Amadeus
A Woman of Note
Requiem in Vienna 
Diplomatic Impunity
Novel set in the first half of the 20th Century HUNGARY
Ten Great Books set in AUSTRIA
5th August 2026
Ten great books set in Austria.
Austria is a federal republic in south-central Europe, bordered by countries like Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. Dominated by the majestic Alps, the country covers an area of over 83,000 square kilometres and is renowned for its breathtaking mountain landscapes, crystal-clear lakes, and the Danube River.
Its capital and largest city, Vienna, is globally celebrated for its imperial architecture, rich coffeehouse culture, and deep musical heritage as the former home of legends like Mozart and Beethoven. With a high standard of living, a stable economy, and a deep-rooted cultural legacy, Austria blends historic charm with modern innovation.
Here are ten of our favourite books set in the country.
The Tobacconist
by Robert Seethaler – VIENNA
When seventeen-year-old Franz exchanges his home in the idyllic beauty of the Austrian lake district for the bustle of Vienna, his homesickness quickly dissolves amidst the thrum of the city. In his role as apprentice to the elderly tobacconist Otto Trsnyek, he will soon be supplying the great and good of Vienna with their newspapers and cigarettes. Among the regulars is a Professor Freud, whose predilection for cigars and occasional willingness to dispense romantic advice will forge a bond between him and young Franz.
It is 1937. In a matter of months Germany will annex Austria and the storm that has been threatening to engulf the little tobacconist will descend, leaving the lives of Franz, Otto and Professor Freud irredeemably changed.
Amadeus by Peter Shaffer – VIENNA
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is a genius, the most brilliant musician the world will ever see. But the court of eighteenth-century Vienna doesn’t recognize his talents – only Antonio Salieri, the Court Composer, does, and he is tortured by what he hears.
Seething with rage at the genius of this flippant buffoon and suddenly aware of his own mediocrity, Salieri declares war and sets out to destroy the man he sees as God’s instrument on earth.
Peter Shaffer’s award-winning play is a rich, exuberant portrayal of a God-like man among mortals, and lives destroyed by envy.
Midnight in the Snow by Karen Swan – ZELL AM SEE
From Sunday Times bestselling author Karen Swan, Midnight in the Snow is the story of a forbidden attraction that will reveal long-buried secrets, set amongst the snow-covered mountains of the Austrian Alps.
Award-winning director Clover Phillips is riding high when she encounters Kit Foley; a surfer and snowboarder as well-known for controversy as he is for winning championships.
Involved in an accident that had devastating consequences for a bitter rival, Kit has never spoken about what really happened that day. Determined to find out the truth, Clover heads to the snowy wilderness of the Austrian Alps, sharing a romantic winter wonderland with a man who can’t stand her.
But as she delves deeper, Clover finds herself both drawn to Kit, and even more convinced he’s hiding something. Is Kit Foley really as cold as he seems
A Woman of Note by Carol M Cram – VIENNA
Virtuoso pianist Isabette Grüber captivates audiences in the salons and concert halls of early nineteenth-century Vienna. Yet in a profession dominated by men, Isabette longs to compose and play her own music—a secret she keeps from both her lascivious manager and her resentful mother. She meets and loves Amelia Mason, a dazzling American singer with her own secrets, and Josef Hauser, an ambitious young composer. But even they cannot fully comprehend the depths of Isabette’s talent.
Her ambitions come with a price when Isabette embarks on a journey that delicately walks the line between duty and passion. Amid heartbreak and sacrifice, music remains her one constant. With cameos from classical music figures such as Chopin, Schubert, and Berlioz, A Woman of Note is an intricately crafted and fascinating tale about one woman’s struggle to find her soul’s song in a dissonant world.
Requiem in Vienna by J Sydney Jones – VIENNA
In the 1890s, a series of accidents plague Vienna’s Court Opera and then a singer is killed during rehearsals of a new production.
It would seem that someone is trying to murder Gustav Mahler. And Mahler may not be the first musical genius to have been targeted! Karl Werthen is engaged to help stop the attacks and with associates he delves into Vienna’s rich society of musicians to discover the identity of the person who has targeted one of Austria’s best-known artists.
A mystery that will leave you guessing until the end.
Salzburg: City of Culture by Hubert Nowak, Peter Lewis (Translator) – SALZBURG
Situated in the shadow of the Eastern Alps, Salzburg is known for its majestic baroque architecture, music, cathedrals, gardens. The city grew in power and wealth as the seat of prince-bishops, found international fame as the birthplace of the beloved composer Mozart, and expanded to become a global destination for travel as a festival city. With all its stunning sights and rich history, Salzburg has become Austria’s second most visited city, drawing visitors from around the world.
Hubert Nowak sets out to reveal the lesser-known side to Salzburg, a small town with international renown. Leaving the famed festival district, he plunges into in the narrow façade-lined streets of the old quarter, creating one of the most extensive accounts of the city published in English. Through the stories of those who visited and lived in the city over the centuries, he gives the reader a fresh perspective and gives the old city new life.
The Salzburg Connection by Helen McInnes – SALZBURG
Twenty-one years ago, with the Allies on their heels, the Nazis hid a sealed chest in the dark, forbidding waters of the Finstersee, a lake surrounded by the brooding peaks of the Austrian Alps. One of the few men who knows of its existence is Richard Bryant, a British agent. He sets out alone to discover the secret of the lake and unleashes a series of violent reactions – and violent deaths…
A mystery that will leave you guessing to the end.
Diplomatic Impunity by Jaya Gulhaugen – VIENNA
1956. It is the time of the Hungarian Revolution and the KGB loom ominously in the background.
The Gilman family has just arrived and are getting settled in the city, he a CIA agent and Peggy is wife, mother and amateur sleuth. Ballrooms are in full swing coming up to Christmas and then there is a death – in true mystery style there are clues, red herrings and interesting detail.
The English Girl by Margaret Leroy – VIENNA
A 17 year old innocent English girl arrives in Vienna in 1937, to train at the prestigious music academy. She enjoys the sights and sounds of Vienna, and falls in love. However as the threat of war become ever stronger, the girl discovers that all is not as perfect as it seems, and lives are at risk
My Own Dear Brother by Holly Müller – AUSTRIAN ALPS
It is 1944, and war has taken the men in Nazi-controlled Austria to the front line. For thirteen-year-old Ursula Hildesheim life in the village of Felddorf remains almost as it was: bullied by her schoolmates, idly thieving from the village shop, enlisted in endless chores by her mama and sister and running wild with her adored older brother Anton.
But when Russian prisoners escape from the local concentration camp, her mama starts an affair with a married man, her friend goes missing and her brother’s allegiance to the Hitler Youth emerges in shocking ways, Ursula finds herself alone, disturbed by dark memories, and surrounded by threat.
In this new world of conflict, Ursula discovers a bravery she has never known before and is forced to recognise that danger comes not only from the enemy at the door but from the enemy within.
Enjoy our selection of great books set in Austria…
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