True Story

Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa

By: Michael Finkel

Narrated by: Michael Finkel

Length: 6 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

In the haunting tradition of Joe McGinniss's Fatal Vision and Mikal Gilmore's Shot in the Heart, True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa weaves a spellbinding tale of murder, love, and deceit with a deeply personal inquiry into the slippery nature of truth.

The story begins in February of 2002, when a reporter in Oregon contacts New York Times Magazine writer Michael Finkel with a startling piece of news. A young, highly intelligent man named Christian Longo, on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list for killing his entire family, has recently been captured in Mexico, where he'd taken on a new identity...Michael Finkel of The New York Times.

The next day, on page A-3 of the Times, comes another bit of troubling news: a note, written by the paper's editors, explaining that Finkel has falsified parts of an investigative article and has been fired. This unlikely confluence sets the stage for a bizarre and intense relationship. After Longo's arrest, the only journalist the accused murderer will speak with is the real Michael Finkel. And as the months until Longo's trial tick away, the two men talk for dozens of hours on the telephone, meet in the jailhouse visiting room, and exchange nearly a thousand pages of handwritten letters.

With Longo insisting he can prove his innocence, Finkel strives to uncover what really happened to Longo's family, and his quest becomes less a reporting job than a psychological cat-and-mouse game, sometimes redemptively honest, other times slyly manipulative. Finkel's pursuit pays off only at the end, when Longo, after a lifetime of deception, finally says what he wouldn't even admit in court, the whole, true story. Or so it seems.

©2005 Michael Finkel (P)2005 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"This book is absolutely riveting, as much for Finkel's own painful self-examination as for the evasions of an accused murderer." (Booklist) "Astute and hypnotically absorbing....There's a burning sincerity (and beautifully modulated writing) on every page, sufficient to convince most that this brilliant blend of true-crime and memoir does live up to its bald title." (Publishers Weekly)

Didn't realize it was abridged!

The narration was so so. Story was not that great. Character development was very poor.

A fascinating and complex character

What made the experience of listening to True Story the most enjoyable?

Just knowing that it was true.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

How anyone could be such a con man and hold on to a seemingly normal wife and family.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Michael Finkel found out an accused murderer was using his identity.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When the little girl died

Any additional comments?

I love true stories! They are always stranger than the truth. I am looking forward to the movie with Brad Pitt.

Good story

After working with criminals for 20 years i am amazed that anyone would have a doubt about the diagnosis. Or that the author would believe a word Chris told him. I liked that the author had some awareness of his own problems. Frustrated that the perpetrators reasons his thinking for his actions not clear at least to me.

The narration ruined it for me

The story is interesting, though I didn't find it spellbinding, but the narration is so bad that it
was hard for me to listen to. I agree with the woman who said it made her angry. Me too! I wanted to yell at him. Oddly stilted speech, lazy pronounciation, and a dramatic intonation at the end of just about every sentence was enough to interfere with the story.
In short bits I found it tolerable.

Instantly disliked Longo...and Finkle

I ended up being rivoted by this story, though I was immediately repulsed by the personalities of the two people the story was about, I suppose this is an indication of how good Finkle is with character development - I think this was his point. It was good to see that the horrific character "Flaws" in one man can bring about change in another...All in all a thought provoking riviting story...

great story marred by a terrible reading

What did you like best about True Story? What did you like least?

It's an interesting and well written tale.

Would you be willing to try another one of Michael Finkel’s performances?

No.

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

Yes.

Any additional comments?

It's a shame they didn't get a better narrator.

Thought provoking

This is a slice of life, albeit an ugly and disturbing one. It helps me to understand human nay. I think it is a valuable book.

Deeply Disturbing

I was not familiar with the story of Christian Longo and Michael Finkle until buying the audible book. Now that I have heard it, I can't forget it. Deeply disturbing because it's true.

I felt slimy after this book.

Would you consider the audio edition of True Story to be better than the print version?

Not necessarily. Finkel did a fine job with the narration however his performance didn't add anything exceptional to the story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of True Story?

During the opening statements of the trial the description of the bodies was sickening. I have never felt so disgusted by a book. That being said, I eagerly finished the book.

What does Michael Finkel bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

To hear, in his voice, the explanation from his previous firing was interesting.

Any additional comments?

If only this book was a work of fiction. Longo is scum and I felt filthy after listening to his story. I've never had this gut turning reaction to any book.

Michael Finkel

Dear Michael, I just read your "TRUE STORY" book.
I wish you had more "true stories" to write about.
I felt in my soul every word you wrote. You are a true and tallented writer. I wish you and your family best of all your wishes.Thank You for the Book.
Konstantin Kupfer