A review by chaosisaconcept
Vuglar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History by Maureen Orth

2.0

I wanted so badly to love this book, I really did. I've known about this case for decades, I grew up in the Gold Coast and Lee Miglin's murder is neighborhood lore. I was so disappointed.

This book is very much a product of when it was written. 1999 wasn't exactly a time when Cunanan's crimes might be viewed through a nuanced lens, but Maureen Orth uses "gay" as a descriptor the way another author might use "tall" or "short" or "man" or "woman". A softball league? It's a gay softball league. A friend? A gay friend. She presents herself as a cross between some sort of crusading warrior for victim's families who is the only one who fix the mistakes the police made and bring justice and also the Jane Goodall of the Gays. She makes broad statements about the gay population of San Francisco, South Beach, and the world in general.

I would like to see her revisit this story through a modern lens, because she does have a lot of important first person information and had a lot of access to key players.