The Unspeakable Crimes of Dr. Petiot
by Thomas Maeder
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Description
The chilling true story of a serial killer who preyed on men, women, and children desperate to escape Nazi-occupied Paris. On March 11, 1944, police were called to investigate foul-smelling smoke pouring from the chimney of an elegant private house near the Arc de Triomphe. In the basement of 21 rue Le Sueur, they made the first of many gruesome discoveries: a human hand dangling from the open door of a coal-burning stove. Proceeding to the rear of the home, detectives found rib cages, show more skulls, and internal organs strewn across the floor and large piles of quicklime mixed with fragments of bone and flesh. The Gestapo had two offices in the neighborhood-were Hitler's henchmen responsible for the carnage? Or was it the work of French Resistance fighters purging Paris of traitors and German spies? As the investigation unfolded, a more sinister possibility emerged. The building's owner, Dr. Marcel Petiot, was a handsome and charismatic physician whose past was littered with bizarre behavior and criminal activity. When he was finally captured eight months later, Dr. Petiot claimed he was a loyal member of the Resistance who helped kill Nazi collaborators. Prosecutors charged that he was a sadistic mass murderer who lured at least twenty-seven innocent people to their deaths with promises of escape. Estimates of the actual number of his victims ran as high as 150 men, women, and children. From the first stages of the investigation to the sensational trial in which Dr. Petiot's superior intelligence and perverse wit were on full display, author Thomas Maeder meticulously reconstructs one of the twentieth century's most fascinating and lurid murder cases. Drawing on classified police files and interviews with surviving participants, The Unspeakable Crimes of Dr. Petiot is a riveting true crime saga that that "reads like a shocking psychological thriller" (Newsweek). show lessTags
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Member Reviews
The Unspeakable Crimes of Dr. Petiot by Thomas Maeder is a non-fiction crime book taking place in France during World War II.
The Unspeakable Crimes of Dr. Petiot by Thomas Maeder is an entertaining and interesting book, well written and factual. Dr. Petiot was a brilliant psychopath who besides a medical degree, can also add mayor to his resume.
The time of the crimes which Dr. Petiot is accused of actually makes the story much more intriguing. The time: France is occupied by Nazi German and Dr. Petiot claims he killed only Nazi sympathizers and French traitors. The French authorities, trying not to seem unpatriotic by arresting the good doctor, took their time arresting him, show more allowing him much freedom until his story starts to fall apart.
Mr. Maeder spends time allowing the reader to understand the daily life in occupied Paris. The sense of uncertainty and occupation certainly lends credibility to authorities difficulty in assessing whether Petiot was resisting the Nazis or an insane serial murder.
The second half of the book concerns the trial of Dr. Petiot. The author incorporate much of the trial’s transcript, paragraphs which in many books I simply skim over, however Petiot’s unbelievable repertoire with the lawyers and witnesses makes an amusing read to what I could only describe is outrageous chutzpah, gall and either extreme stupidity or courage.
The lack of decorum in trial, investigation and, of course, crimes makes this book very enjoyable.
For more reviews and bookish posts please visit: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com show less
The Unspeakable Crimes of Dr. Petiot by Thomas Maeder is an entertaining and interesting book, well written and factual. Dr. Petiot was a brilliant psychopath who besides a medical degree, can also add mayor to his resume.
The time of the crimes which Dr. Petiot is accused of actually makes the story much more intriguing. The time: France is occupied by Nazi German and Dr. Petiot claims he killed only Nazi sympathizers and French traitors. The French authorities, trying not to seem unpatriotic by arresting the good doctor, took their time arresting him, show more allowing him much freedom until his story starts to fall apart.
Mr. Maeder spends time allowing the reader to understand the daily life in occupied Paris. The sense of uncertainty and occupation certainly lends credibility to authorities difficulty in assessing whether Petiot was resisting the Nazis or an insane serial murder.
The second half of the book concerns the trial of Dr. Petiot. The author incorporate much of the trial’s transcript, paragraphs which in many books I simply skim over, however Petiot’s unbelievable repertoire with the lawyers and witnesses makes an amusing read to what I could only describe is outrageous chutzpah, gall and either extreme stupidity or courage.
The lack of decorum in trial, investigation and, of course, crimes makes this book very enjoyable.
For more reviews and bookish posts please visit: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com show less
I'm a fan of True Crime when it is well done .... and Thomas Maeder weaves the facts of Docteur Petiot's life and crimes in a fluid narrative that sketches his flawed and unremorseful character thoroughly. We are left with no doubt that this man is without a conscience and his remarkable crimes and equally remarkable elusion of justice during and post-Nazi occupied France makes for a really good read.
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Unspeakable Crimes of Dr. Petiot
- Original publication date
- 1981
- Important places
- Paris, France
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, History, Biography & Memoir, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 364.1523092 — Social sciences Social problems and social services Criminology Criminal offenses Offenses against the person Homicide Murder History, geographic treatment, biography Biography
- LCC
- HV6248 .P43 .M33 — Social sciences Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology Criminal classes
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 65
- Popularity
- 476,640
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.50)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 5
- ASINs
- 2
