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Portrait of a Monster: Joran van der Sloot, a Murder in Peru, and the Natalee Holloway Mystery
From a pair of New York Times bestselling authors with unparalleled access comes an in-depth account of the manhunt for Joran van der Sloot, one of the most reviled accused criminals in the world In May 2005, Natalee Holloway disappeared from a high school trip to Aruba. Five years to the day later, twenty-one-year-old Stephany Flores was reported missing in Lima, Peru. Implicated in both crimes was one young Joran van der Sloot. A twenty-three-year-old Dutchman, Van der Sloot has become the subject of intense scrutiny by the media and the public in the years since 2005. He was arrested and detained by Aruban authorities in connection with the Holloway disappearance, only to be released after questioning. In 2008, during a Dutch sting operation, he admitted to being present for Holloway’s death---but later recanted his statement. In 2010, on the five-year anniversary of her disappearance, a young business student in Peru named Stephany Flores disappeared, only to be found dead three days later in a hotel room---registered to Van der Sloot. He was arrested for the murder and confessed, but he later claimed he was coerced. This is the first book to offer a probing look at the man tied to two of the most sensational cases of the decade. It draws • Interviews with members of the families of Joran, Stephany, and Natalee • Never-before-seen photographs of the crime scene in Peru, fingerprint files, hotel records, and more • Internal communications between Interpol, the FBI, Aruban officials, and officials in Chile and Peru • Never-before-seen police files from Chile, Peru, and Aruba Portrait of a Monster offers an unflinching look into the workings of an international manhunt and a chilling portrait of an alleged killer.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published July 5, 2011
44 people are currently reading
769 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Pulitzer
21 books38 followersLISA PULITZER is a former correspondent for the New York Times. She is the author of more than a dozen non-fiction titles, including New York Times bestseller Stolen Innocence (with Elissa Wall) and Portrait of a Monster: Joran van der Sloot, A Murder in Peru, and the Natalee Holloway Mystery (with Cole Thompson.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
October 24, 2019
Honestly I do not even know what to say about this book.
I remember the Natalee Holloway case well. My mom and myself watched all the news coverage and we donated to Beth Holloway to help her find her daughter. Sadly, she never did.
We did boycott Aruba after that. For me it was easy..I'd never been there. My mom however used to go semi regularly and after this she never went back.
I felt and feel so for what this family went through. It was horrifying how badly the police screwed up the case. I remember every other day a new lead would break that would turn out to be no good. It was heart wrenching and I do not understand how the family got through it.
Beth Holloway sort of became my hero. And the good news, what little good news there is, is that this monster, Joran Van fer Sloot, got locked up anyway. Sadly, because the police did not do their jobs, another woman died. It is a terrible story.
I read this so long ago and just never reviewed so details are kind of sketchy. I don't know if one can "like" a book like this but it was certainly well written and detailed.
I hope he is in jail for the rest of his life. This is good writing but it obviously is tragic. If you like true crime you may want to read this book.
I remember the Natalee Holloway case well. My mom and myself watched all the news coverage and we donated to Beth Holloway to help her find her daughter. Sadly, she never did.
We did boycott Aruba after that. For me it was easy..I'd never been there. My mom however used to go semi regularly and after this she never went back.
I felt and feel so for what this family went through. It was horrifying how badly the police screwed up the case. I remember every other day a new lead would break that would turn out to be no good. It was heart wrenching and I do not understand how the family got through it.
Beth Holloway sort of became my hero. And the good news, what little good news there is, is that this monster, Joran Van fer Sloot, got locked up anyway. Sadly, because the police did not do their jobs, another woman died. It is a terrible story.
I read this so long ago and just never reviewed so details are kind of sketchy. I don't know if one can "like" a book like this but it was certainly well written and detailed.
I hope he is in jail for the rest of his life. This is good writing but it obviously is tragic. If you like true crime you may want to read this book.
May 20, 2023
Readers of true crime will appreciate the meticulous research that provided the information presented in this book. In May 2005, American student Natalee Holloway vanished while vacationing on the island of Aruba. The prime suspect in her disappearance was a young resident of Aruba, Joran van der Sloot. Although an exhaustive search was conducted, Natalee was never found. Five years to the day, another young woman, Stephany Flores, was found brutally murdered in Peru. Her body was discovered in a hotel room occupied by former Aruba native, Joran van der Sloot. Lisa Pulitzer and Cole Thompson provide an objective recounting of events involved in both cases, and detail the frustration faced by investigators as they attempted to provide justice to the victims' families. The result, truly, is a portrait of a monster.
May 2023 Update: After he served time in prison for the murder of Stephany, I’m glad to hear that he is being extradited to the United States! Perhaps Natalee’s family will finally receive justice for their daughter.
May 2023 Update: After he served time in prison for the murder of Stephany, I’m glad to hear that he is being extradited to the United States! Perhaps Natalee’s family will finally receive justice for their daughter.
June 7, 2012
First of all let me tell you that I am Dutch so the same country where his parents came from and where Joran lived for a few years. I finished reading this book this morning and I liked it a lot. I know Lisa Pulitzer is a good writer.
I learned a few things I did not know. Most shocked was I when I read about him trying to extort Natalie's mum. That was so low. I do not like her a lot but that was so nasty.
To be honest I thought he was framed cause he is pretty smart and it was weird that the murder happened exactly on the day of Nathalie's disappearance. I was wondering if he was set up maybe by someone. I guess I believed one of his stories (the one where he is caught on tape)where he did not know he was being filmed" he told a "friend that the killing of Nathalie was an accident and that they had used a boat. He is 2 years older than my daughter and it is hard to accept that one so young can be a repetitive killer. Reading this book specific the part about Stephany Torrez I learned what he told the cops first but that he is guilty of killing her.
This book was very well written. it is divided in chapters. Chapters about what happened in Aruba and another one about Peru. Moving from one country back to the other one. After the video of Peter R. de Vries Joran was hated by the Dutch but even before they did not believe him and were disgusted that he had written a book. I do think that him being haunted and hated by so many caused him to get even more crazy. There were some little typing mistakes in the book but I highly recommend it.
4.5 stars.
I learned a few things I did not know. Most shocked was I when I read about him trying to extort Natalie's mum. That was so low. I do not like her a lot but that was so nasty.
To be honest I thought he was framed cause he is pretty smart and it was weird that the murder happened exactly on the day of Nathalie's disappearance. I was wondering if he was set up maybe by someone. I guess I believed one of his stories (the one where he is caught on tape)where he did not know he was being filmed" he told a "friend that the killing of Nathalie was an accident and that they had used a boat. He is 2 years older than my daughter and it is hard to accept that one so young can be a repetitive killer. Reading this book specific the part about Stephany Torrez I learned what he told the cops first but that he is guilty of killing her.
This book was very well written. it is divided in chapters. Chapters about what happened in Aruba and another one about Peru. Moving from one country back to the other one. After the video of Peter R. de Vries Joran was hated by the Dutch but even before they did not believe him and were disgusted that he had written a book. I do think that him being haunted and hated by so many caused him to get even more crazy. There were some little typing mistakes in the book but I highly recommend it.
4.5 stars.
August 10, 2011
Van der Sloot is by all means a monster and this is a fair rendition of the events surrounding Stephany Flores' murder and Natalee Holloway's disappearance. My thoughts are with their families.
