Death in Perugia by John Follain

Death in Perugia by John Follain

John Follain, who covers Italy for the Sunday Times, tells the definitive inside story of this extraordinary case. Shortly after 12.30pm on 2 November 2007, Italian police were called to the Perugia home of 21-year-old British student Meredith Kercher. They found her body on the floor under a beige quilt. Her throat had been cut. Four days later, the prosecutor jailed Meredith's flatmate American student Amanda Knox, and Raffaele Sollecito, her Italian boyfriend. He also jailed Rudy Guede, an Ivory Coast drifter. Four years later Knox and Sollecito were acquitted amid chaotic scenes in front of the world's media. Uniquely based on four years of reporting and access to the complete case files, Death In Perugia takes readers on a riveting journey behind the scenes of the investigation, as John Follain shares the drama of the trials and appeal hearings he lived through. Including exclusive interviews with Meredith's friends and other key sources, Death in Perugia reveals how the Italian dream turned into a nightmare.

A gripping read: a balanced, detailed account that allows the reader to respond to the central question: did they or didn't they?.. It's hard to imagine there will be a better book on the subject. * Tobias Jones, The Observer *
an excellent account of the tragedy and the very Italian drama that followed. * Stephen Robinson, The Sunday Times - a Sunday Times 'MUST READ' *
I was very much in the grip of this book. For two days I didn't switch on the TV ... Follain's account will trouble you for days. * William Leith, The Evening Standard *
In a case as familiar as this has become, it is surprising to go over it from the start ... (DEATH IN PERUGIA) does a good job of reminding us that amid the reams of print and reel are human lives; some innocent and some guilty, but all irreparably disfigured by this horribly sad story. * Ed Cumming, The Daily Telegraph *
I've been absorbed all week by ... the enthralling, soon to be best seller, I'm sure, DEATH IN PERUGIA. * Paul Holmes, The New Zealand Herald *
A fascinating book. * Ray D'Arcy, Today FM, Dublin *
A hot-off-the press account of the riveting murder trial of American student Amanda Knox, accused with her boyfriend and a drifter of killing her flatmate Meredith Kercher. * The Newcastle Herald *
Follain's impartiality works beautifully ... Follain always manages to bring humanity to the book in between the gory detail. * Tim Ellis, www.suite101.com, Vancouver *
'a careful, factual account of the case from the very beginning, complete with exhaustive interviews with key players, assiduous explanation of the complex details of the case, and a good understanding of the Italian judicial process'. * Gillian Lord, The Canberrra Times *
A riveting account of the whole affair, from the murder and trial to the electrifying appeals-court decision ... a vivid portrait of the woman at the center of it all ... Follain's book, based on hundreds of interviews and enriched by his unique access to the complete case files, is remarkably objective and fair-minded to all parties involved. * The Wall Street Journal, on A DEATH IN ITALY *
The British journalist John Follain has drawn upon the transcripts of Knox's lengthy trial and hundreds of interviews to give what may be the definitive account of the case. It's an ugly, confusing story but one he relates with clarity, compassion and a wealth of fascinating detail...Follain's account of this saga is gripping. * The Washington Post on A DEATH IN ITALY *