Death in the City of Light

The Serial Killer of Nazi-Occupied Paris

De: David King

Narrado por: Paul Michael

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. But while trying to solve the many mysteries of the case, Massu would unravel a plot of unspeakable deviousness.

The main suspect, Dr. Marcel Petiot, was 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.

Petiot's trial quickly 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. 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.

Full face masks and other details

While I enjoy an information-packed historical horror as much as the next person, this way REALLY LONG and could have been better had it been edited. Also, I love me some Law & Order SVU, but there were many long, graphic descriptions that I struggled with. It is an interesting book, but not great. I was generous with the review because it wasn't out and out terrible (see my review of Abe Lincoln: Vampire Hunter if you want to read about a truly terrible book).

This is Not a Novel

Everyone going in should be forewarned- this is not a novel. This is a very historical telling of a fascinating story, that sometimes goes off-track and loses the main story. Also my biggest pet peeve is people speaking English but with the accent of the country in which the story is taking place... like, these people are French, they wouldn't be speaking English with a French accent. That's probably a personal problem though. The book is good but very long and sometimes tedious. Clearly exceptionally researched; I learned a lot!

Terrifying true story

Good insight into occupied and post liberation Paris - while describing a monster's deeds that reflected Nazi terrors

Not quite as described but...

I enjoyed this book. It did have its dry moments, but overall it was a good listen. This is a good one to listen to as long as there isn't anything else commanding your attention as it has a large number of facts introduced in clumps.

I was not a fan of the French voices the author gave the people, I understand it takes place in France, but it would have been easier to understand, and less choppy, if he had just kept the same accent through the entire book. It made them into caricatures.

I found it interesting that you knew he did the murders from the beginning. It made the book interesting to see the twists and turns and deceptive traits of Petiot throughout the entire investigation and trial.

Better to read

This is a fascinating story which I was already familiar with, so the shock value wasn't there for me. Also, there is an incredible amount of detail so I think it would have been easier to keep it straight if I was reading the book rather than listening to it.