That said, the authors could have done a better job. Let me explain: for example, they wrongly declare over and over again in the book that Joran is 6ft4inch tall. My hubby, who by all means is a very tall man, is 6ft4inch which is 1.93 meters or 193 centimeters. If you look at the many pictures, in the book or on the net, where Van der Sloot's height is fully displayed, he is 2 meters tall. Now, a simple Internet conversion would have clearly told the authors that 2 mt. means 6ft8inch and not 6ft4..
I believe that non-fiction should be as precise as possible.. Fiction authors can take liberties. Not so when you are talking of something that really happened. Again, if you open page 122 you will see that it says "May 30, 2005 Ica, Peru", while they needed to say "May 30, 2010 Ica, Peru" because they were continuing der Sloot's attempt to avoid capture by getting out of Peru as quickly as possible. Now, that attempt happened in 2010 after he killed Stephany Flores, not in 2005 when he was in Aruba with his daddy saving his arse after Holloway's disappearance..
While I get it that Van der Sloot's height is not the main issue in the story, and neither is a wrong date (actually, two wrong dates, the second one being on page 147), I am left wondering what else the authors got wrong and why they were in such a hurry to publish this book that they didn't even bother doing some very much needed double checking.
And that's why it gets 'only' three stars from moi.
That said, the authors could have done a better job. Let me explain: for example, they wrongly declare over and over again in the book that Joran is 6ft4inch tall. My hubby, who by all means is a very tall man, is 6ft4inch which is 1.93 meters or 193 centimeters. If you look at the many pictures, in the book or on the net, where Van der Sloot's height is fully displayed, he is 2 meters tall. Now, a simple Internet conversion would have clearly told the authors that 2 mt. means 6ft8inch and not 6ft4..
I believe that non-fiction should be as precise as possible.. Fiction authors can take liberties. Not so when you are talking of something that really happened. Again, if you open page 122 you will see that it says "May 30, 2005 Ica, Peru", while they needed to say "May 30, 2010 Ica, Peru" because they were continuing der Sloot's attempt to avoid capture by getting out of Peru as quickly as possible. Now, that attempt happened in 2010 after he killed Stephany Flores, not in 2005 when he was in Aruba with his daddy saving his arse after Holloway's disappearance..
While I get it that Van der Sloot's height is not the main issue in the story, and neither is a wrong date (actually, two wrong dates, the second one being on page 147), I am left wondering what else the authors got wrong and why they were in such a hurry to publish this book that they didn't even bother doing some very much needed double checking.
And that's why it gets 'only' three stars from moi.
August 24, 2014
This is one of the best true crime books that I've read. It's well written, well researched and easy to read. I loved it.
The story of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway in 2005 and the murder of Stephany Flores in 2010 is told in alternating chapters. I found this a little confusing to start with until I became more familiar with the characters in both cases.
Joran van der Sloot in a consummate liar and a master manipulator, going so far as to cast suspicion on his own father in the disappearance of Natalee.
A truly despicable person who deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison for the innocent lives that he has ruined.
April 3, 2012
I bought this book off ebay sometime last year and like I do with most of the books I buy, I put it on one on my bookshelves hoping to read it someday. When I finally picked it up to read it I discovered that it was an Advance Media Copy so it was un-edited version and there were no pictures inside….. UGH! One of the things that I like about reading True Crime books is looking at the pictures and being able to put a face to some of the names. Let this be a lesson learned. READ THE FINE PRINT before buying!
Now, with that said, let’s discuss the book. This was one of the best True Crime books I have read even with it being an un-edited copy. The author’s that collaborated in writing this book, really did their investigation and research into these 2 cases that captured World Wide headlines. They timeline the events in both cases in chronological order. It was very easy for me to get entrapped into this book because of how vivid the story was told. Even the ride that Joran took after he had murdered Stephany, and was trying to flee Peru, was outlined in the book with extreme details. The outcome of both cases is very sad. The book is written in present and past tense. The chapters go back and forth between the Holloway Case and the Flores Case. The facts about the Stephany Flores Case was very detailed, and the authors’ were not shy on making these details public on how her body was found and the condition it was in. The details were horrific and brutal but were necessary so that readers can really see the animal Joran Van Der Sloot is. He is a manipulative liar, and reminded me of the OJ Simpson case because Van Der Sloot even wrote a book on this Holloway Case!. How absurd is that! He never took any of what was going on seriously and it angered me that he can be such a douche bag about it! He has given over 20 official on the record stories of what happened the last night that Natalee was seen alive with him. It is obvious that he did something to Natalee and I doubt her body will ever be found. I do believe it was tossed somewhere in the ocean and that sadly the animals have already ate what was left of this poor girl’s body. I don’t even want to get started on Deepak and his brother who were Joran’s friends. If these 2 didn’t have anything to do with her disappearance, then why make up so many lies to the authorities and not come out with the truth from the very begining.?! It just makes no sense to me at all! There has to be some type of justice for her family! My heart goes out to these people. Van Der Sloot is now serving time in Peru for Stephany’s murder but sadly, I doubt he will actually serve hard time for Natalee since her body or remains have not been found.
A lot hindered this case from the very beginning. I think the Arubian Police were overwhelmed by this case and let some things slip accidently, things that were crucial to case and possibly finding Natalee early on. I remember when this case was all over the TV, how scared Americans were to visit Aruba, and I came to learn from this book that actually Aruba only averages about 4 murders in a year. That is a very- low crime rate. That island thrives on tourism funds and I think it will be a while before there economy rises from this case. People are still scared to go. I don’t know that I have any ill- feelings for Joran’s parents. I think Anita & Paulus were doing what any parents should do, which is believe in your child and stand behind them. Joran’s father passed away before the Stephany Flores Case came into light. Anita Joran’s mother, did not support her son after he was convicted and admitted to murdering Stephany. I think has hard as that decision must have been, it was right one to make.
I recommend this book to True Crime readers and people who want to learn more about these 2 cases. However, if you don’t like to read the gory details of the actual crimes then don’t pick this one up. Very sad indeed and I hope one day some type of justice prevails for Natalee Holloway and her family.
Now, with that said, let’s discuss the book. This was one of the best True Crime books I have read even with it being an un-edited copy. The author’s that collaborated in writing this book, really did their investigation and research into these 2 cases that captured World Wide headlines. They timeline the events in both cases in chronological order. It was very easy for me to get entrapped into this book because of how vivid the story was told. Even the ride that Joran took after he had murdered Stephany, and was trying to flee Peru, was outlined in the book with extreme details. The outcome of both cases is very sad. The book is written in present and past tense. The chapters go back and forth between the Holloway Case and the Flores Case. The facts about the Stephany Flores Case was very detailed, and the authors’ were not shy on making these details public on how her body was found and the condition it was in. The details were horrific and brutal but were necessary so that readers can really see the animal Joran Van Der Sloot is. He is a manipulative liar, and reminded me of the OJ Simpson case because Van Der Sloot even wrote a book on this Holloway Case!. How absurd is that! He never took any of what was going on seriously and it angered me that he can be such a douche bag about it! He has given over 20 official on the record stories of what happened the last night that Natalee was seen alive with him. It is obvious that he did something to Natalee and I doubt her body will ever be found. I do believe it was tossed somewhere in the ocean and that sadly the animals have already ate what was left of this poor girl’s body. I don’t even want to get started on Deepak and his brother who were Joran’s friends. If these 2 didn’t have anything to do with her disappearance, then why make up so many lies to the authorities and not come out with the truth from the very begining.?! It just makes no sense to me at all! There has to be some type of justice for her family! My heart goes out to these people. Van Der Sloot is now serving time in Peru for Stephany’s murder but sadly, I doubt he will actually serve hard time for Natalee since her body or remains have not been found.
