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Jed Rubenfeld
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The Interpretation of Murder: The Richard and Judy Bestseller Hardcover – 28 Aug. 2006

by Jed Rubenfeld (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 615 ratings
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A dazzling literary thriller - the story of Sigmund Freud assisting a Manhattan murder investigation. Think SHADOW OF THE WIND meets THE HISTORIAN.

THE INTERPRETATION OF MURDER is an inventive tour de force inspired by Sigmund Freud's 1909 visit to America, accompanied by protégé and rival Carl Jung. When a wealthy young debutante is discovered bound, whipped and strangled in a luxurious apartment overlooking the city, and another society beauty narrowly escapes the same fate, the mayor of New York calls upon Freud to use his revolutionary new ideas to help the surviving victim recover her memory of the attack, and solve the crime. But nothing about the attacks - or about the surviving victim, Nora - is quite as it seems. And there are those in very high places determined to stop the truth coming out, and Freud's startling theories taking root on American soil.

Previous page
  1. Print length
    416 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Headline Review
  4. Publication date
    28 Aug. 2006
  5. Dimensions
    16.2 x 3.5 x 23.9 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    0755331400
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0755331406
  8. See all details
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Product description

Amazon Review

Experienced readers of crime and thrillers tend to stifle a yawn these days when they encounter a mountain of hype about a new book or author. But the fevered word of mouth that has been generated by Jed Rubenfeld’s The Interpretation of Murder is, for once, justified. This is a remarkably ambitious book, taking on a powerful suspenseful narrative, assiduously researched historical detail and a brilliant evocation of time and character. It's not surprising that the book has already been sold in 20 different countries, and is already something of an international publishing phenomenon. The secret, of course, is in plotting, and few carry this off as adroitly as the author does here. But there is some wonderful historical detail here also, and a conjuring up of real-life characters that is very intelligently done.

Despite the outward success of his visit to the USA, Sigmund Freud always spoke as if some trauma had befallen him there. He blamed the country for physical ailments that afflicted him long before his visit. Freud’s biographers have been bemused by his reaction, wondering whether some terrible unknown event might have happened in America that could explain this. The Interpretation of Murder is strikingly written literary thriller constructed around Freud’s American visit. An attractive young debutante is discovered bound, whipped and strangled in a luxurious New York apartment and another society beauty narrowly escapes the same fate. But nothing about the attacks--or the victims--is as it seems.
--Barry Forshaw

Review

‘This is a bold page-turner that propels us from the start with a driving plot and intriguing characters, but also with ideas – a whole history of ideas. It's a richly motivated thriller that will make you reconsider the mysteries of Freud and Hamlet. Here is a novel that you'll only want to put down in order to think more about the book’

(Matthew Pearl, author of The Dante Club)

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Headline Review; First Edition (28 Aug. 2006)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0755331400
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0755331406
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 16.2 x 3.5 x 23.9 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 615 ratings

About the author

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Jed Rubenfeld

Jed Rubenfeld

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Jed Rubenfeld is the Robert R. Slaughter Professor at Yale Law School and an internationally recognized expert on constitutional law. His first novel, "The Interpretation of Murder," was a worldwide bestseller, with over a million copies sold.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
615 global ratings

Top reviews from United Kingdom

Merlin Curzon
5.0 out of 5 stars A great page turning story set in 1900's.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 December 2007
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I found the story very interesting and the plot good as you don't find out who did the murder right until the end as the person who people would expect turns out not to be the murderer of the women in the story. The characters seem real and Sigmund Freud words were always very helpful for Doctor Younger who the story is seen through his eyes. It is well worth a read and to find out how the past used to be, even though it does not say much about the scenery in the 1900's it says enough to keep you gripped.
One person found this helpful
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Rowena Hoseason
4.0 out of 5 stars Historical psychological crime novel; not thrilling, but interesting
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 July 2007
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If you're the least bit interested in psychology/psychiatric history, and enjoy a decent Agatha Christie style crime puzzle, then this is a rewarding and enjoyable read.
It's not a modern-style crime thriller, though. So if you want fast-paced action you're better off with something a bit less substantial and a little less absorbed in its history and the talking cure.
I thoroughly enjoyed the historical backdrop of New York society and the early progression of Freudian thinking. The scenes with Jung are delightful (especially as he and Freud seek to out-analyse each other), as is the grimy background of 'building America' which illustrates the whole story.

When you get down to the plot it's less impressive, which is why I marked this novel down by a star. In fact the plot feels as if it's really only there to let the author romp around with his interpretation of the characters and the time they lived in. The mystery has all the requisite twists and turns... but they didn't hold my attention as much as the sub-plots did!

If you want some holiday reading with a bit more meat to it than the usual crusader/holy grail tosh, then this is recommended. The price is absurdly low at the moment too, so you get a good few days entertainment for your money!

But if you prefer blood, guts, serial killers and so on, then this one isn't for you...
6 people found this helpful
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ELI (Italy)
3.0 out of 5 stars To like it or not to like it? That is the question...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 October 2008
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Mainly, this book refers to Dr. Freud's first and only trip to New York at the beginning of last century (1909) for some lectures about psychotherapy, which was just beginning in the USA. He was accompanied by Dr.Carl Jung and Dr. Sandor Ferenczi. I think that the author's own background (Mr. Rubenfeld wrote his thesis about Freud at Princeton and additionally studied Shakespeare), offers a very knowledgeable insight into this particular trip, after which it seems Freud returned to Europe feeling forever odd about his American experience.
Based on this fact -for many agree that Dr.Freud was somehow `traumatized' during his sojourn in the USA and biographers never could quite understand why- the author introduces us to the first fictitious character, Dr. Stratham Younger, a young psychoanalyst who welcomes his much admired and distinguished guest and his entourage upon their arrival. And this is where facts meet fiction.

