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221bbaker |
3.0 / 5
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Wow...after just finishing the book I'm trying to figure it all out. The catalyst for reading to the end of the book was to actually find out who the monster was, but alas, after I finished the last page I still did not know.
You should know that the book is not a murder mystery, but rather insight into the Italian culture and ineptitude of the Italian police and judiciary system. There are so many aspects to the crime that the sequencing in itself was difficult to follow. And the characters abound; with similar sounding names I had to refer back to the Cast of Characters every few pages to remember who was who.
I enjoyed the author's writing style; his descriptions of the countryside as well as the courtrooms and the characters allow the reader to feel a part of the Italian scene. However, I think more editing could have been done to reduce the insignificant details about his personal life and unrelated elements.
Overall, I learned many things from reading this book, but there was a true lack of flow and, in fact, not any way for the reader to get personal with the text. It lacked emotion, but if you have the time and don't mind not knowing "whodunnit," then perhaps this book will help you bide your time.
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B. J. Bernstein |
5.0 / 5
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This is an extremely enjoyable,if horrifying, example of truth-is-stranger-than-fiction. Fortunately the horrific tale is made more palatable by several appealing characters, and some villains whose motives are laid bare in convincing fashion. A number of reviewers complained about the lack of resolution - to me this was part of the poignance of the tangled tale of frustrated justice. It is probably most interesting to those who have visited Florence, or at least Italy. The author's love of Italian culture is evident, though he is critical of aspects of Italian society. The exploration of the role of "face" in the Italian justice system, and description of high level and supposedly professional prosecutors being snookered by an outlandish and absurd conspiracy theory are thought provoking indeed.
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Courtnay Gac |
5.0 / 5
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I literally could not put this book down. I really didn't read any reviews before beginning this book, and I started reading thinking that the book was about a serial killer. I have always been fascinated by the investigations of serial killers, from Jack the Ripper to the Zodiac, so this seemed right up my alley.
The first third or more of the book is mostly focused on the initial investigation into the killings and theories about who the killer could be, but then the book starts to focus on those investigating the killer instead of focusing solely on finding the identity of the killer. While this might seem like it would weaken the book or make it confusing to read, it actually becomes that much more fascinating. The authors relate more about all the people beyond the victims that the Monster of Florence touched, also revealing the corruption or at the very least the ridiculous methods and theories used by those who should have approached the case with an open mind.
At times, the methods used and theories proposed by the investigators read more like something out of another century of from a novel. I had to keep reminding myself that most of these events occurred within the past ten years. Half of the book is written from the authors' points of view, so I have to account for the fact that they are certainly biased to a certain point. However, if even half of what the authors are accounting is true, it is completely horrifying and puts into context the recent evens surrounding the incarceration of Amanda Knox.
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Matthew Schiariti |
5.0 / 5
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Even as I sit here and write this review, I have to shake my head at the events chronicled by Douglas Preston. First off, I had NO idea that he'd gone through any of this. I came upon this book by accident. Normally I don't read non-fiction, but it came up on a recommendations list and after reading the book desription here on Amazon, I had to get the book right away. And I'm glad I did!
If Preston didn't tell me that this book was a true story, I would swear that he made it up. Not the crimes of the actual Monster of Florence, mind you, but how the police handled the case as well as the Italian Legal system. And this is all before the book even touches on what Preston and Spezi go through in the aftermath!
There's really nothing I can say (without spoilers of course) about the book that's not touched on by the Amazon description, but this truly is a case of the truth being much stranger than fiction. I understand that Italy's a different culture, but I'd always assumed them to be a fairly modern democracy. This book definetly teaches me otherwise. Never had I heard a tale of such ineptitude and abuse of power.
Really an amazing read. It reads like a murder mystery and that's what it is. It just happens to be a work of NON-fiction. I just couldn't put it down.
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Curt Rowlett |
4.0 / 5
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After I began reading this book, I soon realized that it was basically just a fleshed-out version of a 2006 Atlantic Monthly article written by author Douglas Preston about the Monster of Florence case.
While both that article and the book are very well written, you really do not learn anything new about the case other than to read in-depth details about the numerous whacky Italian prosecutors who became involved in the case, along with details of the harsh interrogation of Preston, and the subsequent illegal arrest of coauthor Spezi, an Italian journalist of much renown.
I must also warn readers that the cast of characters found inside is amazingly complex and often times one has a very hard time keeping up with who is who in the narrative. The authors do provide a list of characters in the beginning pages of the book and I found myself referring to it frequently.
That small bit of negative criticism aside, I must say that I still thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was quite amazing to learn just how badly the Italian police and other law enforcement officials muddled up this case, almost to the point that it is probably now beyond redemption.
And one prosecutor, Giuliano Mignini, even went so far as to give credence to the ravings of Gabriella Carlizzi, a paranoid Italian conspiracy theorist who believes that a Satanic cult, with connections to the highest levels of Italian society, is responsible for the murders. (And sadly, Mignini, is now in charge of prosecuting American exchange student Amanda Knox for the murder of British exchange student Meredith Kercher. Mignini also believes that a Satanic ritual was behind that murder, again, due to the influence of Carlizzi, who claims that Meredith's murder was ordered by a Satanic sect called the Order of the Red Rose, one which she claims that both Meredith and Amanda belonged to).
