Review of The Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfeld

Despite the fact that this is a Richard and Judy recommended read, it is a very well written whodunit in the best tradition with a bit of psychoanalysis thrown in for good measure.

The story is set in 1909 in a fast developing New York City where a sexually motivated killing occurs in a new, luxurious apartment building. Soon after a similar attack occurs on a young debutante but does not lead to her death.

Initially, the main investigator into the attacks is the city coroner, Hugel and the police detective, Littlemore. They try and investigate the murder in the midst of police corruption which is rife in the NYPD. Hugel is certain the killer is George Banwell, a very wealthy New York businessman who is currently engage in constructing the Manhattan Bridge. Littlemore thinks so initially but turns away from this solution. In fact, at the start he is portrayed as clueless but through the story develops into a very fine, incorruptible detective.

What raises this book above the average though is the introduction of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung into the mix. At the beginning of the book they are arriving in New York to carry out a series of lectures at an upstate university. Their sponsor and host is Statham Younger a young, American psychoanalyst who idolizes Freud. They become involved in the search for this sex attacker and try and analyse his motives and reasons for the attacks.

Carl Jung comes across in a very strange way but this isn’t surprising because soon after this time he splits from Freud and ploughs his own psychoanalytical furrow.

Although the story is a fiction it is base on a visit by Freud and Jung to New York in 1909. Other elements of the story are also historically accurate.

It is impossible to say too much more about the story without giving too much away except to say that the novel is very well written and enjoyable. It manages to convey a very authentic picture of early 20th Century Manhattan.

A small gripe from me would be that it has been done in a similar style before by Caleb Carr in his book The Alienist which is set in the same period and also used a psychologist to help find the murderer. Having said that this book is very different in its plot and how that works out.