The Monster of Florence: A True Story by Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi has to be one of the most riveting books I have ever read. Douglas Preston is a successful crime novel writer, but this book is a very real account of Preston’s first hand experiences while researching a string of unsolved murder stretching over nearly 20 years. I enjoyed this book because it gives in depth detail about so many parts of Italy: their culture, their justice systems, and the prevailing philosophy of life. At the same time, Preston meticulously lays out all the evidence and retraces the genesis of a depraved killer, and there are some moments where I literally could not stop reading, especially toward the book’s finale. I would recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed nonfiction crime books like Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood or Roberto Saviano’s Gomorrah, or anyone who is interested in learning more about Italy’s equally complex society and legal system.