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  • The Curse

  • A Shocking True Story of Superstition, Human Sacrifice and Cannibalism (True Crime)
  • By: Ryan Green
  • Narrated by: Steve White
  • Length: 3 hrs and 33 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (14 ratings)

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The Curse

By: Ryan Green
Narrated by: Steve White
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Summary

In 1894, Leonarda Cianciulla was born into an abusive household. As a young girl, she attempted suicide twice to rid herself of the misery. After decades of abuse, Leonarda sought stability and married Raffaele Pansardi. Her mother did not approve and conveyed her anger in the strongest possible sense. She cursed the marriage.

Leonarda believed that her mother’s words had power and they haunted her for the rest of her life. Following the curse, Leonarda experienced fits and seizures, was imprisoned for fraud, lost her home to an earthquake, had three miscarriages and lost 10 children due to ill health in their youth. Her fears were exacerbated when she visited a Romani fortune teller who informed her, "In one hand I can see prison. In the other, a mental asylum."

In 1939, Leonarda’s eldest son, Giuseppe, informed her that he was going to join the Army. As one of only four remaining children, she needed to protect him at all costs. She decided that the only way to do that was through the most extreme means - human sacrifice.

The Curse is a chilling account of one of the most brutal and bizarre true-crime stories in history. Ryan Green’s riveting narrative draws the listener into the real-live horror experienced by the victims and has all the elements of a classic thriller.

Caution: This book contains descriptive accounts of abuse and violence. If you are especially sensitive to this material, it might be advisable not to listen.

©2019 Ryan Green (P)2019 Ryan Green
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastically Scary

Once again I loved this audio of a True Crime by Ryan Green. Though I can read books on my Kindle, (not books), I am Severely Visually Impaired (UK) /Legally Blind (USA). As a result audiobooks can do one of two things for me. Either simply tell me the story more easily than reading, or it can truly bring it to life. Steve White's narration truly brings it to real technicolor picture! Ryan's research is second to none, his ability to tell a tale of not just the protagonist, but also their family history is superb.

This particular book however, for me at least, is his scariest yet. Yes, I understand she was very afraid that she had been cursed. But, to then use the Occult the way she did, using human sacrifice, the methodology behind, not just the murders, but the disposal of the bodies, was ... disturbing to say the least. I guess as a society we are conditioned to the belief that women nurture, and protect. Are loving, warm. When they err in some really despicable way, it is somehow the more shocking to us. (Who among us wasn't more shocked by Rosemary West than by Fred?) Yet this women did things worse than a lot of male killers! Yet did it for the love of her son!

If you've never listened to a Ryan Green audible, what are you waiting for?

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A shocking book about a tale of tragedy

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

The concept of this book is an interesting one, as all true crimes tend to be. We follow Leonarda a young lady who marries a man her mother doesn't approve of.

She comes from a superstitious family, thus her mother `curses` the marriage. It sounds like the perfect start to a cheap horror flick, right? The thing that keeps anchoring you to this book is that it is based on a true story. we follow Leonarda as she slowly descends into what can only be described as psychosis. From that of the curse? or something self inflicted due to her beliefs in such things? Who could say.

It i's well written, well researched, but at times it does feel like there's not enough. The story is full of intrigue and detail. But some parts of the book read like a police report without heart and soul. It's a double edged sword, because it helps with the shock factor because of how authoritatively it is written. But this also means that the narrative lacks heart and compassion. This may be the preferred style for those that are in to true crime.

The narration is clear and precise. In an American general accent. It is well produced and nice and clearly mastered. It maps well to the story and it too is narrated in a fashion of someone telling facts rather than a story. Again, this may be due to the fact that this is a true crime story with no embellishment of the story with `Hollywood gloss`. That being said, I enjoyed this audiobook and was taken aback by the events that unfolded, it is thought provoking and sad. Leaving you hoping that those affected were able to move forwards with their lives.

All in all, if you like true crime novels this audiobook is definitely up your street.

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Disturbing

This was so disturbing! I don't think that I'll be able to look at soap the same way again. This book was interesting, if not quite gruesome, and makes me want to read more of Green's true crime books.

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Not for the faint hearted

I am giving this five stars because the narrator has done a good job of narrating this rather unpleasant story.

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1 person found this helpful