The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi
Reviewed by: Sarah Baker, Circulation
Genre: Nonfiction, True Crime
Suggested Age: Adults
What is the book about?: In the 70s and 80s, a serial killer stalked the hills around Florence, Italy. He targeted young lovers in their cars, killing them both before mutilating the women. The case remained unsolved, but not forgotten. Douglas Preston, an American author, meets Mario Spezi, a respected Florentine journalist, who has been tracking this case since the first killing. Spezi presents the history – the false accusations, the theories that couldn’t fully be proven, the competition between the police and the Carabinieri (the Italian military police) – and then gives his theories. The two set about trying to follow the twisting leads. But there are those who do not appreciate the interference of the journalists, and have the power to stop them.
My Review: This book caught my eye, and piqued my interest right away. Fans of Hannibal Lecter will recognize the source material – Thomas Harris worked this into Hannibal’s backstory. It’s a tragic tale, that’s complicated by the Italian justice system and conspiracy theories. The book is well paced, with short chapters that allow for quick reads and easy stopping points. But the tale itself is hard to stop. This case is stranger than fiction, and will stay with you.
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!