Risking Life for Death | Ryan Blumenthal

You would think that a mortuary is one of the safest places to work—after all there’s no one to harm you. Ryan Blumenthal will convince you otherwise. Slippery floors, sharp corners, knives, saws, needless, toxic gases, biological hazards such as hepatitis, HIV and other bloodborne disease all pose a substantial danger. Not to mention the psychological wounds one can sustain from encountering the dark side of human nature. Blumenthal’s defense mechanism is his sense of humour, along with his insatiable curiosity and desire to solve a mystery. Because that’s what many autopsies are, puzzles to be solved.

Locard’s Exchange Principle, which essentially states that the perpetrator of a crime will always bring something to the crime scene and leave with something from it, is one of the techniques used to solve these puzzles. In order to support this theory, Blumenthal offers case studies throughout his book. From lightning to snake bite victims, Blumenthal’s weird and sometimes wonderfully interesting stories will give you a newfound respect for these, as he calls them, medical detectives in white coats. You’ll also stay away from grain silos and home beerbrewing after reading his book.

More seriously, Blumenthal claims that those who end up on his autopsy table can teach him a lot about what is going on in the world, whether it be the introduction of a new drug or gang in a specific area. He observed five things during the COVID lockdown: a definite rise in suicides, more partner-on-partner violence, and an increase in deaths related to addiction. After lockdown, there was an increase in transport-related fatalities because people were suddenly allowed to drive again and either forgot how to do it or had accidents because of their pent-up frustration led to accidents. Lastly, more skeletons and decomposed bodies were found because people were living alone.

From his 25 years of experience, Blumenthal did learn how critical observation is. Even the smallest details, such as sounds, textures, or smells, can shed light on a situation. This can be applied to life, and he briefly demonstrates how the Locard’s principle applies to most aspects of our lives, such as health, relationships, and work.

Risking Life for Death will appeal to readers interested in true crime, crime fiction, or forensic science. Blumenthal strikes a fine balance between a lighthearted tone and more subject-specific medical case analysis, making this a quick, easy and interesting read.

Risking Life for Death is published by South African publisher, Jonathan Ball, who also provided me with a review copy for an honest review.

The City of the Living | Nicola Lagioia

On 4 March 2016 23-year-old Luca Varani was brutally murdered in an apartment on the outskirts of Rome by Marco Prato and Manuel Foffo. One of Italy’s most renowned novelists, Nicola Lagioia, explores the factors that led to the murder that shocked Rome and the rest of Italy. What motivated two young men, apparently from good families, to violently torture and kill another young man?

The City of the Living is the result of an in-depth study of the circumstances surrounding the murder and the profiles and, backgrounds of the two perpetrators and the victim. As Lagioia pieces together the specifics of this real-life crime, an unsettling picture of Rome’s current socioeconomic situation also emerges.

In Rome, chaos and decay reign, while tourists flock to see the city’s sights. Lagioia describes the city he now lives in as “… unlivable and yet teeming with life, overrun by rats and wild animals and plagued by corruption, drugs and violence.” Rats scurry from sewers, cross streets, and go into stores as a result of the absence of proper administration, including garbage removal.

“Rome was violent on a psychic level …you breathed a tense, angry air… all the despair, bitterness, arrogance, brutality, sense of failure that filled the city were concentrated on one point.”

The inhabitants of Rome did as they pleased, regardless of the consequences, creating a climate of lawlessness. This was the most evident in the youth who were frustrated with a lack of future and didn’t have the will to change their circumstances. The glamorous lifestyle they often longed for was unattainable, even for someone from the more fortunate middle-class. Their solution? Drugs and alcohol, thereby creating the illusion of wealth and happiness. This in turn lead to a lack of social responsibility, accountability for their actions and a non-existent moral compass. When you add simmering resentment and anger to an already explosive situation, senseless violence isn’t as farfetched and unfathomable anymore.

Manuel Foffo still lacked direction in his late 20s. Although he had ambitious plans for developing a football app, it never materialised. Conversations with Manuel and those close to him revealed that he placed the blame for his actions entirely on others. He resented his father because he prefered his brother, because he forced him to study law, because he gave away his scooter… He went so far as to blame his drinking, drug use and change in personality on his father because he didn’t give him the car he wanted. Manuel described his mother as a psychopath, uncultured, and paranoid schizophrenic. Ironically, a psychiatrist’s assessment of Manual revealed that he exhibited narcissistic and paranoid traits.

