Inside the Mind of Scott Peterson

The New York Times–bestselling true crime book that was the first to examine the Scott Peterson murder case—and why he did it.

“Ablow’s work stands alone.” —Ann Rule

The highly publicized Scott Peterson murder case captivated a public hungry for the answer to one question: Why would a man with no known history of violent crime or mental illness and with a pretty wife about to give birth brutally murder her and his unborn son? Forensic psychiatrist Keith Ablow’s national media appearances, including a groundbreaking interview on Oprah, resulted in enormous public response, saying that his theories about the spawning of a killer inside Peterson were the first that made sense to them. Members of Scott’s and Laci’s families have also stated that his comments were the first that helped them understand what might have happened inside Scott’s mind. Inside the Mind of Scott Peterson takes readers into the psyche of a killer, exploring:

• How Scott Peterson's empathy for others was shattered by a three-generation “bloodline” of childhood loss and abandonment
• Why an addiction to sex took root in Peterson's psyche
• Why Peterson's meeting Amber Frey while his wife was pregnant triggered the “perfect” psychological storm
• Clues to Peterson's guilt in his interviews with Gloria Gomez and Diane Sawyer
• What Peterson was probably thinking as he listened to testimony in court and received his death sentence
• Why Peterson could kill again, if released

Using contacts at the FBI, and hiring private investigators and researchers, Keith Ablow delves deeply into Scott Peterson’s life story to answer the question: How did an all-American boy turn into a ruthless killer?