Customer Reviews

Nightmare in Napa: The Wine Country Murders (48 Hours Mystery)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Superficial and pedantic reporting of a tragic double murder of two young women in Napa back in 2004. The book reads like it was slapped together in a rush to production by the producers of 48 Hours Mystery, who are making it their flagship entry into the true crime genre. It's not a police procedural, it's not a courtroom drama. Most of its 375 pages is a minutia-filled reconstruction of the reactions of every conceivable person who knew them to learning of the murders of Adriane Insogna and Leslie Mazzara. When we finally get to the heart of the story, at least three-fourths of the way through the book, the author offers little insight into the devastating event. If you saw the 48 Hours Mystery episode, there's no need to read this book.

The many reconstructed conversations with bit players in the drama are annoying in their blend of fact and fiction; the author has know way to accurately know what these individuals were saying, much less what they were feeling or thinking. More annoying is the insertion of the producers into the story in a self-serving way. With the 20-20 hindsight of a Monday morning quarterback, we learn that when two of the CBS producers met the killer before he had been identified, they had a creepy feeling about him. We learn that one of the producers took one of the victims' mothers out to the baseball game, and it was "all you could ask for ... the night ended on a high."

Unfortunately, author Paul LaRosa downplays angles that could have made this story of interest to a larger audience. How did the killer manage to slip under the police radar, despite a massive manhunt involving 50 officers, more than 1,300 interviews, and 218 DNA samples? (When he finally went to police to turn himself in after almost a year under their noses, the door to the station was locked and he had a lengthy wait before they could find someone to let him in!) Who was this man, and why did he do it? We get a few simplistic theories, but nothing satisfying from a psychological perspective - perhaps because no one who could have provided insight would talk to 48 Hours.

Despite its sensationalist front cover (a young woman sipping from a glass of blood-red wine), the book may interest people with personal ties to either of the young women who lost their lives. It also may interest people with ties to the Napa area (although I heard that a planned book-signing in Napa had to be cancelled due to overwhelming community opposition). But for people without those ties, there are many more insightful and well-written true crime books out there. (In Cold Blood stands out as the time-tested classic, but there are plenty of contemporary ones as well.)

With rare exceptions, books in this genre are not literary classics. In Cold Blood is the most famous exception. You do expect, however, that true crime books will reliably follow the formula and tell an interesting story in a reasonably gripping way. This book fails even that minimal test. The organization is choppy, jumping from family reactions (e.g. chapters 7, 8, 10, 12) to victim background (e.g. chapters 9, 11, 15, 17), to the investigation (e.g. chapters 13 and 16). Just when you think you're into the investigation for good starting with Chapter 26 (because that section of the book is called "The Investigation") you run into yet more chapters about victim background and family reactions. The identity of the killer is not revealed until the end--a risky strategy that requires the rest of the story to be taut and suspenseful. It is neither. Then there are four short, tacked-on chapters at the end mentioning--but not resolving--the question of motive and briefly describing the sentencing of the killer. Sorry, can't recommend it.

I know from personal experience that the author, Paul LaRosa, reads all the reviews for his books. He cares about what people have to say about his work. It is for that reason that I feel regret for the review I am about to write. I also know from personal experience that when a book review on Amazon is deemed negative or critical of the book, more often than not, the review is rated "unhelpful" by other readers. It is for this reason that I anticipate most readers will find this review, however thoughtful or honest, not helpful.

NIGHTMARE IN NAPA was disappointing and lacking in depth. While the crime itself was tragic and frightening, there was little information about the man who committed the crime. All outstanding True Crime books I have read are exceptional because they explore more than the crime itself... they tell the story of the murderous individual behind the crime. No one who was willing to comment on the crime or its victims really knew the murderer at all. The reader is left with empty wonderings and the unsettling feeling that there is so much more that needs exploration. Perhaps the book was written too soon. Time has a strange way of helping salve wounds and allowing fearful or confused persons to talk.

The two victims were lovely young girls who led very normal lives. Their families were loving and functional. There was no real controversy involving either of the girls or their families. Therefore, it is astounding to me that a full 5 chapters were devoted to Arlene Allen and her feelings about her daughter, Adriane Insogna. It is to be expected that a mother grieves desperately for the loss of a child. However, this is not, in an of itself, always interesting to the reader. I do not mean to sound unsympathetic or without feeling... because I am a kind person, but these chapters were repetitive and dull. One sensitive chapter about a mother's grief would have sufficed.

There were a number of different individuals touched by the murders who stated they were very displeased with the ongoing, two-dimensional portrayal of the victims by the media. It would also appear the author was sympathetic to those who voiced these concerns. Yet, on the back of the book, Leslie Mazzara is once again described as a "Southern beauty queen." As so many who knew Leslie commented, this is an inaccurate statement about the woman Leslie was. She was not a pageant professional. She entered one local contest on the advice of a friend. Consequently, it seems rather unfair to chastise the media for their shameless attempts to garner attention by using the term "beauty queen" and then allow this very description of Leslie Mazzara to be placed on the back cover. You cannot have it both ways.

Additionally, I could have done without the phonetic spellings of some words and phrases. For example, "wanna" for want to -- "gonna" for going to -- "gotta" for got to -- and phrases such as "Whatcha doin'?" This was unnecessary, distracting, and overused.

