Book: The Monster of Florence
Author: Douglas Preston with Mario Spezi
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, Warner Books
ISBN-10: 0446581194
ISBN-13: 978-0446581196
Year: June 10^th, 2008
Pages: 322 

Reviewed By: Kristiana Barber (Calgary Correspondent - Canada) 

There are many things that come to my mind when I think about Italy: art, history, pasta, wine, architecture and, of course, gelato. Florence seems to perfectly embody all of these things. It is a city not only rich in history and culture, but also one who's present remains deeply entrenched in the stories of the past. However there is a darker side to Florence, amidst the Duomo and the David, which contradicts the cities often light-hearted and romantic reputation.

In the novel The Monster of Florence author Douglas Preston and friend Mario Spezi highlight this side of Florence as they explore the mystery of one of Italy's most notorious serial killers. Nicknamed the Monster of Florence by Spezi himself, the killer terrorizes the Tuscan countryside for decades with gruesome violence and murder. Although this serial killer case is perhaps less known than other more famous cases from other parts of the globe, it is not a new topic to the publishing world. Many books have been written regarding theories and investigations into the identity of the killer and Preston and Spezi themselves have already penned a previous book on the topic. This one, however, follows not only the history of the crimes, but the effects they have had on everyone involved, including the authors and their families. 

Part one chronicles the story of Mario Spezi, an Italian journalist with expertise covering the Tuscan crime beat. Spezi has a reputation as being one of the most clever and determined crime reporters in Tuscany and he proves this reputation to be accurate as the killer's victims begin to be discovered. With each victim Spezi finds himself more and more ingrained in the case, becoming one of the top journalists covering the investigation and even determining his own theories on the killers' identity.

Part two of the book is the story of author Douglas Preston, a journalist and murder mystery writer who has moved with his family to Florence to research and write his next book. In an effort to get acquainted with Italian police procedure Preston meets with veteran crime reporter Mario Spezi, and his journey into the dark side of Florence. Preston is intrigued by this real life mystery and together with Spezi starts a search for the truth. However along the way the pair discover that there are many conflicting forces both motivating and hindering the investigation of the killer, and soon they find themselves more closely tied to the crimes of the past then they would ever have imagined.

The Monster of Florence is a captivating read for those who enjoy the mystery and crime genre. It is however, not for the faint of heart as the crimes detailed are a gruesome description of the brutality and horror present in humanity. Not only are the actions of the serial killer hard to stomach, but at times the actions of those involved in the search for the killer are disturbing as well. The novel provides the reader with a glimpse into an often chaotic justice system where the victims seem to have been lost to people motivated by personal vendettas and the gain of wealth, prestige and power. It is a book not just about the grisly details of a serial killers rampage but about the web of people affected by such crimes long after they have been committed. It is a fascinating novel perfect for anyone with an interest in mystery.