Who is really THE MONSTER OF FLORENCE?

Florence, Italy, is generally known more for its history, as it is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance. In the 1970s and 1980s, however, a great evil struck fear in the hearts of Florence’s residents with a series of Lover’s Lane type serial murders. An Italian journalist, Mario Spezi followed the murders and the serial killer was dubbed THE MONSTER OF FLORENCE. American author, Douglas Preston moved to Italy in 2000 to work on a book and subsequently Preston and Spezi decided to solve the mystery and write a book. What ensues is perhaps the strangest case you’ll ever read as sometimes the truth is far stranger than fiction….

THE MONSTER OF FLORENCE is divided into two parts, the first half focusing on Spezi’s coverage of the murders with the second half involving Preston’s arrival in Italy. Without a doubt, THE MONSTER OF FLORENCE is simply a must read if only to see just how far injustice really can go. Kudos to Preston and Spezi for not giving up and writing this book despite all the Italian officials attempts to stop it.      

THE MONSTER OF FLORENCE isn’t your typical true crime book by any means. Instead, it is far more about gross injustice and how fear can make people believe even the seemingly ridiculous. If someone had tried to pass THE MONSTER OF FLORENCE off as fiction, they would have been laughed out the door. The sheer idiocy of the claims, the nefarious use for a doorstop stands out in particular, would have made this book a joke. Instead, the sad part is that it is non-fiction and this is perhaps the greatest travesty… that such ridiculous things can still occur in this modern era. Readers can make their own decisions but as for this reviewer, my mouth was hanging open in shock at some of the so-called theories for the murders.

THE MONSTER OF FLORENCE is shocking if only for Preston’s appalling experience with the Italian judicial system. The smooth delivery of the story only emphasizes the horrific and somewhat disturbing and far reaching implications of this case. Highly recommended!

Reviewed by Debbie

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Posted August 2008