Mama's Boy: 9The True Story of a Serial Killer and His Mother [Hardcover]

Richard T. Pienciak (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1996

Traces the deadly criminal career of New York City auxiliary police officer Eric Napoletano and the efforts of his mother, Carolyn, a civilian employee of the NYPD, to hinder investigators from bringing him to justice. 25,000 first printing.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Combining a violent temper with a mania for control and revenge, Eric Napoletano was convicted of the murder of his second wife in 1993. He has not been charged with the earlier murders in his life?a 15-year-old girlfriend and his first mother-in-law. Eric's mother, a civilian employee of the New York Police Department, asserted his innocence and tried to help cover up his crimes. Theirs was a love-hate relationship. Eric never knew his father, and when Eric was 13, his mother allowed him to move in with an older man she barely knew?"Uncle" Al Jiovine, who was also involved in the attempted cover-up. By the author of Murder at 75 Birch (LJ 9/1/92), this account of a pathetic but dangerously dysfunctional trio will interest true crime buffs.?Gregor A. Preston, formerly with Univ. of California Lib., Davis
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Pienciak (Deadly Masquerade) details the terrible and simultaneously pathetic story of a young man the FBI described as "a sexually sadistic serial killer" and the mother who protected him. Carolyn Napoletano is bossy, arrogant, and warped. Her son, Nick, appears weak and inept but harbors a deep rage against Carolyn and her treatment of him. His anger has exploded into at least three brutal murders, beginning with the 1984 killing of his girlfriend. Police suspected Nick immediately but couldn't gather sufficient proof. In 1991, Nick became the prime suspect in the disappearance of his wife, and it's at this point that police began to uncover how Carolyn had shielded Nick. An administrative assistant for the NYPD, she tampered with police memos, evidence, and witnesses related to Nick's murder investigations. In spite of substantial proof to the contrary, she still maintains her innocence. Thankfully, Nick--her creation--is now in prison. Brian McCombie

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult; 1st ed edition (June 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525938516
• ISBN-13: 978-0525938514
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,536,901 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Very Detailed in some areas, June 4, 2004

By 

Michelle Paz "Michelle Crowe-Paz" (Mahwah, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mama's Boy: The True Story of a Serial Killer and His Mother (Paperback)

This book got my attention from the beginning and seemed to move quickly. However, I feel that some information was dragged out (especially toward the end of the book - The Trial).
The researcher obviously put 100% effort into gathering information about Eric, but I wish that he would've obtained more details about Myra, Wanda, and the other women he was involved with. I do hope that law enforcement learns a lesson from this book in that things WILL slip through the cracks and people will get away with things they aren't supposed to if there is no commitment to organization, diligence, and details.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Researched True Crime Book, December 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Mama's Boy: The True Story of a Serial Killer and His Mother (Paperback)

This is a good example of a writer who obviously spent an incredible amount of time researching his book. Not only does he give us an in-depth study of the murderer but his mama as well. I am fascinated by the background of criminals and Mr Pienciak provides a lot of detail in this area. He writes well and it is a true crime selection worth reading.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Persistent Detectives Gets Their Man, July 11, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Mama's Boy: The True Story of a Serial Killer and His Mother (Paperback)

I was the Assistant Prosecutor in New Jersey who handled the trial of Eric Napoletano for the murder of his wife, Myra Acevedo Napoletano. The success, including the conviction of and life sentence imposed on Eric Napoletano, was the result of uncommon cooperation among dedicated persons from various law enforcement agencies, including the F.B.I. in New York, New Jersey and New Mexico; Bear County, Delaware (where Myra's body was discovered); Clifton, New Jersey; New York City (at least 2 murders there); Pennsylvania (where the first body was dumped); and the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office. The book tells the tale of the capture and trial of a deranged young man who cultivated relationships with women, then murdered them when the relationships soured. The trial was a career experience of a lifetime. I would be more than willing to communicate with anyone who is interested in the case.