A lot hindered this case from the very beginning. I think the Arubian Police were overwhelmed by this case and let some things slip accidently, things that were crucial to case and possibly finding Natalee early on. I remember when this case was all over the TV, how scared Americans were to visit Aruba, and I came to learn from this book that actually Aruba only averages about 4 murders in a year. That is a very- low crime rate. That island thrives on tourism funds and I think it will be a while before there economy rises from this case. People are still scared to go. I don’t know that I have any ill- feelings for Joran’s parents. I think Anita & Paulus were doing what any parents should do, which is believe in your child and stand behind them. Joran’s father passed away before the Stephany Flores Case came into light. Anita Joran’s mother, did not support her son after he was convicted and admitted to murdering Stephany. I think has hard as that decision must have been, it was right one to make.
I recommend this book to True Crime readers and people who want to learn more about these 2 cases. However, if you don’t like to read the gory details of the actual crimes then don’t pick this one up. Very sad indeed and I hope one day some type of justice prevails for Natalee Holloway and her family.
February 5, 2012
It's an okay book, very slow reading. It makes you think why someone would do these things; he had so much potential. Some ways it makes you wonder that maybe he didn't have a role in the Halloway disappearance. By being portrayed as the "killer" it ruined his future. How could a body not be found, he didn't have access to a boat. More than likely there were a lot more people involved in her disappearance than we would like to think. I'm glad he is locked up and hopefully eventually the truth will come out.
June 3, 2024
An interesting story and the setting was different than what I usually read so that was a nice change but the story didn't really get me excited, some of the characters were annoying not sure if that is intentional but still true. Okay read
August 20, 2016
I hope this POS gets what's coming to him.
August 17, 2012
It was an interesting book because I never really heard what actually took place in Bermuda or Peru. And what was so shocking was the crime took place on May 29th, (my birthday) but also 5 years to the day that beautiful Natalee Holloway disappeared.
To be honest I didn't pay close attention to the Holloway case because I was after they were looking for her for a few weeks, I believed she had to have passed from this world but understood why her parents couldn't give up.
I was very alarmed at the way the Bermuda justice system handled the case. I was even MORE alarmed at the way from the moment Joran's involvement was apparent his parents took an extreme defensive position rather than trying to get to the bottom of the situation. In short they knew their son was habitually lying, being so agressive he scared his younger brothers, and all sorts of unsavory behavior. Knowing this about his behavior doesn't mean they didn't love him but it means holding him accountable. They chose immediately to live in denial as they often did when it came to their sons behavior that was growing out of control. I was even further shocked when Joran's own father gave him and his two friends 'LEGAL ADVICE' saying "NO BODY, NO CASE'. He also said that if they told the "the same TRUE story' the authorities would have to release them in 8 days. That is truly apalling parental behavor!
I don't believe Paulus Van der Sloot had anything to do with 'hiding' poor Natalee's body. Though I would not be surprised if he DID know her ultimate fate. Or maybe SOME version that is the closest to the truth anyone on earth would ever get from the pathological liar. I also think Paulus had his own 'psychopathic' traits. Meaning he had NO empathy whatsoever for the Holloways. If he did, he would have realized that his son DESERVED to be held accountable! Especially as a lawyer.
In Bermuda, he seemed to be after sex. Trolling for tourist girls was a definite preoccupation. But so was his growing addiction to gambling and drinking. Why he did what he did to Natalee only he knows. But the Authors of this book...really did a wonderful job reconstructing the what ifs. Joran was prone to paroxysms of rage filled violence when he would often assault someone.
This could fit with what ended up happening to Natalee! You see he probably expected sex and she never had a boyfriend back home in Birmingham!!!
Also there is the gambling to consider. Maybe he tried to steal from her and she resisted?
Whatever happened to her, it was brutal. The obfuscation from Paulus denied the Holloways the right to at least some form of justice. I suppose you could let him off the hook a little because he was trying to protect his son? But he very well KNEW his son was spiraling out of control. He chose to be in denial about these things. He CHOSE to willfully igonore that his Joran was a budding sociopath who had the means, opportunity, and disposal of poor Natalee's remains.
HE SIMPLY LACKED THE MORAL FIBER TO HOLD HIS OWN SON ACCOUNTABLE FOR A HORRIBLE CRIME. LACKED THE ABILITY TO PUT HIMSELF IN THE HOLLOWAYS SHOES, IF IT WAS ONE OF HIS SONS....THE HUMAN CHARACTERISTIC OF EMPATHY.
Now for all his father did for him, the sociopathic Joran would for money to play on the pro poker circuit would BLAME his father, asserting it was his idea to dispose of the body.
No one was safe from his lies. All he cared about was money to fund his lifestyle.
Now I wish they would have spent more time explaining the situation in Thailand. The rumors about him pimping? I don't exactly find them hard to believe. But I just don't think he probably lacked the organizational skills to pull it off.
When his father died, he went home to Bermuda to his funeral reportedly throwing himself on the casket screaming and sobbing that he caused his father's heart attack...he was saying in essence he killed his father. Now that is one death that he shouldn't have on his conscience. However he RUINED his father in the Netherlands with his sellings stories there where the family tried to make a new start by implicating his father in Natalee's murder at times then in disposing her body. His career was ruined. That should have been on his conscience but alas SOCIOPATHS................HAVE NO CONSCIENCE. I don't believe Paulus was a Sociopath. He just lacked empathy which is a psychopathic trait but doesn't make you a psychopath! Paulus was a successful man before all this happened to him. And it is TRULY MY BELIEF THAT HIS LACK OF EMPATHY...TRULY BROUGHT HIS LIFE TO PIECES.
Joran's mom thought he was mentally ill. I can understand that. I have a member of my family that is a sociopath. My first reaction was he has to have some sort of mental illness. She wanted him to go commit himself voluntarily in the Neatherlands to an Institution to get a diagnosis.
His mom, I feel sorry for. She was kept out of the loop during the Holloway case by her Husband. She is a very spiritual woman who made a shrine to Natalee to pray for her return desperately hoping she would.
But what she didn't understand was while he was still a CHILD they needed to commit him for evaulation and tell the absolute truth to the doctors about his RAGE, AGRESSION, LYING, and anything else her and Paulus knew about. Then they could of told her that he doesn't have a mental illness. He has a personality disorder called ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER. The prognosis isn't good. And it isn't your fault.
Then when he killed Stefany Flores on May 29 5 years to the day he Natelee. That bought the book primiarly to find out what happened in Peru.
Joran promised to go to the mental hosptial...but hoped a plane to Peru with money that the FBI just furnished him with the $25,000 he was trying to extort from Natalee's mom about 'what really happened to Natalee Holloway" They didn't expect the truth. Joran didn't realize in the USA what he was doing was EXTORTION and a FEDERAL CRIME! All he was concerned with was getting money to play in a poker tournament in MiraFlores....
He noticed Stephany Flores had won LOTS of money. Joran had landed in Peru with $25,000 but the Pro players often called him a "rail bird" because wasn't a very good poker player. And by the time he met Stefany, he was OUT of cash.
He was stalking her. Paying attention to her. Planning to steal from her. He got to know she was the daughter of a promient family. I want to note his arrogrance in thinking he could rip off such a girl from a prominent member of the community with no consequences so he'd be able to play in the poker tornament!
