The Monster of Florence

by Douglas Preston, Mario Spezi

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1,470 ratings, 3.50 average rating, 491 reviews (more data...)

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3		34%
2		11%
1		2%

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published

June 10th 2008 by Grand Central Publishing

binding

Hardcover, 304 pages

isbn

0446581194 (isbn13: 9780446581196)

description

In the nonfiction tradition of John Berendt ("Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil") and Erik Larson ("The Devil in the White City"...more

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07/12/08

Brooke rated it:

bookshelves: 2008, non-fiction

Read in July, 2008

Despite my criminal justice background, I'm not a huge fan of true crime books. It's not that I dislike them, but unless the author has a personal connection to the case (ie: The Stranger Beside Me, Helter Skelter) they often just end up being a recitation of the facts without much more going for them.

When I first caught wind of Douglas Preston's debacle with an Italian serial killer, The Monster of Florence, I couldn't wait to read the resulting book. How often does one of my fav...more

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07/21/08

John rated it:

Read in July, 2008

recommends it for: Crime readers, culture readers

The Monster of Florence is amongst the most disturbing cases I've heard of, much less read a full book detailing, but if you're like me you can't help but want insight into what would make people do such things, or at least know how a town would deal with them. The Monster was a serial killer who stalked, murdered and mutilated young couples in Florence, Italy. He had the disturbing habit of jamming items into the female victims, and cutting off parts of their erogenous zones as souvenirs. Seria...more The Monster of Florence is amongst the most disturbing cases I've heard of, much less read a full book detailing, but if you're like me you can't help but want insight into what would make people do such things, or at least know how a town would deal with them. The Monster was a serial killer who stalked, murdered and mutilated young couples in Florence, Italy. He had the disturbing habit of jamming items into the female victims, and cutting off parts of their erogenous zones as souvenirs. Serial murder is so rare in southern Europe and Florence is considered (and certainly considers itself) such a cradle of history and culture that it dumfounded police and sent the public into confused hysteria. People who were merely suspected of not having an alibi or resembling a possible sketch of the Monster were harassed, and at least one suspect committed suicide to escape the pressure. The police, with poor technology and no experience with such a criminal, pursued every lead in often reckless fashion, canvassing people from barbers to doctors to priests (one of whom had his Sunday services scoped out by several officers who eyed him to make sure he didn’t get rid of any evidence). Quacks, mediums, psychics and a few brilliant journalists were consulted as they tried to figure this man (or men) out. Psychological profiles conflicted and stories kept falling through as the Monster continued to terrorize Florence, taking over a dozen victims. Preston walked into an amazing story that Americans hadn’t heard because it happened somewhere else. He pursued the case until he became a suspect. All now in the past, it sounds like it could have been a nice fiction novel, but it was and remains a real horror for Florence.

Mario Spezi is an Italian journalist who followed the case from the beginning, sometimes working with police and often getting ahead of them. Eventually he became a prime suspect in the eyes of the authorities and conspiracy theorists. Spezi is the obvious major source for this book, with Preston playing catch-up. All of Preston’s experience in co-writing books definitely helped put together a cohesive explanation of not just their theory, but of every major theory and stage in the case. Their indignation at eventually becoming suspects (as it seems, they were suspected for having so much interest in the case, journalism not being accepted as a motive for their degree of research regardless of alibis) clearly shows up in their often withering or uninterested portrayals of certain members of the law. When you see their civil rights violated and police procedure abused, it is easy to figure why the writers would become biased against them, and the bias rarely becomes cloying.

One sticking point, though, is that near the end of the book they write themselves like they’re guilty as sin. People normally react to absurd allegations with confusion, unable to wrap their minds around what has been said. Yet in their description of Spezi dealing with officers Spezi immediately figures out what the police suspect, which is the normal conclusion of a guilty mind. Preston’s description of his own interrogation is guarded and almost apologetically explanatory, excusing things he may have said on the record. Afterwards their conversation is dominated with debunking what Preston calls a credible theory that they were guilty. What may have been intended as an evenhanded approach to the crime makes them appear suspicious, and that doesn’t help matters when you’re forced to realize you are hearing one voice (arguably two voices) from one side of a story, without the perspective of officers. They bluntly describe the way police mistreated them without the similar evenhanded approach to explaining that many of these officers might have still believed they were the killers or were helping the real one.

