Douglas Preston fulfilled a lifelong dream when he moved with his family to a farmhouse in Florence. Upon meeting the celebrated journalist Mario Spezi, Preston was stunned to learn that the olive grove next to his home had been the scene of a horrific double murder committed by one of the most infamous figures in Italian history-the Monster of Florence. Fascinated, Preston began working with Spezi to uncover the serial killer who had ritually slain fourteen young lovers and was never caught. Here is the true story of their search to find and confront the man they believe is the Monster. And in an ironic twist of fate that echoes the city's bloody history, Preston and Spezi themselves became targets of a bizarre police investigation. THE MONSTER OF FLORENCE is a remarkable chronicle of murder, mutilation, deceit, suicide, and vengeance, told by Preston, the bestselling author of The Lost City of the Monkey God and The Lost Tomb, and an acclaimed journalist and author, Spezi.