I'll spare the gory details...but its clear to me he saw this happening in some sort of 'smooth way. Like she'd say, I'll just you GIVE YOU MY MONEY! In any event, I think he suffered paroxysm and brutally beat her to death.
I was disappointed that the book ended before the end of his trial. But other then that I really liked reading this book!! I hadn't known much at all about the particulars of this case.
The tragedy in this case is two BEAUTIFUL YOUNG WOMEN lost their lives.
A FATHER COULD HAVE STOPPED HIM AFTER THE FIRST IF HE'D BEEN ABSOLUTELY HONEST WITH HIMSELF ABOUT WHO HIS SON WAS AND WHAT HE'D BECOME. AND IF HE'D PUT THE INTERESTS OF TRUE JUSTICE FIRST.
The Holloways didn't want to crucify Joran. They simply wanted to know what happened at first. In a very very strange irony, Casey Anthony's mother who was every bit of protective, defensive, and in denial about her daughter had the strength to point out to her daughter she was in jail because of her lies of where 'the baby was'.
Denial as a parent can sometimes be the worst thing you can do for your child.
To be honest I didn't pay close attention to the Holloway case because I was after they were looking for her for a few weeks, I believed she had to have passed from this world but understood why her parents couldn't give up.
I was very alarmed at the way the Bermuda justice system handled the case. I was even MORE alarmed at the way from the moment Joran's involvement was apparent his parents took an extreme defensive position rather than trying to get to the bottom of the situation. In short they knew their son was habitually lying, being so agressive he scared his younger brothers, and all sorts of unsavory behavior. Knowing this about his behavior doesn't mean they didn't love him but it means holding him accountable. They chose immediately to live in denial as they often did when it came to their sons behavior that was growing out of control. I was even further shocked when Joran's own father gave him and his two friends 'LEGAL ADVICE' saying "NO BODY, NO CASE'. He also said that if they told the "the same TRUE story' the authorities would have to release them in 8 days. That is truly apalling parental behavor!
I don't believe Paulus Van der Sloot had anything to do with 'hiding' poor Natalee's body. Though I would not be surprised if he DID know her ultimate fate. Or maybe SOME version that is the closest to the truth anyone on earth would ever get from the pathological liar. I also think Paulus had his own 'psychopathic' traits. Meaning he had NO empathy whatsoever for the Holloways. If he did, he would have realized that his son DESERVED to be held accountable! Especially as a lawyer.
In Bermuda, he seemed to be after sex. Trolling for tourist girls was a definite preoccupation. But so was his growing addiction to gambling and drinking. Why he did what he did to Natalee only he knows. But the Authors of this book...really did a wonderful job reconstructing the what ifs. Joran was prone to paroxysms of rage filled violence when he would often assault someone.
This could fit with what ended up happening to Natalee! You see he probably expected sex and she never had a boyfriend back home in Birmingham!!!
Also there is the gambling to consider. Maybe he tried to steal from her and she resisted?
Whatever happened to her, it was brutal. The obfuscation from Paulus denied the Holloways the right to at least some form of justice. I suppose you could let him off the hook a little because he was trying to protect his son? But he very well KNEW his son was spiraling out of control. He chose to be in denial about these things. He CHOSE to willfully igonore that his Joran was a budding sociopath who had the means, opportunity, and disposal of poor Natalee's remains.
HE SIMPLY LACKED THE MORAL FIBER TO HOLD HIS OWN SON ACCOUNTABLE FOR A HORRIBLE CRIME. LACKED THE ABILITY TO PUT HIMSELF IN THE HOLLOWAYS SHOES, IF IT WAS ONE OF HIS SONS....THE HUMAN CHARACTERISTIC OF EMPATHY.
Now for all his father did for him, the sociopathic Joran would for money to play on the pro poker circuit would BLAME his father, asserting it was his idea to dispose of the body.
No one was safe from his lies. All he cared about was money to fund his lifestyle.
Now I wish they would have spent more time explaining the situation in Thailand. The rumors about him pimping? I don't exactly find them hard to believe. But I just don't think he probably lacked the organizational skills to pull it off.
When his father died, he went home to Bermuda to his funeral reportedly throwing himself on the casket screaming and sobbing that he caused his father's heart attack...he was saying in essence he killed his father. Now that is one death that he shouldn't have on his conscience. However he RUINED his father in the Netherlands with his sellings stories there where the family tried to make a new start by implicating his father in Natalee's murder at times then in disposing her body. His career was ruined. That should have been on his conscience but alas SOCIOPATHS................HAVE NO CONSCIENCE. I don't believe Paulus was a Sociopath. He just lacked empathy which is a psychopathic trait but doesn't make you a psychopath! Paulus was a successful man before all this happened to him. And it is TRULY MY BELIEF THAT HIS LACK OF EMPATHY...TRULY BROUGHT HIS LIFE TO PIECES.
Joran's mom thought he was mentally ill. I can understand that. I have a member of my family that is a sociopath. My first reaction was he has to have some sort of mental illness. She wanted him to go commit himself voluntarily in the Neatherlands to an Institution to get a diagnosis.
His mom, I feel sorry for. She was kept out of the loop during the Holloway case by her Husband. She is a very spiritual woman who made a shrine to Natalee to pray for her return desperately hoping she would.
But what she didn't understand was while he was still a CHILD they needed to commit him for evaulation and tell the absolute truth to the doctors about his RAGE, AGRESSION, LYING, and anything else her and Paulus knew about. Then they could of told her that he doesn't have a mental illness. He has a personality disorder called ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER. The prognosis isn't good. And it isn't your fault.
Then when he killed Stefany Flores on May 29 5 years to the day he Natelee. That bought the book primiarly to find out what happened in Peru.
Joran promised to go to the mental hosptial...but hoped a plane to Peru with money that the FBI just furnished him with the $25,000 he was trying to extort from Natalee's mom about 'what really happened to Natalee Holloway" They didn't expect the truth. Joran didn't realize in the USA what he was doing was EXTORTION and a FEDERAL CRIME! All he was concerned with was getting money to play in a poker tournament in MiraFlores....
He noticed Stephany Flores had won LOTS of money. Joran had landed in Peru with $25,000 but the Pro players often called him a "rail bird" because wasn't a very good poker player. And by the time he met Stefany, he was OUT of cash.
He was stalking her. Paying attention to her. Planning to steal from her. He got to know she was the daughter of a promient family. I want to note his arrogrance in thinking he could rip off such a girl from a prominent member of the community with no consequences so he'd be able to play in the poker tornament!
I'll spare the gory details...but its clear to me he saw this happening in some sort of 'smooth way. Like she'd say, I'll just you GIVE YOU MY MONEY! In any event, I think he suffered paroxysm and brutally beat her to death.
I was disappointed that the book ended before the end of his trial. But other then that I really liked reading this book!! I hadn't known much at all about the particulars of this case.
The tragedy in this case is two BEAUTIFUL YOUNG WOMEN lost their lives.
A FATHER COULD HAVE STOPPED HIM AFTER THE FIRST IF HE'D BEEN ABSOLUTELY HONEST WITH HIMSELF ABOUT WHO HIS SON WAS AND WHAT HE'D BECOME. AND IF HE'D PUT THE INTERESTS OF TRUE JUSTICE FIRST.
The Holloways didn't want to crucify Joran. They simply wanted to know what happened at first. In a very very strange irony, Casey Anthony's mother who was every bit of protective, defensive, and in denial about her daughter had the strength to point out to her daughter she was in jail because of her lies of where 'the baby was'.
