The Death Instinct
The Death Instinct by Jed Rubenfeld is a reprint edition published by Riverhead Books on January 20, 2011. This 464-page literary thriller delves into the complexities of terror, war, and the darker aspects of human nature, set against the backdrop of a historical event. The narrative begins with the devastating Wall Street bombing on September 16, 1920, which resulted in significant loss of life and remains unsolved. The story follows Dr. Stratham Younger, a war veteran, and Captain James Littlemore of the New York Police Department as they navigate the chaos of that day alongside Colette Rousseau, a French radiochemist with a mysterious past.
Readers will find themselves immersed in a gripping tale that intertwines historical facts with fiction, exploring themes of mystery and psychological intrigue. As Younger and Littlemore investigate a series of attacks on Rousseau, they embark on an international journey that takes them from Paris to Prague and even to the home of Dr. Sigmund Freud. The narrative weaves together seemingly unrelated events, ultimately revealing the shocking truth behind the bombing and the savage instincts that drive humanity. This edition offers a detailed exploration of a tragedy that resonates with contemporary issues, making it a thought-provoking read for those interested in historical mysteries and thrillers.
Official synopsis Publisher
A spellbinding literary thriller about terror, war, greed, and the darkest secrets of the human soul, by the author of the million-copy bestseller The Interpretation of Murder.
Under a clear blue September sky, America’s financial center in lower Manhattan became the site of the largest, deadliest terrorist attack in the nation’s history. It was September 16, 1920. Four hundred people were killed or injured. The country was appalled by the magnitude and savagery of the incomprehensible attack, which remains unsolved to this day.
The bomb that devastated Wall Street in 1920 explodes in the opening pages of The Death Instinct, Jed Rubenfeld’s provocative and mesmerizing new novel. War veteran Dr. Stratham Younger and his friend Captain James Littlemore of the New York Police Department are caught on Wall Street on the fateful day of the blast. With them is the beautiful Colette Rousseau, a French radiochemist whom Younger meets while fighting in the world war. A series of inexplicable attacks on Rousseau, a secret buried in her past, and a mysterious trail of evidence lead Young, Littlemore, and Rousseau on a thrilling international and psychological journey-from Paris to Prague, from the Vienna home of Dr. Sigmund Freud to the corridors of power in Washington, D.C., and ultimately to the hidden depths of our most savage instincts. As the seemingly disjointed pieces of what Younger and Littlemore learn come together, the two uncover the shocking truth behind the bombing.
Blending fact and fiction in a brilliantly convincing narrative, Jed Rubenfeld has forged a gripping historical mystery about a tragedy that holds eerie parallels to our own time.
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