THE GIRL AND THE GRAVEDIGGER

Could the murders of a noted archeologist and his colleagues be the work of a mummy’s curse?

In 1892, Viennese Egyptologist Prof. Alfons Strössner discovers an untouched Egyptian tomb underground, barely escaping a mysterious torrent of water that nearly kills him. Two years later, Strössner’s body is found in Vienna’s Museum of Art History, wrapped in bandages with the internal organs removed, in keeping with ancient Egyptian burial traditions. Enter Inspector Leopold von Herzfeldt, who naturally turns to gravedigger Augustin Rothmayer for a second investigative partnership. The plot moves slowly, laden with historic tidbits of fin-de-siècle Vienna. The murders of the other members of Strössner’s expedition are foreshadowed in the novel’s prologue, replacing surprise with suspense. Pötzsch builds his mystery around three strong characters. The starchy, abrasive Leo annoys everyone he encounters, turning nearly every interaction into a droll duel. Rothmayer is decidedly quirky but expert on the topic of worldwide burial customs. These customs are communicated through tidbits from Rothmayer’s book, Death Rites Around the World, which are dispersed throughout the tale. Leo and Rothmayer are a highly entertaining odd couple. A third main character is proto-feminist Julia Wolf, a crime scene photographer, sidekick, and love interest for Leo; their chemistry delightfully blossoms as the story unfolds. An extensive dramatis personae helps immensely in keeping the large cast of elaborately named characters straight.

A vivid period mystery with an engaging trio of protagonists.