Death in the City of Light: The Serial Killer of Nazi-Occupied Paris

Thoroughly Creepy, Well Written

I put off reading this book, because traditionally I don't enjoy non-fiction, but I do like stories with a historical basis. I wish I hadn't put it off, because once I started it, I really wanted to keep reading and just didn't have as much time on my hands. The author writes non-fiction in a very narrative style, which surprised me and made me wish other non-fiction was written this way. He does a great job of painting a picture of the crime scenes, courtroom, people etc. that makes you feel like you are a part of the story. At times it did get a little wordy and overly descriptive, but for the most part it was appropriate and made the book easier to read. As I was reading this novel, I found myself getting goose bumps, and having to go check that my doors were locked because the descriptions are somewhat creepy, but it was all in a good way that added to this unfortunately true story. There aren't any books that I have read recently that compare to this one, especially in the non-fiction category, it is definitely one that I will recommend to my friends and family.

Reviewed by Gabi for Book Sake.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Stomach Turning but oh so good

In a word.....WOW!!! I think you know by now that I am obsessed with True Crime. I have read a lot and always learn something. Death in the City of Light was mind blowing for me. I know I say it every time but the degree of sickness that these people, serial killers have is something that I don't think I will ever understand.



Dr. Petiot was a much loved doctor. Who would have thought that he would have bodies and body parts in and about his house and sewers. He was a cold blooded killer with a wife and family! No not the first or the last but something about this book repulsed me so much more than others. I can't put my finger on just what it was.


The number of murders reported in the book is 27 but I really think there are so many more victims that are unidentified and or unfound. The author did his research and there is a lot of history included. Remember, this was all going on while the serial killer Hitler was doing his own murdering. We read a lot about Paris at this time and that was very interesting for me. Let me tell you, lots of grimacing and head shaking went on while I was reading this book.

Death in the City of Light is a bit on the long side due to all the vivid details and descriptions that the author includes. The trial was for me the best part of the book. Still caused me to shake my head more than once at the goings on, it got more interesting with every page turn.

Definitely one to read if you are a true crime fan.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Live To Read

This is one of the most interesting nonfiction books a reader can come across. It chronicles the evil and murders of Marcel Petiot. Petiot may be held accountable for over one hundred murders, making him one of the most diabolical murderers of all time (who was not, of course, a war lord). He operated under the guide of aiding Jews during World War II; instead, he brutally killed them. He plucked some victims off the street, leaving their families to wonder.

There are many questions regarding Petiot that really have no definitive answer. Was he a sociopath? Psychopath? Part of the French Resistance? Skilled physician? or, perhaps, all of the above. The author doesn't attempt to sway the reader one way or the other, he remains fairly neutral.

Forensic teams examined Petiot's handiwork, autopsies were performed, etc...the reader has the privilege of following this mystery and the experts who attempted to answer or at least describe the questions behind Petiot. The author has clearly done extensive research, everything flows. The events fall into place like dominoes, the reader won't be too confused (and this has the potential for being a confusing nonfiction book). This book is recommended to young adults/adults who enjoy nonfiction.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Really Interesting Book

I'm a big fan of historical true crime and this was a really interesting book and not a true crime event I'd heard of before. Dr. Petiot murdered at least 27 (or perhaps over 100) people in Nazi occupied Paris between 1941-1944 when his crimes were discovered. After a 7 month chase he was captured and over his trial claimed he was a member of the French Resistance, despite proof that several of his known victims were Jews and disappeared after being taken to Dr. Petiot for a clandestine escape to Argentina to avoid Nazi deportation. Additionally no Resistance groups had heard of him or the resistance group Fly-Tox that he perported to work with. This book is a very interesting read (though I do wish the author had presented the facts chronologically and didn't skip hop around with dates quite so much ) and worth every penny.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Awesome book!

I had never heard of this guy before,the story was fascinating! I usually am not into nonfiction, but really enjoyed the book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Very slow reading.

The book is very hard to really get into. It is so slow moving. I'm not all that fond of this author. He didn't GRAB me. I won't pick this author again. Just not enough punch!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Interesting

Good story line, but a bit longer and more indepth than it needed to be.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I found it quite ironic that there was an uproar and massive investigation for the murderer, when Hitler and his minions were, quite nonchalantly, murdering millions and burning their bodies, for so long, without the outcry from the citizenry.

The book begins in 1944, in the upscale 16th arrondissement of Paris, a city under siege by the Germans. It is the time of The holocaust! There is black putrid smoke escaping from a chimney. A neighbor calls the police after the stench becomes overwhelming, but when the police arrive to investigate, they find something quite unexpected. It is a scene of mass murder and bodies are burning.
Dr. Marcel Petiot, the owner of the building, was rumored to be in the French resistance but he has a checkered past. He disappeared shortly after the discovery of the bodies. The investigation into the mass murders is hampered by the nature of the times with the German occupation. The death and disappearance of many, for either criminal or religious reasons, was commonplace, so, although, Dr. Petiot aroused the suspicions of many, he was largely ignored. The Nazis routinely kidnapped, imprisoned, tortured, and/or murdered, anyone they deemed dangerous to the regime.
The court case appeared to be sloppily handled and mismanaged but one has to keep in mind that it took place shortly after the liberation of Paris, and the crimes were committed during the German occupation which made the evidence collection and witness interview process more cumbersome than it normally would have been.
The scope of the crime and the madness surrounding it, coupled with the inept handling of the investigation, at the time, with the war still raging in Europe, made it a monumental effort for the police force to solve it and for the author to research. It is obvious that he has done an enormous amount of work compiling the information and has included an abundance of footnotes to back it up. Still it was hard to follow, at times. It was, nevertheless, a good mystery, making me question if it could really be true because the crimes were so heinous. If it didn't get so bogged down in details, it would have held my interest more, since it kept me guessing; did he or didn't he? It wasn't until the last two dozen pages that I was enlightened as to whether or not the main character was guilty or innocent.
At times, the writing style seemed confusing. The message was often unclear and redundant, and the reading became tedious. A descriptive character list, someplace at the back of the book and a time line to follow for each character, to make the book easier to follow, would have been helpful. The unknown names of places and people and the plethora of foreign titles and details, made it even more perplexing. Some of the episodes seemed to be repeated or were so similar that it appeared that way. Since this was an Advanced Reader's Copy, perhaps many of these issues were corrected in the final version.
I did not care for the cover which features some kind of a creature overlooking the city. Rather than looking scholarly, as a non-fiction book generally does, it looks as if it is geared for a different audience, one that likes science fiction, fantasy or stories about monsters. Petiot was indeed a monstrous man but not a monster. Was he "the great imposter" or the victim of circumstances? He had many identities and false papers to go with them. Was he a resistance fighter, a collaborator or a serial killer? A master at conversation, brilliant in creating excuses, charismatic and witty, he was an enigma to those who knew him or investigated his behavior.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Nursury

For deathstars kits

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