Book: Monster City: Murder, Music, and Mayhem in Nashville’s Dark Age
Author: Michael Arntfield
My Rating: 3.5 shivers
Hello, Netflix? I’d like to request a documentary series… Y’all, if you’re obsessed with true crime, read this dang book. It is so good, and downright chilling in parts. I could not get enough, and I am utterly confused as to why this is not sweeping the nation as the latest and greatest true crime show. Who can make this happen for us?
Monster City is unique for its genre, because instead of following a particular case it follows a detective. Pat Postiglione, a Vietnam vet from New York who tried and failed to be accepted in the NYPD. So he moved to Nashville and got his chance. The book covers cases he worked as a beat cop all the way up to detective on the “M Squad.” (Hello, is this not the COOLEST name?! It stands for Murder Squad.) Pat and his partners caught multiple (as in more than one) serial killers, and also solved cold cases. All of this during a time when DNA as evidence was just being introduced and standardized.
I was hooked from page one. All the different cases, all the information about investigative techniques, and the changing forensics was so interesting! Also, I love when mysteries get solved, and Pat closed a lot of cases. So it was a satisfying book for me. I will say that as far as writing goes, there were parts that read more like a textbook than a novel. Arntfield knows how to use commas, and he does so generously. If you like long, complex sentences it might not bother you. At times I was overwhelmed with definitions and dates and suspects. But I was so invested that I wasn’t turned off, I just had to spend some time making sure I understood what I was reading.
Now beware, I’m not trying to hide the fact that this book is about a real life homicide detective. The crimes are brutal, and the background stories of these killers are creepy. So if it’s not your thing, no pressure. However, if you’ve seen every episode of Forensic Files, or your podcast library is full of true crime, or you’ve watched every serial killer doc on every streaming service you subscribe to…you will probably love this book.
Krystle Goodman is a crazy cat lady, who loves to drink exorbitant amounts of coffee, and read a shocking amount of books. She lives in Benton with her husband Josh, her son Roman, and their two cats Roxanne and Abby. When she isn’t reading, you’ll find her cooking, painting, or watching true crime shows. Watch for Krystle’s book reviews every other Friday. Send fanmail to: [email protected]
See more of Krystle’s reviews at www.mysaline.com/krystle.