Mum's Monday: The Death Instinct by Jed Rubenfeld

Part one

This book is based around real events and real people. Yet the dates and the explosion tally up with September 11^th 2001, but this is set in September 1920 and the explosion is on the 16^th of September on wall street.

Collette has now gone missing with Dr. Stratham younger’s wallet. This book has been very well researched, this helps to strengthen the story line and give it depth.

The fight between Dr. Younger and Captain James Littlemore in the hotel room seems un necessary, and in such a long book anyway it is not needed to make up the word count. Maybe this is for future character development, but anyone reading this book would need a good memory to remember all the little things that are going on during the investigation.

It is clever how Dr. Younger was able to follow the radioactive trail.

It is interesting to read in a flash back part, all about medical procedures including x-rays on the front line in a field hospital and the use of maggots.

When it comes to some conditions not everyone agrees with anything other than what they can see, examples a bullet wound or a broken leg. In this case anything to do with the mind Dr. Younger is sceptical and it is sad to see he disregards Dr. Sigmund Freud’s work. Slowly in modern times people are becoming more accepting.

It is brilliant how this book describes Freud and his works. It is also clever to see him being asked to work with a boy who doesn’t talk. This reinforces the fact that he helped by and worked through communication. How the author is going to get over this fact remains to be seen.

There is a good part which points out that you don’t have to be part of something in this case be Jewish to object to something, in this case an unfavourable plaque about the Jews.

Part two

At the beginning of this part in chapter eight, there is a small twist which made me want to read at a fast pace to discover who the victim was. This part is very well described to keep you guessing.

We know from history that Madam Curie died from radiation poisoning, so why when Dr. Younger is x-raying the red headed woman does the story mention using a lead screen. Surely this is an error in the writing of the era. If using radiation in an x-ray is written as dangerous enough to warrant a lead screen then Madam curie could have protected herself more with more awareness of the danger at the time in the 1920s, or she could see the benefits and wasn’t going to listen to anyone about the dangers. Either way we know more now in modern times.

There is a brilliant way to get rid of Littlemore when he wanted to ask Mr. James Speyer a question. Speyer motioned Littlemore into a car pretending it to be his, but the driver didn’t know Speyer and Speyer disappears, it is simple but a well worked out diversion.

With all the talk about firing the captain or Enright it is amusing to read about getting McAdoo’s wife’s opinion, that Wilson the president of the United States of America, wouldn’t be happy about firing the captain. What is so funny is when you read that McAdoo’s wife is the president’s daughter. This made me stop and think ‘Valid opinion’ from a wife.

A really funny part to me is about Dr. Younger’s exploits with women. When Mrs Denby asks him to dance with her daughter, which he doesn’t, only to wake up next morning with said, as I first thought Miss Denby, only it to be confirmed at the end of this part her mother Mrs Denby. As seen in some films people waking up with unexpected bed mates, I could picture the scene which adds to the amusement of it.

Part three

Captain Littlemore has a new job in Washington DC. It seems the case may well be solved and I can see why they want to keep it quiet. It is annoying that it is pushed to be blamed on another nation and its people. It is sad to see that if it wasn’t for principals and correctness all Littlemore’s family financial worries could be over.

At one point I didn’t think we would ever meet Hans Gruber, but once we do he and Collette take over the story. I do feel sorry for Dr. Younger witnessing the reunion, but if he went looking for Hans then to find him would be inevitable. The part where Dr. Younger makes the journey with Luc, Collette’s brother, and when he finds Hans is described in depth and really well.

It is surprising how quickly the story turns violent, this makes me want to read on quickly to see what happens. It seems Collette has found justice and now she no longer needs her locket. This is a very clever but a sad twist.

At the beginning of chapter fifteen we learn about American history, it is really interesting to read about the capitol Washington and how it was and came to be how it is now in modern day.

An officer named Riggs keeps being mentioned in the story, whether he has something to do with the robbery despite being killed in the bomb blast remains to be seen. I want to read on to see where, if at all he fits into it.

I am glad they are going to check out the ship’s cargo, it is clever if they find what they are looking for, but even if they don’t it is still clever to have thought out where the gold could have gone.

I like how when someone says that the ‘Popes’ are out to get him, or that is how it comes across, it turns out it is all in a name.

The investigation is well written from Washington to New York, with all the people mentioned it is twisting and turning in many ways. It is a brilliant book and I wonder how the case will get solved or who done it and why.

In chapter sixteen we learn a lot from what Freud says, of how cancer grows in the body and about the ‘Death instinct’. This is interesting to read and surprising that the title of the book is first associated with the person I least expected, considering the bombing case throughout this book.

It seems Dr younger is aware of the dangers of radium, but trying to convince Collette is realistically difficult. Even in modern times people have been known to turn a blind eye to some dangers, even when all the research points to perilous situations.

I like how Littlemore is going about trying to solve the case, the information is cleverly obtained and I want to read on to find out if Littlemore is right. It is also clever how he was quick to realise Elias Torres wasn’t on Mexican soil.

Part four

The story is cleverly written that I believe the gold has been found, but I am still not one hundred percent sure, in the way it is written ninety-nine percent sure will have to do until I read on for now. I hope I do find out for sure, this book gives an air of mystery.

It is sad to read that Collette has been put in such an awkward position and it is equally sad to see the women put themselves at risk whilst carrying out such unsafe working methods.  

It is good that there will be no war against the Mexicans. How they got to that outcome required a very clever thought process of a ‘Whispering Gallery’ like in St. Pauls cathedral in the city of London in the UK, type scenario amongst other things. This book makes you think.

It is strange to put these two in the same sentence but if in this chapter they are both mentioned and I like what I read then I will put, it is good to see maggots and Freud work wonders. It is also good to see that if someone is promoting something and he is willing and not afraid to use it on himself.

It is good to see everything work out financially as well, with two million dollars, yes Merry Christmas indeed.