Murder in Matera

A True Story of Passion, Family, and Forgiveness in Southern Italy

De: Helene Stapinski

Narrado por: Helene Stapinski

A writer goes deep into the heart of Italy to unravel a century-old family mystery in this spellbinding memoir that blends the suspenseful twists of Making a Murderer and the emotional insight of Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan Novels.

Since childhood Helene Stapinski heard lurid tales about her great-great-grandmother, Vita. In Southern Italy she was a loose woman who had murdered someone. Immigrating to America with three children, she lost one along the way. Helene's youthful obsession with Vita deepened as she grew up, eventually propelling the journalist to Italy, where, with her own children in tow, she pursued the story, determined to set the record straight.

Finding answers would take Helene 10 years and numerous trips to Basilicata, the rural "instep" of Italy's boot - a mountainous land rife with criminals, superstitions, old-world customs, and desperate poverty. Though false leads sent her down blind alleys, Helene's dogged search, aided by a few lucky - even miraculous - breaks and a group of colorful local characters, led her to the truth.

Yes, the family tales she'd heard were true. There had been a murder in Helene's family, a killing that roiled 1870s Italy. But the identities of the killer and victim weren't who she thought they were. In revisiting events that happened more than a century before, Helene came to another stunning realization - she wasn't who she thought she was, either.

Weaving Helene's own story of discovery with the tragic tale of Vita's life, Murder in Matera is a literary whodunit and a moving tale of self-discovery that brings into focus a long ago tragedy in a little-known region remarkable for its stunning sunny beauty and dark buried secrets.

©2017 Helene Stapkinski (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

No Such Thing as an Original Sin?

A story generations in the making, “Murder in Matera” explores the author’s obsession with a lurid event from long ago that may have permanently corrupted her family tree. In this compelling follow-up to “Five-Finger Discount,” Helene Stapinski heads to Southern Italy to investigate the crime of passion that brought her forebears to America and marked her great-great grandmother a murderer. Soon, new discoveries lead Stapinski to imagine in vivid detail how the drama unfolded, and the book reveals itself to be a marriage of historical mystery with clever travelogue, plus an engaging extended mediation on the nature of wrongdoing and redemption.

A murder mystery, but so much more

This is a beautifully woven tale of a family legend and it’s historical background in a unique part of Italy. Not your first 5 visits kind of stop. Helene stapinski has given me the desire to visit that area, and a realistic story of life in the old countries, regardless of nationality. I had a bit of trouble early on with the author’s Jersey accent ( audible) but loved how she flipped into Italian, without losing that Jersey twang. I finally found it endearing and truly enjoyed the book. I have chosen it for my book club in January and hope to create a recipe or 2 from the book, to keep the Southern Italian theme.
Enjoy fellow readers!

Interesting story about unraveling the family lore

A story that reveals some of the practices of days gone by in Italy. Enjoyed how the facts eventually came to light.

Really enjoyed this audio book!

I really enjoyed this audiobook! It was well-read and of great personal interest, as I am recently intrigued by what type of lives my own ancestors may have led in Calabria.