True Crime Under the Tuscan Night
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As a rule, I don't care for serial killer books or films -- they just don't interest me the way "regular" crime stories do. Common motivations such as jealousy and greed, when handled well, can be more than powerful enough to sustain a character or drive a plot. The twisted psychoses of serial killers just don't do it for me. That said, this nonfiction account of a real life serial killer in Italy, and the investigation that followed in his wake, makes for some very compelling reading. The reason has far less to do with the killer's grisly trail of bodies, than it does with the crazy ins and outs of the investigation and how the authors end up on the wrong end of it all.
Preston is a bestselling thriller writer who moved to Italy to research and write a novel revolving around great flood that struck Florence in 1966. By chance, he learned that an olive grove adjacent to the farmhouse he rented was the site of one of the crimes performed by a notorious serial killer. Intrigued, he met the veteran Italian crime journalist who would become his collaborator on this book, and started to learn everything he could about the case. And with a series of killings stretching from 1968-85, there was a lot to learn. Fortunately, Preston does a pretty good job of untangling the case and laying it out for the reader (albeit, with some repetitions).
What many readers will find extremely interesting is the relatively insulated nature of the Italian justice system, and how in this case, insulation from external oversight led to some absolutely colossal failures of investigation, not to mention outright corruption. Those with an interest in Italy may find some rather interesting insights into Italian national character along the way, such as the concept of saving face and the notion that it is vital to be "in the know" or "savvy" (which means not taking anything at surface value, no matter how plausible it may be). Some of these characteristics are what lead to Preston and Spetzi becoming targets of the serial killer investigation, leading the entire story into Kafkaesque farce. (At times, Preston goes a little overboard in describing his own fear of being prosecuted, especially when some of problems are of his own making. For example, if the police in a foreign country say that you have a right to have an interpreter and a lawyer present at your questioning, take them up on it!)
Ultimately, some readers may be somewhat frustrated by the lack of a clear "solution" or resolution to the crimes -- although the authors do point a very plausible finger at one man. And some aspects of the situation aren't very well explained -- such as why the Italian media would sometimes have an insatiable appetite for anything relating to the case, and other times appear not care. Finally, at times, the ineptitude of the Italian cops and prosecutors is so extreme that it strains credulity Nonetheless, this remains a fascinating true crime book, and one that will severely tax any reader's romantic notions of Tuscany.
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Florence and its monsters
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For many people and certainly not just Italians, Florence is the centre of Italy. It brought us the Renaissance, the powerful landed families who created commerce so widely and, of course, it brought the now familiar Italian language.
Deep in its beautiful countryside, it also brought us the Monster of Florence, a serial killer on the loose since the sixties and the multiple killer of at least 16 young people.
The two authors were intrigued enough to try to investigate each murder and to learn the identity of the killer. That they, too, like several other local men, finished up in prison accused of - more or less - being the Monstro or, at worst, aiding and abetting him whilst hindering the investigation, shows only too well how utterly beffuddled were the Italian authorities. (It indicates the general attitude of the authorities that, even as certain suspects were in prison accused of these crimes, the killings continued - but the initial suspects were not released until much later!)
The book is very well researched and the authors have created a thorough investigation which reads well - certainly well enough for the reader to want to learn whodunnit. Alas and it's no secret, the case continues though the killings have stopped.
The truth is out there but it would seem that is where it will stay. Regrettably, some of those incompetent authorities are still in office and it does not auger well for the outcome of a very well publicized killing in that area recently, that one of the leading men is in charge of that procedural investigation.
The Monster of Florence could well be dead now. Certainly the killings stopped at a time when one likely suspect was released without trial for that crime and has since disappeared.
But, if you like your crime thrillers to have a definitive ending, you won't find it here. You will find an excellent book, an excellent story of investigation, a plethora of likely suspects, incompetent authorities and a whole lot more. It could, thankfully, probably only happen in Italy.
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