The Philosopher and the Assassin* is contemporary literary fiction that weaves together campus novel, moral philosophy, climate and murder mystery.
An adaptation of this story for TV won the Writing Climate Pitchfest, 2024.
The central whodunnit in the novel also operates as a standalone play, Murder in the Citizens’ Jury which was staged in 2024 (part-funded by the British Academy).
ISBN paperback: 978-1-7390889-9-6
ISBN eBook: 978-1-0682703-0-7
Pages: 352 pages
Size: 5.5 x 8.5 inch
Publication date 1st October 2025.
It is available from all major platforms and direct from Habitat Press.
You can see some readings from the book launch in Oct 2025 here.
Discount coupons for book clubs are available on request, and questions for book clubs are available here.
* rewritten version of book originally titled Murder in the Climate Assembly.
Synopsis
There’s no more important job in the world than educator, and no subject as necessary as moral philosophy. The trick is getting the students to turn up. So, when the Dean proposes the controversial concept of education entertainment, Professor Iris Tate goes all in with a moral philosophy course based on a whodunnit that all assume is hypothetical – a murder in a citizens’ assembly on climate. A variety of characters provide an entertaining source of ethical dilemmas, but what the students don’t know is that the ultimate dilemma is very real, and their conclusions will have far-reaching consequences.
Reviews
“I was struck first by its deft and unusual use of form to create a kaleidoscopic and deeply clever narrative. At once a commentary on the looming responsibility of the climate crisis and our ever-shrinking opportunity to enact meaningful change, and a far from conventional whodunnit, the book plays with the notion of what is moral and what is right.
Complicit in the book’s central sprawling philosophical dilemma, the reader finds themselves judge, jury and executioner in the case of the century. While the novel tackles prescient and troubling themes and poses difficult questions (how far should we go for the greater good?), it does so with a sense of dry humour and a delightful eye for the absurd.
Above all, the warmth and resilience of its ineffable protagonist suffuses the narrative and, as the story ends, we struggle to leave her behind. Not only is this a timely, thought-provoking and essential story in an age of urgent, innovative climate action that demands the attention of us all, it is a thoroughly enjoyable read. Funny, memorable, characterful and original.”
The Literary Studio
“Denise Baden’s campus novel/whodunnit is so much more than just an up-to-the-minute academic locked-door mystery, it’s a philosophical treatise wrapped in an exposition of the polycrisis, embedded in a love story, threaded through with alternative democracy and grounded in explorations of grief, motivation and drive. Full of sharp ideas, subtle humour and grounded in the harsh realities of our world, you’ll come away with a whole new understanding of our world and what it takes to change it!”
Manda Scott, author of Any Human Power and Boudica series.
“If facts are ignored, fiction may be our next best hope. With its story-within-a-story, The Philosopher and the Assassin cranks up the dramatic tension around whether we will achieve the carbon transition, or not. Ultimately, a surprisingly hopeful read.”
John Elkington, a.k.a. the “Godfather of Sustainability,” co-founder of ENDS, SustainAbility and Volans, and author of 21 books, most recently Tickling Sharks: How We Sold Business on Sustainability.
“A sharp, witty take on the climate crisis – from someone who knows what they’re talking about.”
Wren James, founder of the Climate Fiction Writers League
“Funny, engaging and original – a great way to immerse yourself into the complex dynamics of the climate crisis, the dilemmas we face and the choices we must take.”
Nigel Topping, UN Climate Change High Level Climate Champion, COP26
Kirkus Awards & Accolades: Our Verdict GET IT
Why has a professor of sustainability taken to fiction?
I want to reach a mainstream audience who might never choose to watch a climate documentary.
I also find storytelling a more engaging way to introduce people to climate policies. Usually in business or government, stakeholder analysis is used to see who benefits or loses out by any policy and how. These can be very dry and it can be hard to engage with the real impacts emotionally as the groups affected can seem distant. This story-within-a-story set in a citizens’ assembly on climate shows stakeholders as real people meaning we identify with them and their needs more easily. We can then view any policy from the perspective of a variety of people, all of whom have a unique relationship to the proposal.
Click here for article on using the novel as an educational resource, useful for lecturers in business ethics, philosophy, politics and creative writing.
Extracts
Below are extracts that highlight different elements of the novel. I tried to avoid spoilers, and it may not make full sense out of context, but the goal is to give a flavour of how humour, mystery, philosophy and policies that address the systemic causes of climate change are woven together with the personal story of the key protagonist. These were compiled after the first draft was written – the published novel may have slight differences.