It is quite obvious that Preston and Spezi's theory is the correct one, i.e., that the Monster of Florence murders were committed by a lone psychopath. The FBI worked up a profile of the killer and suggested that very thing. And the history of serial killers shows that most of them operate alone.
This book is certainly the most objective treatment of the Monster of Florence case and I came away believing that if anyone is ever going to solve these murders, it will be Preston and Spezi. Bravo.
Curt Rowlett,
Author of Labyrinth13
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Bradley Nelson |
5.0 / 5
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The story of the Monster of Florence is fascinating as it is, especially given that the serial killer has still never officially been found. In the first part of the book, the author describes the brutal murders carried out by the Monster. Twelve (or fourteen) dead bodies, lovers killed in the night in Florence, Italy. Gruesome, disturbing, and yet fascinating. Equally interesting is the Clouseau-like police work as two different police agencies try to solve the murders.
The second half of the book details the author's attempts to research the murders twenty years later. His findings conflict with the still-on-going investigation, which has begun to turn conspiratorial, delving into the mystic and the occult. The last 1/3 of the book, I had an anxious knot in my stomach, trying to read as quickly as I could to find out just how this maddening tale would end!
This book will fascinate and entertain, but it will also make you frustrated and on edge. It's a quick, easy read and well worth it. My only complaint is that there are occasionally brief tangents to describe Renaissance art or architecture, which only delay the story. Highly recommended book!
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Ethics Prof |
3.0 / 5
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I'm a huge Agent Pendergast fan, so I eagerly purchase anything written by Child and/or Preston. This one, however, is just OK. It's not horrible, but it's also not a page turner like their novels. This gets bogged down in a lot of detail and a zillion names - you need a score card to keep track of all of the "characters" who walk in and out of the action. No doubt, it is a fascinating story - truth is surely stranger than fiction. What I will remember most is the absolute dysfunction of the Italian legal/judicial system - which is one thing that makes this a weighty read. Last night, I did something I have never done with one of Preston's or Child's books. Although I had another third of the book to read, I skipped to the end, read the last few pages, and I moved on to another book.
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L. A. Vitale |
5.0 / 5
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"The Monster of Florence" is a fabulous gem of nonfiction writing! I read this book over the past weekend and could hardly put it down because the writing and storyline were completely engrossing & enthralling. This book is truly captivating on so many levels:
* Great writing by both Douglas Preston & Mario Spezi. Spezi, himself, is an Italian journalist considered an expert on the topic of "The Monster of Florence" since he's written about the monster from the beginning.
* The authors seem to have really done their home work on the topic of "The Monster of Florence": From telling us about the murders themselves, police investigations, trials that were more like 3 ring circuses, media attention to the case, and even the police going as far as to arresting Mario Spezi & questioning Douglas Preston!
* This book is well organized & flows nicely throughout with no dull or slow parts of the book. In fact, the book isn't too long or too short, but just right in terms of length. Basically, a tightly written book.
* "The Monster of Florence" reads more like a novel.... Sometimes the facts seem stranger than fiction!! Especially with regards to the lack of competency by the Italian police/criminal investigators and the Italian justice system at large.... It is truly unfathomable at how inept the the criminal investigators & Italian justice system has been in this case....
* I also enjoyed the authors insight into the cultural view points of Italians themselves. Something we don't hear or learn about much.
The crimes of "The Monster of Florence" are gruesome and have gone unresolved by the Italian Government. The authors make a great case as to whom they think the real "The Monster of Florence's" identity really is. I would have to say that with all the information Douglas Preston & Mario Spezi have presented in their book about "The Monster of Florence", I would have to agree with their summation of the serial killer's identity. Surely they are closer to the truth of the matter then the police/investigators are.
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CG |
4.0 / 5
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Anything Douglas Preston writes is going to be good, the question is "how good?" I was entranced from the start - an amazing story and excellent look into Italian culture, politics and police. Having just read "Arthur and George" by Julian Barnes I was concerned that Preston would fall into the same trap Conan Doyle did when personally taking up a case. Is Mario Spezi lying? Would Preston get caught up in it? Preston manages to keep his objectivity and not get too involved. Great read and, as another review said, stranger than fiction.
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Italian girl |
5.0 / 5
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I thought this book was great. Douglas Preston grabbed me and would not let me go until I almost passed out from lack of sleep.
I finished this book in two days.. on my train commute, during my lunch break, in bed at 1 am.. I could not put this book down. To the reviewer who mentions an error between an "embassy" and a "consulate".. who cares???? The book is about a serial killer in Florence, not about the difference between a consulate and an embassy. That being said, my parents are Italian immigrants from Calabria, a southern province of Italy, and let me tell you that what the co-authors experienced is a sad truth about the painfully slow, bureaucratic, Italian judicial system. Somehow, I believed that the Northern provinces did not follow the same archaic path as the South.. but, I was wrong.
I have a million questions I wish I could ask the authors... do they think the killer will ever be found, did this book stir things up???
In boca a lupo a Douglas and Mario.. Mi piace MOLTO..
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