BY DR. MANJIRI PRABHU*
A secret staircase behind an ancient cupboard full of old, gold-embossed books? It was a thrilling moment of discovery. My heart beat wildly as I pulled the cupboard door wide open and peered into the dimly lit, cave-like space. A single yellow bulb shone on a narrow spiral staircase that curled upwards to a door on a landing. I felt as if I had stepped into a precious, mysterious moment in history, and I knew then that it had to be captured in a novel!
I later learned that the staircase spiraled to the upper floor of the Schloss Leopoldskron library (the only access route to the first floor) and led to the private apartment of Max Reinhardt, the original owner of the palace.
People travel for several reasons – for leisure, work, and inspiration. But as a mystery writer, travel for me has always been more about inspiration and research than leisure. By virtue of my profession, I never rest—literally. I am always observing, learning, absorbing, creating, and healing. But therein lies the secret to writing mysteries and thrillers in a foreign locale: the thirst for new cultural exchanges and spiritual experiences, the hunger for discovering new adventures, my love and the challenge of redirecting my creative energies into new genres, and building cultural bridges.
Destinations have always featured in my books, beginning with my first one in 1994. But I actively sought a destination as a character in 2001 when I connected strongly with Salzburg, Austria.
Salzburg is synonymous with Mozart, chocolates, and the popular film The Sound of Music. But for me, the connection to Salzburg was ignited by Schloss Leopoldskron, a magnificent Rococo palace from the 18th century. The Schloss, which boasts an intriguing history, was built in 1736 by Archbishop Leopold Firmian. After his death, the Schloss passed through many hands over the next century until it was finally acquired and renovated by the famous actor-director Max Reinhardt (who co-founded the Salzburg Festival) in the 1920s.
Today, the Salzburg Global Seminar owns this beautiful palace, located on the banks of a stunning lake that reflects the majestic Untersberg mountain.
In 2001, I was invited by the Salzburg Global Seminar to attend a seminar on ‘Books to Screen’. The moment I stepped into the regal Marble Hall and stared at the ceiling deeply etched with evocative frescoes narrating the four phases of nature, profession, seasons, and human life, I had that ‘aha moment’. The sense of yawning wonderment increased as I stepped into the library, which totally captivated my imagination. Modeled along the lines of the St. Gallen Monastery library in Switzerland, the wooden décor, the bookshelves embedded within wooden arches and pillars, the huge fireplace, and the log-like, curvy structures gave the library the perfect ambiance. But it was when I saw the secret staircase that I knew, with the certainty of a possessed writer, that I was destined to represent Salzburg in my novel.
Many years later, I returned to the Schloss to fulfill this calling, and The Trail of Four was born.
Thus began an exciting personal journey filled with research, interactions with interesting locals and historians, trudging endless hours through cobbled streets, and seeking symbols and unique features of the monuments to use as clues in the novel. It was thrilling to cement every tiny detail of history into the plot, ensuring it looked original, local, logical, and natural. Of course, staying in the iconic Schloss and soaking in its energy and spirit added an authentic flavor to this mystery novel.
The palace’s glittering Venetian room, with paintings of harlequins in gold-gilded frames, the Chinese Room with ornate eastern lamps, and the magnificent Marble Hall are all glorious representations of Max Reinhardt’s vision, eye for detail, and artistry. For me, the additional excitement lay in embedding parts of The Trail of Four into these iconic features of the Schloss, offering clues to solve a fictitious trail set 75 years ago.
Salzburg possesses a virgin spirit, sometimes hard to define. I sensed its presence in the heritage town, the glittering blue-green lakes, and the pristine, emerald hills.
The town preserves an old-world charm — St. Peter’s Graveyard, the oldest Christian cemetery in Salzburg, with its beautiful wrought-iron grave markers and stones; the cathedral dome that has braved and survived multiple fires over centuries and is now a breathtaking marvel; Mozart’s birthplace and residential quarters—the musical heart of their history; the Festung or fortress perched on the top of the hill; the Mirabell Palace and Gardens where the song ‘Do Re Mi’ from The Sound of Music was filmed; the quaint shopping street Getreidegasse; and the bridge festooned with love locks.
The innumerable churches, monasteries, museums, and sculptures are steeped in history, and Salzburg in its entirety radiates charm. It is secure in its traditions, settled in its history, and happy in its culture. The result is a heritage town that connected with me on a soul level, offering me the opportunity to feature it as a character. I was lucky to be destined to reintroduce Salzburg through the art of fiction.
It was a uniquely soul-satisfying voyage that fulfilled me deeply. But of prime importance was challenging my wander-lusting, gypsy heart with the thrills of powerful creation. It was the perfect beginning to a new series of destination thrillers.
*Dr. Manjiri Prabhu is an award-winning international author, short filmmaker, and the curator & founder/director of two international festivals. Website : www.manjiriprabhu.in
