Crime and Guilt

You know how sometimes the only thing that will hit the spot is an episode or twelve of Law & Order? Well, these stories, by a lawyer and bestselling author in Germany, satisfy in a similar way. Labeled fiction but based on crimes pulled from his actual case files, their no-frills writing style creates an eerie, deadpan atmosphere and their exploration of the legal system makes you ponder whether or not the Law has any real morality. Read one short story a night, or binge-read all twenty-six. And for an added frisson of creepiness, remember that Ferdinand is the grandson of Baldur von Schirach, the head of the Hitler Youth who was convicted of crimes against humanity. DUN-DUN!