Readers Place

Author Douglas Preston answers questions about his book The Monster of Florence:

What reactions have you had to the revelations made in The Monster of Florence since it was first published in hardback?

The reaction, to be frank, is one of utter incredulity that such a bizarre, primitive and terrifying story could have taken place in a modern, civilized, Western European country. There have been complaints from the Italian judicial and police authorities about the book, but neither they nor a single reader out of millions has identified a single error of substance in the entire book—except for one. We wrote that Judge Mignini was “short”. He is, in fact, about six feet tall…

Do you think Italian investigators will reopen the Sardinian trail?

No. They are too invested in the Satanic sect theory to ever abandon it, in my opinion. To reverse themselves now and reopen the Sardinian Trail would ruin many powerful careers. It will never happen, especially in a country where the idea of “face” is so powerful.

Do you think the case will ever be solved one way or the other?

No. The case will end up like that of Jack the Ripper. A hundred years from now, people will still be writing books about the Monster and speculating about his identity. It is possible for truth to vanish from the world; the true identity of the Monster is, possibly, one of those truths. When the real Monster dies, if he has not already, the truth will die with him.

How did it feel to interview the man who you believe to be the Monster?

It was one of the most chilling (and interesting) interviews I’d ever conducted. For one thing, the man confounded my assumptions as to what the Monster would be like. He was not a creepy, strange, and sinister man. On the contrary, he was charming, good-looking, articulate, enormously self-assured, with real charisma in a sort of rough, working class way. He never stopped smiling. Somehow he reminded me of the young Robert DeNiro. I’ve never been able to get his deep, pleasantly hoarse voice out of my head.

I was not expecting that kind of person at all—although perhaps, in hindsight, I should have been.

Do you think the unique Florentine culture has played a part in the way the Monster case was handled?

Yes, and we go into that in detail in the book, particularly the concept of dietrologia, which is the Italian habit of assuming that the truth is never simple, never what it appears on the surface; that nothing is at it seems; that dark machinations and complex forces are at work behind the scenes. The Monster of Florence is not just a book about a serial killer; it is a book about modern Italy itself.

How do you feel about the possible film adaptation of the book by Tom Cruise and Unites Artists?

I am very pleased. Christopher McQuarrie, who won an Oscar for his screenplay to “The Usual Suspects” is penning the script. He is an enormously talented writer. Tom Cruise, who is an extraordinary actor, will produce and might star in the film. Other producers include the Jinks/Cohen company, which also made “American Beauty” and “Milk.” You couldn’t ask for a better line up.

Do you think that making your investigation into the case available to a wider audience, through the book and a possible film, will make any difference to the Monster case or Amanda Knox’s trial which has links with it?

I do not think, unfortunately, what we’ve written will influence the case of Amanda Knox. I believe she will be unjustly convicted of murder. The Italian prosecutors and police have done such an expert job in influencing public opinion that many believe she is guilty. I was even one of those people, until I took an independent look at the evidence—and then I was aghast.

What’s next for you and Mario, are you still involved in the case and do you plan to take any more action to prove Antonio Vinci’s guilt in the Monster case?

I, personally, have done all I could as a journalist in telling the story the best I can, as truthfully and accurately as possible. It is up to our readers to make up their own minds as to Vinci’s involvement in the Monster case.