Behind the Staircase

Michael Peterson Murder Case

De: Michael Peterson

Narrado por: Roberto Scarlato

Step inside the mansion of Michael and Kathleen Peterson, the home where they lived as empty nesters in North Carolina.

December 2001 marked the beginning of the long, arduous journey for Michael Peterson, who was accused, placed on trial, and convicted of murdering his second wife, Kathleen Peterson. In Behind the Staircase, a memoir, Peterson recounts the events leading up to the incident which would forever change his life.

Follow Michael’s depiction of the tragic events leading up to his conviction and incarceration for his wife’s death and the next eight years of his imprisonment for her alleged murder. Upon his release, Peterson shares in his memoir, Behind the Staircase, his perspective on what happened to his loving wife, the misleading evidence of the trial, and the years that he spent behind bars with criminals, murderers, and rapists.

Listen as Michael painstakingly describes how as the prime suspect in the investigation, he was forced to endure one of the longest trials in North Carolina history, all the while asserting his innocence in her death.

You will be engrossed in the real-life depiction of the events and left in awe at the harrowing tales of his life in prison.

Listen and learn about Kathleen’s tragic accident and Michael’s desperate plea for justice.

©2020 Public Domain (P)2021 CSA Publishing

A deeply compelling and thought-provoking read

Behind the Staircase is an incredibly gripping memoir that takes readers inside one of North Carolina's most infamous cases, offering a raw and emotional perspective from Michael Peterson himself. Peterson's detailed recounting of the events leading to his wife’s death and his subsequent trial provides a thought-provoking exploration of justice, human resilience, and the flaws of the legal system. This memoir captivates with its candid storytelling, giving readers an intimate view of the tragedy, the courtroom drama, and the harsh realities of life behind bars.

Excellent

I watched the Netflix version first which compelled me to get this audiobook. Well written story, captivating, and great narration. I would recommend this 10/10.

Riveting

Behind The Staircase is a riveting true story about the murder of Kathleen Peterson and her husband, Michael, who was imprisoned for her murder. The story is well written and holds your attention for the lengthy audiobook. Whether he is innocent is still up for debate. The Netflix version is excellent, too.

It was pretty good

It mostly focused on his life in prison. It covered the death and court etc. but it was I think primarily his way of covering his side and life while away.

Worth a read esp if you've followed the case.

I was hoping that Michael Peterson would've narrated himself to be honest. It was good, though. maybe I'm just too picky but it seemed to be somewhat lacking or "missing" something. This poor man was locked up for years basically for being bi sexual. There's arent many things much more disturbing than that in my opinion. It delves into his life behind bars which is also pretty disturbing but very interesting. It was obviously highly traumatizing. Makes me sick that he felt he had to take the Alford plea just to live out the rest of his life in peace. This is a good example of how the justice system can get it very wrong.

Contemplating.

I'm not convinced he didn't do it. I've watch it on Netflix and now listening to the book I can't think otherwise. I tried to be open minded.

Behind The Scenes Read

I watched the documentary multiple times and it kept me on the edge of my seat. This is a good behind the scenes book. It filled in a lot of things I wondered about, that the documentary didn't cover. I really enjoyed it! I want to listen the revised one now and see what was added. No matter what you believe guilt or innocence, the man has undeniably lived an interesting life!

It just made me more curious.

After watching the staircase documentary I became fascinated with the Michael Peterson murder case. It is true that the documentary is very one sided for the defense, and mostly filled with behind the scenes access to how defense lawyering works. I think it was the fascination with how all of the circumstantial evidence against Michael Peterson would be overcome, or if it would be overcome, that drove me to watch the series multiple times. This was the catalyst that drove me to read this book. I wanted to learn more, even if only from the point of view of the accused. Perhaps it might shed new light on my opinions about the case.
At the very beginning I was completely convinced of Michael Peterson’s guilt. The amount of blood, the lacerations, the last person to see Kathleen alive, the possibly credible motives, the blood spatter on the inside of his shorts, and perhaps most damning- the autopsy report. It all led me to believe he was guilty. As I expected, this book did little in the way of convincing me otherwise. But I will admit, there is a small shred of me that believes he is just simply one of the most unlucky people on planet earth, and, if he is guilty, which I still believe he is, surely that was one of his goals in writing this book.

Breathtaking Story - 10/10

This is an exceptionally well written book. Mike does not only guide you through the detailed events that decided his fate, it simultaneously makes you feel the strong emotions that resulted from him having to make painstaking decisions.

Michael Peterson’s creative, intriguing and easy to follow writing style matched with the the narrator’s dynamic, clear and captivating voice shapes a breathtaking story.

Fantastic

I’m a crime series buff but this gave me chills. Wow. Written so well and sadly true. Thank you for being so transparent. It was riveting, humorous, entertaining, and eye opening.