Vulgar Favors

The Assassination of Gianni Versace

By: Maureen Orth

Narrated by: Dan Woren, Maureen Orth

Read the true story of the manhunt that inspired The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, the acclaimed FX series.

“The breadth and thoroughness of [Maureen] Orth’s research are often staggering.”—The New York Times

“Fascinating . . . ripe with chilling detail.”—Entertainment Weekly

On July 15, 1997, Gianni Versace was shot and killed on the steps of his Miami Beach mansion by serial killer Andrew Cunanan. But months before Versace’s murder, award-winning journalist Maureen Orth was already investigating a major story on Cunanan for Vanity Fair. Culled from interviews with more than four hundred people and insights gleaned from thousands of pages of police reports, Vulgar Favors tells the complete story of Andrew Cunanan, his unwitting victims, and the moneyed world in which they lived . . . and died.

Orth reveals how Cunanan met Versace, and why police and the FBI repeatedly failed to catch him. Here is a gripping odyssey that races across America—from California’s wealthy gay underworld to modest Midwestern homes of families mourning the loss of their sons to South Beach and its unapologetic decadence. Vulgar Favors is at once a masterwork of investigative journalism and a riveting account of a sociopath, his crimes, and the mysteries he left along the way.

Critic reviews

“A fascinatingly detailed account.”—USA Today

“It will hook you from the first page and never let you go.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“Vulgar Favors by Maureen Orth might be called the complete Cunanan. . . . She [has] an indefatigable hunger to know everything.”—Chicago Tribune

“A detailed page-turner.”—St. Paul Pioneer Press

“An exceptionally good account of suspected serial killer Andrew Cunanan’s spree in 1997 . . . Orth tells this twisted story with grace and courage.”—Fort Worth Star-Telegram

“Orth has an inviting, readable style.”—Oakland Tribune

“The definitive book on the July 15, 1997 murder of Versace.”—Sun-Sentinel

“An exhilarating journalistic chronicle of Cunanan’s crime and flight . . . The book is charged with adrenaline and the pages just seem to turn themselves.”—Lesbian and Gay New York

Very thorough

I purchased this after watching the American Crime Story mini-series. I’m not generally interested in true crime but this focused less on the gory details and more on how the families and communities were affected.

The narration was great. I liked that he did accents so it was easy to follow who was speaking.

Solid Read

very engaging read with lots of details that were previously unknown. good narration too. twado thumbs up

loved it!!

I listened to the book a 2nd time right after listening to it the 1st time. I vaguely remember news clips and TV coverage from 1997 so this story really brought the case to life. This is a must for any fan of true crime. Finally major kudos to author Maureen Orth for her integrity and respect to all of those involved!

Easily one of the best

I REALLY wish Maureen Orth published more true crime books. The level of research that went into this was documented so perfectly. I was in Miami Beach while listening to this so many places were familiar; it made the listening experience all the more real.

Narration was fantastic. MUST LISTEN.

If you cab get past the homophobic

If you can get passed the homophobic language the case is fascinating. I'm assuming it homophobic language has to do with who wrote this book and the year it came out. I would love if they rewrote it and cute out all the stereo types.