Max Liebermann is a psychiatrist and follower of Freud's theories who often finds himself assisting his friend, police detective Oskar Rheinhardt. They are just two of a large, vividly described cast of characters. Distinctly of their time, the characters nevertheless suggest parallels to people and phenomena of our own time.

If you're looking for the best in popular fiction, Tallis is well worth seeking out.

Clever and spooky. The novel is an elegantly constructed psychiatric Gothic, all spires and gargoyles and ghostly echoes--the sort of vast, dread edifice we sometimes build around ourselves when the lights go out.

What we have here is a proper scare-your-socks-off horror novel.

Tallis is a clinical psychologist, which is reflected in his deft character development and realistic dialogue.

A chilling tale of supernatural snooping. This horror story is undeniably hair-raising.

Gripping. Dialogue is fast paced, and the action is vivid and realistic. A story that is full of adventure and more.

Fans will particularly enjoy the almost palpable feelings of claustrophobia and impending disaster. It succeeds brilliantly.

Mephisto Waltz takes us to Vienna in 1904: a city of widespread culture, fading empire and an abundance of nervous energy. Tallis, a London author and psychologist, has written a marvelous, multi-layered thriller, rich with period detail and studded with cameo appearances by figures such as automaker Ferdinand Porsche and Sigmund Freud. Mephisto Waltz often exhibits the energy of the Franz Liszt pieces after which it's named: a 'wild and sinister delirium, ' in Liebermann's perception, in which 'notes sparkled, glittered [and] exploded like fireworks.' Yet the book is also undercut with a dark and sophisticated wit.--Tom Nolan

Mephisto Waltz is an intricately but elegantly written mystery as much as it is an immersion in the time. Vienna in 1904 is brought to life through vivid and detailed illustrations of situations, places, food, and the cultural milieu.