For fans of my Viennese Mystery books, I want to let you know that book six, The Third Place, is the final volume in the series. It feels a bit odd saying goodbye to that world and to those characters who have become so real for me, and I hope, for you, as well. ‘Odd’ may not be the best word, but let’s not get maudlin.
At least the series goes out with a critical bang. Booklist noted of The Third Place: “In addition to an engaging mystery, this masterfully plotted tale offers an intimate and revealing portrait of turn-of-the-century Vienna, with fine characterizations, gentle humor, clever dialogue, and vivid portrayals of Viennese culture.” Likewise, a reviewer for Historical Novel Society commented, “The Third Place is full of incendiary politics, assassination plots, and a race against time to protect Vienna from a catastrophe, and I enjoyed every bit of it.”
Rave reviews, however, do not always equate with high sales, and the publisher is not going forward with the series. Getting another house to pick it up mid-series is a nonstarter, especially as the earlier volumes are still in print. So… as poet Robert Graves once wrote, Good-Bye to All That.
But I am still publishing other stand alone titles. Over the past two years, in addition to the Viennese novels, I have also published three thriller/mysteries: Ruin Value: A Mystery of the Third Reich, Basic Law: A Mystery of the Cold War, and The German Agent, a World War I thriller. Also, keep an eye out for publication later this year with Mysterious Press of my suspense novel, The Edit. I am also branching out into children’s literature with the middle grade novel, Bach Is Back, and the YA novel, Anne Frank Is Alive Somewhere.
I will also keep this blog going with more new interviews in 2016. And for fans of the Viennese Mystery series I want to express my thanks and gratitude for your support and wonderful comments over the years. Danke vielmals! It’s been a pleasure entertaining you.
Scene of the Crime 