Other issues are more trivial. Did you know Thomas Harris’s Hannibal Lecter was inspired by this case? Probably not, but you’ll never forget it since Preston mentions it over and over again. Harris was here, Harris met this person, this killing that is really nothing like Lecter helped inspire his creation. One of these trivial mentions would have been a neat note and probably would have sold a few more copies of this book. Doing it so often was irksome, almost like literary toadying, especially since they’re so shallow. We don’t get insight into what Harris did or thought. It seems like Preston never spoke to him; he just wanted to drop his name in the introduction and every fifty pages thereafter. Cheap things like this are especially irksome in the face of such a horrifying story. It doesn’t need celebrity cameos.

Like in his fiction, Preston is still working on his manner as a storyteller. This case lends itself to dramatic narrative and frequent cultural references, but he still hams up his prose. He is still the writer who uses “protestations” instead of “protests” and thinks an azure sky is worth noting. He likes flashy or striking portraits of people and places, and has the fiction writer’s impulse to write insights into minds and events he couldn’t have been privy to (I know – I’ve got it too). At points it really detracts from an objective approach or the sense of a totally informed opinion that is crucial in reporting this. Preston’s great instincts as a storyteller and knowledge of journalism bang into each other imperfectly, especially when he becomes more emotionally involved, where I wish I could have read an account from someone other than Preston himself.

Despite these issues, Monster of Florence is well worth reading. The first half gives a rich and thoroughly researched view of the journey through this bizarre and anomalous case of serial murder in the cradle of culture. I’m not a fan of crime writing and found the details and procedure fascinating. Awful as it is to be real, Preston makes his informative story as sizzling as just about any crime fiction – at least until he makes himself a part of it in telling his own role.(less)

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11/30/08

Kay rated it:

(review of isbn 160024209X)

bookshelves: audiobooks, horror-macabre, social-observ, true-crime

Read in December, 2008

The Dark Side of Italy or An Innocent Abroad

Douglas Preston and co-author Mario Spezi undertook their own investigation into an unsolved string of serial killings -- seven couples brutally murdered in near-identical fashion in a period beginning in 1968 and stretching up to 1985. Spezi, a journalist who first caught wind of the case, is its most noted chronicler and was responsible for the appellation, "The Monster of Florence" to describe the killer.

The fir...more

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08/24/08

Stephanie Bedrick rated it:

I CAN NOT believe this book! Absolutely incredible how truly ridiculous the Italian investigation of this is! Also incredible that the journalists are willing to put themselves on the line and name who they think is the "Monster of Florence." (They say this in the book jacket, so no surprises given!) Great, true life crime book!

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12/19/08

Natalie rated it:

Read in March, 2009

Not my bedtime read - but a great read. Doug Preston and Mario Spezi do a great job pulling us into all the mystery, intrigue, and lunacy of a case that has spanned more than three decades. Both writers are adept at richly describing the characters, the history, and the millieux of Florence and its surrounds. The crimes commited by the Monster are repulsive but Preston and Spezi do not dwell upon the gruesome details - they lead us through and beyond them.

I greedily took in the ...more

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11/05/08

Ruby rated it:

Read in October, 2008

recommended to Ruby by: Rebekah Crain
recommends it for: true crime fans

I am not a true crime reader, but I love Douglas Preston so when I saw this on the shelf, I knew I just had to read it. Thus began an adventure that would rival that of Jack the Ripper. Liken to Jack, the Monster of Florence is the Italian legend who, instead of slaying prostitutes, would prey on young couples. With gun in hand, he would kill the man and woman before cutting into the woman's body. The description here is taken out because of the graphic nature of what the Monster did. It is some...more

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07/31/08

Ed rated it:

Douglas Preston had planned a murder mystery in which the main character was the city of Florence, Italy. His book was going to span more than forty years and involve a son deciding resolve the unsolved murder of his father, an American art historian who was in Florence as a volunteer to help save some of the city's treasures after the disastrous floods of 1965. When Preston and his family set up housekeeping in a lovely old farmhouse overlooking the city and the Tuscan countryside he found a mu...more Douglas Preston had planned a murder mystery in which the main character was the city of Florence, Italy. His book was going to span more than forty years and involve a son deciding resolve the unsolved murder of his father, an American art historian who was in Florence as a volunteer to help save some of the city's treasures after the disastrous floods of 1965. When Preston and his family set up housekeeping in a lovely old farmhouse overlooking the city and the Tuscan countryside he found a much better story.

