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This book, written primarily for the layman, begins with a discussion of the general problem of interest shown by most people in criminals. The author believes the problem progresses from the actual deed to the doer, and that the problem of who did it is of primary interest to all. Developing this thesis, he adds a very poorly written chapter on evidence, much of his information being taken from detective stories and presenting nothing that has not been more adequately described elsewhere. In this phase of the book it is hard to tell just for whom the book was written as he next includes a chapter on the use of logic—a technique which in practical work is nowhere nearly as important as the author seems to believe.
He then approaches the problem of psychological evidence. He states, “One sees how much depends in solving criminal problems on psychological knowledge and gifts.” This reviewer would agree with that last word providing it includes informers, modus operandi charts and a good police sergeant familiar with the general function of the local area. Tips and local knowledge probably do more to solve crimes than any great comprehension psychologically of the situation as accomplished to date. The author has, however, made this chapter sufficiently verbose and scattered in enough odd cases, mostly European, to make it almost sound reasonable.
He next presents a discussion of circumstantial evidence and psychoanalysis. Here the author wisely is somewhat sceptical of “psycho-analysis in the law-court” and recommends as its place of function research into criminology. This is certainly an excellent idea and one must further agree with his notions when he refuses to use Fromm's theory that psychoanalysis may be of some help is discovering material facts.
He now moves rapidly to certain general problems including self-betrayal which does have some psychological basis; the culprit's improvidence which is an area for considerable study and merits more attention than given i