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Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 364.1523
EAN num: 9780446581196
ISBN number: 0446581194
Label: Grand Central Publishing
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 336
Printing Date: June 10, 2008
Publishing house: Grand Central Publishing
Release Date: June 10, 2008
Sale Popularity Level: 249
Studio: Grand Central Publishing
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
In the nonfiction tradition of John Berendt ('Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil') and Erik Larson ('The Devil in the White City'), New York Times bestselling author Douglas Preston presents a gripping account of crime and punishment in the lush hills surrounding Florence, Italy.
In 2000, Douglas Preston fulfilled a dream to move his family to Italy. Then he discovered that the olive grove in front of their 14th century farmhouse had been the scene of the most infamous double-murders in Italian history, committed by a serial killer known as the Monster of Florence. Preston, intrigued, meets Italian investigative journalist Mario Spezi to learn more. This is the true story of their search for--and identification of--the man they believe committed the crimes, and their chilling interview with him. And then, in a strange twist of fate, Preston and Spezi themselves become targets of the police investigation. Preston has his phone tapped, is interrogated, and told to leave the country. Spezi fares worse: he is thrown into Italy's grim Capanne prison, accused of being the Monster of Florence himself. Like one of Preston's thrillers, The Monster Of Florence, tells a remarkable and harrowing story involving murder, mutilation, and suicide-and at the center of it, Preston and Spezi, caught in a bizarre prosecutorial vendetta.
Amazon.com:
Amazon Best of the Month, June 2008: When author Douglas Preston moved his family to Florence he never expected he would soon become obsessed and entwined in a horrific crime story whose true-life details rivaled the plots of his own bestselling thrillers. While researching his subsequent book, Preston met Mario Spezi, an Italian journalist who told him about the Monster of Florence, Italy's answer to Jack the Ripper, a terror who stalked lovers' lanes in the Italian countryside. The killer would strike at the most intimate time, leaving mutilated corpses in his bloody wake over a period from 1968 to 1985. One of these crimes had taken place in an olive grove on the property of Preston's new home. That was enough for him to join 'Monsterologist' Spezi on a quest to name the killer, or killers, and bring closure to these unsolved crimes. Local theories and accusations flourished: the killer was a cuckolded husband; a local aristocrat; a physician or butcher, someone well-versed with knives; a satanic cult. Thomas Harris even dipped into 'Monster' lore for some of Hannibal Lecter's more Grand Guignol moments in Hannibal. Add to this a paranoid police force more concerned with saving face and naming a suspect (any suspect) than with assessing the often conflicting evidence on hand, and an unbelievable twist that finds both authors charged with obstructing justice, with Spezi jailed on suspicion of being the Monster himself. The Monster of Florence is split into two sections: the very first half is Spezi's story, with the latter bringing in Preston's updated involvement on the case. Together these two parts create a dark and fascinating descent into a landscape of horror that deserves to be shelved between In Cold Blood and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. --Brad Thomas Parsons
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers -
"The Story of Edgar Sawtelle".......David Wroblewski
This is a saute of Jack London, J K Rowling and O Henry and I'm only 85%
through. I may have to change my mind, but don't wait for me.If you were once a boy (or what used to be called a tom-boy) who had a dog(s) who you really loved, you will recognise through moist eyes in some situations, what the author is writing about.
You'll find some descriptive portions that suffer from identification problems, but just overlook them and keep reading.
It's worth it.
I hope his subsequent book is quicker, doesn't require as much re-writing and pain.
RS Lappin
Rated by buyers 
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If you're interested in detective novels, foreign intrigue and the differences between American and Italian approaches to highly publicized serial murder investigations, this book is a must-buy! Having been stationed in Italy for over 5 years, I was especially drawn into the culture, scenery, and Italian life-style which served as an excellent back-drop and subplot to the main novel.
The author does an outstanding job of following an amazingly complicated case through decades of investigations. Great suspense, wonderful character development, and exceptionally well-written novel. I purchased this book as the result of a great recommendation of a friend, and I loved it!
Rated by buyers -
Why? Because it's just too strange and fiction has to be believable. This was not believable, but naturally, true. I'm a big lover of Ann Rule, but I think the reason I don't give this a five star is perhaps just culture differences. When the author began speaking of the people, all out at night, watching what goes on in cars -- as if this is normal behavior, well, is it any wonder the police were so inept? It's an amazing story, but it was very graphic (naturally, the crimes were horrific) and I found myself without the need to finish the book. (I did though, it was too expensive not to.)
I do think the author is an amazing writer, but I think the concept was just too hard for me, as a typical American, to grasp.
Rated by buyers -
I won't get into this in great detail. I will just say this book shocked me into wondering if I would ever feel comfortable even visiting Italy. The incompetence of the police investigation coupled with it's leader's vengeful attitude is truly alarming. Another reviewer from Italy said they have one of the best police departments in the world? Sorry, but even if you disagree with this book or dislike the writing style it is unavoidable to conclude the system is failed. People jailed for YEARS without a trial and some not being allowed to even know what charges are against them? Horrible. As a side note, my country (the US) isn't any better considering the Guantanamo issue.
Rated by buyers 
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Monster Florence is really two books in one.
1. We learn the facts surrounding the original Monster of Florence killings. The methods, the suspects the whole investigation.
2. Douglas Preston & Mario Spezi parade the injustices, vindictivness, non-objectiveness, amatuer practices and the Wild Goose Chase that the Monster case degrades into. At no point is there any actual evidence used to prosecute someone, it is all circumstantial.
The very first half is very good, but the 2nd on the other hand, gets a bit repetitive in theme. Italian Judicial System bad, Mario Spezi & Douglas Preston good. I mean that is what happened, but after 150 pages of it, it gets old.
One other thing, if you do read this account, you will understand how the Italians would not like this book to be published, they look like morons, trust me. Just by allowing the idea of Medieval Satanic Cults and high level cover ups to be entertained by law enforcement, let alone to acutally be reasons for indictments & arrests is embarrasing to say the least.
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