Denial as a parent can sometimes be the worst thing you can do for your child.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2011
Some Americans may have a “where did I hear that name before” reaction to Joran Van Der Sloot. Most Americans and a considerable part of the rest of the world recognize the name Natalee Holloway. Natalee Holloway was the eighteen year-old from Alabama who went to Aruba with members of her senior class to celebrate their graduation. One night, a group of girls went to a very popular bar, Carlos’ n Charlie’s, on their last night in Aruba. The students and their chaperones had agreed that there was to be a buddy system, that no one went alone with any new acquaintances but the plan wasn’t always honored. On that night, May 30, 2005, Natalee was having a wonderful time on the crowded dance floor. When her friends decided to return to their hotel, Natalee decided to stay at the nightclub.
During their week in Aruba, the room assignments at the hotel were fluid. Girls tended to spend the night in the room of whichever classmate they were with when the night ended so it wasn’t until Natalee didn’t join the group for the trip to the airport, that anyone realized no one had seen her since the night before. The Aruban police were called and they interviewed Natalee’s friends who remembered that Natalee was dancing with a Dutch boy who lived on the island. Joran Van Der Sloot was easy to remember. Not yet eighteen, Joran was slightly over 6′ 4″ and he looked like the boy next door in anyone’s neighborhood.
Joran was cooperative. He told the police that he and Natalee had gone for a walk on the beach, that Natalee was drunk, that she fell asleep on the beach, and he left her there. Hardly an admirable young man, but if what he said was true, he wasn’t guilty of an arrestable offense. There was no sign of Natalee anywhere.
As police investigated and Natalee’s parents became increasingly frantic, Joran Van Der Sloot was examined closely. The Van Der Sloots were convinced that their son could never have harmed a young woman but they admitted that from the time he was very young, Joran was a confirmed liar. His parents knew that they could not take his word for anything. Joran had begun drinking before he entered his teens and, at about the same age, he had discovered poker. Joran sold himself to new acquaintances as a professional poker player, a major figure in the international championships. In fact, Joran was a gambling addict, spending hours playing poker online. He always needed money, not to pay his debts, but to get into yet another game.
For months, the police arrested Joran and then had to release him for lack of evidence. This game played out for years.
One thing Joran learned from his experiences with the Aruba police was that he could get away with just about anything. His gambling debts had yet to get him into any serious trouble and the accusations about his involvement in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway didn’t make a dent in his armor. Joran Van Der Sloot was arrogant, a liar, and, possibly, a murderer but no one could touch him.
Natalee Holloway’s body has not yet been found.
On May 30, 2010, exactly five years after the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, Stephany Flores Ramirez, age 21, died at the Hotel Tac in Lima, Peru. Her body was found by a maid on June 2. She had been beaten to death. The police knew immediately that the room had been rented by Joran Van Der Sloot. Cameras in the hallway of the hotel showed Joran bringing Stephany into his room. They had met at a poker game in the hotel, Stephany celebrating her $10,000.00 win at the Atlantic Casino. Like Joran, Stephany was a gambling addict and poker was her preferred game of chance.
The case against Joran Van Der Sloot in Peru was vastly different from the case in Aruba. In Peru, there was a body and there was evidence that put Joran and Stephany in the same room just before she died.
PORTRAIT OF A MONSTER is a book that engages the reader immediately. There are so many questions. The Van Der Sloots were not wealthy but they certainly fit into the category of “comfortable”. His father was a lawyer, his mother a teacher. Joran never did without anything; he was not brutalized at home. Joran was spoiled. He did not take well to not getting his way and his way always had something to do with the next poker stake. Joran Van Der Sloot is a narcissist without conscience. He is amoral, seeing nothing wrong in doing whatever is necessary to satisfy his desires. Poker at the level Joran claimed to play needed unlimited amounts of money and he was willing to do whatever was necessary to satisfy his belief that the next game was going to make him famous.
Joran Van Der Sloot did become famous.
PORTRAIT OF A MONSTER is well-worth reading. It flows like fiction but always keeps the reader aware that these young people were very real.
June 20, 2016
A co-worker mentioned Natalee Holloway to me at work, and the name sounded instantly familiar. I remember seeing her school picture everywhere when she disappeared from Aruba, and my mom reminding me of why that is why she will never let me leave the country without her (as a juvenile) lol, and barely even let me go to Washington DC for my class trip in the 8th grade! But once reminded of her from my co-worker, I was so curious as to if we ever found out what happened to her so I requested the book from the library.
Not only did I not know we had found who most likely took Natalee, but I had no idea that he had for sure murdered Stephany Flores in Peru. This book was very good! The chapters went back and forth between Aruba and Peru, 5 years apart from each other exactly. Natalee and Stephany were last seen on the same day 5 years apart. I had NO idea how insane a human could be until I read about Joran van der Sloot, and I've read tons of true crime. Joran is the most decieving, lying human being in the world and clearly knows what happened to Natalee but is too bad of a human being to actually come forth with the truth, no matter how many people have been hurt by Natalee's disappearance. This book was very well written, and I felt I got every detail I needed in the investigation of Stephany and Natalee. I definitely recommend this book.
Not only did I not know we had found who most likely took Natalee, but I had no idea that he had for sure murdered Stephany Flores in Peru. This book was very good! The chapters went back and forth between Aruba and Peru, 5 years apart from each other exactly. Natalee and Stephany were last seen on the same day 5 years apart. I had NO idea how insane a human could be until I read about Joran van der Sloot, and I've read tons of true crime. Joran is the most decieving, lying human being in the world and clearly knows what happened to Natalee but is too bad of a human being to actually come forth with the truth, no matter how many people have been hurt by Natalee's disappearance. This book was very well written, and I felt I got every detail I needed in the investigation of Stephany and Natalee. I definitely recommend this book.
March 19, 2023
“Natalee’s story had all the ingredients the media savored when looking for a sensational news event. A beautiful blonde; a smart, college-bound high school senior; an upscale, upstanding citizen vanishes in an exotic Caribbean paradise…. Natalee was a sister, a friend, a classmate, a fellow American, a collective daughter vanishing in the prime of her life.” --Page 118
My Review and Thoughts:
This is a case I have been following since the start. I remember when the breaking news report of a missing Alabama school girl on vacation with her senior class broke into my TV program I was watching back in 2005. Natalee Holloway became a house hold name and the mysterious young and handsome playboy Joran became somewhat of the mythical boogeyman.
“Standing six feet four, with a pale complexion, angular features, and piercing brown eyes, the twenty-two-year-old cut a striking image…. Joran Andreas Petrus van der Sloot was born August 6th, 1987.…Chain smoking, unshaven, and quiet, the brown-haired guest in Room 309 was a night owl and a loner.” --Page 2
This was a case and still is a case of many made-up stories of how this young girl vanished off the face of the earth. After much legal mumbo jumbo Joran who being held in an Aruba holding cell was let go and forever became the one who seemed to got away. No evidence convicts him, yet the public and law system, believes he did kill Natalee Holloway. He went free and then another truly haunting and tragic crime occurred by this young downward spiraling man. Another woman goes missing and ends up being found murdered in Joran’s motel room. This time the evidence seemed a closed case, the camera does not lie, two entered the room and only one came out.
