A review by bookosaurusrawr
Death in the City of Light: The Serial Killer of Nazi-Occupied Paris by David King

3.0

A gripping true crime unlike any I have previously read. The trouble with writing on true crimes is that you often have to be careful of how much you reveal so you do not lose your audience. Often, authors with go off on tangents with little to do about the crime, victims or perpetrator that leave you bored. King's anecdotes are either relevant to the case or examples of the kind of French attitude towards wartime Occupation or shed some light on how horrified the public was to learn of Dr. Petiot's crimes. I found the considerable amount of text relaying the trial to be very enlightens regarding due process in French law. Everything was like a circus to this man who felt his only crime was being apprehended. I wanted to give more stars to this one, because it really is a good read, but there is little "new" evidence or resolution for the victims though King does hold Prosecutors responsible for not following up on key evidence and testimony. He makes no appeal for Dr. Petiot's case and even goes through great pains of citing his psychiatric examinations over the course of his life and their implications in the trial. Overall, this was a very well written book.