Through the Lens of a Monster: A Serial Killer on Death Row, an Unsolved Murder List, and an Inmate's Deadly Play for Redemption

by William A. Noguera

The only man he trusted was a killer too.

The inspiration for the hit Oxygen True Crime original documentary series Death Row Confidential , produced by Dick Wolf, Vanity Fair Studios, and Universal Television. Also available on Peacock.

On death row at San Quentin, artist and inmate William Noguera formed an unlikely bond with notorious serial killer Joseph Naso. Over years of disturbing conversations—and at great personal risk—Noguera gained his trust. What he revealed was far worse than anyone imagined.

Behind prison walls, Naso described his brutal crimes in chilling detail, exposing the darkness that drove him and disclosing evidence that had eluded investigators for decades.

For the first time, Noguera lays bare those confessions and the psychological games behind them—offering long-overdue answers for grieving families and fresh leads in cases gone cold.

Through the Lens of a Monster is both a window into the twisted mind of a predator and a haunting memoir of a man seeking redemption for his own violent past.

Contains mature themes.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Memoir, History, Crime

1 pages, Audio CD

Expected publication April 7, 2026

About the author

William A. Noguera is the author of two memoirs: Through the Lens of a Monster and Escape Artist.

He is a pioneering expert on serial killers with a unique perspective, having spent forty-two years on San Quentin’s death row before his release in 2025. Noguera is also an internationally acclaimed artist whose work has been exhibited worldwide, and his insights into the criminal mind inspired the Oxygen True Crime docuseries Death Row Confidential, produced by Dick Wolf, Vanity Fair Studios, and Universal Television. His story has been featured in Forbes, the New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Guardian.

Today, he writes, speaks, and collaborates with law enforcement to expose the truth about the predators among us. When he isn’t working, he can often be found riding his Harley-Davidson.

Website: WilliamNoguera.com
Instagram: @DeadBodySociety
YouTube: @DeadBodySociety
TikTok: @Dead.Body.Society

Reviews

[David Crow · Rating 5 out of 5]

My father was sent to San Quentin for a crime that could have gotten him the death penalty so I know something about killers. I have also read dozens of prison biographies but Bill Noguera’s book is by far the best I have ever read. Bill was in death row for 42 years for a murder committed when he was a teenager because his girlfriend’s mother forced her to abort his son. In the aftermath, Bill became an accomplished artist and then an FBI informant who solved dozens of murders at the hand of Joe Naso. This book is fascinating as is the man who solved these murders. This book is a page turning true crime thriller.

[Jo Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d definitely recommend this title, although there’s obviously a lot of content warnings to consider and it’s certainly not for the faint of heart. Really graphic in detail but equally interesting, I don’t suppose there are many people who have unlimited access to the words directly from a killers mouth on a daily basis. The author deserves credit not only for his work on the book but also for his hand in closing so many cold cases. I’d have perhaps been able to rate a bit higher had I read the book in text format but I didn’t enjoy the narration unfortunately.

Huge thanks to Tantor Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧

[Christina C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through the Lens of a Monster by William Noguera is an absolutely gripping and unforgettable true crime story. It explores the horrifying crimes of Joseph Naso through Noguera’s firsthand experiences with him during his time at San Quentin. The personal perspective makes the book especially intense and chilling, pulling you deep into the reality of Naso’s actions. I found myself completely captivated and eager to learn more about both Noguera and Naso after finishing it. This is a powerful non-fiction read that vividly captures the crimes and their impact on communities—highly recommended for anyone interested in true crime.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly a look through the lens

I have read many memoirs and biographies on serial killers but this one is unique in every way. From the time a fellow prisoner spent with some of the most well known serial killers. I mean Nasi claims a different well known murderer had been held accountable for one of his murders and the author just goes to another part of the yard and confronts Rodney Alcala who confirms it. Like everyday conversation.

I believe no one knows these guys better and he tells it all with so much truth, heart, and integrity. Never ignoring or hiding his own crime.

Its a story part redemption and part cautionary tale. These people exist. Be careful.

[Sarah Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting story. Noguera explaining his mindset in prison and being able to get Naso open up to him was very interesting to read about. If you decide to read this please take the trigger warnings seriously! This is a story about a serial rapist and serial killer. Thank you NetGalley for the audio ARC of this book.

[LaVisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the authors style; how he inserts photos and documents as he tells his story. The man that Mr. Noguera writes about was a despicable monster. This book shows insight to life on death row and the story of incarnate evil and how women were terrorized for decades It is fascinating how Noguera surreptitiously gathered information and evidence from this animal, the whole time getting into the murderer’s mind and soul and how he was sickened to the core to learn what this demon had done.