“But the Dutchman’s charm was almost hypnotic.” --Page 27
This is a fascinating and truly offal story. Two women, murdered, one young man, the devil in sheep’s clothing haunting the world and his prey. The new modern Ted Bundy. Slick, handsome, the jock playboy next door. I believe he is a serial killer and there are many more victims then we know about. This is an amazing researched and well-developed book of knowledge on this case.
“His impassive brown eyes could be so utterly sincere that it was almost impossible to believe he was not telling the truth.” --Page 30
“Joran had an insatiable sexual appetite and was often out on the prowl.” --Page 31
This book is a massive research tool, there is a lot of information on all the aspects of the cases. You need to look no further than this book. It’s an unfolding of what seems like a never-ending story of secrets, lies, mystery, blood and most of all murder.
What is amazing about this book is it gives you all the inside scoop. The leading up moments and the hidden moments not talked about before the ordeals. The news only focuses on the incident after it happens, this book gives you detailed information on who each person was and how they are involved. You get to know the past, along with the present incident.
“He seemed like a normal teenager, one of them.” ---Page 36
The only real flaw I have with the book is it repeats a lot of the Natalee Holloway mystery and disappearance which is fine if you don’t know the situation, but if you know the ordeal like I do it tends to be a little repeat action because there are countless other media, books, papers and articles on the subject. I show no disrespect to Holloway’s family because what happened is heart breaking, and Natalee deserves to be remembered, and a lesson should be learned from the incident, but the subject has been hammered into the minds of the public repeatedly to the point you blur it out, and so with this book the repeating of the same thing that everyone or at least most everyone knows can be a little yawning, yet still is great to get that recap reality of the whole story.
The main highpoint to the book is the murder case and information of Stephany Flores which is the latest mystery involved in the Joran Van der Sloot Saga. This gives you all the info, from the murder depiction and the reactions of the family. This book stands out as being a truly great crime piece of pure knowledge, and research that any person wanting to know everything about Joran van der Sloot, and his criminal actions needs to look no further than this tour-de-force of excellent reporting.
The brutal nature of how Stephany was murdered is detailed as the autopsy is discussed. The sadistic reality of this act by Joran upon this innocent woman is truly an eye-opening experience. To learn the pain and suffering she must have went through is heart breaking to lay there and slowly die in unimaginable pain is downright evil.
One can only speculate the rage and pain and horror he showed to Natalee that fateful night in 2005. I have always wondered about one reality to the Natalee ordeal and that is Joran stated he left his shoes behind on the beach, which his shoes have never been seen again, even after a hundred-thousand-dollar reward was offered for any evidence found. This was about going under the theory, that he did leave his shoes, and that someone else took them, because they thought someone had just left them.
I personally believe that Joran kicked Natalee to death in a fit of rage. Kicking her face and head with his shoed feet, and that is why he had to get rid of the shoes because they contained his crime. I believe she refused his sexual advances, no one refuses Joran, and Joran always gets what he wants. He raped her, and then in rage and panic, he murdered her. I believe he called his friends, and in a panic after trying to figure out what to do, they called Joran dad’s Paulas, and he helped them cover up the crime. I believe this is a case that will never be solved unless Joran for once in his life comes forward, and really tells the truth and pinpoints where Natalee’s body is, but until that day it will be just another unsolved mystery.
This is a great book to read, I highly recommend it. This is a thought provoking and well researched and developed book. It is one that truly stands out as being a perfect crime book that answers all the questions during and after the ordeals involving Joran. This truly is a Portrait of a Monster.
My Review and Thoughts:
This is a case I have been following since the start. I remember when the breaking news report of a missing Alabama school girl on vacation with her senior class broke into my TV program I was watching back in 2005. Natalee Holloway became a house hold name and the mysterious young and handsome playboy Joran became somewhat of the mythical boogeyman.
“Standing six feet four, with a pale complexion, angular features, and piercing brown eyes, the twenty-two-year-old cut a striking image…. Joran Andreas Petrus van der Sloot was born August 6th, 1987.…Chain smoking, unshaven, and quiet, the brown-haired guest in Room 309 was a night owl and a loner.” --Page 2
This was a case and still is a case of many made-up stories of how this young girl vanished off the face of the earth. After much legal mumbo jumbo Joran who being held in an Aruba holding cell was let go and forever became the one who seemed to got away. No evidence convicts him, yet the public and law system, believes he did kill Natalee Holloway. He went free and then another truly haunting and tragic crime occurred by this young downward spiraling man. Another woman goes missing and ends up being found murdered in Joran’s motel room. This time the evidence seemed a closed case, the camera does not lie, two entered the room and only one came out.
“But the Dutchman’s charm was almost hypnotic.” --Page 27
This is a fascinating and truly offal story. Two women, murdered, one young man, the devil in sheep’s clothing haunting the world and his prey. The new modern Ted Bundy. Slick, handsome, the jock playboy next door. I believe he is a serial killer and there are many more victims then we know about. This is an amazing researched and well-developed book of knowledge on this case.
“His impassive brown eyes could be so utterly sincere that it was almost impossible to believe he was not telling the truth.” --Page 30
“Joran had an insatiable sexual appetite and was often out on the prowl.” --Page 31
This book is a massive research tool, there is a lot of information on all the aspects of the cases. You need to look no further than this book. It’s an unfolding of what seems like a never-ending story of secrets, lies, mystery, blood and most of all murder.
What is amazing about this book is it gives you all the inside scoop. The leading up moments and the hidden moments not talked about before the ordeals. The news only focuses on the incident after it happens, this book gives you detailed information on who each person was and how they are involved. You get to know the past, along with the present incident.
“He seemed like a normal teenager, one of them.” ---Page 36
The only real flaw I have with the book is it repeats a lot of the Natalee Holloway mystery and disappearance which is fine if you don’t know the situation, but if you know the ordeal like I do it tends to be a little repeat action because there are countless other media, books, papers and articles on the subject. I show no disrespect to Holloway’s family because what happened is heart breaking, and Natalee deserves to be remembered, and a lesson should be learned from the incident, but the subject has been hammered into the minds of the public repeatedly to the point you blur it out, and so with this book the repeating of the same thing that everyone or at least most everyone knows can be a little yawning, yet still is great to get that recap reality of the whole story.
The main highpoint to the book is the murder case and information of Stephany Flores which is the latest mystery involved in the Joran Van der Sloot Saga. This gives you all the info, from the murder depiction and the reactions of the family. This book stands out as being a truly great crime piece of pure knowledge, and research that any person wanting to know everything about Joran van der Sloot, and his criminal actions needs to look no further than this tour-de-force of excellent reporting.
The brutal nature of how Stephany was murdered is detailed as the autopsy is discussed. The sadistic reality of this act by Joran upon this innocent woman is truly an eye-opening experience. To learn the pain and suffering she must have went through is heart breaking to lay there and slowly die in unimaginable pain is downright evil.
One can only speculate the rage and pain and horror he showed to Natalee that fateful night in 2005. I have always wondered about one reality to the Natalee ordeal and that is Joran stated he left his shoes behind on the beach, which his shoes have never been seen again, even after a hundred-thousand-dollar reward was offered for any evidence found. This was about going under the theory, that he did leave his shoes, and that someone else took them, because they thought someone had just left them.
I personally believe that Joran kicked Natalee to death in a fit of rage. Kicking her face and head with his shoed feet, and that is why he had to get rid of the shoes because they contained his crime. I believe she refused his sexual advances, no one refuses Joran, and Joran always gets what he wants. He raped her, and then in rage and panic, he murdered her. I believe he called his friends, and in a panic after trying to figure out what to do, they called Joran dad’s Paulas, and he helped them cover up the crime. I believe this is a case that will never be solved unless Joran for once in his life comes forward, and really tells the truth and pinpoints where Natalee’s body is, but until that day it will be just another unsolved mystery.
