Written in Blood by Diane Fanning
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Book Reviews of Written in Blood
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: 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: Witness for the prosecution
Summary: 4 Stars
I come to this book after having watched the riveting documentary "The Staircase" (available for rent at netflix) fascinated by Michael Peterson but looking for the other side of the story. For as fascinating as the documantary is, it is told from the defense perspective. This book sets out the facts, many glossed over or omitted from the documenary, along with a critical but not unfair view of the accused. If you have seen the film and are looking for more information on the case, this is the book to read; it is much more factual and informative than Aphrodite Jones's much more emotional and biased account. After reading this book, I lost my conviction that Peterson was wrongly convicted, but saddened that a man of so much talent and intelligence could be capable of such violence.Book Review: Results on found condom
Summary: 4 Stars
Just finished the book. It was good although Aphrodite Jones' book was more interesting. To answer the question about the found condom. I read that his son admitted that it belonged to a friend of his. Apparently his friend and a girl had sex on Michael and Kathleen's bed!Book Review: More informative than the documentary.
Summary: 4 Stars
I did not want to read this after seeing the documentary, but I am very glad I did. It did not focus so much on Peterson's sexual orientation but on the facts. Very well written. Peterson is right where he needs to be, locked up.