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szeglin's review against another edition
2.0
Copy received through the Goodreads First Reads program.
I had never heard of Dr. Marcel Petoit until I entered this giveaway. I really wanted to like this book. The subject matter has "gripping" written all over it: Serial killers! The French Resistance! Nazis in Paris! And this story was biiiiig news. And not only in France! Author David King even references a story written in The Washington Post about Petoit's trial. Unfortunately, I found the book to be slow going. That's really unfortunate, because Petoit is darkly fascinating.
Much of this book was repetitive, and despite a pretty respectable amount of fascinating details, a lot of the book didn't really seem to go anywhere. Puzzling over the triangular room in Petoit's charnel house, finding out about Petoit's odd behavior, and the victims' stories, which were essentially the same story over and over. Actually, this last one made sense--if Petoit had a system, and it worked, there would be no real reason to deviate. The courtroom scenes were fascinating, but a little confusing. I read in another review that the French court system is different than the American one. I agree it would have been nice to get an overview of that, because I was puzzled, not knowing the differences.
The oddly inserted side material read as forced and nonsensical. Why bother talking about Sartre and Camus when they don't factor into the main thread of the story? Yes, the interweaving of the serial killer and cultural events worked in The Devil in the White City, but it doesn't work here. It doesn't fit the main narrative, and adds nothing.
I feel this book would have been a lot better if it had been organized and streamlined a little better. It really does seem that King was trying to write the second The Devil in the White City, and that is too bad, because it trips the narrative up in some places. The title structure is even the same! Drop the second storyline, and tell the story in a more linear fashion, and there is great potential for a gripping true crime book.
I had never heard of Dr. Marcel Petoit until I entered this giveaway. I really wanted to like this book. The subject matter has "gripping" written all over it: Serial killers! The French Resistance! Nazis in Paris! And this story was biiiiig news. And not only in France! Author David King even references a story written in The Washington Post about Petoit's trial. Unfortunately, I found the book to be slow going. That's really unfortunate, because Petoit is darkly fascinating.
Spoiler
Petoit really was a medical doctor, and apparently pretty generous to those with little means. But was not only a doctor, but a disturbed electricity-stealing former mayor, among other things. And although he was officially accused of murdering 27 people, the real total might have been as high as 150! In addition to being numerous, the aftermath of Petoit's murders was pretty gruesome. It will be hard to erase the mental image of a basement full of bodies dissolving in lime. Although he claimed to be a hero of the Resistance who only "liquidated" members of the Gestapo, in reality many of his victims were Jews who were trying to escape Nazi Europe. Petoit ran a fake escape agency. Instead of getting a ticket to Argentina, would-be émigrés were murdered for profit.Much of this book was repetitive, and despite a pretty respectable amount of fascinating details, a lot of the book didn't really seem to go anywhere. Puzzling over the triangular room in Petoit's charnel house, finding out about Petoit's odd behavior, and the victims' stories, which were essentially the same story over and over. Actually, this last one made sense--if Petoit had a system, and it worked, there would be no real reason to deviate. The courtroom scenes were fascinating, but a little confusing. I read in another review that the French court system is different than the American one. I agree it would have been nice to get an overview of that, because I was puzzled, not knowing the differences.
The oddly inserted side material read as forced and nonsensical. Why bother talking about Sartre and Camus when they don't factor into the main thread of the story? Yes, the interweaving of the serial killer and cultural events worked in The Devil in the White City, but it doesn't work here. It doesn't fit the main narrative, and adds nothing.
I feel this book would have been a lot better if it had been organized and streamlined a little better. It really does seem that King was trying to write the second The Devil in the White City, and that is too bad, because it trips the narrative up in some places. The title structure is even the same! Drop the second storyline, and tell the story in a more linear fashion, and there is great potential for a gripping true crime book.
books4days's review
2.0
A historical true crime nonfiction book about an alleged serial killer in World War II. Very interesting, but the pace of the book was a struggle for me, as the author would relay SO MANY anecdotes that only sometimes related to the main story. The trial part of the book was really exciting and where it picked up for me -- the French legal system in the 1940s is BAFFLING to me! How can you just have so many people YELLING at the SAME TIME while in COURT?! I was not a huge fan of waiting until the last chapter to learn some pretty crucial details, but I think that helped position what was fact vs what was interpretation on the author's part. Excited to discuss this in impromptu COVID-19 book club, as I think others will have interesting perspectives on this.
mrsmdavidson's review
4.0
A very good book. Better organization and a bit more lively of a writing style would have made it a great one.
moirab's review
4.0
Fascinating insight into occupied Paris and the post-war years with a serial killer and his trial at the center of it.
bea_pants's review
4.0
My actual review is somewhere between a 3 and a 4 but I tend to round up for a generally well written book. The story of Dr. Marcel Petiot and his victims was likely overshadowed in the world at large by the end of the Second World War and the ensuing Nuremberg Trials but in Paris it was a media sensation and his trial had almost a carnival-like atmosphere to it.
