Death in the City of Light

The Serial Killer of Nazi-Occupied Paris

By: David King

Narrated by: Paul Michael

Length: 13 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Death in the City of Light is the gripping, true story of a brutal serial killer who unleashed his own reign of terror in Nazi-Occupied Paris. As decapitated heads and dismembered body parts surfaced in the Seine, Commissaire Georges-Victor Massu, head of the Brigade Criminelle, was tasked with tracking down the elusive murderer in a twilight world of Gestapo, gangsters, resistance fighters, pimps, prostitutes, spies, and other shadowy figures of the Parisian underworld.

The main suspect was Dr. Marcel Petiot, a handsome, charming physician with remarkable charisma. He was the “People’s Doctor,” known for his many acts of kindness and generosity, not least in providing free medical care for the poor. Petiot, however, would soon be charged with twenty-seven murders, though authorities suspected the total was considerably higher, perhaps even as many as 150.

Who was being slaughtered, and why? Was Petiot a sexual sadist, as the press suggested, killing for thrills? Was he allied with the Gestapo, or, on the contrary, the French Resistance? Or did he work for no one other than himself? Trying to solve the many mysteries of the case, Massu would unravel a plot of unspeakable deviousness. When Petiot was finally arrested, the French police hoped for answers.

But the trial soon became a circus. Attempting to try all twenty-seven cases at once, the prosecution stumbled in its marathon cross-examinations, and Petiot, enjoying the spotlight, responded with astonishing ease. His attorney, René Floriot, a rising star in the world of criminal defense, also effectively, if aggressively, countered the charges. Soon, despite a team of prosecuting attorneys, dozens of witnesses, and over one ton of evidence, Petiot’s brilliance and wit threatened to win the day.

Drawing extensively on many new sources, including the massive, classified French police file on Dr. Petiot, Death in the City of Light is a brilliant evocation of Nazi-Occupied Paris and a harrowing exploration of murder, betrayal, and evil of staggering proportions.

©2011 Paul Michael (P)2011 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Erik Larson's tour de force of narrative nonfiction hasn't been matched - until now… While this work is painstaking in its research, it still has the immediacy and gasp power of a top-notch thriller. True-crime at its best.” ( Booklist)

“A gripping story…this fascinating, often painful account combines a police procedural with a vivid historical portrait of culture and law enforcement in Nazi-occupied France.”( Publishers Weekly)

“Gripping….expertly written and completely absorbing” Kirkus Reviews)

Meh. I wanted more

The comparisons to "the devil white city," are really only apt for the context of the story. I'm afraid i also missed the emotion, fear and real horror of what this man did to people already in dire straits. Interesting sure. But not all that engaging as a story - had much more of the documentary feel without the real draw. It wasn't terrible, but not up to par for some reason.

More of a narative than a story

Would you listen to Death in the City of Light again? Why?

Listen on fast to get through it in less time

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Kind of slow, lots of background on the victims not much intrigue.

Have you listened to any of Paul Michael’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Accents are kind of contrived.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Had no trouble putting it down.

Facinating story of a little known mad man

I read audio books for two reasons: to learn and to be entertained. This book does both. I had never heard this story, even though I have read many books about world war II and about true crime. I came across this book by accident when I was ordering an Eric Larson book. Just like Larson, in books such as "Devil in the White City", this author uses the backdrop of History as he tells the story of a mad man. Also like Larson, he is able to keep the reader yearning for more with every chapter. The narration is terrific. I usually prefer the narrator to just read the darned book, without too much dramatic interpratation. The fact that this narrator, however, speaks using the French and German accents when quoting really brings the story to life. I love this book, and look forward to reading more books by this author.

Too Slow and Depressing

Would you try another book from David King and/or Paul Michael?

The book could have been fascinating, and there are just enough tidbits so far to keep me going, but I am not happy with the experience. Just feel compelled to slog on through to see what happens.

Would you ever listen to anything by David King again?

Likely not

What about Paul Michael’s performance did you like?

Good performance -- his occasional French accent helps.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

I think the story would make a good movie -- in fact it would be a better movie than it is a book. Too dry.,

Shocking story with a horrifying discovery at end.

This story had times when I struggled to stay awake. I reversed and re-listened a few times. The trial brought several interesting characters into view worthy of closer look. Finally the ending seems to provide some closure only to reveal an even more terrifying truth completely unexpected.

good one

if you love world War 2 stories it's good a lot of facts doesn't read like a murder mystery

A big bore

Don't waste your blunt! No story just a list of facts. I just could not take it after forcing myself through the first part. I even tried to listen to the end, but just more of the same crap.

We expected it to read more like a story.

It was good material but it was written full of dry, dull boring facts. It was not arranged in such a way as to keep the interesty.

long and boring

the story goes into to much history of WWII and not enough detail for the serial killer

I should have loved this book

The true story of a serial murderer set against the backdrop of occupied Paris? Sign me up!

That's how I guessed I would react to this book; I was wrong. The most compelling parts of this book are contained in the first hour or so, with the discovery of the bodies in 1944. The author then jumps around back and forth in time, from detective, to murderer to victims, and manages to tell us that the murderer did it when he should have been building suspense about his guilt. Later, he tells us who the killer is hiding with while trying to build suspense as to his whereabouts.

Compelling story, disappointingly told. I found myself slogging through the latter 2/3 of the book rather than being on the edge of my seat.

The narrator was fine, though I didn't care for quotes being read in a French accent. That's probably my thing, but I still count off for it.