On a more positive note, I did like the author's interpretation of the motive for the crime. While the public may never reallly know what drove an ordinary man to commit two senseless murders, I do believe Mr. LaRosa provides an insightful explanation of the individual factors that may have culminated in the brutal stabbing deaths of two young women. While identification of a motive does not excuse murder, it does provide a framework for understanding. Mr. LaRosa provides intelligent commentary and speculation about this difficult to define crime.

For those of you who have not read Mr. LaRosa's first book, TACOMA CONFIDENTIAL, you should.

I live in Napa, and work in an agency directly involved with the investigation and prosecution of the case. This book's main focus is on the lives of the victims and very little on the actual investigation or trial. Mr. LeRosa seems content to sensationalize the victims, especially Leslie Mazzara, with an unfair portrayal of her as a bit of a wild child, who, before the actual killer was caught, might have been the target of the killer as a result of her flirty behavior with men. It is rubbish and cruelly unfair to the memory of Ms. Mazzara. Mr. LeRosa's portrayal of the investigation by Napa Police Department and the prosecution by the District Attorney's Office is both wrong and unfair. It is clear he didn't really research that aspect of the case, so busy was he digging into the pasts of the victims. I was insulted by this book. I'm sure readers not close to the case will find it fascinating, but are many of us locals who reject the book outright.

Update: I am disappointed to see so many "not helpful" votes simply because I came to a different conclusion about the value of the book. It almost becomes intimidating to offer one's personal, honest opinion. To me a "not helpful" review is one that does not go into enough detail or does not substantiate the rating given - and I feel that I did do that here. I noticed all of the "negative" reviews for this book have received several "not helpful" ratings. To those of you who are stacking the deck... you need to double-check your heart and determine your true motivation for doing this.

I saw the 48 Hours episode and I didn't find enough additional "meat" in this book to make it worth the few hours that it took to read. I do have a new appreciation for how the producers of 48 Hours can take a 100 hours of interviews and condense it down into a concise 50 minute tv summary. The book feels disorganized because the author delivers pertinent facts and then "flashes back" to the past. This method works with tv magazines, but falls flat as a writing method for me because it takes too long to weed through the background info to stay interested - particulary if you are reading this in multiple sittings. I was hoping for something that no one can provide: a sensible reason for a senseless crime. May the victims rest-in-peace.

This book immediately drew me in with its gripping and sad storyline.

LaRosa makes you feel like you know these characters personally by the end of the story. Adriana and Leslie were so much more than the media made them out to be. Many crime books tend to tell one side of the story, where as LaRosa presents all sides of the story. Lessons can be learned from this book to leave no angle unturned. This was a story that needed to be told.

It leaves us with the question, How well do we really know our friends?

My heart goes out to the families of the victims.

Being a True Crime fan, I read a number of them. This one kept me on the edge trying to solve the crime as I read. It flows so easily and so much detail is given that one get's caught up in the effort to solve the crime so the families can at least have some level of understanding.

These victims were so like many young women making their way in the world and having their lives end in such a violent and pointless way adds so much to the sadness of the situation. Keep their families in your thoughts because while time lessens some hurts, it does not fill the void of the loss or end the pain completely.

LaRosa does a terrific job of presenting this story and builds it to level of tension that makes the crime solution all the more of a surprise.

I think the book should have contained more detailed info regarding the preliminary hearing. The testimony of Officer Elia from the preliminary hearing should have been included. The reader needs to understand that the murderer didn't just stab his victims. He literally tried to obliterate them! The viciousness and brutality should have been talked about.....so the reader can truly understand why this murderer will never be set free. I heard the details of the carnage he left behind....and make no mistake about it....this murderer has a dark side hidden under a very ordinary face. It wasn't a spur of the moment thought or because he was drinking. It was purely cold and calculated! There's also the fact that the day of the murder was the one-year anniversary for Officer Elia being on the police force. Considering that she was a "rookie", she did an excellent job of reporting and detailing the crime scene for the Investigators and the preliminary hearing.

I just finished "Nightmare" and I thought it was a well written book. It's the story of two young women who were brutally murdered in their home on one of the scariest nights of the year, Halloween. The killer who was unknown at the time, turns out to be someone close to them. I didn't feel like the author portrayed Ms. Mazzara as a wild child, as someone suggested. My impression of Leslie was that of a beautiful, spirited, and kind young woman. The author did a good job of conveying to the reader that these women were an assest to our society and it's a tragedy that they are no longer here. The end is sad and pathetic. Copple is a lowlife punk and he never gives a reason as to why he felt the need to kill two wonderful people. I do wish there had been more insight on this guy. A real life Freddie Kruger.

Nightmare in Napa was a big disappointment after reading another book in the 48 hours series. The book starts out well enough by describing the victims and their various friends and then the crime itself. However, there is very little mentioned about the investigation until over halfway through the book. There is so much time devoted to the victims that it almost reads like a biography. The problem is that these are not especially interesting people. Eventually, as I continued reading, I was let down by finding out the investigation was dull as well. This story contains about an hours worth of a compelling mystery, which is perfect for the TV show, but not so much for a book.