This wasn't my typical reading genre, but it turned out to be an outstanding read!

I found myself completely unable to put the book down as I was truly captivated by the engaging characters and the masterful storytelling.

The author has a remarkable ability to bring the characters to life, making them feel so real and relatable.

Each character has their own unique personality and backstory, which adds depth and complexity to the narrative.

The plot is also very well-developed, with plenty of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.

It's a book that will keep you engaged from start to finish and leave you wanting more.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read, regardless of their usual reading preferences.

It's a testament to the power of good writing and storytelling that can appeal to a wide range of readers.

Overall, I'm very glad I took a chance on this book and would definitely read more from this author in the future.

Letto il: 13/09/2024
Lingua: Italiano
Tempo di lettura: -

Commento:
This is a short book regarding an investigation into a homicide case that occurred twenty-seven years ago.

It has been extremely interesting to see the perspective of all the people involved in the matter.

These include the relatives of the victims, who have endured the pain and loss for so many years.

The police officer, who dedicated his efforts to solving the case and bringing justice.

And even the assassin himself, whose actions have had such a profound impact on so many lives.

Each person's story adds a layer of complexity and depth to the overall narrative, making it a truly engaging read.

It makes one reflect on the consequences of our actions and the importance of seeking truth and justice.

Overall, this book provides a fascinating look into a past homicide case and the people whose lives were forever changed by it.

A true story about a policeman who, just before his retirement, still makes an attempt to catch a notorious murderer.

Halfway through the book (which was originally just an article), the tension is already completely gone.

I had the feeling that the author has added all kinds of things to turn the facts into a full-fledged book that ultimately only has 150 pages. It was obvious that there wasn't that much to tell.

As far as I'm concerned, it would have been better to have remained an article.

In short, this Cold Case leaves me completely cold...

Expanded version:

A truly captivating story unfolds about a dedicated policeman who, on the cusp of his retirement, summons the courage and determination to make one final attempt at apprehending a notoriously elusive murderer. The narrative initially holds great promise, with the reader eager to follow the policeman's pursuit.

However, as the story progresses and we reach the halfway mark of the book (which was originally conceived as a mere article), the once palpable tension begins to wane significantly. It becomes increasingly evident that the author has resorted to adding various extraneous elements in an attempt to flesh out the facts and transform them into a full-fledged book. Despite these efforts, the final product consists of only 150 pages, clearly indicating that there was perhaps not an abundance of material to begin with.

From my perspective, it would have been far more advisable for the author to have left the story as an article. In its current form, this Cold Case fails to engage me on any meaningful level and leaves me feeling completely indifferent.

Nearly retired detective Rosenzweig is driving past the site of a restaurant.

Thirty years ago, a friend of his was brutally murdered there. As he passes by, he can't help but wonder what exactly happened to that case.

He decides to look into it and discovers that the case was closed years earlier. The only basis for declaring the murderer dead was the relatives' statement of "Nope, haven't seen him."

Rosenzweig is not satisfied with this flimsy evidence. He is a stubborn detective, and he decides to reopen the case.

With his determination and experience, he begins to dig deeper into the details.

After many days and nights of hard work, he finally gets his man.

The murderer is brought to justice, and Rosenzweig can finally find some closure for himself and his friend's family.

Although he is nearly retired, this case shows that his skills and tenacity are still as sharp as ever.

This book was a good little quick True Crime read that I picked up at a local used book sale.

I really enjoyed the premise of the book. It focused on the story of a police officer who had the determination to re-open a cold case that he firmly believed should have an ending.

The book started off very well. It managed to grip my attention right from the beginning and kept me engaged as the officer delved deeper into the case.

However, I felt that the book took a bit of a dip in quality around the halfway mark when they found the suspect. After that point, the story really seemed to slow down. It felt like the momentum was lost, and the pacing became a bit sluggish.

I think that the book may have been stronger had they chosen to highlight two separate cases instead of just the one. This would have added more variety and perhaps kept the reader's interest more evenly throughout the entire book.

It's also interesting to note that the original writings of this book were first published in a magazine. This may have influenced the structure and pacing of the book in some way.

Overall, despite its flaws, I still found this book to be an enjoyable read. It had its moments of excitement and kept me entertained for the most part.

Read the STOP SMILING interview with Philip Gourevitch:

Q&A: PHILIP GOUREVITCH

(This interview originally appeared in the STOP SMILING The Downfall of American Publishing Issue)

This spring, Gourevitch became only the third editor in the 52-year history of The Paris Review, following the departure of Brigid Hughes. Hughes initially took over the editorial reins after the death of George Plimpton in September 2003. Gourevitch is the author of two books of nonfiction, We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda and A Cold Case (Picador).