A maniac who became known as The Monster of Florence was in the middle of a series of murders. He killed young couples who were making love in cars parked in hidden spots in the hills above the city, shooting both of them and then sexually mutiliating the body of the woman. He killed at least 14 people over a decade and despite task forces of police, prosecutors and judges, has never been identified.

There were several arrests--in each case the Monster struck again while the person accused of being him was in custody. Fans of U. S. true crime books might be surprised at the casual manner of dealing with crime scenes, evidence chains of custody and witness identification that characterize Italian police procedure, at least as described in this book.

Co-author Mario Spezi is a Florence based journalist who was the authority, the "go to" guy, on the Monster. He had great sources within the police, the prosecutors and the caribineri, skillfully playing one against the other when necessary, often getting tips so that he was not only the first journalist at a new murder scene but often the second person altogether--the first being the cop who was supposed to guard the scene but who often let Spezi examine everything before the detectives and medical examiner arrived. This access was a double-edged sword--Spezi wrote a European best seller about the Monster but was also accused of complicity in one of the sets of murders. Since he knew so much, the thinking went, some of his information must have come from the Monster or people who were close to him.

Preston makes Florence and the Florentines the center of the book--necessary since the murders have yet to be solved so there is no guilty party to concentrate on. The city prides itself not only as the birthplace of the Renaissance in Italy but essentially the cradle of western civilization. There are aristocratic families who claim to trace their ancestry to the Etruscans and who can look down on nobles of Roman lineage as parvenus who didn't arrive until a couple of centuries before Julius Caesar was stabbed at the Forum. Some municipal offices are in barely converted medieval or Renaissance palaces and monastaries and a 17th century Baroque ducal manor used by the city is considered gauche new construction.

The citizens of Florence were as fearful and panicky as any group threatened by evil forces that they couldn't control or even understand. Thousands of tips flooded into the various task forces created at different times, none of which were useful and many of which were insane. Straying husbands, ungrateful sons and domineering fathers were denounced. When twice the police released artist renditions of the Monster a frenzy of hysteria and dread swept the population.

"The Monster of Florence" covers over a decade of frantic work by the Italian authorities who were often working at cross purposes with each other. Preston and Spezi are convinced they know the identity of the Monster, a person who has been a suspect for years but who has never been arrested. They are definitely on the side of the carabineri in the three way struggle over control of the investigation--the other two sides are the public prosecutor's office and the regional police--which makes sense since it was the police and prosecutor who locked up Spezi as a possible accessory. They do a very good job of unpacking some of the Byzantine bureaucracy that, while it exists everywhere, seems particularly arcane in Italy.

There is as much reporting as analysis in the book--Spezi is a journalist on a daily paper--and it never drags. The authors cover a lot of time, space and people and keep things moving. There is a lengthy cast of characters that precedes the main narrative which I didn't have to refer to at all.

An unusual true crime tale, one without the typical resolution of such books--the murder is identified and caught--well written and worth reading.(less)

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07/25/08

Kimberly rated it:

Read in July, 2008

recommends it for: Fans of Jack the Ripper and other such crazy stories.

A strange tale of truth. I have always been attracted to stories of Jack the Ripper and the Boston strangler. Yet I had never heard about this killer in Italy. Spezi is at the center, a journalist for La Nazione at the time of the first murders. The book begins with a background and much of Spezi's experience. the author Preston, then discusses his experience with the telling of Spezi's story.

They become entangled in the government and Politics that is Italy. Between the whisperings...more

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06/24/08

Maggie rated it:

From 1968 to 1985 a serial killer is suspected to have roamed the gorgeous Tuscan landscape, killing as many as eight couples while they made love in cars parked in the rolling countryside. The killer's (or killers') viciousness rivaled that of London's Jack the Ripper, and his crimes inspired Thomas Harris's infamous Hannibal Lecter. And although the slayings would come to an abrupt stop in 1985, the Monster of Florence still enjoys a formidable presence amongst the inhabitants of Florence and ...more From 1968 to 1985 a serial killer is suspected to have roamed the gorgeous Tuscan landscape, killing as many as eight couples while they made love in cars parked in the rolling countryside. The killer's (or killers') viciousness rivaled that of London's Jack the Ripper, and his crimes inspired Thomas Harris's infamous Hannibal Lecter. And although the slayings would come to an abrupt stop in 1985, the Monster of Florence still enjoys a formidable presence amongst the inhabitants of Florence and its outlying areas, as his identity remains undetermined to this day.

