About Through the Lens of a Monster

The only man he trusted was a killer too.

On death row at San Quentin, artist and inmate William Noguera formed an unlikely bond with the 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, disclosing evidence that had eluded investigators for decades and exposing the darkness that drove him. Now, 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.

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

PRAISE

“Nothing prepared me for this extraordinary book. My father, an ex-con from San Quentin, believed violent men couldn’t change—but he never met William Noguera. His artistry and courage drew confessions from a serial killer and gave closure to forgotten families. Haunting, redemptive, unforgettable.”—David Crow, award-winning author of The Pale-Faced Lie

“A gripping account of crime, justice, and redemption [that offers] readers an unparalleled perspective on the complexities of the criminal mind. . . . Filled with photographs and images, this is an eerily good book.”—Readers’ Favorite (5 stars)

About the Author

William A. Noguera 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. READ MORE