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“What Sir Arthur Conan Doyle did for Victorian London and
Caleb Carr did for old New York, J. Sydney Jones does for
historic Vienna.”
Bigot ListWould you rather be the hunter or the hunted? That is the choice ex-CIA operative Jake Jacobs must make. Jacobs happily put the wasted years of his CIA service behind him two decades ago. A history professor in Oregon, he is writing a book about a Cold War mole in the Agency who was never outed. But Jake is pulled back into the secret world when his name and photo, along with those of four others, appears on a revenge site, Reckoning. The site promises vengeance for an op Jake ran that went sideways in Vienna during the final days of the Cold War. He figures he is being trolled, until a black X appears over the faces of two of those on the list. Jake would rather be the hunter than the hunted and teams up with his old nemesis, former KGB officer Yuri Vosenko, to track down the Reckoning site and whoever is behind it. This takes Jake from the West Coast of the U.S. to the moors of Ireland, to the arms of a former lover in Vienna, and to the Alpine passes of Austria in an explosive and emotional journey into an all too real wilderness of mirrors.
"Bigot List: A Reckoning is a rollercoaster ride of
espionage, mystery, betrayal, and murder.… It was a
page-turner, and I was hooked from the start.… I could not
put it down.… The story was well-written, and the ending
was a big surprise; I did not see it coming."
Interview on The Big Thrill . (archive) 
The Cry of CicadasSet in agricultural California in 1942, in the tumultuous weeks leading up to the internment of over 100,000 Japanese Americans. Max Byrns, a once gravely wounded NYPD homicide detective, has moved with his art restorer wife, Elizabeth, to peaceful seaside San Ignacio, hoping to put the trauma of a shootout-gone-wrong behind him. But soon enough he is caught up in a murder investigation with a mounting death toll and the frantic hunt for a spy for Japan responsible for the loss of hundreds of American lives. And the clock is ticking for Max in this rural tragedy, with the date of internment drawing ever closer. "The Cry of Cicadas is an immersive journey into the tumultuous era of WWII, filled with rich historical detail and compelling characters to delight fans of well-penned mystery.... A riveting start to the Byrns on the Homefront series, promising further adventures and intrigue to come." — Reader's Favorite October, 1941. After new friend Tadeo Suzuki is found dead at the foot of a cliff, his clothes doused in alcohol and a flashlight nearby, former New York City police detective Max Byrns begins to investigate on his own. Sure that Tadeo was not what local officials claim—an alcoholic who lost his footing or committed suicide, or a spy who stumbled while signaling offshore Japanese operatives—Max, his wife Elizabeth, and their son Philip, on leave from the US military, investigate individuals with motives: those anxious to acquire Tadeo’s property before he and his family are taken to internment camps, Japanese haters, and men and women who could be actual spies for the enemy. As the author of the historical crime series The Viennese Mysteries as well as other mysteries, Jones is expert in the elements of a good police procedural—interspersing likely suspects with the seemingly uninvolved as well as downright threatening characters, twisting and turning plot lines, and keeping readers on their toes. (The identity of the perpetrator was clear as miso to this reader, that is, until…) Jones smoothly weaves in historical context: the fears and distrust of ordinary citizens toward Japanese Americans and the effect of the 1942 Presidential Executive Order that labeled the West Coast as a war zone, excluded Japanese Americans, and eventually removed them from their homes and businesses to guarded encampments. Jones also fleshes out a complex lead character who seemingly will be the subject of future novels in Max Byrns, a man who is gradually overcoming the sequelae of the traumatic shooting of a young man in New York and his own serious chest wound. A character this reader would welcome meeting again. — K. M. Sandrick, Historical Novel Society (archive)
The EditAn ex-Nazi on the run will do whatever it takes to keep his vicious past from being exposed in this chilling novel of suspense. On the coast of Central America, an aging man sits down to pen his memoirs. He begins with his childhood in Vienna, just after World War I, when his family lived in respectable poverty and his greatest pleasure was being rocked to sleep in the lap of his beloved babysitter. It would be a sweet tale if the author could withhold what comes later… but he intends to tell every horrifying detail of the truth. He's a war criminal, a veteran of the elite Nazi brigade known as the SS, and he'll write proudly of every atrocity he can recall. Distracting him from his work is inquisitive American journalist Kate O'Brien, who has come in search of a story. When Kate accidentally stumbles upon the old man's pages, he has no choice but to act, kidnapping her and locking her in his basement. His latest crime threatening to expose him, the proud Nazi will come face to face with the horrors of his past and the blackness of his soul. Impeccably researched and chillingly believable, The Edit is a truly unique novel of suspense written by J. Sydney Jones, author of Ruin Value, a groundbreaking mystery set in the shadow of the Nuremberg Trials. This time, Jones takes the reader into a truly horrifying place: deep within the mind of a Nazi.