This is a great book to read, I highly recommend it. This is a thought provoking and well researched and developed book. It is one that truly stands out as being a perfect crime book that answers all the questions during and after the ordeals involving Joran. This truly is a Portrait of a Monster.
September 15, 2018
Note: this is an audiobook review.
A rather chilling, voyeuristic true crime book. While I was engaged by it, I couldn't help but feel that I was gaining too much access into the lives of the victims and their families - intimate details as well as descriptive narrative that extends well past what the writers would know. The two horrible tragedies are bad enough. It also felt like it was written a bit prematurely as the murderer hadn't yet been sentenced. In any case, it achieved its goal of painting a portrait of a monster.
A rather chilling, voyeuristic true crime book. While I was engaged by it, I couldn't help but feel that I was gaining too much access into the lives of the victims and their families - intimate details as well as descriptive narrative that extends well past what the writers would know. The two horrible tragedies are bad enough. It also felt like it was written a bit prematurely as the murderer hadn't yet been sentenced. In any case, it achieved its goal of painting a portrait of a monster.
September 19, 2011
It's hard to pick "I really liked it" for a book about a slimeball that you want fried like a Peruvian cockroach, but the book is thorough and interesting and I couldn't put it down. Dutch law absolutely blows.
September 28, 2011
I found this book to be hard to put down ; knowing that this really happened and is an ongoing horror story!
Read
March 15, 2012DNF --boring
October 5, 2018
Portrait of a Monster is, of course, about Joran van der Sloot, the Aruban-Dutch man who was involved in the disappearance and presumed death of Natalee Holloway in 2005 and the murder of Stephany Flores in Lima, Peru, in 2010, five years to the day after Natalee disappeared. Sloot means “ditch” or “trench” in Dutch, which sounds like an odd surname, although the surname Trench does exist in English, apparently derived from the Norman de la tranche, or “from the trench,” so go figure.
The book proceeds not in straight chronological order but alternating between 2005 and 2010 This is very effective in highlighting the differences between the two cases, but can make the action difficult to follow unless the reader takes firm grasp of the timeline. Since the reader knows the “plot” before reading the book, the horror of the events depends on pacing and control of details, which the authors mostly do very well, although there are definitely a few stumbles along the way. It's not a perfectly modulated piece of writing, but then, what book is?
In the reviews on Goodreads, there seems to be quite a bit of irrelevant speculation about why van der Sloot did what he did and how he got to be that way, what he parents did or didn't do, what they should have done, etc. I suspect this has to do with widespread lay misunderstanding of personality disorders. Personality disorders are inborn non-psychotic mental disorders that are characterized by enduring maladaptive patterns of behavior, cognition, and inner experience. These patterns develop early, are inflexible, lifelong, and generally very poorly responsive to either psychotherapy or drugs. Some people with personality disorders are able to behave more or less normally if they decide that following their inappropriate impulses causes them more trouble than they're worth, but their “inner life” does not change. Late in the book, a Peruvian psychologist delivers her assessment that Joran has antisocial personality disorder with some additional features. So there seems little doubt that Joran van der Sloot was, to oversimplify, simply “born bad.” His parents made it easy for him to act out his worst impulses by providing essentially no structure or oversight in his upbringing; and when it became obvious just how unwholesome his behavior had become, they still did nothing to attempt control, although as noted above, that's often extremely difficult in cases of personality disorder.
In fact, Joran van der Sloot reminds me of no one so much as Donald Trump, although unlike the young Dutchman, Trump appears to be a physical coward.
The book was published in 2011, even before the end of the judicial proceedings in Peru. I don't know if the book has ever been updated, but van der Sloot pleaded guilty to the main charges and was sentenced to 28 years in prison. When his term is up in 2038 (he will be 51), his trouble won't be over: He'll face extradition to the United States to face charges of extortion and wire fraud from his attempt to blackmail the family of Natalee Holloway. Van der Sloot, astonishingly, has also since gotten married (to a Peruvian woman who sold items to inmates in the prison) and has a son.
The fate of Natalee Holloway remains unknown, although her death is difficult to dispute, and her father has had her declared legally dead in absentia. In February 2016, an undercover reporter filmed van der Sloot confessing to Natalee Holloway's murder. The film shows van der Sloot, in Dutch, laughing over how he never told the truth about the whole event and that he did in fact kill Natalee. His Peruvian wife is also present during this conversation. My guess is that van der Sloot has adjusted well to prison life, because it provides him structure and allows him to continue to express his antisocial personality.
There are lots of people in the world with antisocial personality disorder. You probably know a few, whether you're aware of it or not. Even if you're completely familiar with this psychopathology, it's still difficult to accept at gut level that there are people out there who would do what Joran van der Sloot did.
The book proceeds not in straight chronological order but alternating between 2005 and 2010 This is very effective in highlighting the differences between the two cases, but can make the action difficult to follow unless the reader takes firm grasp of the timeline. Since the reader knows the “plot” before reading the book, the horror of the events depends on pacing and control of details, which the authors mostly do very well, although there are definitely a few stumbles along the way. It's not a perfectly modulated piece of writing, but then, what book is?
In the reviews on Goodreads, there seems to be quite a bit of irrelevant speculation about why van der Sloot did what he did and how he got to be that way, what he parents did or didn't do, what they should have done, etc. I suspect this has to do with widespread lay misunderstanding of personality disorders. Personality disorders are inborn non-psychotic mental disorders that are characterized by enduring maladaptive patterns of behavior, cognition, and inner experience. These patterns develop early, are inflexible, lifelong, and generally very poorly responsive to either psychotherapy or drugs. Some people with personality disorders are able to behave more or less normally if they decide that following their inappropriate impulses causes them more trouble than they're worth, but their “inner life” does not change. Late in the book, a Peruvian psychologist delivers her assessment that Joran has antisocial personality disorder with some additional features. So there seems little doubt that Joran van der Sloot was, to oversimplify, simply “born bad.” His parents made it easy for him to act out his worst impulses by providing essentially no structure or oversight in his upbringing; and when it became obvious just how unwholesome his behavior had become, they still did nothing to attempt control, although as noted above, that's often extremely difficult in cases of personality disorder.
In fact, Joran van der Sloot reminds me of no one so much as Donald Trump, although unlike the young Dutchman, Trump appears to be a physical coward.
The book was published in 2011, even before the end of the judicial proceedings in Peru. I don't know if the book has ever been updated, but van der Sloot pleaded guilty to the main charges and was sentenced to 28 years in prison. When his term is up in 2038 (he will be 51), his trouble won't be over: He'll face extradition to the United States to face charges of extortion and wire fraud from his attempt to blackmail the family of Natalee Holloway. Van der Sloot, astonishingly, has also since gotten married (to a Peruvian woman who sold items to inmates in the prison) and has a son.
The fate of Natalee Holloway remains unknown, although her death is difficult to dispute, and her father has had her declared legally dead in absentia. In February 2016, an undercover reporter filmed van der Sloot confessing to Natalee Holloway's murder. The film shows van der Sloot, in Dutch, laughing over how he never told the truth about the whole event and that he did in fact kill Natalee. His Peruvian wife is also present during this conversation. My guess is that van der Sloot has adjusted well to prison life, because it provides him structure and allows him to continue to express his antisocial personality.
