour of Vienna. Meanwhile, his colleague, renowned criminologist Dr Hanns Gross has been called away to advise on a bizarre series of murders near his hometown of Graz, in the Austrian province of Styria. Three women have been killed with strange mutilations and scarring patterns left on their bodies. The third, most recent victim has had her unborn baby cut out of her womb. Clues have been left at each scene; clues that have been clearly mentioned in Gross's handbook for magistrates, Criminal Investigation. A coincidence? Dr Gross thinks not.

Meanwhile, back in Vienna, Werthen's wife Berthe is investigating what seems to be a fraudulent breeding scheme involving the prized Lipizzaner horses. Could the two investigations possibly be connected?

Matters become complicated with Werthen and Stoker's arrival in Graz. For, having read wild newspaper accounts of vampire killings, the Dracula author insists they investigate.

About this title

Review:

"Jones adds a delicious historic perspective, all presented with precision and panache"--Kirkus Reviews

"While the protagonists of Jones's historical forensic series, set in 1901 Vienna, are likable, his intricate plot is Sherlockian in its posturing, minute clues, and use of heavy dialog, barely escaping becoming ponderous at times."--Library Journal

"Jones's solid fifth whodunit. . . is one of the series' best at combining plot and historical background."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author:

J. Sydney Jones is the author of fourteen books, including the first four critically acclaimed instalments of the Viennese Mystery series. A long-time resident of Vienna, he currently lives near Santa Cruz, California.

About this edition

• Publisher: Severn House Publishers Ltd
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0727883801
• ISBN 13: 9780727883803
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224