The Fig Eater

I think I have been on this craze where the next book I read is somehow related to the book prior to it. The book reviewing now, The Fig Eater, is another historical fiction like Burning Bright, and that is where the similarity ends, ha-ha.

The Fig Eater was a book that I had would eyeball when looking for the next book to read on my bookshelves, but would skip over at the last moment, so at some point I knew that I just had to finally do it. No regrets at all. It is a mystery set in 1910 Vienna, when forensics was beginning to evolve and be relied on to solve crimes. The Inspector is trying to solve the murder of a young woman named Dora, where the only thing to go off of is the fig that was found in her stomach. The Inspector’s wife, Erszebet, begins her own version of an investigation, using her friend Wally to go beyond what the police are able to professionally do. From the beginning, their marriage is wonderful, but as the investigation progresses and less is shared between them, their relationship begins to strain.

I am so glad to have finally read The Fig Eater; the writing style was excellent with never giving too much information away so as to make you struggle mentally while you try to solve the murder yourself. It seems to have happened again, where I read a book that starts out great because it has the introduction of the characters and the situation, then once the investigation hits the wall the momentum to read just dies, but the last third when they finally make a breakthrough just takes off again. It feels a lot more realistic, that time when you cannot get anywhere with your case so others have to take precedence. The case only gets slow because of other peoples’ drama and the lack of aid and the high amount of secretive behavior.

I liked that this was a different setup of place [Vienna] and the tension between all of the characters, almost like a constant relational anxiety which oddly enough either wrap around Dora, or Erszebet. I feel bad for Wally for the mental and emotional abuses she puts herself through because she wants Erszebet’s attention so much; she wants to be liked by her that she would be do anything even if she does not want to remain involved. It is sad to think that [Spoiler] Wally does go back to England in the end. She was a character that I became invested in, so to see her have that “chewed up and spit back out” experience in a new country with a new job opportunity and friends hurts a little. The only solace is the little friendly encounters she would have with Dora’s previous governess and a photographer who occasionally works with the police.

I would say give The Fig Eater a try, especially if you are looking for something a little bit different in terms of mood and detail-oriented thought process. I would read this again, fer sure. If you would like to see what The Fig Eater is about, you can find it here.

9/10