Murder in Matera : a true story of passion, family, and forgiveness in Southern Italy

"A murder mystery, a model of investigative reporting, a celebration of the fierce bonds that hold families together through tragedies...Murder in Matera is a gem." ? San Francisco Chronicle "Tantalizing" ? NPR "A thrilling detective story... Stapinski pursues the study of her family's criminal genealogy with unexpected emotional results." ? Library Journal A writer goes deep into the heart of Italy to unravel a century-old family mystery in this spellbinding memoir that blends the suspenseful twists of Making a Murderer and the emotional insight of Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan Novels. Since childhood, Helene Stapinski heard lurid tales about her great-great-grandmother, Vita. In Southern Italy, she was a loose woman who had murdered someone. Immigrating to America with three children, she lost one along the way. Helene's youthful obsession with Vita deepened as she grew up, eventually propelling the journalist to Italy, where, with her own children in tow, she pursued the story, determined to set the record straight. Finding answers would take Helene ten years and numerous trips to Basilicata, the rural "instep" of Italy's boot?a mountainous land rife with criminals, superstitions, old-world customs, and desperate poverty. Though false leads sent her down blind alleys, Helene's dogged search, aided by a few lucky?even miraculous?breaks and a group of colorful local characters, led her to the truth. Yes, the family tales she'd heard were true: There had been a murder in Helene's family, a killing that roiled 1870s Italy. But the identities of the killer and victim weren't who she thought they were. In revisiting events that happened more than a century before, Helene came to another stunning realization?she wasn't who she thought she was, either. Weaving Helene's own story of discovery with the tragic tale of Vita's life, Murder in Matera is a literary whodunit and a moving tale of self-discovery that brings into focus a long ago tragedy in a little-known region remarkable for its stunning sunny beauty and dark buried secrets Since childhood, Helene Stapinski heard lurid tales about her great-great-grandmother, Vita. In Southern Italy, she was a loose woman who had murdered someone. Immigrating to America with three children, she lost one along the way. Helene's youthful obsession with Vita deepened as she grew up, eventually propelling the journalist to Italy, where, with her own children in tow, she pursued the story, determined to set the record straight. Finding answers would take Helene ten years and numerous trips to Basilicata, the rural "instep" of Italy's boot--a mountainous land rife with criminals, superstitions, old-world customs, and desperate poverty. Though false leads sent her down blind alleys, Helene's dogged search, aided by a few lucky--even miraculous--breaks and a group of colorful local characters, led her to the truth. Yes, the family tales she'd heard were true: there had been a murder in Helene's family, a killing that roiled 1870s Italy. But the identities of the killer and victim weren't who she thought they were. In revisiting events that happened more than a century before, Helene came to another stunning realization--she wasn't who she thought she was, either. Weaving Helene's own story of discovery with the tragic tale of Vita's life, Murder in Matera is a literary whodunit and a moving tale of self-discovery that brings into focus a long ago tragedy in a little-known region remarkable for its stunning sunny beauty and dark buried secrets. Helene Stapinski goes deep into the heart of Italy to unravel a century-old family mystery in this spellbinding memoir that blends the suspenseful twists of Making a Murderer and the emotional insight of Elena Ferrantes Neapolitan Novels. Weaving Helenes own story of discovery with the tragic tale of Vitas life, Murder in Matera is a literary whodunit and a moving tale of self-discovery that brings into focus a long ago tragedy in a little-known region remarkable for its stunning sunny beauty and dark buried secrets. "A thrilling detective story . . . Stapinski pursues the study of her family's criminal genealogy with unexpected emotional results." — Library Journal Since childhood, Helene Stapinski heard lurid tales about her great-great-grandmother, Vita. In Southern Italy, she was a loose woman who had murdered someone. Immigrating to America with three children, she lost one along the way. Helene's youthful obsession with Vita deepened as she grew up, eventually propelling the journalist to Italy, where, with her own children in tow, she pursued the story. Finding answers would