The Edgar Award–nominated true crime story of the 2001 death of Kathleen Peterson and the trial against her husband Michael—the subject of an acclaimed documentary, The Staircase, and an HBO Max miniseries starring Colin Firth."[Fanning's] writing is superb. . . . [She]has written a true-crime book focused more on the truth than on the crime. . . . A triumph." —Vance Holmes, author of Poetic JusticeAn Army brat-turned-Marine, Michael Peterson saw combat in Vietnam and returned a decorated soldier. An avid reader, his dreams of being an acclaimed novelist came true. His desire to find love was fulfilled when he married brilliant executive Kathleen Atwater, the first female student accepted at Duke University's School of Engineering. Living in an exclusive area of Durham, North Carlina, the Petersons seemed the ideal academic couple—well-respected, prosperous, and happy.All that came crashing down in December of 2001, when Kathleen apparently fell to her death in their secluded home. But blood-spattered evidence and a missing fireplace poker suggested calculated, cold-blooded murder. Her trusted husband stood accused. Prosecutors introduced evidence at trial that sixteen years earlier, Peterson was one of the last people to see his neighbor alive before she was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her home in Germany. A dramatic trial followed in the explosive final chapter of a life that no novelist could ever have conceived . . .

The true crime story of an Akron socialite and former beauty queen whose love triangle led to murder.Cynthia George was the stunning wife of one of Akron Ohio's most successful restaurateurs, and mother of seven. She flaunted her money, her body . . . even her extra-marital affairs. Until she got in too deep with Jeff Zack, her younger, long-time lover who was also the father of one of her children—a secret that she kept for many years.In a crime that shocked the heartland, Zack was killed, execution style, in the parking lot of a BJ's Wholesale Club in Akron. From the beginning, investigators suspected Cynthia was involved. Little did they know that her other lover was the murderer. John Zaffino knew about Cynthia's affair with Zack—and was jealous enough to do something about it . . . for good.

Hungry for a treasure trove of weird and wonderful facts beyond your wildest imagination? Then keep on reading…Did you know that trees collaborate, communicate, and engage in chemical warfare?Or that humans are better at smelling rain than sharks are at smelling blood?Or that Napoleon once fought a pack of tame rabbits… and lost?Sometimes, life gets boring. Your sense of wonder often gets lost in a pile of chores, paperwork, and obligations.But whether you’re bored and hunting for entertainment or just want some fascinating facts to share with your family and friends, you’ve come to the right place.With tons of boredom-busting facts and mysteries about plants, animals, history, space travel, and everything in between, you have a set of fail-safe curiosities and conversation starters up your sleeve.So, if you want to find out…Why some people believe their families have been replaced by impostorsHow tens of thousands of fireflies can synchronize with each other to blink in unisonOr what the weird bubble-like objects at the center of the Milky Way areThen this book is here to satisfy your curiosity.In this enthralling collection of 60 fascinating, bizarre, and entertaining phenomena, you’ll discover:The creature that never dies — it just goes back to the juvenile stage and starts all over againA multicolored shrimp that attacks unsuspecting prey with the force of a .22-caliber bullet… underwaterHow a slimy glob of single-celled organisms can remember, learn, and transfer knowledgeWhen science-fiction turns into real-life horror — how a fungus takes over ants’ bodies and turns them into zombiesHow scientists can look at your tears and tell whether you were sad or just cutting an onionThe story of the “dancing plague” that swept through Europe 500 years ago, leaving people dead from exhaustionThe country where you can pay someone to apologize for you, or even quit your jobThe identical twins who lived unbelievably identical lives — even though they were separated at birthThe mechanics of black holes and the possibility of “white holes”... places where time runs backwardHow this one material can make building a human colony on Mars possible (is it urine, blood, or potatoes?)And so much more.This isn’t just any old collection of recycled factoids and half-true anecdotes — all of the information has been carefully curated, thoroughly researched, and fact-checked to within an inch of its life.What’s more? You’ll also find unbelievable stories from the past, new technologies right at the leading edge of science, and futuristic ideas with the potential to completely transform human lives.So, what are you waiting for?If you’re ready to fill your mind with wonders and dazzle your friends over dinner, scroll up and click “Add to Cart” now!

A suburban housewife's picture-perfect life is shattered in this riveting true crime book from the author of Evil Next Door. When Nancy Cooper moved from Canada to Cary, North Carolina, with her new husband Brad, their future was bright. Living in one of the most picturesque towns in the United States, the couple mingled with neighbors, attended parties, and raised two daughters. Then, on July 14, 2008, the façade came crashing down when Nancy's strangled body was found in a storm pond. Nancy's husband claimed she had gone for a jog and never came back. But as the police investigation deepened, a complex web of affairs and lies involving multiple residents of Cary's idyllic neighborhoods was uncovered, and Brad was brought to trial for the murder of his wife. At the heart of it stood the Coopers' soured marriage, Nancy's threat to leave with the children, and her own cold-blooded murder. It would take a mountain of damning evidence before justice was served.

Timothy Wells and Christine Sevilla's love was inspiring. Married for almost twenty years, the husband and wife passionately adored each other. Friends, family, and acquaintances all wished to have a relationship as solid as that of Tim and Christine. There was no sign that their marriage was anything less than ideal-until the day Wells brutally murdered his wife.This deep, disturbing exploration of the psyche of Timothy Wells is not a whodunit but a "whydunit." Written with Wells's cooperation, this riveting account thoroughly presents the circumstances leading up to Sevilla's murder. It features interviews and letters from the Wells and Sevilla families as well as testimony from friends, neighbors, and ex-spouses. Trapped inside his own mind, Wells' emotional insecurities left him with no escape from his severe depression and swiftly multiplying anxieties. In chilling detail, this true narrative traces the path of a man doomed by his own inner demons.

Award-winning author: 2020 Readers' Favorite Silver Medal!***This book provides you with fun and challenging questions, whether you want to quiz yourself or your family. Learn something new every day and surprise your circle of friends and colleagues!Knowing stuff makes you a cool and interesting interlocutor. You will always have an icebreaker at hand to start a conversation or to keep it going by dropping a weird fact.I covered a wide range of topics and intentionally made the questions assorted, so you will not know what sort of fact is coming. As I would do myself, you can choose to read as many facts as you please in one sitting, or even just one fact each day!You could use this collection when preparing for a pub quiz or quiz night at work or at home. All the questions are well-researched and family-friendly.