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| The Monster of Florence | 
 enlarge | Author: Douglas Preston
Creator: Mario Spezi
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Category: Book
List Price: $25.99
Buy Used: $7.50
You Save: $18.49 (71%)
New (52) Used (41) Collectible (9) from $7.50
Avg. Customer Rating:  105 reviews
Sales Rank: 4010
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 336
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 5.7 x 1.2
ISBN: 0446581194
Dewey Decimal Number: 363.1523
EAN: 9780446581196
ASIN: 0446581194
Publication Date: June 10, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Unfocused and often dull view of a murder case September 30, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
In reading this book I can't tell if Mr. Preston's goal was to tell the story of the Monster of Florence or his and Mr. Spezi's run in's with the Italian authorities over this case. Either way the result is a work that is very muddled and in many aspects is dull and confusing. The story lacks clear structure and does not leave the reader with any feeling that anything has been resolved or if there is a final confusion.
At the end of this book we are clear of two things. First we have no idea who the monster really is and if it is a conspiracy as the latest theory seems to be reaching out at. Secondly, the Italian legal system is seem as totally incompetent and more interested in protecting key players then in justice. Either way this is book does not tell a story worth reading.
Terrifying, but not in the way you think September 29, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
In terms of writing this is, as someone else noted, journalistic rather than richly written. But the most terrifying thing in it is not the serial killer, but the Kafkaesque mindsets of the police and public of Tuscany. It gets more and more frightening as you go on, and not because you fear the serial killer, but because you think you are beginning to lose your sanity.
 Wonderful Tale September 28, 2008
This book has everything and more that a crime story should have, objectivity, irony, tension, unexpected turns, etc.
Well written and a engaging story of a serial murderer who keeps on killing not through his wiles and intellect but through the abominable incompetence of Italian law enforcement.
The book is populated with a host of characters that could have stepped out of one of Fellini's films, over inflated public officials, a village idiot or two, legitimate nutters who the authorities give currency to as they support their investigative theories which like water have sought and found a path of least resistant and flows along an idiotic course developing an over arching super conspiracy that would be too stupid for a comic book.
The book also nicely juxtaposition the popular vision of the idyllic Florentine environs by illustrating that at least in part they are inhabited by a significant number of wacked out inbreds with attendant sexual peculiarities that make their Appalachian counterparts seem tame in comparison.
A Great Mystery of Our Time September 24, 2008
This was not only an entertaining read but also brought back some intriguing memories of my youth.
During the 1970s, before marrying, my bride to be and I did the obligatory camping holiday around Europe. One of our best memories was sitting alone together in the hills, under the stars and entertained by fireflies, as we gazed down on the gorgeous Duomo in Florence. Little did we know that during the same period a serial killer was murdering young couples doing just that!
The story generally flows easily and the writer holds your interest as only a trained journalist can with a great story. It slows in a few places but just as you thinks it's lost momentum Preston adds a new twist. My only challenge was keeping track of all the various Italian surnames. It certainly provides food for thought - especially before your next trip to Florence. No hints about the ending of this true story but in light of recent events in Italy the approach of the police and newspapers will all start to make sense. Be afraid, be very afraid......
 True Crime isn't Always Riveting September 22, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
As a great fan of the Preston and Childs' work, I find it difficult to report only a mediocre review, but here it is, in brief form.
This story is written in two pieces: one telling of the history of a serial murders taking place in Florence, the other the personal story of Preston and co-author Mario Spezi while investigating the murders. The topic to any mystery enthusiast is fascinating. The problem here is the murders were never solved, with any certainty. THat poses a problem, obviously with the authors as well, as you can sense the difficulty they had finishing the book for publication. Preston cites this and the lingering unsatisfaction left when reading this accounting of this ugly piece of Italian modern history.
If you are a fan or true crime, you will find the tale compelling. In fact, the description of the case and the subsequent tribulations of our two authors is exciting. Without providing spoilers, you follow the murders, not through proper chronology, but via discovery - just as our 'investigators' did. The story transcends from a mystery investigation, full of twists, turns, and hypotheses; into web of conspiracy and subterfuge. The problem is, the story stalls once the focus leaves the murder investigation and becomes that of Spezi and Prestons' fight against the unscrupulous Italian investigators, themselves. It never really survives the jump from the investigation to the personal conflict of the authors, as the story never gets back to the resolution of the murder! When the attempted persecution of the authors abates, the story quickly wraps up with an unsatisying, cursory-level explanation of how the situation remained at book ending. The reason to why this occurs is obvious, but it begs for a final edition!
Finally, I found the read worthwhile, as the murders and locale are quite interesting, however, be prepared to be denied the satisfaction of a convincing opinion of the murderer's identity. How unrewarding!
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