[Bill reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

William Noguera landed on death row after killing his girlfriend's mother after she forced her daughter to have an abortion. At eighteen, he was the youngest person ever given the death sentence. While there he met Joseph Naso, a serial killer convicted of the murders of four women.
Over the course of a few years, Noguera was able to convince Naso to admit to additional killings. In graphic detail, the monster revealed a total of twenty-six murders and hundreds of rapes from the 1960s to the 1990s. He blamed his promiscuous mother for his rage towards women.
He worked as a photographer, and like Harvey Glatman, he lured many women to model for lingerie and nude photo sessions. Most of the victims were prostitutes and law enforcement did not prioritize the cases.
Noguera is a natural born storyteller and he is a good man who admits his past mistakes. He sought redemption by exposing a monster by closing a few of the unsolved cases. I highly recommend this book.

[Erin McCurdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best true crime books I've ever read!

Yes, this really is one of the best true crime books I've ever read and I've read my fair share of them. William Noguera did an awful thing when he was 18 years old but paid for it and made up for it. Him befriending the monster that Joseph Naso is has helped family members closer to peace about their loved ones. You will not be disappointed!

[Steven Goldfarb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

It was a very interesting story of one convicted murderer investigating a serial prisoner he was incarcerated with. It's hard to believe there are people who can do such terrible things and enjoy removing them. The author on the other hand made some bad choices in life but has changed dramatically. No one should be completely judged by their worst act, especially when they're very young. This is the story of the difference between those who can be redeemed and those that are irredeemable.

[Ozark96 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth the read!

Well written and fascinating. A very unique book because it was written by someone who was in prison, on death row with the serial killer! A very different viewpoint from most books. I read the whole thing in one sitting, because it was so interfering. Highly recommended!!

[Thomas DiVozzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that keeps dragging back, to reach it's ending.

My first "True Crime" book. It caught my attention and never let it go! How could a man like Nasi be created, and why couldn't his quest for self created vengeance not be quenched?

[Kate W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read!

I read this in one night! It’s a story about uncovering a serial killer’s secrets, but it’s just as much the author’s story. This is very well written. Love that it’s a true story! That’s what really makes this so amazing. Highly recommend!

[Tabitha Rohm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good book. It is definitely a page turner. You can’t wait to find out what happened next.

[Lisa Gatts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through the Lens of a Monster

This book kept my attention from the very 1st page. It is a true crime book and I had never heard of this serial killer.Seeming I enjoyed reading about this serial killer, I am looking for my next book with the same subject matter.
Very informative without the boring courtroom drama that is included in a lot of true crime books.The author did a really good job.

[Rosemary Cornett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing

It took me awhile to get invested, but I was pulled in before I realized it. At first I wasn't sure it was true crime but once it hit I couldn't put it down.

[Pauline Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remarkable Book

Mr. Noguera is a fine author & I will look forward to reading more of his stories. He should be the poster man for rehabilitation.

[Melissa Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

incredible book from an entirely unique perspective

I’ve read at least 100 true crime books over the years and this one is completely different. I can’t say enough how much I respect Mr. Noguera’s commitment to getting answers for the families of Joseph Naso’s victims. This book was tense and you could feel the tightrope that Mr. Noguera was walking, trying to get answers and not get himself killed. Unique and special book.

[Karen Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up

[Cyn Fowler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me begin with the reasons I liked this book. I think the bravery of Noguera is incredible. Joseph Naso, a horrible man who had a decades long reign of terror, let his own hubris destroy him by admitting the details of his crimes to another man in prison, the author, William Noguera. Noguera put himself in danger daily to bring justice to the victims. That is an incredibly selfless act that deserves recognition.

Now what I didn't like about this book. From reading it, it is extremely obvious that, at best, this book was edited by ChatGPT or some kind of generative AI. At worst, parts of it were written completely by GenAI. It has a lot of the obvious tells. To start, the overuse of the em dash is egregious. It's used at least once per page, sometimes multiple times on a single page throughout the entire story. Here are some examples all on the same page (page 6 of the kindle edition).

"The serial killers, rapists, and pedophiles feared me most—and with good reason."
"Even professional hitmen—those who kill for money or business—get more respect."
"In the eyes of some, working in protective custody—especially without killing one of the predators—wasn’t just crossing a line."
"While most jailhouse lawyers were just blowing smoke, Hines actually won cases—some for himself, others for inmates he helped."
"For Hines, it became a game of cat and mouse—and a reason to live."
"After assaulting a few guys, he ended up in the Adjustment Center—the hole—where the worst of the worst go."

There is often phrasing that AI likes to use a lot. It often structures sentences like the following: it's not just *this*, but it's *this*. Here are some examples from the book.

