The Scrutinies of Simon Iff

by Crowley

A wonderfully entertaining series of detective stories, featuring the Daoist mystic and psychologist Simon Iff, who solves crimes by probing hearts and minds. "Simple Simon," an idealization of Crowley in old age, sees through the complexities of human misdeeds, from murder to bank theft, to the plain truth behind them. The characters and themes in The Scrutinies of Simon Iff were the basis for Crowley's famous novel of Magick and Intrigue, Moonchild.

Genres: Fiction

180 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Paul Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible book. It kind of lures you in in the first couple of stories, which, although not great, have some wit in the dialogue, and i suppose i like the overall idea of them that motive and psychology could be more important in solving crimes than Sherlock Holmes clues. However, the psychology described by Crowley is never very convincing and worse than that, he very quickly runs out of ideas for plots and fills the absence with things i suppose he thinks will excite readers for their shock value. But even considering the ultimate lack of imagination, i might have still given the book a better review (the early stories sometimes made me smile, after all--but cleverness is expended as quickly as plot), except for the fact the the second to last story is the vilest, most repugnant, racist, sexist claptrap that i have ever read in print. perhaps you expect Crowley to be broadminded and counter-cultute due to his reputation, but don't be fooled. he proves himself to have completely conventional points of view from the time period that led people to the gas chambers a generation later. Please, spare yourself having to read such garbage and consign this morally execrable man to the dung heap where he belongs.

[Will · Rating 2 out of 5]

Crowley’s ego running riot.

[Χρήστος Δούκας · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teitan Press, 1987. Hardcover.