On Rome’s gay scene, 29-year-old Marco Prato was a well-liked and dynamic club promoter. Marco’s father, an arts administrator, adored his son, while his mother struggled to accept his homosexuality. Marco also refused to accept responsibility for his role in Luca’s murder and blamed his actions on his childhood and his parents. After his sister was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy when he was seven, Marco felt neglected. He was also the more charming and cunning of the two men. Friends said he could switch from being empathetic to acting malicious in the space of one sentence and he excelled in exploiting the flaws he saw in others.

Marco and Manuel first met two months before the murder at a New Year’s Eve party and then briefly again for a glass of wine. It was entirely coincidental that they ended up together in a flat doing coke for three days straight. That they murdered Luca was even more shocking. During their drug-fuelled frenzy, they sent out multiple SMS invites to their party; most people declined, others had a lucky, narrow escape.

What compelled Marco and Manuel to commit an unplanned, non-premeditated murder? Was it worth destroying their and the lives of their parents for? These weren’t men from poor families, children of thieves or drug addicts—they simply had no excuse for their actions.

On the other hand, the adopted Luca Varani came from a less fortunate family. His father was a travelling sweets and dried fruit vendor, and the family lived outside of Rome. Luca was a mechanic who frequently gambled and was perpetually short on cash. He may have been more susceptible to compliance due to his social class, financial precarity, lifestyle, character, and lack of skills, making him an easy target for two cunning men with superiority complexes who were completely devoid of empathy.

The City of the Living is a chilling account of a true crime that, despite Lagioia’s extensive research and search for the truth, still feels completely senseless and incomprehensible. For the most part, it reads like a gripping novel, to the point where you’ll need to remind yourself that this is a real story and Luca Varani’s death was an irrefutable tragedy. For those who enjoy true crime, crime fiction, or want to learn more about Rome’s seedier side, The City of the Living will undoubtedly capture your attention, but it will also leave you disillusioned with life’s injustice and inequality.

City of the Living is published by Europa Editions and I received a NetGalley review copy. The translation from Italian was done by Ann Goldstein.

The Most Evil of Them All | Sam Human

What makes a serial killer? The answer usually is: a combination of factors, such as abusive or neglected childhoods and a proclivity for genetic, sociopathic, or schizophrenic disorders. Dr Sam Human suggests another factor—the contribution of pathological narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) Through examples of local and international serial killers and rapists Dr Human explores the role this disorder plays in violent behaviour.

The Most Evil of Them All comes with a warning on its back cover: Don’t read this book at night! The truth is, it doesn’t matter when you read Human’s research into some of the most horrific and unsettling murderers of our time, it will leave you with a permeating sense of unease.

The DSM-5 (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association) defines narcissistic personality disorder as “… a persistent pattern of grandiosity in both actual behaviour and fantasy, with a lack of empathy and a consistent need for admiration and self-elevation.” An individual with a narcissistic disorder may retaliate violently or aggressively if they don’t get the admiration and attention they believe they deserve. They will do anything to provoke a response or shock in an effort to attract attention.

Cult leaders like Charles Manson, whose primary motivation was fame and wealth, are excellent examples of narcissists. Other serial killers, such as the Zodiac Killer, who terrorised residents of the San Francisco Bay area for five years in the early 1970s, took pleasure in the act of murder, but also enjoyed taunting the police by giving information about his identity away piecemeal. His letters were written with the intention of gaining media attention, frightening the public, and boosting his own ego. Issei Sagawa, a Japanese murderer, cannibal and necrophile enjoyed a celebrity life until his death, which included fame as an author and a food critic (!)

Human doesn’t focus only on well-known, international cases, but also brings it uncomfortably close to home. Don Steenkamp, Henri van Breda, Jason Rhode, Dina Rodrigues, Celia Steyn; Gert van Rooyen and Joey Haarhoff were all suspects in murder investigations that graced the covers (and pages of YOU and Huisgenoot) for months, if not years. They caused a media sensation, and some were investigated further in series format; The Griekwastad Murders became a film. Ironically it’s this kind of attention someone with NPD feeds on. The common tread running through them all, according to Dr Human, is the prevalence of narcissistic personality disorder, which includes, among others, a complete lack of empathy, a feeling of entitlement and a grandiose sense of self-importance and status.

