Murder in Matera: A True Story of Passion, Family, and Forgiveness in Southern Italy

Here, writer Stapinski (Five-Finger Discount) pursues the study of her family's criminal genealogy with unexpected emotional results. Having grown up with tales of roguish relatives and even a murder, the author began a ten-year search for the facts of the alleged murder involving her great-great-grandparents Vita and Francesco. The venture required multiple trips to Basilicata, a southern Italian region with colorful inhabitants and a dismal past. Despite initial roadblocks, interviews were conducted and a valuable criminal file and archival information unearthed. Revelations about the murder itself, Francesco's incarceration and demise, and Vita's new life with a wealthier man of surprising significance to the family are engagingly conveyed. The author also reconstructs the harrowing details of Vita's journey to America in 1892, including the loss of a child. The book concludes with a testimony of gratitude and admiration for Vita rather than shame for any misdeeds.