Crime and Guilt

Crime and Guilt

Rating

9.0

The Pequod Review:

Ferdinand Von Schirach is a criminal defense lawyer, and while he classified his book Crime and Guilt as fiction (probably to avoid the wrath of angry clients), this collection of short stories is based on his own legal work. Schirach has an effective prose style — dry and clinical — as he explores the circumstances behind each crime and the motivations of the perpetrator. Most disturbing is the fact that they are rarely premeditated, and the events of each case suggest that in the right circumstances any of us can lose our heads and commit a crime. It's a fascinating and addictive collection.