Author Douglas Preston moved to Florence with the intention of writing a work of fiction, but after learning that his front yard was the scene of one of the Monster's gruesome murders, he became fascinated with the unsolved case and found he could focus on little else. With the help of journalist Mario Spezi - nicknamed the "Monstrologer" for his expertise in the case - Preston discovered an unbelievable story, one involving real-life monsters, a cast of degenerates, an Internet nutcase, and even a suspected satanic cult.

But the story of the investigation would prove to be as fascinating as the story of the murders themselves, as time and time again the authorities proved they were more interested in using the case for their own personal gain than in justice; thus, they made false accusations, wrongfully imprisoned several innocent people, possibly planted evidence, illegally spied on dissidents, and even went so far as to accuse Mario Spezi of being the Monster after his investigative work and forthcoming book threatened to paint them in an unflattering light. It's as hard to imagine such acts of brutality taking place in the breathtakingly beautiful home of The Renaissance as it is to imagine such investigative incompetence in a supposedly civilized country, however every bit of it is true.

The Monster of Florence is divided into two parts: the first detailing the investigation into the Monster's crimes and identify, and the second chronicling Preston's collaborative work with Spezi and their subsequent indictments for obstruction of justice. Both parts are of equal interest, and, in the vein of In Cold Blood and The Devil in the White City, the whole piece reads like a work of fiction. My biggest criticism (aside from the difficulties I had keeping all the Italian names straight) was that the ending disappoints somewhat, but there's not much else the authors could have done seeing as the crime remains unsolved.

Bottom line: Preston and Spezi have created a meticulously researched, well-written and wholly absorbing book, and it's a must-read if you are at all interested in the true crime genre.(less)

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06/18/08

Jen rated it:

Read in September, 2008

The labrynthine true story of the as-yet-unsolved Monster of Florence serial killings, author Douglas Preston primarily focuses on the police and journalistic investigations that spanned almost half a century. Unfortunately, this work doesn't have the panache or build the suspense that Preston and Child's Agent Pendergast tales have. The story plods along and nearly sinks when discussing the most recent angle of investigations. Admittedly, the Italian Justice system in this case is a Gordian kn...more

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10/17/08

Xysea rated it:

I found this book good at the start, but slightly dry and disappointing. The story is compelling enough be then it meanders off into nowhere, really, and ends with the investigation stalling. So, basically they went through all of that for nothing. Sometimes, real life is stranger than fiction - but in this case, it's probably more boring than fiction would be. At the end of a fictional novel, the killer would have been unmasked and good will have triumphed over evil. In this version, the e...more

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07/04/08

Patty rated it:

Read in July, 2008

Although it started a little slow and it took a while to start keeping all the Italian names straight, this true story reads like the most exciting mystery/thriller. Douglas Preston is an internationally know best-selling author. After spending time in Florence, Italy he learns about "the monster of Florence" and along with a local reporter, decides to write a book about the monster. Along the way both of the authors are accused of being involved in the murders. I'm not spoiling an...more

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09/10/08

Patrick Collins rated it:

Read in August, 2008

recommends it for: true crime lovers

Boy, did I waste money on this best seller. Other than finding out where Thomas Harris stole his story for Hannibal, and who Lector's crimes in Florence were based on, you really have to like true crime police procedurals for this to be as entertaining as advertised. But I worry for that American college student in Perugia (an honor student from Seattle) who's accused of murdering her British roommate after reading the duplicitous nature of Perugia public prosecutor and his reliance on the occul...more

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08/29/08

Lauren rated it:

Read in August, 2008

Although I am not a big reader of true crime, I found this particular book to be gripping – I could not put it down! Preston is a well-known writer of fiction and he applies his considerable talent to the tale at hand. The book moves along at a quick pace, although with all of the suspects, victims, witnesses and law enforcement in this book, I had to keep referring back to the handy “Cast of Secondary Characters” that Preston so thoughtfully provides in the beginning of the book. This ...more

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07/10/08

Amy rated it:

