The Monster of Florence
Read the true story that inspired the hit Netflix series! Douglas Preston, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Lost City of the Monkey God, presents a gripping account of crime and punishment in the lush hills surrounding Florence as he seeks to uncover one of the most infamous figures in Italian history. In 2000, Douglas Preston fulfilled a dream to move his family to Italy. Then he discovered that the olive grove in front of their 14th century farmhouse had been the scene of the most infamous double-murders in Italian history, committed by a serial killer known as the Monster of Florence. Preston, intrigued, meets Italian investigative journalist Mario Spezi to learn more. This is the true story of their search for--and identification of--the man they believe committed the crimes, and their chilling interview with him. And then, in a strange twist of fate, Preston and Spezi themselves become targets of the police investigation. Preston has his phone tapped, is interrogated, and told to leave the country. Spezi fares worse: he is thrown into Italy's grim Capanne prison, accused of being the Monster of Florence himself. Like one of Preston's thrillers, The Monster of Florence, tells a remarkable and harrowing story involving murder, mutilation, and suicide-and at the center of it, Preston and Spezi, caught in a bizarre prosecutorial vendetta.
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Community Reviews
Although thorough research was carried out and investigations into the crimes were real, The Monster of Florence is presented as a work of fiction. For the first couple of chapters the writing feels corny, until you settle into the rhythm of the story, which is fast paced and complex. As more characters are introduced, you realise how tightly entwined their stories are and how the history of Florence plays its part in the horrific crimes. The book is split into two parts, the first involving the history, the murders, and the investigation; the final part turns to focus on the author and police investigators. This isn't a simple case of a serial killer on the loose, this is a complex mystery involving murder, mutilation, betrayal, and suicide.
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