Brott (original 2009; edition 2011)

Short review of two Schirach books
http://www.weberseite.at/buecher/verbrechen-und-schuld-von-schirach/

These stories from defense lawyer Ferdinand von Schirach are truly startling in their originality and their willingness to delve into the grusome depths of the criminal psyche. Narrated with the unemotional, clinical detachment of someone with no stake in the outcome, von Shirach's grotesque tales of murder and mayhem examine the often twisted and surprising journey from the conception and execution of the criminal act itself to the punishment handed down by the justice system. The reader is usually given plenty of background information on the perpetrator, placing the crime within a context that explains why and how it was committed. Surprisingly, there is room for compassion in these stories, and the justice system will treat an offender with leniency when such is warranted. The author knows how to create suspense and tension, but downplays overt literary tricks and simply allows the events he is describing to pull the reader along. There is nothing fancy in these pages. The writing is terse, and the stories are each assembled in a formulaic fashion, like an episode of Law & Order. All of this is admirable and effective. Crime is compulsively readable, impossible to put down. ( )

Short review of two Schirach books
http://www.weberseite.at/buecher/verbrechen-und-schuld-von-schirach/ ( )

Non il solito thriller, non il solito libro autoreferenziale ma una serie di racconti di cause finite in tribunale, scritte con cura ed attenzione ai protagonisti. Dagli episodi emergono personaggi che incarnano la difficoltà di integrarsi, la voglia di riuscire, il bisogno di affermare se stessi. In alcuni racconti ci si aspetta da un momento all'altro che l'autore dica "è tutto inventato, scherzavo", invece rimane la sensazione che a volte la realtà superi la fantasia e che forse... ( )

Mooie verhalen over mensen, die andere mensen iets aandoen om menselijke redenen. Von Schirach schrijft met een heldere, zachte pen, als ware het een penseel. Dat gaat niet ten koste van de scherpte van de stijl.
Opeens zie je je eigen handelen in een ander licht. De mensen over wie Von Schirach schrijft verschillen niet zoveel van jezelf.