Stop Smiling: How do you think the media has portrayed your editorship?

Philip Gourevitch: Following the death of George Plimpton, who had led, edited and personified The Paris Review for a long time, I think there was a kind of open question in the press of “Would it survive?” This was true among people involved with the magazine, as well as with people who looked at it entirely from the outside. There was a lot of speculation and anticipation. Some in the media were curious to see how I would approach the role and whether I could maintain the magazine's reputation and traditions. Others were more critical, perhaps skeptical of a new editor taking on such a prestigious position. However, I believe that over time, as people have seen the work that we have been doing at The Paris Review, the media portrayal has become more nuanced and balanced.

Read the STOP SMILING interview...

When I finally reached the acknowledgements section at the very end of the book,

I was not in the least bit astonished to discover that certain parts of this volume had initially been published in the New Yorker.

Even as I was reading it, it continued to give the impression of being a somewhat enlarged magazine article rather than a comprehensively developed and fully fleshed-out book.

The writing style seemed to retain the characteristics of a magazine piece, with a certain brevity and a focus on presenting information in a relatively concise manner.

While this might have its advantages in terms of engaging a wider readership who are used to the format of magazine articles,

it also left me with the feeling that the book could have delved deeper into some of the topics it covered.

Overall, despite its interesting content, the book's roots in magazine publishing were quite evident and perhaps limited its potential as a more substantial work of literature.

I'm not a True Crime buff. However, this is a truly fascinating portrait of a killer.

The book commences with an in-depth investigation into an unsolved crime. It gradually evolves into a really engaging human study of a sociopath.

It's a relatively quick read and is not nearly as grisly as one might initially imagine.

The author does an excellent job of presenting the facts and delving into the mind of the killer without relying on excessive gore or sensationalism.

This makes it accessible to a wider audience, even those who are not typically drawn to the True Crime genre.

Overall, it's a captivating and thought-provoking book that offers a unique perspective on the nature of evil.

This is a very short true-crime story that has been padded out to book-size in a rather unorthodox way.

It employs a big typeface, which significantly increases the page count. Additionally, there are some rather large gaps between the chapters.

This makes the story seem much longer than it actually is.

One might wonder if this is a legitimate way to present a story.

While it may make the book appear more substantial, it also begs the question of whether the content itself can truly support such a treatment.

Perhaps the author was aiming to create a certain aesthetic or to give the reader a more leisurely reading experience.

However, it's important to consider whether the use of these techniques detracts from the essence of the true-crime story.

In conclusion, while the idea of padding out a short story to book-size is an interesting one, it remains to be seen if it is a successful approach.

This was a nice quick read for me.

Even though it was a small book, the author managed to provide us with a detailed and fascinating look inside the process of catching a criminal from a detective's perspective.

The story also delved into the complex world of solving a cold case, which not only presented a unique challenge but also raised some thought-provoking questions.

Does solving a cold case truly bring closure to the victims and their families, or does it instead reopen old wounds that may have been long buried?

Perhaps it is a combination of both.

This book was a refreshing change of genre for me, and I found myself thoroughly engaged from start to finish.

It offered a unique perspective on the criminal justice system and the people who work within it, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an interesting and thought-provoking read.

Gourevitch takes up the lesson of "A Cold Blood" to give us a strong and ambivalent portrait of an aging criminal and a crime committed decades ago.

"A Cold Case" poses many questions about a man's ability to rehabilitate, the environmental nature of certain lives, and the consequences of the passage of time.

The story delves deep into the psyche of the criminal, exploring his motives and the events that led to the commission of the crime.

It also examines how the passage of time has affected both the criminal and those who were affected by the crime.

Overall, "A Cold Case" is a thought-provoking and engaging read that challenges our assumptions about crime, punishment, and rehabilitation.

"Cold Case" initially emerged as an article in the New Yorker. Perhaps, objectively speaking, there might not be an abundance of content within that article to fully warrant the expansion into a book, especially considering the relatively concise nature of this particular volume.

Nevertheless, Gourevitch has skillfully managed to present a story that is both multifaceted and highly engaging. The book effectively reveals that the process of solving a crime is a complex blend of various elements. It involves a certain degree of luck, intuitive hunches, painstakingly combing through the tedious paper trail, and collaborating with different people.

The truly captivating aspect of this book lies not so much in the actual crime itself or the investigation that takes place years after the incident, but rather in the detective who undertakes the investigation. Through the detective's personal stories, we are provided with a vivid picture of the evolution of policing. We witness his journey, starting from his early days patrolling the streets, all the way to his final cases as a detective before ultimately retiring. This perspective offers a unique and fascinating insight into the world of law enforcement and the individuals who dedicate their lives to upholding justice.