Synopses & Reviews
Most honourable Procurator Stiffeniis, You talents have been brought to Our attention by a gentleman of eminence, who believes that you alone are capable of resolving a situation which holds Our beloved Königsberg in a grip of terror. All Our faith and consideration are due to the notable personage who suggested your name, and that same faith and consideration now resides in you. We have no reason to doubt that you will accept this Royal Commission, and act accordingly with all haste. The fate of the city lies in your hands.
--King Frederick Wilhelm III
It has been years since Immanuel Kants landmark philosophical work, Critique of Pure Reason, brought him fame throughout Europe and made him Königsbergs best-known citizen. Now, rumors have begun to surface of a new work by this aging but still acute mind. Yet unlike his earlier work, this book will not examine the mind of the average man, but the mind of the serial killer.
Hanno Stiffeniis, a young magistrate, has been called to Königsberg to assist in the investigation of an enigmatic string of murders. Is it part of a plot formed by Napoleons spies to undermine the Prussian king or the work of a solitary, unknown killer? The case would seem unsolvable, were it not for the assistance and unmatched intellect of his mentor, Immanuel Kant. Together Stiffeniis and the elderly, eccentric philosopher must track down the killer who has the city of Königsberg by the throat.
Hugely atmospheric, entertaining, and intelligent, Critique of Criminal Reason marks the outstanding debut of a new name in historical fiction. Michael Gregorio is a professor of philosophy. He lives in Italy. Most honourable Procurator Stiffeniis,
You talents have been brought to Our attention by a gentleman of eminence, who believes that you alone are capable of resolving a situation which holds Our beloved Königsberg in a grip of terror. All Our faith and consideration are due to the notable personage who suggested your name, and that same faith and consideration now resides in you. We have no reason to doubt that you will accept this Royal Commission, and act accordingly with all haste. The fate of the city lies in your hands.
--King Frederick Wilhelm III
It has been years since Immanuel Kants landmark philosophical work, Critique of Pure Reason, brought him fame throughout Europe and made him Königsbergs best-known citizen. Now, rumors have begun to surface of a new work by this aging but still acute mind. Yet unlike his earlier work, this book will not examine the mind of the average man, but the mind of the serial killer.
Hanno Stiffeniis, a young magistrate, has been called to Königsberg to assist in the investigation of an enigmatic string of murders. Is it part of a plot formed by Napoleons spies to undermine the Prussian king or the work of a solitary, unknown killer? The case would seem unsolvable, were it not for the assistance and unmatched intellect of his mentor, Immanuel Kant. Together Stiffeniis and the elderly, eccentric philosopher must track down the killer who has the city of Königsberg by the throat.
Hugely atmospheric, entertaining, and intelligent, Critique of Criminal Reason marks the outstanding debut of a new name in historical fiction.
A sweeping and brilliantly detailed read. . . . Gregorio threads philosophical underpinnings through his dark narrative with genuine assurance.”
---Crime Time (UK) Superb.”
---The Scotsman
Michael Gregorios Critique of Criminal Reason is a marvelous highbrow thriller. It combines a tremendous gift for describing a place and time in historyin this case, Königsberg in the winter of 1804with a hard-driving plot and a sense of the fledgling tools of reason fighting a desperate battle against those of violence and superstition. The indefatigable hero has the flaws of a man of his time; violence and a sometimes brutal way with his inferiors, yet there is never a point where we do not want him to win.”
---C. J. Sansom, author of Dark Fire and Dissolution
[Gregorios] re-creation of the starched world of nineteenth-century Prussia, the gothic crimes that take place, and the man trying to track down the killer, are refreshingly different and satisfyingly complex.”
---Publishing News (UK)
An evocative picture of a nineteenth-century city. . . . We get a sense of the tension whipped to fever pitch by rumors of Napoleons advancing army and the Jacobins rumored to be plotting to destabilize the city.”
---Scotland on Sunday
Review
"Superb."
---The Scotsman
"Michael Gregorio's Critique of Criminal Reason is a marvelous highbrow thriller. It combines a tremendous gift for describing a place and time in history--in this case, Königsberg in the winter of 1804--with a hard-driving plot and a sense of the fledgling tools of reason fighting a desperate battle against those of violence and superstition. The indefatigable hero has the flaws of a man of his time; violence and a sometimes brutal way with his inferiors, yet there is never a point where we do not want him to win."
