The late journalist Fox began writing about the kidnapping of J. Paul Getty III as a True magazine reporter in 1973. A few years later, Getty (who was all of 18 years old) and his wife approached Fox about writing Getty's life story. Fox became more than a biographer—he became a friend—and his book shines a light on the downside of extreme wealth: the paranoia of Getty's grandfather, the excesses of his father, and the freewheeling lifestyle that Getty embraced well before he had a chance to grow up. While Getty may have naively joked about staging a kidnapping to extract money from his family, surely he never imagined being abducted by the infamous Calabrian Mafia, the 'Ndrangheta, much less having his ear cut off. Fox had full access to several family members, which allows for a more complete account of Getty's life and kidnapping. Fox also includes a very helpful "Cast of Characters," a necessary tool just to keep the Pauls straight. VERDICT A sensational story about a famous family, this should be a popular book. Recommended.—Karen S. Silverman, Dresden, ME