Days of Atonement (Hanno Stiffeniis Series #2) »

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. You can visit them at www.michaelgregorio.it or www.michaelgregorio.info.

This historical literary thriller set in the frozen wastes of Prussia stars Prussian magistrate (and former pupil of Immanuel Kant) Hanno Stiffeniis as he investigates a series of grisly murders in this sequel to the Italian bestseller CRITIQUE OF CRIMINA

Publishers Weekly

A few years after the traumatic events in Critique of Criminal Reason(2006), Napoleon Bonaparte's troops still occupy Prussia in Gregorio's outstanding second historical. The residents of Lotingen who haven't fled their homes, including magistrate Hanno Stiffeniis and his family, live in a constant state of fear. A chance encounter at a formal dinner with Colonel Lavedrine-a French officer interested in criminology-leads Stiffeniis, who learned a novel approach to criminal investigation from legendary philosopher Immanuel Kant in Critique, to look into the gruesome murder of the three small children of Prussian Maj. Bruno Gottewald and the disappearance of his wife. When Stiffeniis travels to the military garrison where Gottewald is posted to inform him of his loss, the sleuth finds that the major has also been killed. Gregorio again demonstrates a rare gift for constructing a compelling whodunit rich with the kinds of psychological insights typical of the work of such contemporary crime masters as Ruth Rendell and Minette Walters. Readers will race through the pages to reach the solution. (Apr.)

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