"These new areas were created not just for control, but for survival."
"The more I spoke with him, the more I found myself needing to know—not just about the other four murders, but about what his victims had suffered in their final moments."
"I let the silence stretch—not only to give myself a second to regroup, but to make him feel the gravity of what I was sharing."
"Still, a few times, he slipped back to International Boulevard, not for sex, but to watch her through his lens."

I enjoyed the story but was unable to fully immerse myself into it due to ChatGPTs poor editing. I truly wish Noguera told his story a different way, because it is a fascinating one.

[ezra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for this ALC!

Rating: 2.5 Stars rounded up.

“Through the Lens of a Monster” is the inspiration behind the 2025 true crime documentary series “Death Row Confidential”. In this book we learn the stories of both its author, William Noguera, who spent four decades behind bars for a murder he committed at 19, and the serial killer and rapist Joseph Naso. Over the course of this book, Noguera gets Naso to open up, and tell him the stories of the victims the police never knew about. Noguera hopes that this new evidence will help solve cold cases connected to Naso, and give the victims’ families some answers and, hopefully, peace.

I will admit that I am not this book’s target audience, as I am not a big fan of true crime due to moral objections. However, the story surrounding this book interested me enough that I wanted to give it a shot, and it was certainly interesting.

I like the intention behind this book, to give the families of victims some peace, I just disagree with the way this book goes about it. I think it was noble of Noguera to sit through all these horrible conversations with Nosa, to record what he said so the police would hopefully be moved to do something. What I don’t see as noble is recording the worst (and last) moments of these poor women’s lives in great detail and publishing them for everyone to read. I’m not sure how the victims’ families benefit from this exposure, or if any charities received any of this book’s profits, but it just all felt disrespectful to me. However I am not naive, and I do realise that at the end of the day, money is king and not only does sex sell, so does violence.

I enjoyed the other parts of the book, although there was a lot of repetition. Noguera’s story is interesting, and his descriptions of prison are in equal measures sad and enlightening. I also thought that his analysis of Nosa’s character and the way he got him to talk was absolutely fascinating.

The narrator, Joe Sanfelippo, makes some rather interesting choices in his narration. He recreates Naso’s creepy laugh (fantastic choice) and also, people’s odd little breathing patterns and sounds we tend to involuntarily make (terrible choice, uncomfortable and offputting). Other than that, I felt his voice fit the tone of the book well.

All in all, I could probably recommend this to true crime enjoyers, though I do think that a book does not need to graphically describe a woman’s rape and murder to tell her story.

[MarilynW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through the Lens of a Monster: A Serial Killer on Death Row, an Unsolved Murder List, and an Inmate's Deadly Play for Redemption
By William A. Noguera, narrated by Joe Sanfelippo

The author, William Noguera, was the youngest person to receive a death sentence in California and he'd been there for decades when serial killer Joseph Naso arrived on death row at San Quentin. Noguera decided to gain Naso's trust and "befriend" him so he could learn more about Naso's victims in order to give their families information that might give them some closure even if their family members could never be brought back to them alive. During the time that Noguera spent with Naso, it became very clear that there were many more victims than had been known about before Noguera began his quest to get Nora to open up about what he'd done to the women.

San Quentin was (is?) a place where serial killers traded pictures of victims like trading cards. There'd be actual victims pictures pasted to the walls of the offenders. There was also the chance that anyone in the prison could be killed by other inmates at any time. If Noguera wanted to find out more information about the crimes Nosa had committed, he had to proceed carefully and wisely. The clock was ticking for both of them in more ways than one.

If you pick up this book, know that the details are horrifying. The narrator, Joe Sanfelippo, narrates with a matter of fact tone. This story needs no embellishing by a narrator. What we learn is terrible enough and it will take a while for the things I learned from this book to recede to the back of my mind.

Thank you to Tantor Media | Tantor Audio and NetGalley for this ARC

[Kristine Fejes · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a content warning regarding adult, violent, sexual assault and rape. One should avoid if these are triggers.
This book follows one death row inmate’s strong desire for doing what is right, for victims and their families even when it put him at risk by getting close and gaining the trust of fellow death row inmate Joseph Naso. Noguera understood how killers, sociopaths, narcissists are, how to gain trust and get the real information from killers that the investigators and families really wanted.

The book was an easy read and hard to put down, however at times it was hard to pick up due to the subject matters. Nogeura took it upon himself to find the information to help families have some closure, in the book he describes the death row conditions well, the life, the dangers, segregations, codes of life and in the yard at Sam Quentin prison, so the reader has a good understanding and can picture it all in their head as they read/listen. It must have been difficult for him to be near Naso and to hear his stories as it was difficult at times to hear Nogeura’s recount of them.

There was a time or two I wasn’t sure if I could finish the book. Not because of the writing but the topics. At a time or two, it felt too repetitive to hear details of Naso’s crimes but I also found it hard to put down. Later near the end you see why he left some details in and his method for writing it how he did.

