Set in 1909 when Sigmund Freud visited America accompanied by Carl Jung and Sándor Ferenczi, ‘The Interpretation of Murder’ by Jed Rubenfeld is an exceedingly well-written mystery with a gripping narrative and mind-boggling turns of events.

The first half of the book progresses at an even pace. A beautiful girl is tortured and murdered in her opulent penthouse apartment. The following night, another gorgeous young woman is similarly tortured in her handsome townhouse, but is still alive when her assailant makes a hasty exit. However, the girl is unable to recall what happened during the attack.

The authorities enlist the aid of Dr Freud and his keen American disciple, Dr Stratham Younger, who work together to try and reach the girl’s repressed memory of the attack before the assailant strikes again to silence her for good. In parallel, the astute young Detective Littlemore doggedly hunts for clues to track down the killer.

The second half of the book turns the mystery on its head, plunging the reader into a morass of lies, alibis, and psychoanalyses, all jostling each other in an intricate web of deception. Dr Younger and Detective Littlemore come to the fore; the truth percolates through the quagmire, reluctant drop by reluctant drop.

Also woven into the narrative is Freud’s relationship with Carl Jung, collaboration giving way to schism. The dialogue and views attributed to the two are apparently accurate; the author claims to have drawn them from reliable sources, though he admits to embellishing other historical figures.

A must-read for those who like their mystery seasoned with psychology, peppered with confusion, and garnished with an extensive hashing out of the Oedipus complex and Hamlet’s most famous soliloquy.

In closing, am reminded of these famous lines: ‘Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive!’ – Sir Walter Scott