Michael Gregorio, Critique of Criminal Reason

Critique of Criminal Reason

Michael Gregorio

Dunne, Nov 2006, $24.95

ISBN: 0312349947

In 1804 Prussian King Frederick Wilhelm royally commissions Procurator Hanno Stiffeniis to investigate four homicides that has terrorized the citizens of Konigsberg as the city's Procurator Rhunken suffered a stroke. There is no indication that the terror is over and in fact many believe the killings are the work of Napoleonic agents, whose military appears ready to invade.

Realizing that the investigation is heading nowhere, Stiffeniis turns to the city's most famous person, philosopher Immanuel Kant, whose classic Critique of Pure Reason was published a decade ago to universal acclaim. Kant and Stiffeniis, who met back in 1793, team up using the former's theories on the human condition to what is either an enemy agent stirring fear in order to weaken the monarchy or a serial killer, Logic proves the masterpiece does not apply to the abnormal human condition.

The whodunit takes a back seat to the insightful look at one of history's most important philosophical contributors, years after his famous work is released. Readers obtain a powerful glimpse at the aging Kant as he has demons of his own to subdue while he applies his pure reason model to the criminal mindset. Stiffen is a terrific sidekick albeit lead investigator as he and Kant critique criminal reasoning in a fabulous early nineteenth century murder mystery.

Harriet Klausner