"Jones brings deliciously dark humor to his psychological
thriller, a worthy cousin to John Fowles' classic
The Collector."
The Third PlaceMarch, 1902. When Herr Karl, head waiter of the Café Burg, is found dead at the foot of the Maria Theresa monument, it is assumed he slipped on the ice and hit his head. However, a witness has come forward who says otherwise, and private enquiries agent Karl Werthen is hired to investigate. At the same time, Werthen is commissioned to locate a missing letter from the emperor to his mistress. Franz Josef is desperate for the letter not to fall into the wrong hands - but what incendiary information does it contain?
As Werthen and his colleague, renowned criminologist Dr Hanns
Gross, pursue their investigations, it becomes increasingly clear
that there is a connection between the two cases - and that the
future of the empire may be at stake.
"This masterfully plotted tale offers an intimate and revealing
portrait of turn-of-the-century Vienna, with fine
characterizations, gentle humor, clever dialogue."
"This is a really good read. The setting is charming and I use the
word to describe the way the author embeds the whole story in a
faithful attention to the period and place. It is well written and
the plot is well constructed. The use of the European political
dynamics of the time is well done with its hints of worse to come
for the Hapsburg court. The reader might be lulled into thinking
the end will be predictable but that would be unwise. Nothing
could be further from the truth as an unexpected twist to the
story ensures a surprise at the end."
"This sixth book in the Viennese Mystery series is a suspenseful
mystery incorporating Viennese café culture and society. The
author weaves a tale of murder, assassination, and terrorism
against the turn-of-the-century clash of old and gentile vs. new
and brash. The author's descriptions of characters and settings
brings this era to life and he shares his knowledge of Vienna in
such a unique way that I feel as if I'd strolled the Ringstrasse
myself. Berthe and Karl Werthen along with Dr, Gross have become
familiar characters just like old friends. The antecedents of
World War I are in this book, and I would recommend it to anyone
with an interest in this period or anyone looking for a good
historical mystery."
"When Herr, head waiter of the Café Burg, is found dead and
thought that he slipped on the ice and hit his head. But a witness
comes forward and Inquiries Agent Werthen is hired to investigate
while he is also commissioned to locate a missing letter. Franz
Josef doesn't want the letter to fall into the wrong hands. As
Werthen and Dr Hanns Gross pursue their investigations becoming
increasingly clear that there is a connection between the two
cases . I love this book, a real page turner! Couldn't put it down
until I finished this book. Will recommended to other readers! "
Historical Novel Society Interview — Historical Novel Society
Basic LawExpat American journalist Sam Kramer is burned out: too many dead bodies, too many wars covered, too little meaning in it all. He's got a dead-end job at the Daily European as the correspondent for Vienna, where nothing happens now that the Cold War is over. And that is exactly how Kramer likes it.
But his private neutral zone is shattered with news of the suicide
of Reni Müller, a German left-wing firebrand and Kramer's
long-estranged ex-girlfriend. To his surprise, Kramer suddenly
finds himself the executor of Reni's literary estate-but the
damning memoir named in her will is nowhere to be found. Tracking
down the manuscript will lead Kramer to the unsettling truth of
Reni's death, drawing him back into the days of the Cold War and
showing him the dark side of the woman he loved.
"A perfect blend of thriller and whodunit,
Basic Law provides an absorbing look at a perilous time. A
yarn spun with skill and chills, moral absolutes and moral
ambiguities, it challenges the reader from first to last page."