`The Interpretation of Murder' is the product of the author's imagination trying to give an answer to what could have happened in New York that caused Dr. Freud so much distress. So in comes Dr. Younger, Freud's disciple. The day Freud arrives, a very beautiful young heiress is found murdered, the following day another young lady from a prominent family is found wounded and traumatized, but alive. It seems both crimes have been perpetrated by the same person. The second girl has lost her speech and remembers nothing. This is when Dr. Younger is contacted, to try and psychoanalyze this girl, Nora Acton, in order to help her regain her speech and memory. Younger seeks Dr. Freud's advice and the main story takes off from here, with the involvement of the local coroner and Detective Littlemore.

New York and part of its wealthy society are the main background. The City's skyline was constantly changed by the construction of new skyscrapers at the time and it is evident that the author made a thorough and diligent research into many historical and architectural details.

Parts of the book are spoken in first person (Dr. Younger's) and this adds credibility, almost an illusion that that was what really happened.

However, I think that unless you are really fond, into, or well informed about psychoanalysis in general, Freud, Jung, the Oedipal complex, the Hamlet etc., there is a fair chance that at least part of this book cannot be appreciated in its entirety. Learning, revising or freshen up on some long-ago studies can be an added bonus (it was for me), but the blending of too many theories and concepts can also depreciate the story. For example, Younger's many references to Shakespeare's Hamlet, with all due respect, were (my humble opinion) possibly connecting but mostly distracting, diverting attention from the main story line. To some degree, I think confusion -for the reader- prevailed, spoiling a quality that transpires but it is also obscured, made less perceptible.

To be or not to be? I wish I knew the answer. For now, I give this book 3 stars as it did not convince me in full, although I cannot say I `hated' it. On the one hand it is quite informative, on the other the murder mystery within is intriguing. Worth a try.
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Darlah Thomas
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating blend of history and fiction
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 July 2014
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I love the way this book cleverly combines real historical characters and events with fictional ones. It has a complex plot with so many threads running through that it is difficult not to get tangled up, resulting in needing to turn back many pages to re-read sections for clarification. It really keeps the reader on their toes. I have read the book twice now and would recommend it only for occasions when you can devote several hours to reading it - it is not a book to dip in and out of.
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Steve Briggs
5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping , Really great read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 March 2020
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Really great read , Absolutely recommend this book to anyone if you’re looking for a really gripping read with a lot of well researched historical fact this is the book for you
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Mark
4.0 out of 5 stars interesting thriller with a psychoanlysis twist.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 October 2017
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When I stated reading the book all seemed fine and then the Freud psychoanalysis stuff started to appear and I wasn't sure. carried on reading and found the book quite entertaining and educational.
3 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A gripping, detailed thriller.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 March 2021
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I found it difficult to put down! An Interesting read to the final page.
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stormypetrol
4.0 out of 5 stars A great story but not so well written
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 January 2016
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Fascinating mix of Freud, murder, Edwardian New York and bridge building. Plot is a bit convoluted and ultimately thin. Sometimes lumpy story telling.
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Sanyam jain
5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning
Reviewed in India on 14 December 2018
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Simply clever
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Juliana De Carvalho
5.0 out of 5 stars Read it now!
Reviewed in the United States on 29 August 2016
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READ.THIS.BOOK. Oh it's so entertaining and so full of wisdom drops - it's got a lot of history from NY IN THE EARLY 1900s and also a lot of insightful psychology and psychoanalysis information. It's ever so interesting to come across Freud as a character. Well there's history, murder mystery, love story all bundled up into one compelling novel. What are you waiting for???
One person found this helpful
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Butz
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent livre
Reviewed in France on 2 April 2014
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J'ai lu The Death Instinct avant d'attaquer ce livre, et les deux sont incroyables. L'histoire est très bonne et on plonge rapidement dans l'univers du début du 20ème siècle.
Dans un cadre scolaire, j'étudie actuellement Freud et ses théories, et les deux livre de Rubenfeld sont justes au sujet de la psychanalyse, et offre un regard particuliers sur des analyses.

Autant dire que je recommande chaudement ce livre !
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Michael H. Light
4.0 out of 5 stars Good not great
Reviewed in the United States on 15 May 2012
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The mystery in this story is a little convoluted. In an effort to make it challenging the author puts in several plot twists at the end that had me going back to the beginning of the book. However, I still enjoy mysteries like this one mostly because you learn a little about the early history of psychoanalysis and the history of New York. The author inserts several real life events, including one that seems very unlikely but did actually happen, and ties them together in a plausible way. It's not a great mystery but it is very good historical fiction. If you like mysteries where the mystery is simply an excuse to learn about some academic topic you'll like this.
2 people found this helpful
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Chob
4.0 out of 5 stars Belle découverte
Reviewed in France on 24 May 2013
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Une intrigue passionnante qui se déroule au début du 20e siècle, sur fond de querelle entre Freud et Jung. Hâte de découvrir The Death instinct !
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