Written in Blood by Diane Fanning Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Written in Blood
Book Review: The Best Book about the Stairway Murders!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read the other book about this case but I have forgotten most of it. In my opinion, this book is the better of the two regarding the Peterson Case in North Carolina about a successful novelist who kills his adored, loved, wife, Kathleen Hunt Peterson, after so many years of marriage right before Christmas. I have read some of Fanning's other books but this book is by far her best because it's so detailed with information. Since I usually just read true crime stories, I was hesitant to read about the Peterson case since I already Jones' book entitled "The Perfect Husband." I was shocked by the detailed information of the blood evidence all over the house at first. As Fanning writes, this book unravels some disturbing behaviors by the widow, Michael Peterson. Of course, it turns out there was another similar death of Elizabeth Ratcliff in Germany years ago. As the investigation unfolds in the Peterson case, Michael's secret life emerges from the shadows and it's a shock to those who knew him as the perfect husband and family man who had two sons, two adopted daughters, and a stepdaughter. He had a wonderful wife who deserved more than to die an ugly tragic death. When I read that she had lived 2-4 hours after she was struck before her husband sought out help, it made me cringe for her. He waited for her to die. The author details Peterson's military background and his experiences his Vietnam as well as his divorces and relationships with women.Book Review: The best we have, so far
Summary: 4 Stars
If, like me, you saw The Stair Case on Sundance (or even before, on ABC) and found yourself wanting to know more, your options are Fanning's book or a slighter effort by Aphrodite Jones. Both books suffer from not being informed by the defense's point of view. (Did the Peterson camp have an exclusivity agreement with Maha?) And both books were written relatively quickly - not quite insta-books but almost. Still, I found Written in Blood worth reading and applaud Fanning for uncovering telling details about Peterson's time in Germany and his spending spree after Kathleen's death.
B.Chen's point about Fanning's sometimes groan-worthy prose is valid. Fanning does try too hard on occasion to wring meaning out of the mundane. I also wish more space was given to the facts of the crime - the broken bone, etc.
This is an acceptable addition to the True Crime genre but not among the greats. I hope that a definitive telling of this story will be written soon and will greater access to all parties.
Book Review: The definitive work on the Michael Peterson murders.
Summary: 5 Stars
I watched nearly every minute of this trial on Court TV. I read almost every news article on this trial contemporaneously. I watched live online broadcasts of the trial and local commentary provided there. And when I read this book "Written In Blood", I felt like I was following this case for the first time. I learned so many new details about this homicide and the various "players" involved. I was riveted to the entire book.
At times I had to put it down to digest very emotional passages and the masterful ways they were delivered. I got chills over and over again reading the various connections this author made that even I had not considered in this case.
Michael Peterson's display of sociopathy speaks for itself. Ms. Fanning merely places it on a canvas which makes it come to life in an unmistakable way. Sociopaths are masterful at hiding in compartmentalized hidden places, manipulating situation upon person upon circumstance to confound those around them to their pathology.
Fanning paints an unmistakable portrait based on the FACTS and interviews with those who were up close and personal to this monster and his crimes.
On the heels of the propoganda docudrama film on Sundance, The Staircase, this book was a breath of fresh air. And a fair and accurate representation of the truth and devastation left in a sociopath's wake.
I am starting to read Fanning's other book Through The Window now and look forward to any future books she may produce.
Book Review: There's A Lot More To The Story & It's Written In Blood
Summary: 4 Stars
Not once, during either of two frantic calls to Durham 9-11 did Michael Peterson mention the blood...and there was a lot of blood. During the early morning hours of December 9th, as Kathleen lay dying on the stairs, police and rescue personnel rush to the home on Cedar Street.
Connecting the complex sequence of dots that convinced a jury of his peers that Michael Peterson was indeed guilty of murder would have been the easy part, because the evidence had been painstakingly detailed during the five month trial. But, Diane Fanning takes the reader behind the carefully orchestrated performance in the court room and delivers the journey through the raw, unfiltered eyes of those who lived it. Detailing the crime scene, police procedure, the autopsy and the trial I fully expected, however, this book is chock-full of extras. Intimate conversations between Kathleen and her beloved sister, details concerning the exhumation and autopsy of Elizabeth Ratliff, the suspicious death of George Ratliff and much more. There's also eight pages of photographs that give the reader a glimpse of the Peterson's before, during and the aftermath is punctuated with a single photo of Kathleen's headstone.
During the trial, the defense displayed an air of arrogance both in and outside the courtroom. And much to the chagrin of Peterson's few remaining supporters, the author pulls no punches describing the showboating behavior of David Rudolf and Thomas Maher, the mysterious discovery of the missing blow-poke and the effect these antics had on the grieving families.
Superb, unflinching, emotionally gritty at times, Written in Blood is a stinging, in your face novel that paints a haunting picture of the madness that often lurks behind the gates of the nicest communities or in the home right next door. And reminds us all that the monster hiding in the shadows is easily recognized in hindsight...but, that's too late!
Although the last chapter of this story will be written by the North Carolina Supreme Court, Written In Blood is as complete a history of the Peterson saga as could possibly be written. If you enjoy reading a true crime novel that goes behind the scenes and beyond the glare of the cameras, Written In Blood does not disappoint!
Happy Reading!
Book Review: Very Disappointing Book
Summary: 1 Stars
I had seen on Court TV about this murder and was looking forward to the book. It is far too vague. I wanted to know more of Kathleen as a person, not just offhand remarks by her stepson alluding to her drinking making it sound like that was a big part of her life and yet I knew it was not. However I wanted that explained more fully in the book. It was interesting to read about an obviously brilliant woman who despite her brilliance made a very bad choice in marrying this man and finding out more and more about him, not getting out before she literally could not.
It happens to so many, many women but I felt so very sad for Kathleen and for the lovely daughter she has left. The book left out so many things
that would have helped us understand Kathleen better.