The Case of Emily V.

by Keith Oatley

Fiction. First published in U.K. in 1994. Never released in the U.S. This mystery involves the story of Emily in fin de siecle Vienna, a young woman horribly distraught because of the murder of a British diplomat, a murder she believes she committed. But did she? Her therapist, Dr. Sigmund Freud, suggests to his colleagues that she is fantasizing. Sara, her colleague/lover, is supportive of her regardless of what she did. It takes the famous Sherlock Holmes, called in by Scotland Yard, to resolve this issue. This highly psychological mystery keeps a reader wondering until the final pages. This book was eleven weeks on the Globe and Mail best seller list. It was reprinted four times before being reissued as a Minerva paperback. It was shortlisted for the Mind Prize in UK, and it won the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best First Novel.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Keith Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

The preface sets up the situation, in that manuscripts have been delivered into the hands of the narrator of this story, these manuscripts being Emily’s diary, and Freud’s analysis notes. This is a very well constructed psychological novel. It moves slowly, somewhat in the nature of a psychological condition emerging or being resolved in analysis. It incorporates a good deal of psychological expertise. It also incorporates considerable reference to people prominent in the literary scene in Europe in the early 1990s.

Finally, it deals very well with the homosexual/lesbian (or pre-feminist) situation as it was emerging in the early 1900s. The writing, especially as it recounts material linked to Holmes, Freud, and Sara, reflects respectively the Victorian style of writing and speaking, Freud’s skill as a stylist, and the mannerisms and small errors typical of a German speaker in English; these effects are done very well.

An excellent read, especially for anyone who likes reflective prose rather than too much focus on action.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read. First part is early Freud - interesting background to his theories. Second part is Sherlock Holmes - how his way of working resembles Freud in some way.