The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston with Mario Spezi

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

A killer stalked the Florence countryside for nearly two decades, preying on young couples in parked cars. The killer, nicknamed the Monster by Italian journalist Spezi, used the same weapon, ammunition from the same two boxes, and left no incriminating evidence at each murder scene. Italian authorities were baffled; Italian citizens were terrified. When Preston, a best selling mystery/thriller author, moved to Italy in 2000, he met Spezi, whose interest in the Monster case had not waned in the passing years. Together, Preston and Spezi tell the story of the Monster investigation, from the first crime scene Spezi visited in the early 1970s, to the various theories introduced by the authorities. Their quest to discover the Monster of Florence's identity leads both of them into danger from the Italian authorities.

The Monster of Florence , simply put, is a hard book to put down. Preston and Spezi's story brings to light an investigation full of corruption and hidden agendas. Some of the characters in the book are so hard to believe, until I remembered that these characters are in fact real people. It is an amazing story, and one of the best true crime investigative stories I have read. I think I will have to read one of Preston's mysteries soon!

Readers who enjoy this book may also want to try Patricia Cornwell's Portrait of a Killer. Cornwell, also a well known mystery/thriller author, conducted her own investigation into the murders attributed to Jack the Ripper and came to a very interesting conclusion.

Reviewed by Jessica

Sleepless by Terri Clark

Age Level: Teen

Format: Book

 

Trinity has a secret.  She has the ability to walk through other people’s dreams.  Many would think that this would be a fun and cool ability, but for Trinity it’s a curse.  This ability has made her grow up far faster than she would have liked, especially when, through her dreams, she is told that a girl she knows, named Kiri, is going to die if Trinity can’t find her.  Now Kiri’s murderer is out to kill Trinity . . . through her dreams.

 

This is not just a typical piece of fluff.  Yes, there is romance in the book between Trinity and a guy named Dan, but there’s more to this story than meets the eye.  The story brings to mind the Nightmare on Elm Street movies.  The action is very fast-paced.  And there’s also quite a bit of suspense.  

 

All in all, Sleepless is a quick read that will keep you turning the pages to see how Trinity will manage to survive when a killer is stalking her dreams.

 

Reviewed by Sara.