(April 25, 2015)
"This is the second book I've read by this excellent author. The
previous book, Ruin Value, had a meaning in the title and
Basic Law also has a meaning as you come to realise, as you
get involved in the book. A very good thriller, which keeps the
storyline interesting and leaves you wanting more. Highly
recommended." (June, 2015) Big Thrill interview — Big Thrill
The German AgentFebruary, 1917. A lone German agent is despatched to Washington to prevent the British delivering a telegram to President Wilson – by any means possible. For this is the Zimmermann telegram: it contains a devastating piece of news which is sure to bring the USA into the war on the side of Britain and her allies. Having fought in the trenches himself, Max Volkman knows that America’s involvement will only prolong the slaughter of innocents and is implacable in his determination to kill the British envoy carrying the telegram. But when his pursuit of the Englishman leads him to the home of American heiress Catherine Fitzgerald, wife to one of Washington’s most powerful politicians, he is presented with a terrible choice: loyalty to his comrades in the trenches or the loss of the one woman he has ever truly loved. His decision will determine the outcome of the First World War.
"a well-written. espionage thriller" (January 6, 2015)
"This book is centred around one of the most intriguing diplomatic
incidents of World War I - the Zimmermann Telegram." (December 18,
2014) Big Thrill interview — Big Thrill
A Matter of BreedingThe fifth installment of the acclaimed Viennese Mystery series, A Matter of Breeding, finds lawyer and private inquiries agent Karl Werthen and his colleague, the criminologist Dr. Hanns Gross, investigating a series of grizzly murder/mutilations of young women in the Austrian province of Styria. The newspapers are touting Jewish blood ritual murders and vampirism, and Werthen and Gross—assisted by the Irish writer Bram Stoker who is in Austria to give a speech—battle against time to discover the real motive for such brutal and seemingly random killings. Meanwhile, Werthen's wife, Berthe, has her own case to deal with. Commissioned by Archduke Franz Ferdinand, she is investigating a potential breeding scandal at the famous Lipizzaner stud. If the stud line has indeed been corrupted, this can prove to be more than a mere embarrassment for the Habsburgs, for the Lipizzaner blood line has been introduced to most of the royal stables of Europe. As these dual investigations proceed, it eventually becomes apparent that there is a connection between the two. In the end, it all comes down to a matter of breeding.
"A brilliantly atmospheric novel,
A Matter of Breeding paints a remarkable portrait of
Vienna at the dawn of the 20th century. The city literally comes
to life in a radiantly authentic display of pageantry and
prejudice, effectively drawing the reader into a bygone age."
(August, 2014)
"The protagonists of Jones's historical forensic series, ... are
likable, his intricate plot is Sherlockian..." (July 1, 2014)
"[Jones is] one of the jewels of the historical mystery scene with
a growing list of titles set in Vienna before World War I." (June
25, 2014)
"Jones adds a delicious historic perspective… presented with
precision and panache."(June 15, 2014)
"[This] solid fifth whodunit featuring lawyer Karl Werthen and
real-life criminologist pioneer Hanns Gross … is one of the
series’ best at combining plot and historical background." (May
12, 2014)
Ruin ValueNuremberg is a dead city. In the aftermath of World War II, two-thirds of its population has fled or is deceased, with thirty thousand bodies turning the ruined industrial center into a massive open grave. Here, the vilest war criminals in history will be tried. But in Nuremberg’s dark streets and back alleys, chaos rules. Captain Nathan Morgan is one of those charged with bringing order to the home of the war crime trials. A New York homicide detective who spent the war in Army intelligence, he was born to be a spy—and now, in 1945, there is no finer place for his trade than Nuremberg. As the US grapples with the Soviets for postwar supremacy, a serial murderer targets the occupying forces. Nathan Morgan may be the perfect spy, but it’s time for him to turn cop once more.
"The story is solid and suspenseful …but it’s the relationship
between Morgan and Beck, two men who don’t like or trust one
another, that makes the book such a rich, powerful read. Fans of
WWII mystery fiction should consider this one mandatory reading."
(September 23, 2013)
"Capt. Nathan Morgan, an NYPD homicide detective, and Chief Insp.
