Book Recommendation by Alistair Cross: THE MONSTER OF FLORENCE by Douglas Preston

Since reading The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston, it occurs to me that the real monster in question may well be the Italian justice system itself, which, at every turn, willfully fails to uphold its duty and administer justice. I first became aware of this very flawed judicial system during the Amanda Knox case (which Preston also talks about in this book) but I didn’t get to see the real inner “workings” of that system until I read Preston’s book. It was astounding, disgraceful, and actually embarrassing (a Satanic cult did it? Really?) the way Italian law enforcement deflected, denied, and overall abused its power in this case. 

And that’s just the background. Front and center is the monster of Florence himself, who killed sixteen people between 1968 and 1985 in the province of Florence. In this true crime narrative, we see the crimes themselves which Preston pens, as always, with a deft and masterful hand. The style in which he narrates is journalism at its best; it manages to remain fair and objective – a true feat, given that both he and his friend, the Italian reporter Mario Spezi, were at one point named the Monster of Florence during the course of this very absurd “investigation.”

I’m glad Douglas Preston wrote this book. It not only sheds light on the heinous crimes and the political atmosphere that influenced the investigation, but it makes me glad that I live in America where I don’t have to worry about being legally accused of witchcraft and devil-worship for taking an interest in unsolved crimes. That, at least, is some form of justice.

For more, visit Alistair on Bookbub.

Douglas Preston Returns to Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE!

Had a blast, as always, with Douglas Preston on Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE! This time, we discussed the 25th anniversary edition of his book, TALKING TO THE GROUND.  Listen in at: https://www.alistaircross.com/guests

Douglas Preston is the author of thirty-five books, both fiction and nonfiction, twenty-two of which have been New York Times bestsellers, with several reaching the number 1 position. He has worked as an editor at the American Museum of Natural History in New York and taught nonfiction writing at Princeton University. His first novel, RELIC, co-authored with Lincoln Child, was made into a movie by Paramount Pictures, which launched the famed Pendergast series of novels. His recent nonfiction book, THE MONSTER OF FLORENCE, is also in production as a film. His book, THE LOST CITY OF THE MONKEY GOD, tells the true story of the discovery of a prehistoric city in an unexplored valley deep in the Honduran jungle. In addition to books, Preston writes about archaeology and paleontology for the New Yorker, National Geographic, and Smithsonian. He is past co-president of International Thriller Writers and serves on the board of the Authors Guild. He is the recipient of numerous writing awards in the US and Europe, including an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Pomona College.

At Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE! horror authors Tamara Thorne and Alistair Cross talk all things horror with the biggest names in the business. From fiction writers and paranormal investigators to haunted spots and true ghost stories supplied by listeners, Haunted Nights LIVE! features fact, fiction, and that indiscernible gray area in between … so polish your fangs, sharpen your claws, and come take a bite out of the dark side at Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE!

THE MONSTER OF FLORENCE – Douglas Preston joins Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE!

It’s true crime night this Thursday at Thorne & Cross: haunted Nights LIVE!, and we’ll be talking to NYT bestselling author, Douglas Preston about THE MONSTER OF FLORENCE! Listen in at: https://tinyurl.com/y9l72b5w

 

Douglas Preston has published a number of solo novels, including Tyrannosaur Canyon, Blasphemy, and Impact. His recent novel with Lincoln Child, Cold Vengeance, hit #1 on both the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. In the year 2000, Preston moved with his family to Florence, Italy, to write a murder mystery set in Tuscany. Instead of writing the novel, he became fascinated by the story of a serial killer named il Mostro di Firenze, the Monster of Florence. He teamed up with an Italian journalist, Mario Spezi, who was an expert on the case. In 2008 they published a nonfiction book, The Monster of Florence, which was a huge bestseller, spending four months on the New York Times list. The book won journalism awards in both Italy and the United States. It is currently under development as a film.

 

Join the Thorne & Cross newsletter (http://eepurl.com/ckaBrr) for updates, book deals, specials, exclusives, and upcoming guests on Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE! or visit Tamara and Alistair at their websites (tamarathorne.com and alistaircross.com)