---C. J. Sansom, author of Dark Fire and Dissolution
"[Gregorio's] re-creation of the starched world of nineteenth-century Prussia, the gothic crimes that take place, and the man trying to track down the killer, are refreshingly different and satisfyingly complex."
---Publishing News (UK)
"An evocative picture of a nineteenth-century city. . . . We get a sense of the tension whipped to fever pitch by rumors of Napoleon's advancing army and the Jacobins rumored to be plotting to destabilize the city."
---Scotland on Sunday
Review
“One of those literary thrillers that come along every year or two to provide both intellectual and visceral pleasures for readers who neither move their lips nor fear weighty concepts.” ---The Washington Post
“Readers who seek substance along with thrills in their mystery reading will enjoy The Critique of Criminal Reason.” ---Houston Chronicle
“Admirers of quality intellectual ?ction should embrace this book, with its pitch-perfect period detail and psychologically complex protagonist.”---Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Synopsis
Arriving in the city of Knigsberg to help solve a strange series of murders, young detective Hanno Stiffeniis joins forces with his mentor, philosopher Immanuel Kant, to track down the serial killer terrorizing the city, in a historical mystery set in early nineteenth-century Prussia, at the dawn of the Enlightenment. A first novel.
Synopsis
Most honourable Procurator Stiffeniis, You talents have been brought to Our attention by a gentleman of eminence, who believes that you alone are capable of resolving a situation which holds Our beloved Königsberg in a grip of terror. All Our faith and consideration are due to the notable personage who suggested your name, and that same faith and consideration now resides in you. We have no reason to doubt that you will accept this Royal Commission, and act accordingly with all haste. The fate of the city lies in your hands.
--King Frederick Wilhelm III
It has been years since Immanuel Kant's landmark philosophical work, Critique of Pure Reason, brought him fame throughout Europe and made him Königsberg's best-known citizen. Now, rumors have begun to surface of a new work by this aging but still acute mind. Yet unlike his earlier work, this book will not examine the mind of the average man, but the mind of the serial killer.
Hanno Stiffeniis, a young magistrate, has been called to Königsberg to assist in the investigation of an enigmatic string of murders. Is it part of a plot formed by Napoleon's spies to undermine the Prussian king or the work of a solitary, unknown killer? The case would seem unsolvable, were it not for the assistance and unmatched intellect of his mentor, Immanuel Kant. Together Stiffeniis and the elderly, eccentric philosopher must track down the killer who has the city of Königsberg by the throat.
Hugely atmospheric, entertaining, and intelligent, Critique of Criminal Reason marks the outstanding debut of a new name in historical fiction.
Synopsis
"A sweeping and brilliantly detailed read. . . . Gregorio threads philosophical underpinnings through his dark narrative with genuine assurance."
---Crime Time (UK)
Synopsis
“Sherlock Holmes himself would struggle to keep up with the master sleuth Gregorio brings to life.” ---Booklist (starred review)
Synopsis
An International Bestseller and Playboy Best Book of 2006
It has been years since Immanuel Kants landmark philosophical work, Critique of Pure Reason, brought him fame throughout Europe and made him Königsbergs best-known citizen. Now, rumors have begun to surface of a new work by this aging but still acute mind. Yet unlike his earlier work, this book will not examine the mind of the average man, but the mind of the serial killer.
Detective Hanno Stiffeniis has been called to the city to find the culprit in an enigmatic string of murders. Are they part of a plot formed by Napoleons spies to undermine the Prussian king, or the work of a solitary killer? The case would seem unsolvable, were it not for the assistance and unmatched intellect of his mentor, Immanuel Kant. Together the young detective and the elderly, eccentric philosopher must track down the killer who has the city by the throat.
Atmospheric, entertaining, and intelligent, this acclaimed novel is sophisticated, page-turning crime at its best.
About the Author
Michael Gregorio is the pen name of Michael G. Jacob and Daniela De Gregorio. She teaches philosophy, he teaches English. They live in Spoleto, Italy. Michael Gregorio was awarded the Umbria del Cuore prize in 2007.