I did enjoy the book and the narrator of the audiobook and would read/listen to more of their work.

[Caroline Hurst-Millican · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through the Lens of a Monster was, overall, a compelling and well-written read. William A. Noguera tells the story with clarity and depth, weaving together investigative detail, personal reflection, and psychological insight in a way that keeps you turning the pages. The structure is strong, and the narrative voice feels deliberate and thoughtful.

That said, there were moments where the content felt repetitive, particularly when revisiting certain themes and background details. While I understand the purpose behind reinforcing key elements of the case, it occasionally slowed the pacing.

I also want to offer a sincere trigger warning. As a survivor of sexual assault, I found parts of this book especially difficult. The graphic and gory details are not for the faint of heart. While the brutality underscores the seriousness of the crimes and the weight of the story, I’m not entirely convinced that every explicit detail was necessary. Readers who are sensitive to violence—particularly sexual violence—should approach this book with caution.

Even so, it is undeniably powerful and meticulously crafted. It challenges the reader to wrestle with questions of justice, redemption, and the human capacity for darkness. If you can handle the intensity, it is a thought-provoking and gripping true crime read.

[notoriousLRG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through the Lens of a Monster is terrifying, unconscionable, and—somehow—redemptive. I’ll never understand how Noguera was able to sit with Joseph Naso day after day, listening to the disgusting, gruesome details of his crimes. But I’m relieved someone could. In doing so, Noguera gave something invaluable: a measure of closure to the victims’ families and loved ones.

Just when you think it can’t get worse, it does.

Reading this memoir, I went through a wide range of emotions—from fear and disgust, to cheering (out loud, alone in a room) for one of the women I was sure (god, I HOPED) would fend Naso off. I couldn’t put it down. Noguera is strategic, exacting, and selfless in his extraction of the truth. His writing is clear and deliberate, painting images you wish you could unsee—yet know you shouldn’t look away because the details are everything.

If you're fascinated by the psychology of serial killers, this book pulls you in and takes you further than the show ever dares to go. Five stars for Noguera, his tenacity, and his publisher. A triumph!

[Brenna Cumming · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could use some editing. The last 25% of the book felt rushed. I actually wish it was longer and went more in depth about Noguera and Naso’s dynamic and Noguera’s experience in prison. I imagine that his next book may shed some more light on his experience on death row, so I’ll be looking forward to that. I find his perspective on serial killers, Naso, prison life, etc, to be a very unique viewpoint. It seems like no one has quite experienced the things that Noguera has, and I’m so glad that he is sharing it with the world. He’s right to point out that the world mostly forgets about criminals once they are convicted and locked up, but the reality is these people live for years and years, interacting with each other, influencing others, and cared for by the state. Also, as disturbing as it is to hear what really is behind Naso’s drive to kill, it seems like an important thing to shed light on since honesty from a serial killer appears hard to come by. Certainly graphic at times.

[Marylovesreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through the Lens of a Monster
by William A. Noguera
Narrated by Joe Sanfelippo
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Both the narration and the story were excellent.

When I first started listening, I didn’t realize the book was written by a fellow inmate on death row. That revelation immediately made me question the narrator’s motives and perspective, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the story.

As it unfolded, those doubts became part of what made the experience so compelling. By the end, I found myself unexpectedly rooting for his release and feeling grateful that the information he uncovered—from a truly disturbing serial killer—helped bring closure to many victims’ families.

This is a gripping and thought-provoking listen that I’d highly recommend to true crime readers.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ALC.

[Pamela Wasserman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A courageous true story

the author, William Noguera is a brave author that literally put his own life on the line to tell us this truth. That he did this while being incarcerated for his own crime and while serving his time on death row proves that some criminals can be completely rehabilitated and emerge as gifted civilians when true justice is actualized. The other side of this story also proves that other criminals must forever be kept separated from society for life. William exposes the flipside of the inner workings is a serial killer that is horrifying, completely immoral and Incapable of redemption by their own confession. my heart breaks for the victims and rejoices for William's deserved freedom.

[Lesley Behrndt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess I liked this book. The stories were awful, as I expected them to be, but that isnt what bothered me. It felt so self serving. Here is Noguera, crusader for justice, all around tough guy who cares about women dead 30 to 50 years ago? It didnt add up to me. Especially the celebrity contacts. I was looking forward to reading this and I came away disappointed. Still doesn't add up for me.

[Sarah Seltzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

A chilling, disturbing look at the actions of a serial killer straight from his own mouth. The author took a huge risk with this undertaking and I can only hope he truly did it for the reasons of justice and honoring the victims as he claims.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listen, read and watch true crime - all the time - and when searching online for a good, recently published book, this one sounded pretty interesting. Downloaded it on my Kindle app and I couldn’t stop reading.