The Second Rider
In 1919, post-World War One Vienna is a shell of a former gilded and rich dynastic city. With the Hapsburg Empire gone, the new Vienna faces grim realities such as disease, food shortages, corruption, and death. A murderer walks amongst the residents, staging his victims to appear as suicides, and Inspector August Emmerich is convinced otherwise. He focuses on solving the crimes and proving a murderer walks among them, instead of staying to his assigned task of dismantling the black market in Vienna.
This is a procedural thriller filled with gritty historic detail. Widows, veterans, and black-market swindlers fill the cast of characters helping—or impeding—Inspector Emmerich from solving the case. Beer impressively weaves a wide array of characters from different economic backgrounds in Vienna to illustrate the sweeping effects of the war. These hardships ring true, yet she manages to balance the darkness of a serial killer amidst such a depressing landscape with some lightness. The relationship between the Inspector and his assistant shines, and levity and humor hide behind dialogue and the physical choices of the characters. The effect is a dark and engaging mystery that pushes you forward rather than weighing you down. The resolution is unexpected and satisfying, with glimpses of more to come. Highly recommended.
