evocative old-fashioned murder mystery - Rated 
This, for me, was like Agatha Christie in Vienna: lots of period detail in the coffee shops (the cakes are delicious!), the interest in seances and the supernatural, Egyptology, offset by Freud and the start of psychanalysis struggling with old-fashioned medicine and a disturbing hint of anti-semitism.
The murder itself is set up as puzzling but kind of fizzles out a little as the story progresses; the characters are somewhat sterotyped and yet interesting (like vintage Christie). I found, however, that the sub-plot of the private life of Liebermann himself (should he marry the beautiful but shallow Clara or follow his attraction to the schizophrenic English governess with a scientific mind?) far more interesting than the murder.
So overall a throw-back to a more old-fashioned mystery that is evocative, atmospheric and well-written, with flashes of both wit and humour.
Dr Freud I presume? - Rated 
I love historical detective books at the moment and this is a reall god example. I have also bought the 2nd Liebermann Papers. I was nearly tempted to get A Death in Vienna but it is actually Mortal Mischief in a different cover. Thanks to the reviewer who pointed this out.
The strange coincidence that happened to me when I started reading this book a friend at work, with whom I exchange detective stories, brought in An Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfold which is another historical psychological detective story which also has a main character who is a psychologist who consults with Sigmund Freud (althogh that novel is set in new York rather than Vienna)Two detective novel where frued makes an appearance one after the other is a bit strange.Although Freudian psychoanalysis is advocated by Dr Liebermann he also has a health scepticism about some of Freud's theories which give him a knowing modern perspective rather than being a slavish diciple.
The historical context here seems nto be pretty spot on and there is an easy style of narrative that gives you the feel of the era and challenges you as a reader but never too much. There are nice little inferences that let you guess they way things are going with the pay off that you can have the warm glow of knowing you were right without feeling that everything is a bit too obvious.
If you like historical detective stories and appreciate a bit of psychology being brought to bear on the detection process then this is the book for you. It even has a bit of nicely underplayed romantic tension and convolutions which is left hanging at the end of his book ready to be continued in the next (Vienna Blood)
All the reviewers concur - Rated
It seems that pretty much all the reviewers have given this book 4 stars. The early 20th Century Viennese society and Jewish life is generally accurate as far as I can tell and quite interesting. It is not very fast moving but I'll probably buy the next installment.
Fun read - Rated
I enjoyed this book. Nice idea to use Freud as a character and a psychoanalytical psychiatrist as the hero! My few niggles were related to how Viennese psychiatry was portrayed: most hysteria was looked after by neurologists, such as Freud, rather than psychiatrists. The more amusing quirk was the use of famous German names for those of his Austrian characters: Schelling, Holderlin, Liebermann! The author is a clinical psychologist and this certainly is evident in the plot, but some of the details felt a little far fetched! Looking forward to volume 2
A strong start - Rated
"Mortal Mischief" is the first in a proposed series of 'Leibermann Papers'; the adventures of a young Psychoanalyst in turn of the century Vienna and his association with the police in criminal investigation. It's an interesting a read; the crime in question is a variation upon the old 'locked room' murder mystery (in which a noted clairvoyant is found shot dead in a locked room with no bullet to be found and teh key on the inside of the door). The setup is well-constructed and the denoument and explaination is satisfying - the crime is explained leaving me impressed in a 'I hadn't thought of that' sort of way.
What weaknesses the novel has are authorial - apparently this is a first novel, and it's interesting how the reader can watch the development of skill as the book goes on. Mortal Mischief opens with far too many overblown similes and develops into a much more restrained writing style later on. More irritating is the perfection of the lead character. The author is a Psychiatrist and large sections of the book read almost like propaganda for the profession; Liebermann is too perfect. Observant, intelligent, wise, gentle and kind, there is never a moment of human failure in his deductive powers of the sort even Holmes sometimes had ("I have been blind, Watson, blind!"), and those who oppose him and his profession are too stupid, unkind and ruthless to really engage the reader's sympathies with his character and struggles.
In all, it's a good book and a clever mystery, but weakened by the over-perfection of the lead character and a writing style which needs polish. Hopefully these wrinkles will be ironed out in the next book of the series.
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