“Genetics loads the gun, their personality and psychology aim it, but their early experiences pull the trigger” – FBI profiler Jim Clemente

Human states that the purpose of her book is not to examine serial killers or try to understand their motivations, but rather to draw attention to the connection between pathological narcissism and violent, anti-social behaviour. However, the details of these serial killers’ psychological makeup are the most fascinating, albeit disturbing, part of the book. Without them as examples, it would have been dry, academic reading. Since the disorder’s characteristics can sometimes be found in multiple case studies, repetition occurs frequently. Although overlap is unavoidable, a clearer, more logical section and chapter structure might have helped. For instance, the introduction includes no fewer than four cases as examples and is quite lengthy. This is followed by a short chapter on the history of the term “narcissism” and its psychological origins.

The Most Evil of Them All contains ample material for true crime junkies, but one can only hope that it will also draw readers with an interest in psychology and understanding the complexity of this criminal behaviour while looking past the sensationalism that invariably accompanies it.

Nazaré: Life and Death with the Big Wave Surfers | Matt Majendie

Until a few years ago, Nazaré, a small village on the coast of Portugal, was predominantly known for its fishing industry and, in summer, tourism. The first records of fishermen in Nazaré date back to 1643 and it has been steeped in this tradition ever since. For centuries Nazaré’s fishermen braved the dangerous ocean and some of the world’s largest waves to provide for their families. From 2010 a new breed of ocean dweller would flock to the Portuguese town’s shore: big wave surfers.

Big wave surfing dates back to the 1970s, but in recent decades, well-known surfers like Laird Hamilton have helped to put it on the map. The majority of big wave spots were in the Pacific: Jaws and Waimea Bay in Hawaii, Mavericks in California, and Teahupo’o in Tahiti. However, big wave surfers have always longed to find a bigger wave, wondering if a 100-foot wave existed. They found it in Nazaré, Portugal.

Garrett McNamara was the first to surf Nazaré’s big waves, but it was a local bodyboarder, Dino Casimiro, who emailed McNamara asking him to come to Nazaré. Before McNamara, surfers and bodyboarders visited the beach frequently during the months when the swell was smaller, surfing the smaller waves. A group of Portuguese friends, which included Casimiro, realised that the town’s economy needed a boost during the winter months. The town’s residents, who primarily depend on fishing for a living, have seen the ocean provide less and less over time and the economy was suffering.

During the 2021/2022 big wave surfing season, sports journalist Matt Majendie lived among Nazaré insiders such as surfers Andrew Cotton, Maya Gabeira, Sebastian Steudtner, Nic von Rupp, and jet-ski driver Sérgio Cosme, dubbed “the Guardian Angel of Nazaré.” Each provides a different perspective on the Nazaré surf scene according to their personal experiences. The Brazilian-born Maya Gabeira is currently the female World Record holder, but her career hasn’t been an easy one. It’s been made difficult by sexism, verbal abuse and territorial discrimination. Sebastian Steudtner, a German surfer who currently holds the male world record, grew up in the land-locked Nuremberg, but was passionate about surfing from an early age. Sebastian, who is also known as “the “surfing scientist,” is constantly working with the support of his sponsors Porsche and Siemens to increase big wave surfing safety.

Nazaré is known as surfing’s Mount Everest. It’s situated in a complex geological area which consists of an underwater canyon which goes from 5000 metres in depth to just 50 by the time it reaches the lighthouse. It’s notorious for it’s brutality and as Steudtner states: “You need to have that psychopath in you, and I definitely have that.” Like all big wave surfers he realises that this “psychopathic” drive could cost his life, which is why he does everything within his power to make sure it doesn’t happen to him or anyone else. It is also necessary to emphasise the importance of teamwork in preventing accidents. Skilled jet-ski drivers like Sérgio Cosme play an important role not only in towing surfers into the wave, but also in rescuing them afterwards. Each is reliant on the other and works as a unit, frequently switching roles.

Every cubic metre behind a surfer is equivalent to a tonne. If a surfer rides a wave of 65 feet, it’s 20 tonnes just for the width of the surfer on a board. There’s no doubt that there’s an immense risk of serious injury and fatality. Both surfers and their families realise each time they go out on a big wave that they could die. Concussions in particular are severely understated in terms of injury severity, which is likely due to ego. Derek Dunfee, who sustained a concussion that has affected him for the rest of his life, claims that there is silence regarding concussive effects “thanks to the bravado that goes with such an inherently dangerous pastime.”

