Last Dance, Last Chance (8) (Ann Rule's Crime Files)

Ann Rule has penned a real-life monster story with "Last Dance, Last Chance." Here she tells the story of Doctor Anthony Pignataro, the son of a prominent Buffalo, NY surgeon, who lacked any of the gifts his father had. He masked his insecurity and incompetence with a veneer of arrogance and attitude that alienated most of those around him. In fact the only person besides his mother to stand by him through years of failed attempts to finish a medical residency program was his wife Debbie.Not only was Tony Pignataro crude, rude and offensive to most people, but he showed little true affection for his family unless he needed something from them. In fact, he was a philandering husband, caught in at least two affairs by his long-suffering wife.Pignataro ventured into cosmetic surgery after inventing a permanent hairpiece that attached to the skull via titanium implants. He made a fortune doing this procedure along with the occasional breast implantation and tummy tuck in his understaffed office. His poor work habits ultimately had deadly consequences when a young woman died during a routine breast augmentation procedure.As a result, Pignataro lost his medical license and his practice, developed a heroin habit and continued an affair with a stripper named Tami, whom he decided to make a new life with as soon as he could dispose of his wife. He attempted to do so during a brief reconciliation period.His plans went awry when Debbie survived the massive poisoning, and with the tests proving she was poisoned, investigators soon focused on Tony as their lead suspect. This is a chilling tale of a conscienceless killer who had everything going for him and trashed it all through his own greed and lust for adoration.This is another testament as to why Ann Rule is the best at her craft.

Kudos to Ann Rule for giving us a bird's eye view of another sociopath. Anthony Pignitaro really thinks the world revolves around him; he is what you call a legend in his own mind. "Modern Day Gallileo", indeed! Anyone who has bolts inserted into his own skull so his toupee can stay on has rocks in his head to begin with. How he ever got a medical license of any kind is totally beyond my comprehension. A couple of parents in this story blew my mind: Pignitaro's mother, Lena, who thought her son did no wrong (even after his incompetence cost a patient her life) and Deborah's father, who told her that she had to forgive Pignitaro and stay with him after he cheated on her! And where was Deborah's guts? And, sorry, I don't buy the "traditional Italian wife" excuse. Like me, Deborah grew up in the 1960s so how could she have believed such archaic nonsense? I don't see the problem some folks have on here with this book. I thought it was a real page-turner and it didn't fail to satisfy. Ann can't write them fast enough for me.

I will preface this with an obvious fact in saying that I am no professional book critic. I am simply an avid true crime reader, and I have read more than my share of works in this genre, most surely enough to feel like I know what is and what isn't "good". I have never before felt compelled to submit any commentary on the better works that I have read to anyone beyond a few close friends, and I generally just allow a book to chart it's own course to popularity or a lack thereof without my two cents worth of input. In this instance, though, I simply hate to see anyone miss out on this excellent piece of work solely due to the influence of the preceding critique. Ann Rule's books, without exception, speak well for themselves, and I stress the words "without exception" in that Last Dance, Last Chance is no different. I recommend it wholeheartedly. I have to take exception to the preceding critique, "The salty spray off Lake Erie" and tell everyone out there that this book is no "quickie". It is a thoroughly researched and exceptionally well written presentation of Anthony Pignataro's swath of destruction on his family and society, and you can't afford to miss it. I can see nowhere in this book to apply any constructive criticism, and there is no way it is deserving of the almost personal attacks on Ms. Rule that the previous writer seems to dish out with glee. I mean, this guy (or girl) would have us believe that this book is riddled with "factual error", but quite frankly I don't think the acceptance practices of the local schools is of much import to this story. Likewise, the salinity of the local waters. That's plainly silly on it's face! Hey, pal, we know you can use three and four syllable words, and we know you are from the Buffalo area! Satisfied? I don't know whether or not this book will turn out to be your favorite Ann Rule book, but I can't help but believe you will like, if not love it. It is without a doubt worth the fee, so please by all means make your own judgement, but not without reading the book!

I LOVE Ann Rule, she NEVER disappoints me! I just finished "Last Dance Last Chance." She has a talent and skill for putting you right in the midst of what is happening. In Last Dance Last Chance she again upholds her listing as a top notch True Crime Writer. I feel outraged regarding the attitude of Lena the mother of Anthony Pignataro. Her spoiled brat of a boy never matured into a man. He whines all the way to the end and is still whining. He administered poison to his adoring wife, week by week, month by month, calmly watching her suffering and deterioration. He waited impatiently for her death. But Debbie didn't die, she managed to live. FINALLY Dr. Anthony Pignataro has reaped the rewards of lies, deceits, cheating, betraying and attempted murder ... He will be in prison till the year 2019. His wife Deborah, his children . . . .and yes, even his mother have suffered tremendously because of his calculating actions, his cruelty. He led a privileged life, enough money, nice cars etc., but he just didn't have the right stuff to be a doctor, husband or father. I also like the photos that can be referred to, i.e. showing that the handsome, young or very innocent looking are in many cases the opposite of what they appear to be. Thank you Ann Rule for educating us, showing us once again that what you see isn't always what you get. To be on the N Y Times best seller list again only proves that your fans are above average. It is an honor that you have definitely earned.Also recommended: ALL of Ann Rule's books,short stories included. I learn from every one: Every Breath You Take, And Never Let Her Go, If You Really Loved Me, etc. etc.

A real page-turner. Wow, Ann Rule just gets better and better. I read it all in the space of a few hours, and though I couldn't wait for Anthony to get what was coming to him, I didn't want this book to end. Ann Rules. .....