There is a serial killer in Florence that is targeting young couples and hysteria breaks out as law enforcement scrambles to find the killer. I appreciated that the author does not dwell on the gory details, but rather, focuses in on the process of apprehending the murderer. It is not to say that details of the murders are not discussed because it is important to establish why these crimes are particularly monstrous, however, it wasn’t overly detailed or excessive. In fact, this book is just as much about what happens when ego and personal agendas get in the way of a criminal investigation as it is about the murderer himself.
There are some really unsavory characters but I suppose when leaving no stone unturned you’re bound to uncover quite a few worms. Many of the falsely accused are not exactly innocent but not guilty of being ‘the monster’. However, the public hysteria does turn on some innocent men and it results in suicide in one tragic case. Preston himself is even accused of interfering with the case and taken in for questioning and some believe that Spezi is the murderer. The craziness and confusion surrounding the case is captured superbly.
The Italian landscape is also expertly described and it is so hard to believe that such ugliness could occur in a place so cultured and beautiful. It is a must read for anyone even remotely interested in true crime or thrillers, however, the quality of writing should appeal to many other readers as well.