Helene Stapinski Boeken

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 colourful 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 realisation--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

The memoir offers a heartfelt glimpse into the author's challenging upbringing in Jersey City, capturing the grit and resilience of life in a tough environment. It paints a vivid picture of the struggles and triumphs faced, making it a compelling narrative that resonates with readers. The story's emotional depth and authenticity have garnered significant acclaim, leading to its adaptation into a PBS documentary.

Helene Stapinski was playing in the family's apartment when Grandpa pointed his loaded gun and bragged he had a bullet for each of them. Helene's daily bread was stolen by her father, and her first cousin embezzled a quarter of a million dollars, tearing the clan apart. This book features stories that are part of Helene's unbelievable heritage.