Werner Beck, a former German Kripo investigator … make a promising
sleuthing pair." (August 26, 2013) Included in Kirkus Review’s “Last Chance: 10 Criminoous Yarns to Get You Through 2013". "Ruin Value remains a bold piece of writing and a very pleasing serial killer investigation and thriller. It’s well worth reading.” Thinking about Books "I could almost taste the fear and dust and decay as I read it. … Definitely a case of right book at the right time!" Col’s Criminal Library "Perfect for readers of historical crime fiction who like mysteries set in immediate postwar Europe and for readers who might be looking for a new crime writer who can whip up a good plot and keep it going consistently throughout the book… it’s rich in setting and the crime is well plotted." Crime Segments "The unlikely duo of Morgan and Beck get the job done despite some friction in their teamwork. The writing is terrific and brings post-war Nuremberg vividly to life. The main characters are interesting and likeable, and the author does a very good job of working with the post-war setting instead of disguising modern characters and attitudes in 1945 attire." At the Scene of the Crime "Jones’ portrayal of the devastation caused by allied bombing picks up the reader by the scruff of the neck and deposits him/her right in the middle of the rubble….Ruin Value is a very good read." Bookloons "The author of this novel is a strong writer who is able to recreate the atmosphere and details of a post-WWII German city." Reviewing the Evidence "[Jones] creates believable characters of every sort and there is a plot that is worthy of the setting…. The best developed character though was the killer. Jones has created a background for this person that lends understanding but still horrifies …[and adds] to the edge of your seat thrill of the story." Freedom Acres "[Ruin Value] ratcheted up the suspense as the killer grew closer to the detectives and the reporter. The time and setting is a reminder that anti-Semitism didn’t miraculously disappear once the war was over. Morgan is Jewish and endures epithets not only from the Germans but from his fellow Americans. Not only war is hell." Historical Novel Society
"Known for his carefully researched and well-developed
characters,…[Jones] takes his readers to the setting of the
Nuremberg Trials in the fall of 1945." Big Thrill interview — Big Thrill
The Keeper of HandsThe latest intriguing novel of suspense in the Viennese Mystery series.
"Jones's masterful fourth mystery set in early-20th-century Vienna
...[offers] top-notch detecting and characterizations [that]
bolster the intricate plot." (May 13, 2013)
"As much an exploration of prewar Vienna as it is a mystery yarn,
the book is full of striking visual imagery that helps conjure up
the landsdcape...this series is well worth a look." (May 1, 2013)
"Jones recreates the beau monde of vintage Vienna with
verisimilitude and consummate style." (July 15, 2013)
"[An] intriguing historical series." (July 12, 2013)
"There are many things to like about Jones’s books, not the least
of which is his ability to weave historical characters into a
seamless narrative centered about a character of his own
invention….An action-packed and thoroughly engaging book."
"[The Keeper of Hands] is ... a murder mystery, a conventional
thriller, an espionage thriller with political overtones, and a
historical novel. As a picture of a city in times gone by, this is
a remarkable technical achievement. ... It's a winner." (May 27,
2013) Vienna, 1901. With the police seemingly indifferent to the murder of a 19-year-old prostitute known as Mitzi, brothel-keeper Frau Mutzenbacher turns to lawyer Karl Werthen to find out what happened and bring her killer to justice. Yet the more he discovers about the mysterious Mitzi, with her secret past and impressive roster of clients, the more questions Werthen's investigation throws up. At the same time, Werthen undertakes a second commission: to find out who viciously assaulted playwright Arthur Schnitzler. Schnitzler believes his latest controversial play might have been the motive for the attack - but is there more to it than that? As he navigates the highs and lows of Viennese society in dogged pursuit of the truth, Werthen finds himself drawn into a conspiracy of espionage and affairs of state.  Read an excerpt Read more praise from the critics Read interviews
The SilenceThe eagerly awaited third volume in the critically acclaimed Viennese Mystery series is now available.
"Ultimately, this fin de siècle mystery is all very Sherlock
Holmes. Populated with such real-life luminaries as artist Gustav
Klimt, Jones’s third historical series title (after The Empty
Mirror) is an intricately plotted, gracefully written, and totally
immersive read. Recommended for Stefanie Pintoff, Laurie R. King,
and Philip Gooden fans." (January, 2012)
"Jones vividly evokes 1900 Vienna under the leadership of its
notorious anti-Semitic mayor, Karl Lueger, in his splendid third
whodunit featuring attorney Karl Werthen and criminologist Hanns
Gross.... Jones poses a challenging puzzle for his savvy
investigator while subtly portraying the growing threat to
Europe’s Jews." (November 14, 2011)
"Jones' measured, stately prose is perfectly in tune with his
period setting and his hero's intense intellectual curiosity....