Read in October, 2008

I had high hopes for this one being like The Alienist by Caleb Carr, only set in Florence instead of NY. The story was incredible in that it was a true story of a longtime serial killer, the intricate (and ridiculous) Italian investigation, the involvement of an American writer (Preston), and how various members of the Italian police and law community each vied to manipulate the case to promote their personal careers. It was really engrossing and I read it in one night, but I wasn't so very inve...more

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11/27/08

Becky rated it:

Read in November, 2008

contemp true crime/memoir ........ rating 8/10

I wasn't all that interested in the first half of this book, the part that details the crimes and has Preston and Spezi, an Italian journalist, investigating the subject of the old Florentine murders. They do this for a book basically and as they investigate, gather evidence, conduct interviews, they come to their own conclusions. This half also shows how the police and Italian investigators were desperate to find someone to convict. But ...more

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06/05/09

Kjes rated it:

bookshelves: bio-memoir-adventure

Read in May, 2009

A story of pure evil, that of the serial killer in Florence and Perugia area of Italy in the 80s. Also the story of the chaos of the investigation, the bending of facts to fit someone's probably false theory, of incompetence, and of egos.

The words of a Franciscan monk in regard to the murderer (page 203):

"When I can no longer communicate with speech, I will speak with sickness. My symptoms are given life. These symptoms express the need for my soul to make itself ...more

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01/11/09

Margot Abbott rated it:

Read in November, 2008

Ok, you might have noticed I read a lot of Non-fiction. I especially like true-crime and this one about a horrible serial murder in Florence - yes, Italy - is an exceptional story. Douglas Preston partners with an Italian journalist who started covering the murders back in the 1970's. These murders were similar to those of Zodiac, but went on for years. But part of the reason the guy hasn't been found, if the methods of the Italian cops, legal system and general attitude. If you think Itali...more

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12/19/08

Cheryl rated it:

The Monster of Florence is based on a true story. The story is surrounding numerous killing that took place in Florence, Italy that transpired in the late seventies and early eighties. The killer was dubbed “The Monster of Florence”. By the time the year 1984 had rolled around, the Monster was the most talked about killer in the world. Around the same time, the killer had already killed about seven couples that the police knew about anyways. The killings went on for many years. T...more

The Monster of Florence is based on a true story. The story is surrounding numerous killing that took place in Florence, Italy that transpired in the late seventies and early eighties. The killer was dubbed “The Monster of Florence”. By the time the year 1984 had rolled around, the Monster was the most talked about killer in the world. Around the same time, the killer had already killed about seven couples that the police knew about anyways. The killings went on for many years. The search for the Monster of Florence became one of the longest man hunts.

I have to admit that this is the first time I had ever heard about The Monster of Florence. Having said that, from what I heard about the accounts…I thought that Mario Spezi, a former crime correspondent and then newspaper reporter for La Nazione could be credited as one of the most influential people to help bring to light that Italy had a killer on its hands.

Author, Douglas Preston and his family were living in Italy for a while in the year 2000. This is where Mr. Preston first learned about The Monster of Florence as the olive grove behind the place they were living at, was the site of one of the murders. Douglas became intrigued by this information and seeked to learn all he could about this famous killer. Mr. Preston decided to go right to the source that could help him fill in the blanks…Mario Spezi. Together Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi met and set out to finally find the truth about who really was The Monster of Florence. In doing so, Mario Spezi was accused of involvement in the killings; in addition to Mr. Preston being accused of obstruction of justice, planting evidence and even being an accomplish to murder. Because of this, Mr. Preston can no longer return to Italy.

I listened to the audio version of this book. I have to say that while I found the recounting of this true story to be fascinating…if I had been reading the book, I know that I would not be agreeing with what I am saying now. This is due to Dennis Boutsikaris, who brought to life this story for me. I have always found true crime stories to be interesting. I have even tried reading a few of these types of books. I would find myself skimming over some of the parts in the book; because I would find them almost too much detail and it would start to bore me. I know this probably doesn’t make much sense. I am happy to comment through I have found a new way to enjoy these books in the form of audio books. (less)

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04/28/09

Elizabeth rated it:

Read in April, 2009

Reminiscent of "The City of Angels" (which was about Venice) we learn about corruption and rumor, mystery and wire tapping in the city of Florence. The Monster is a person who killed several couples in their cars in the 1980's. The authors trace the investigations of the murders and ultimately get trapped by the Italian judicial system as accusations turn in their direction! (Spezi is an Italian journalist who I really could feel for--as a librarian I uphold the freedom of writing a...more

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