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In the Middle of the Night: The Shocking True Story of a Family Killed in Cold Blood (St. Martin's True Crime Library)
The affluent suburb of Cheshire, Connecticut, seemed like the perfect place for Dr. William Petit and his wife, Jennifer Hawke-Petit, to raise their two lovely daughters… Until July 23, 2007, when, according to police, two ex-cons invaded the Petit home hoping to embark on a routine robbery—one that would ultimately prove deadly.
What unfolded at 300 Sorghum Mill Driv
...moreMass Market Paperback, 240 pages
Published
September 29th 2009
by St. Martin's True Crime
(first published 2009)
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Exploitative? Perhaps. There is horror and heartbreak and soul-crushing grief behind this tale, as there is in other "true-crime" reads: In Cold Blood, The Executioner's Song, Helter Skelter. The appearance of this book, before the trials of Komisarjevsky and Hayes have even begun, is troubling, and will certainly have an impact on the proceedings. The brief account focuses primarily on the life of Joshua Komisarjevsky- who generously provided the author with over 200 handwritten ...more
Dr.Petit's life as he knows and enjoys it will change forever as of 7/23/07. A couple of career criminals, Joshua 26y/o started breaking into occupied homes about the age of 14 and Steven Hayes in his forty's take the Petit family hostage. Surprisingly ( b/c of the age difference)Joshua is the mastermind and Hayes appears to be the follower. The story's account is from Joshua's interviews, writings and such. No other first hand people chose to add to this particular story. It does contain m...more
In 2007, two men with a criminal history broke into a home in the middle of the night and held a family hostage. During their ordeal, one member of the family was beaten with a baseball bat while two other members were sexually assaulted. Then their captors decided to set the house on fire while the family was still tied up. Only one of them managed to get free and escape. This crime was horrific and all the more shocking because it happened in the well-to-do neighborhood of Cheshire, Connec...more
Not a very good book. The most interesting aspect is that the author corresponded with one of the murderers, who of course tells the story with braggadocio and glossing over the details that would make him look most horrid. I don't feel as though I came away from the book with any real insight or understanding.
I do think that it did not matter what actions various family members took. The very much premeditated plan included murder and arson. The perpetrators were planning to commit a...more
I do think that it did not matter what actions various family members took. The very much premeditated plan included murder and arson. The perpetrators were planning to commit a...more
Living in Connecticut, I am aware of the controversy this book caused. I borrowed it because I wanted to form my own opinion. What I found was an interesting story, but the amount of time spent detailing the childhood of Joshua Komisarjevsky, the burglar/rapist/murderer/scumbag who was interviewed for this book was boring and unnecessary to me. I skimmed through it. Who cares what made him do what he did, he did it anyway. The author really doesn't make him a sympathetic character; he does, howe...more
The case was interesting, but it was recent and I think the book was written too soon. The thing I like about reading true crime is following the process of how the case was investigated and prosecuted. You expect a background on the criminals, but this book was one long background with very little about the actual crime and nothing about the prosecution, since it isn't done yet.
It's more like the biography of the pathetic scumbag who could have a great life if only he had not gone down the wrong path blah blah blah. I feel like the author wants me to have sympathy for this wayward soul. The only sympathy I have is for Mr. Petit who will bear the scars both physically & mentally the rest of his life. And for Jayda. A little girl brought into the world not knowing what an animal her father truly is.
read this book in a day, darn cold snowy, icy weather keeping is all indoors!
anyways, always interesting to rad about something that happens in the state you live in.
i found it interesting that the author even visited one of the men in prison a few times.
anyways, always interesting to rad about something that happens in the state you live in.
i found it interesting that the author even visited one of the men in prison a few times.
Cassandra
added it
This book was ok. Its a true story and thats what makes it good. God bless the Petit family and Cheshire, CT. May God pour his wrath upon the 2 selfish low-life men who committed such a horrifying crime.
This book was very scary but I could not put it down. I am amazed with the behavior of the 2 killers. It really makes you think about how to secure your house and change your routine.
lynn
added it
Not In Cold Blood, but certainly a good start. More of a description/analysis of one of the murderers. Makes you swing toward the nature end of the nature v. nurture discussion.
Blah- the life story of a genius but pathetic pathological liar and a manipulated simple-minded drug addict that take part in an unspeakable crime.
Not at all what I expected for a true crime story. Was okay, but not great.
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Along with writing books, I frequently freelance for magazines and newspapers including the New York Times Proof blog. I also teach journalism and memoir writing.
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