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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 first half of the book reads like a stra ...more
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 first half of the book reads like a stra ...more
On June 7, 1981, the morning of my third birthday, Mario Spezi recieved the phone call that would alter his life, make his career as a journalist, and begin the inquiry into the long and strange case of The Monster of Florence.
When my husband and I honeymooned in Italy, less than three weeks after Douglas Preston arrived in Florence, we had never heard of Il Mostro di Firenze. Now, I will never forget about it.
The first half of The Monster of Florence details the crimes of the Monster, sixteen m ...more
When my husband and I honeymooned in Italy, less than three weeks after Douglas Preston arrived in Florence, we had never heard of Il Mostro di Firenze. Now, I will never forget about it.
The first half of The Monster of Florence details the crimes of the Monster, sixteen m ...more
3.5 stars; overall, a fairly good read regarding the serial killer in Italy known as the monster of Florence. It's a pity how inept police work and a corrupt Italian criminal justice system led to the inability of the killer to be found. He remains unknown to this day.
Rule to live by - don't get in trouble in Italy. ...more
Rule to live by - don't get in trouble in Italy. ...more
That premise was so intriguing and it delivered. I learned a lot about Italy.
Douglas Preston is living in Italy to write a fiction book when he meets Mario Spetzi who is an expert on a series of serial murders that took place in Florence in the 1970's and 1980's. The description of the case is interesting. Preston then becomes enmeshed in the current day investigation of the case and even ends up being questioned by the Italian police in connection to the crimes.
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I think the real monster is the Italian justice system
A story so wild, so outlandish, so indubitably Italian that it could only be true - great suspense courtesy of Preston and Spezi's reportage gives the needed heft. I love putting this story against Donna Leon's Brunetti series, because they both hit on what distinguishes Italy from other countries even as we think of it as a dream vacation destination. A must-read for anyone interested in Italian culture.
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Apr 22, 2009
Tracyene
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Sep 26, 2012
Deedee
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Jun 23, 2013
Enthu_Kidlets
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Aug 16, 2014
Katy
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Aug 31, 2014
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Nov 08, 2015
Ginger
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