There are numerous injury stories, including surfers who were knocked unconscious and nearly drowned, dislocated elbows, teeth knocked out by jet-ski handlebars, earlobes ripped off, and broken backs. However, the desire for the next adrenaline rush always outweighs the fear of injury or death. Apart from the thrill of it, there is also the desire for recognition, to be the best, and ultimately to break the World Record. It’s a fiercely competitive sport. Local big wave surfer, Nic von Rupp, admits: “…surfing is your best friend and your worst enemy, It turns you into a really selfish person, It’s you, your wave and that’s it.”

During Majendie’s visit HBO was also filming the documentary The 100 Foot Wave, which undoubtedly contributed to the town’s popularity and changing demographic. The group of friends who wanted to drive more people to Nazaré succeeded. It is now a worldwide brand. But it has also changed the town: housing is more expensive, and locals can no longer afford to live there. Steudther is concerned about the influx of surfers and influencers to Nazaré, describing it as “a kindergarten without teachers.” More risks are being taken for more followers and likes.

In Portugal, it is said that whatever the sea wants, the sea takes. Many fishermen’s lives have been lost over the years, and Nazaré’s big wave claimed its first big wave surfing victim in January of this year. This is a stark reminder that big wave surfing, despite its almost mythical status, is one of the most dangerous sports today. Fortunately, Majendie’s book offers a balanced and realistic perspective. If the sport of big wave surfing piques your interest, you’ll appreciate this eye-opening read.

Nazaré: Life and Death with the Big Wave Surfers is published by Wellbeck Publishing and local publishers, Jonathan Ball, kindly gave me a copy for review.

A Short History of the World in 50 Lies | Natasha Tidd

There’s an old proverb that claims knowledge of our past is necessary in order to comprehend our present. Of course this makes sense. The same mistakes should not be repeated from generation to generation. But what if the information in our history books isn’t always accurate?

Natasha Tidd presents us with 50 lies from our history that we have come to believe to be true. A Short History of the World in 50 Lies is remarkably tiny for the amount of information, spanning centuries, it contains. It begins in the ancient world, when Cambyses orders the assassination of his brother, Bardiya, who threatens his reign, only for a fake Bardiya to claim the throne after Cambyses dies. Here, you will find numerous examples of how simple it was to persuade people that you were someone else. From Bardiya to Anastasia Romanov, whose death was only proven in 1995 thanks to DNA tests. Nonetheless, for years, women pretended to be the missing Russian princess in order to gain access to the royal family’s wealth. Mary Toft, the woman who birthed rabbits; Nostradamus; Pope Joan; the Mirabel Sisters; the Tuskegee Experiment, My Lai Massacre, Operation Legacy and the Chernobyl Disaster–it’s all here.

Although Tidd covers the Ancient World, Middle Ages, Early Modern Age, and Nineteenth Century, the chapters on the Twentieth Century are the most interesting to me, possibly because they are more relevant to our own time. As a South African, I am well aware of the British scorched earth policy and subsequent concentration camps used to wage war during the Anglo-Boer War in the early 1900s. What is shocking are the lies told to the British public in order to cover up the treatment and deaths of thousands of people. In June 1901 Emily Hobhouse’s exposé of the conditions in the camps was published and the public, as well as parliament was shocked by the revelations. Yet, those responsible downplayed the severity of the situation. By the time the government decided to act it was too late. The war was ending and over 46 000 people died, most of them children.

” … medical experts reminded readers that the flu was just a bad cold and advised that the best way to prevent it was to ‘maintain a cheery outlook on life’, as those who were in ‘depressed states‘ were more likely to catch flu.”

Attempts to conceal the severity of the Spanish Flu in 1918 sounded uncannily similar to our recent experience with COVID, while details of the horrific Theresienstadt, a Nazi-built city built to house Jews who received war medals, will both enrage and sadden you. A Short History of the World in 50 Lies is a chilling reminder that history is frequently written by those who control the narrative for their own purposes, whether they are propaganda, politics, power, or money. As a result, it should always be challenged, lest we repeat it.

A Short History of the World is published by Michael O’Mara Books and distributed in South Africa by Jonathan Ball publishers.