ALL THE LIES THEY DID NOT TELL

A true-crime book set in late-1990s Italy focuses on the phenomenon of “Satanic Panic.”

Italian journalist Trincia introduces readers to “the Devils of the Bassa Modenese,” a series of criminal cases in the Bassa region of Italy centered on alleged ritual acts of pedophilia and terror against at least 16 children. The author narrates a complex tale of children—mainly from poor and/or troubled families—who were forcibly removed from their homes by the regional bureaucracy. These removals, which seemed to occur like falling dominoes, began with the testimony of Dario, one boy who shared truly horrific tales of “ritual satanic abuse and sexual violence.” In addition to his stories of sexual abuse, Dario described how young victims were threatened, beaten, tortured, and forced to take part in acts of violence, including the murders of other children. Due to his testimonies—and then those of other children—several families were broken apart, many parents were imprisoned, and various suspected pedophiles were also charged, often on little evidence aside from the words of the children. Trincia explores the local view that, in many cases, what was at stake was an ideological battle between church-influenced families and the communist-influenced state, which often subverted traditional family values. Indeed, Trincia explains how most accused individuals were acquitted due to the questionable nature of much of the evidence, including physical exams that failed to prove abuse despite initial reports. Though Trincia deftly avoids making his own judgement, it is clear that most questioning of the children was highly unprofessional, at best, and aggressively interrogative, at worst. The well-researched narrative is choppy in certain sections, and readers must deal with an onslaught of names and facts. Given the disturbing nature of the content, this one is not for the faint of heart.

A difficult read but an eye-opening story best suited for die-hard true-crime fans.