There are lots of people in the world with antisocial personality disorder. You probably know a few, whether you're aware of it or not. Even if you're completely familiar with this psychopathology, it's still difficult to accept at gut level that there are people out there who would do what Joran van der Sloot did.
January 26, 2020
Welcome back to Mystery Monday my fellow Book Dragons. Tonight’s Gem is quite poisonous. You won’t dare touch it. Like one of those medieval rings that holds a poison or has poisoned prongs that can scratch, this one is deadly. See how innocent it looks? To the naked eye, it is the most beautiful of pearls. Translucent, a faint rainbow in it hue, it looks harmless and beautiful. This is Gem Makers’ Lisa Pulitzer and Cole Thompson’s “Portrait of a Monster: Jordan Van Der Sloot”.
I’m sure we all remember Jordan if we live in the U.S. or Peru. Jordan who was tall and good looking, the kind of boy you might like living next door to. Jordan, whose family was well off and whose mother and father worked hard to give their three sons a good education and a decent place to live, threw all that away to get what he wanted. Jordan is a Sociopath with a capital S. He murdered Peruvian Stephany Flores for her money, he most certainly murdered Natalee Holloway. Jordan is a compulsive gambler, a pathological liar, a thief and the list goes on.
This was a fantastic study in the machinations of the International Serial Killer. How he is made. Ms. Pulitzer and Mr. Thompson left no stone unturned. They tell the story of both young women. They lay out the stories of their families. The pain of their parents, siblings and friends is apparent. They never let us forget these young women were loved, they existed, they were human beings who were large parts of other’s lives.
If you love true crime, are studying criminology or are an armchair sleuth, this is one book you must read. This is available in all formats and currently is available in mass market paperback on Amazon for $1.99. Get yours while they last!
Until tomorrow, I remain, your humble Book Dragon, Drakon T. Longwitten
I received my copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I’m sure we all remember Jordan if we live in the U.S. or Peru. Jordan who was tall and good looking, the kind of boy you might like living next door to. Jordan, whose family was well off and whose mother and father worked hard to give their three sons a good education and a decent place to live, threw all that away to get what he wanted. Jordan is a Sociopath with a capital S. He murdered Peruvian Stephany Flores for her money, he most certainly murdered Natalee Holloway. Jordan is a compulsive gambler, a pathological liar, a thief and the list goes on.
This was a fantastic study in the machinations of the International Serial Killer. How he is made. Ms. Pulitzer and Mr. Thompson left no stone unturned. They tell the story of both young women. They lay out the stories of their families. The pain of their parents, siblings and friends is apparent. They never let us forget these young women were loved, they existed, they were human beings who were large parts of other’s lives.
If you love true crime, are studying criminology or are an armchair sleuth, this is one book you must read. This is available in all formats and currently is available in mass market paperback on Amazon for $1.99. Get yours while they last!
Until tomorrow, I remain, your humble Book Dragon, Drakon T. Longwitten
I received my copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2023
Read April 2023 🇵🇪
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Gut Instinct Rating: 4
Engagement of Book: 5
Accomplishment/Delivery of Book: 5
Interest/Entertainment Level: 5
Audiobook Narration: 4.25
Overall: 4.5🏳️🌈
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CW: True Crime
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Review: The Natalee Holloway case was the first major crime story. That was May 2005. Literally one year later, I was getting on my first plane ever, and heading to Hawaii for a school band trip. There wasn’t a single parent of a daughter who didn’t have this story in the back of their mind. I remember quite well when news broke that another girl had gone missing, with almost an exact likeness and the suspect was the same man who murdered Natalee. I thought this was a great connect-the-dots in true crime.
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Gut Instinct Rating: 4
Engagement of Book: 5
Accomplishment/Delivery of Book: 5
Interest/Entertainment Level: 5
Audiobook Narration: 4.25
Overall: 4.5🏳️🌈
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CW: True Crime
•
Review: The Natalee Holloway case was the first major crime story. That was May 2005. Literally one year later, I was getting on my first plane ever, and heading to Hawaii for a school band trip. There wasn’t a single parent of a daughter who didn’t have this story in the back of their mind. I remember quite well when news broke that another girl had gone missing, with almost an exact likeness and the suspect was the same man who murdered Natalee. I thought this was a great connect-the-dots in true crime.
July 9, 2023
This is an informative, Dateline-esque look at a twisted man, a missing young woman, and a murder that evil, manipulative, pathological liar was convicted of committing. I like that it wasn’t super tabloid sensational, and I can’t fault it for being what it is - a story about the monster, not so much about his victims. However, I can’t help but be a little sorry to have read it, as it feels like giving him more of the attention he craves, when what he deserves is to rot in a Peruvian prison, forgotten and unmentioned ever again.
July 16, 2025
A 4.5. Story finishes in 2011 so misses the trial and the subsequent confession but all the major details here. An exhaustively detailed and clear account of this creep's life. Amoral and sociopathic who had umpteen chances to change his life and given every opportunity. A fluent liar who seem to have little empathy or emotional affect. The one fault with the book was the tendency at times to attribute words, thoughts and emotions to people which the authors couldn't possibly know. So kind of drama-doc at times. This was irritating and unnecessary. Tries to 'humanize' them but a wrong choice.
November 22, 2017
I followed the Natalee Holloway case closely, yet, I still learned a lot reading this book. The author does an amazing job of detailing the lives of Joran, Natalee and Stephany Flores. My heart breaks for the Holloway, Twitty and Flores families, but at least Joran can no longer hurt anyone else. And I find it fitting that the Peru prison is a lot harsher than if he had ended up in a prison in Aruba.
January 20, 2019
An interesting view into a news story that we have all heard about. Many details not found in a casual following of this story on TV. This book could have been edited down (by a good 100 pages). Many things reported were done so in more than one section of the book, certain things pointed out more than once. The biggest disappointment, is there is no new compelling information here. Just a long rehash of a story line that you pretty much know already.
November 22, 2021
This book gave details that were not revealed through the media. It got a little redundant at times, but overall, it gives a nice timeline and information into the cases. It is an old book, so my curiosity got peaked and I Googled the latest news on Joran.
RIP Natalee and Stephany. Joran is clearly a sociopath who robbed these young ladies of their lives way too soon.
RIP Natalee and Stephany. Joran is clearly a sociopath who robbed these young ladies of their lives way too soon.
May 16, 2023
I found this to be an excellent examination of the people and events involved in these two crimes, from stunned and grieving parents to the law enforcement officers in multiple countries. The suspect who becomes a convicted murder is deeply nuanced, the authors use his words as an effective vehicle in describing the terrifying thoughts that became his actions. I couldn't put it down.
July 23, 2025
I've always been fascinated by these cases. What compels someone to kill another person on the anniversary of a previous kill? This book didn't answer that question but does give a very detailed account of the two cases. It can be hard to follow at times due to the constant changing of stories by Joran and his friends, co-conspirators (?).
April 2, 2020
this man is evil, evil, evil. - i hope he never gets out of jail. if he was even half of a person he would let the holloway family know what happened to their daughter and where she is - what a piece of shit
October 14, 2018
Didn’t like the back and forth between the 2 cases. Would prefer chronological time line.. with all his stories and lies it started to get confusing as to what was happening.
July 17, 2019
An averagely written true crime book. I never knew that it had been solved IRL so that was a surprise ending. Something satisfying about it.
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