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jobustitch's review against another edition
4.0
I really only picked up this book because it was a true crime book, but was plesantly suprised at the slice of Italian life it portrayed. I found the glimpse into the Tuscan psyche really fascinating, even more fascinating than the crimes themselves. Well done!
mrs_tea's review against another edition
3.0
Im not much for true crime novels, but the Monster of Florence pulled me in.
angela_juniper's review
Tried to get into it… just too long and winding of a story. I wish it were edited down some and easier to follow.
honnari_hannya's review against another edition
4.0
It might be strange to call a book about a serial killer investigation fun, but the way Douglas Preston told this incredibly twisty story cannot be described in any other way.
Part-true crime, part-memoir, The Monster of Florence begins with an author's search for inspiration in order to write his latest crime novel, only to become a suspect in the very case he is investigating. It sounds so ridiculously tropey that it couldn't possibly be true, and yet!
This book was structured incredibly well: From the investigative journalism that lays out the history of the serial murders and the case for each suspect, which eventually converge upon Preston and his co-author/co-investigator, Mario Spezi. The book tells you upfront where these lines of inquiry end up, and so I kept trying to anticipate how the twists of this story would play out, almost as if I were reading a work of fiction.
Beyond that, this story is also an indictment against police corruption and the justice system, as well as the importance of free speech when it comes to sussing out the truth. Sadly, these seem to be opposed to one another more often than not1312, as Preston and Spezi can probably attest to after this experience.
Also super interesting to find out this case's connection to the Hannibal franchise! That was a delight.
Part-true crime, part-memoir, The Monster of Florence begins with an author's search for inspiration in order to write his latest crime novel, only to become a suspect in the very case he is investigating. It sounds so ridiculously tropey that it couldn't possibly be true, and yet!
This book was structured incredibly well: From the investigative journalism that lays out the history of the serial murders and the case for each suspect, which eventually converge upon Preston and his co-author/co-investigator, Mario Spezi. The book tells you upfront where these lines of inquiry end up, and so I kept trying to anticipate how the twists of this story would play out, almost as if I were reading a work of fiction.
Beyond that, this story is also an indictment against police corruption and the justice system, as well as the importance of free speech when it comes to sussing out the truth. Sadly, these seem to be opposed to one another more often than not
Also super interesting to find out this case's connection to the Hannibal franchise! That was a delight.
gmd316's review
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
3.0
I love douglas preston but this felt long and droning and could be hard to follow on audio.
kellyfrecca's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75