I would like to draw your attention to a misleading book review, by Diana Brement, published 30 August 2010.
You’ve done a disservice to your readers in presenting Isabel Vincent’s book as a “biography.” Indeed, far from investigative journalism, the book is a shabby attempt at selling books at any expense — including that of the facts.
Your columnist questions whether Mr. Safra’s death was “An accident, or murder?” and claims that “Eleven years later it’s still unclear.” This is completely false.
The circumstances of Mr. Safra’s tragic death are clear, despite nonsensical gossip: Ted Maher, acting alone, started the fire, and was found guilty of his crime after an extensive investigation, a trial, and an appeal. Contrary to your reviewer’s assertion, Dominick Dunne wrote, in his column “Verdict in Monaco” published February 2003, that he believed that Ted Maher was guilty.
I would appreciate your publication of this letter as your readers deserve to know the truth on this question, just as they deserve to know that the book is fiction masquerading as biography, where errors of fact are piled high to allow the author to present conspiracy theories worthy of those who believe that 9/11 never happened or that man never walked on the moon. They shouldn’t be as gullible as was your columnist.