take her ten years and numerous trips to Basilicata, a mountainous land rife with criminals, superstitions, old-world customs, and desperate poverty. Though false leads sent her down blind alleys, Helene's dogged search, aided by a few lucky—even miraculous—breaks and some colorful local characters, led her to the truth. There had indeed been a murder in Helene's family, a killing that roiled 1870s Italy. But the identities of the killer and victim weren't who she thought they were. In revisiting events that happened more than a century before, Helene came to another stunning realization—she wasn't who she thought she was, either. Weaving Helene's own story of discovery with the tragic tale of Vita's life, Murder in Matera is a "tantalizing" literary whodunit (NPR) and a moving tale of self-discovery from the acclaimed author of Five-Finger Discount . "A murder mystery, a model of investigative reporting, a celebration of the fierce bonds that hold families together through tragedies . . . a gem." — San Francisco Chronicle "She captures perfectly the 'simultaneous beauty and sadness' of Matera." — The New York Times Book Review "Lively . . . engrossing. In addition to solving the murder, Stapinski produces a vivid picture of the region's hardships, past and present." — The New Yorker A writer goes deep into the heart of Italy to unravel a century-old family mystery in this spellbinding memoir that blends the suspenseful twists of Making a Murderer and the emotional insight of Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan Novels. Since childhood, Helene Stapinski heard lurid tales about her great-great-grandmother, Vita. In Southern Italy, she was a loose woman who had murdered someone. Immigrating to America with three children, she lost one along the way. Helene's youthful obsession with Vita deepened as she grew up, eventually propelling the journalist to Italy, where, with her own children in tow, she pursued the story, determined to set the record straight. Finding answers would take Helene ten years and numerous trips to Basilicata, the rural "instep" of Italy's boot - a mountainous land rife with criminals, superstitions, old-world customs, and desperate poverty. Though false leads sent her down blind alleys, Helene's dogged search, aided by a few lucky -even miraculous- breaks and a group of colorful local characters, led her to the truth. Yes, the family tales she'd heard were true: There had been a murder in Helene's family, a killing that roiled 1870s Italy. But the identities of the killer and victim weren't who she thought they were. In revisiting events that happened more than a century before, Helene came to another stunning realization - she wasn't who she thought she was, either. Weaving Helene's own story of discovery with the tragic tale of Vita's life, Murder in Matera is a literary whodunit and a moving tale of self-discovery that brings into focus a long ago tragedy in a little known region remarkable for its stunning sunny beauty and dark buried secrets Since Childhood, Helene Stapinski Heard Lurid Tales About Her Great-great-grandmother, Vita. In Southern Italy, She Was A Loose Woman Who Had Murdered Someone. Immigrating To America With Three Children, She Lost One Along The Way. Helene's Youthful Obsession With Vita Deepened As She Grew Up, Eventually Propelling The Journalist To Italy, Where, With Her Own Children In Tow, She Pursued The Story, Determined To Set The Record Straight -- Provided By Publisher. I: Plea. All The Knots Come To The Comb ; Dark To Dark ; Public Mockery ; In The Name Of The Father, Son, And Holy Spirit ; You Have The Face Of The Gallitellis ; Go Back To America And Leave The Dead In Peace ; A Turned-up Nose Is Worse Than Hail ; You'll Never Be Sated With Bread And Olives -- Ii: Discovery. The Truth Always Rises To The Top ; Take A Coffee ; The Crypt Of The Original Sin ; There's No Two Without Three ; Wild Things ; In The Mouth Of The Wolf ; Gypsies, Gypsies, Gypsies ; Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday ; Thinking On Your Feet ; Faithful Home ; Cupa Cupa ; With Snow You Get Bread, With Rain You Get Hunger ; Don't Spit In The Plate Where You Eat ; Pinecones For Brains ; Eccolo ; Go To Cool ; Don't Tell The Farmer How Good Cheese Is With Pears ; Empty Crib -- Iii: Trial. ; Puttana ; Take This Body, Take This Blood ; Far From Town ; Way Out ; Recoil ; Song Of The Prisoner ; To Every Bird, Its Own Nest Is Beautiful ; One Face, One Race ; Departure Is Nothing More Than The Beginning Of The Homecoming ; Last Supper ; Get On The Train! ; Count Your Nights By Stars, Not Shadows ; Come Here ; See Naples And Die. Helene Stapinski. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 297-300).