During the Nazi Occupation of Paris, Dr. Petiot lured in those vulnerable to Nazi persecution with promises of passage out of the occupied territories and into relative safety. Many of his victims were unsavory underworld sorts whom Petiot were later claimed were collaborators (his defense in court was to claim he was working for the French Resistance) but others were simply frightened Jewish families. Though there is no doubt that Dr. Petiot killed at least 27 and as many as 100 persons, there are still many unanswered questions regarding his case. King's book does its best to separate documented facts from rumors which flew freely during this time period.
King's book paints a vivid picture of Paris during the Nazi occupation and it's aftermath. The atmosphere of fear and suspicion allowed a serial killer to murder with impunity and to come very close to getting away with all of it.
During the Nazi Occupation of Paris, Dr. Petiot lured in those vulnerable to Nazi persecution with promises of passage out of the occupied territories and into relative safety. Many of his victims were unsavory underworld sorts whom Petiot were later claimed were collaborators (his defense in court was to claim he was working for the French Resistance) but others were simply frightened Jewish families. Though there is no doubt that Dr. Petiot killed at least 27 and as many as 100 persons, there are still many unanswered questions regarding his case. King's book does its best to separate documented facts from rumors which flew freely during this time period.
King's book paints a vivid picture of Paris during the Nazi occupation and it's aftermath. The atmosphere of fear and suspicion allowed a serial killer to murder with impunity and to come very close to getting away with all of it.
shelfquest's review against another edition
3.0
This was an okay read. I don't feel like there is enough information on what Marcel Petoit actually did or what his motives truly were for a whole book, or a book this long anyway. Much of it is speculation on what probably happened and I'd rather read a book based more on facts. It was interesting enough to read what is known to be true through police reports and investigating but I wouldn't add this to the top of your to-read list.
theojabion's review against another edition
2.0
Honestly, Mr. King’s writing is not for me. The story is so slow because of the unsolicited info-dumping of these characters, but it became good at the 200th page. I did enjoy it, but I will not re-read this in the near future.
jakobmarleymommy's review
4.0
Very interesting read, particularly when learning about the differences in our judicial systems.
lcdthethird's review
3.0
The beginning of the book was so well written I was looking forward to the book and set to lose some sleep. However, soon the book began to list and cover every single aspect of the story in a manner that felt more like a history book than a novel. The story itself is interesting, but if you are looking for a book with the same method of keeping your interest as Devil in the White City then this isn't the book for you.
clairebearrich's review against another edition
4.0
Death in the City of Light is a non-fiction book by David King which details the activities of serial killer Marcel Petiot. He killed at least 27 people (probably more) during the German occupation of France during World War II.
The subject of this book is most definitely a fascinating one, so this review is based almost solely on the way this book is written. The beginning is absolutely fascinating. It talks about the discovery of Petiot’s past, ”death house” used by Petiot and the subsequent police investigation into Petiot’s activities. Call me macabre, but the psychology behind serial killers is absolutely fascinating to me.
The pace slows down and the book gets a little bit less interesting once Petiot is apprehended. Everything gets bogged down in almost irrelevant details and I have to admit I almost stopped reading at this point. The case’s main investigator Commissaire Georges-Victor Massu commits suicide, leaving us without a very likable character (for lack of a better word) to attach ourselves to.
The story picks up once again during Petiot’s trial, where King paints so vivid a picture of the courtroom that you almost feel as you are there. You become angry at the defense, frustrated by the prosecution, and sickened by Marcel Petiot’s twisted mind.
This is an absolutely fascinating case and King does a good job describing the events that took place. It seems that some of this book is irrelevant detail and it is rambling at times. But such an intriguing subject matter makes up for the seemingly useless information.
3.5/5 stars
Book review blog: http://thebookgirlblog.wordpress.com/
The subject of this book is most definitely a fascinating one, so this review is based almost solely on the way this book is written. The beginning is absolutely fascinating. It talks about the discovery of Petiot’s past, ”death house” used by Petiot and the subsequent police investigation into Petiot’s activities. Call me macabre, but the psychology behind serial killers is absolutely fascinating to me.
The pace slows down and the book gets a little bit less interesting once Petiot is apprehended. Everything gets bogged down in almost irrelevant details and I have to admit I almost stopped reading at this point. The case’s main investigator Commissaire Georges-Victor Massu commits suicide, leaving us without a very likable character (for lack of a better word) to attach ourselves to.
The story picks up once again during Petiot’s trial, where King paints so vivid a picture of the courtroom that you almost feel as you are there. You become angry at the defense, frustrated by the prosecution, and sickened by Marcel Petiot’s twisted mind.
This is an absolutely fascinating case and King does a good job describing the events that took place. It seems that some of this book is irrelevant detail and it is rambling at times. But such an intriguing subject matter makes up for the seemingly useless information.
3.5/5 stars
Book review blog: http://thebookgirlblog.wordpress.com/