His intricate plot unfolds with suspense and style" (February 1,
2012)
Included in
Kirkus Reviews
Vienna, 1900. Lawyer and private inquiries agent Karl Werthen is puzzling over the high-profile suicide of a city councilman--former client, next in line to Vienna’s powerful Mayor Karl Lueger, and the last man Werthen would think capable of suicide. Werthen, however, has little time to ponder, as he is summoned by wealthy industrialist Karl Wittgenstein (father of the future philosopher Ludwig) to find his oldest son, Hans, who has gone missing. Werthen soon discovers the whereabouts of the musically-minded Hans, and the case appears to be solved. But appearances are deceiving, and a simple missing person’s case soon leads back to the councilman's suicide. Werthen—once again ably assisted by his wife, Berthe, and real-life father of criminology, Dr. Hanns Gross—journeys into a sinister web of deceit and violence that threatens not only his life, but also the very heart of the city and the empire. Read more praise from the critics Read an excerpt Read interviewsFor an excellently annotated version of The Silence (you need the book in hand of course) go to Book Drum. There you can find page by page explorations of personalities and historical insights along with period photographs, maps, and other illustrations. All thanks to my old buddy, Tom Ovens..
Travel back to Cold War Vienna The Man in the TowerProduct Description from the publisher: Critically acclaimed novelist J. Sydney Jones brings Cold War Europe to stark and often humorous life in this memoir of his two decades living in Vienna as a foreign correspondent and fledgling writer. With the same attention to detail exhibited in his acclaimed "Viennese Mysteries" series, Jones parses the world of Central Europe, from the quotidian to the political. Here is the blue-eyed refugee from the Biafran War, Ubhani, the man in the tower of the title, seeking asylum in the Austrian capital; the Hungarian patriot who pays his own special tribute to the 1956 uprising; the nondescript state police agent commissioned to watch foreigners in neutral Austria to ensure they did not ruffle the feathers of the Soviets; the editor of a prestigious Viennese publishing house none too eager to do business with a brash young Ami. Travel with Jones back to Czechoslovakia just months after the Soviet's brutal suppression of Prague Spring in'68; to guard towers along the waist-deep waters of a lake on the Austro-Hungarian border; to a cozy armchair at the British Council Library; to an all-purpose Tabak Trafik: to life in a Cretan cave; or to the final voyage of the SS France. Jones proves a dependable and insightful guide to this forgotten world before the Wall came down. An added bonus is the short story, "Body Blows," which introduces Sam Kramer, the foreign correspondent protagonist from Jones's new series of novels set in Europe following the fall of the Wall.
Requiem in Vienna
The composer Gustav Mahler is at the heart of this intriguing
and compelling mystery/thriller set in Vienna 1900.
"Sophisticated entertainment of a very high caliber."
"A first-class historical mystery."
"A compelling period whodunit with bountiful cultural and social
details.” Read more about the book Read more praise from the critics Read an excerpt Read interviews
"[An] absorbing whodunit that succeeds both as a mystery and as a fascinating portrait of a traditional society in ferment." —Publishers Weekly (*starred review) The Empty Mirror
The highly praised first volume of the Viennese Mystery series is now available in paperback. Fin de siècle Vienna comes to vibrant life in this colorful historical thriller featuring the artist Gustav Klimt.
"...Jones delivers a meaty historical that bodes well for further
adventures.."
"This one bears watching."
"Jones keeps his mystery moving along with a good deal of skill,
but the greatest interest of the novel lies in its glimpses of the
political passions and bizarre occurrences of the era.... In
recent years, fin-de-siecle Vienna has shown signs of becoming to
literary thrillers what 1940s Los Angeles is to noir.
The Empty Mirror, a colorful story that neatly combines
fact and fiction, suggests why."
"Jones ... deftly melds fact with fiction in a novel that will
appeal to mystery aficionados as well as history buffs"
 Read more about the book Read more praise from the critics Read an excerpt
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