Drew Peterson Exposed - Polygraphs reveal the shocking truth about Stacy Peterson and Kathleen Savio [Hardcover]

Derek Armstrong (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2008

Exposing the never-before-published polygraph results of Drew Peterson’s testimony, this illuminating exposé reveals new details in one of the most provocative and high profile criminal investigations in the country. October 28, 2008 marks the one year anniversary of Stacy Peterson’s disappearance from her home in Bollingbrook, Illinois. Since then, her husband Drew Peterson has been at the center of a media storm which shows no sign of abating—and this book is sure to stir it up. Peterson, a former police sergeant, is a person of interest in the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy, and in the death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. He has not been charged in either case, but he has been been excoriated in the media, and found guilty in the court of public opinion. Drawing on hundreds of hours of exclusive taped interviews with Peterson and his family, polygraphs and a the first publicly published time-line from the suspect, this journalistic inquiry presents the arguments for and against Peterson’s involvement in these cases with an impartial eye and takes the reader inside the head of a suspect. Drew Peterson's own timeline for the nights of Kathleen's death and Stacy's disappearance are revealed here for the first time, as well as the startling results of the two polygraph tests he agreed to undergo for this book. Peterson was questioned by examiner Lee McCord, a thirty-four-year expert in the polygraph, regarding his involvement in the death of Kathleen and the disappearance of Stacy. The results of these tests, the evidence, and testimony assembled here shed new light on the details of the police investigations, motives and alternative theories of the case. Conflicting witness accounts, false leads, widespread rumors, and red herrings that have dogged the investigation are analyzed and 140 photographs and documents (including many private family photos published here for the first time) take the reader beyond the headlines to the heart of this sensational story. The frank and often unsavory portrait of Drew Peterson that emerges is bound to provoke further controversy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"After spending hundreds of hours interviewing key players, reviewing time lines, and talking Peterson into taking lie-detector tests, [Armstrong's] opinion changes. The polygraph tests are the big news here. . . . With plenty of access to Peterson and his family (and many never-before-seen photos), this insider offering does a credible job of presenting a decidedly different point of view."  —Booklist

"I have read your book, which I thought was an excellent treatise on this whole process. It seems to me that you've done more research in drilling down on this person and the facts in this situation, maybe even more so than the prosecutors."  —Dr. Phil McGraw, Dr. Phil Show, introducing Derek Armstrong as a guest on the show

"Drew Peterson says a new book about him—due out this week—looks too much at the negative side of things."  —WBBM Chicago (CBS)

"Peterson had agreed to take the examination at the request of Derek Armstrong, the author of the recently published book Drew Peterson Exposed. . . . 'I started to come to the conclusion in my own mind that he might be guilty,' Armstrong said." — Mike Celizic, contributor, TODAYShow.com

"In May, Drew Peterson took a lie detector test at the request of author Derek Armstrong. The results, published in a new book, Drew Peterson Exposed, revealed Peterson showed deception on three occasions when asked about Stacy's disappearance. Peterson was deceptive when asked about the last time he saw Stacy, if he knows her whereabouts, and about a phone call from Stacy saying she was leaving him."  —The Early Show (CBS)

"Peterson [is] the subject of a tell-all book where he describes the day Stacy goes missing. Tonight, the prime-time exclusive, the author who grilled Peterson for hours and caught it all on tape." —Nancy Grace, host, The Nancy Grace Show

"The new book Drew Peterson Exposed, about the former Bolingbrook police officer and his dead third wife and missing fourth wife, is billed as a 300-page news story. And it does have some news."  —Chicago Sun-Times

"Derek Armstrong has appeared on FOX News, Inside Edition, and Good Morning America to tell the troubling story of a man condemned by the tabloids before his case ever went to trial. Armstrong's book presents alternative theories, new evidence, uncovers shoddy police work, and reveals the results of an independent polygraph test undergone by the accused."  —In The Hills: A Magazine of Country Living

About the Author

Derek Armstrong is a former private investigator and author of Blogertize, The Game, The Last Quest, The Last Troubadour, MADicine, and The Persona Principle. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Kunati Inc. (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601641877
• ISBN-13: 978-1601641878
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #316,567 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must read, October 14, 2008

By 

B. J. Ryan (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Drew Peterson Exposed - Polygraphs reveal the shocking truth about Stacy Peterson and Kathleen Savio (Hardcover)

Drew Peterson Exposed is a fascinating, controversial, and fast read that provides witness statements, statistics, timelines, and dramatic results of polygraphs. But it's the detailed accounts in narrative form (written like a good novel) that fill in the blanks about the man, Drew Peterson, that I found most intriguing and most revealing. These narratives, obtained through direct interview by the author and then spliced cleverly in the book, are where the character and personality of Drew Peterson are shown. I came into the book with a bias as to Peterson's innocence or guilt after seeing him on TV, and nothing in the book changed this view; on the contrary, I came away from it with a stronger conviction of Peterson's guilt and a belief that he is a textbook sociopath, who hides the worst kind of darkness while charming some into believing his lies.

One thing I noticed while reading was an incredible sense of déjà vu, and the case that kept coming to mind was that of Scott Peterson (also a textbook sociopath), who insisted that his wife, Laci (the name eerily similar to Drew Peterson's wife, Stacy), had disappeared. Scott Peterson's story was found to be a lie when his dead wife and baby washed up on the beach. Drew Peterson's wife is yet to be found, and although the book gives me the impression that Drew Peterson believes he's smarter than those investigating one wife's death and another wife's disappearance, I feel confident that the truth will be uncovered.

After reading the book, I was left with two questions: (1) if, in fact, Drew Peterson had nothing to do with Stacy's disappearance, why isn't he using his police skills to find her and put the investigation to rest? and (2) what are the statistics about two wives either dying or disappearing under questionable circumstances?

41 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inside the mind of a killer. A great read with lots of new facts., October 3, 2008

By 

Terri Patterson "Terri Patterson" (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Drew Peterson Exposed - Polygraphs reveal the shocking truth about Stacy Peterson and Kathleen Savio (Hardcover)

Peterson's guilty as far as I'm concerned. I'm more convinced than ever after reading this book. After Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, this is my new favorite true crime at least for now. I just finished the book in one sitting, and plan another go. The author gets a little tabloid at times, but this is the most impartial view of the case I've seen so far. I thought Peterson was guilty before. I still do. I knew the results of the polygraphs and the three deceptive answers from the media coverage on this book but it was really amazing to see them reproduced, and the interview with the polygraph examiner was interesting. The photos are really interesting. Some I saw before and some were new. I think this book will draw polar reviews, either one star or five. One, probably from people who wanted more sensationalizing and five from those of us who like a good, detailed investigation. It's not a complete investigation. It basically picks up where the press left off last May. Everything from autopsies to polygraphs are on display here in the same way as Mark Fuhrman's Murder in Brentwood, another favorite author. It is pretty clear the author spent a lot of time with Drew Peterson, but I enjoyed going in the mind of a "killer." I still think Peterson is guilty, and I liked the way the author created these narrative chapters with both a guilty and not guilty scene. Even with the polygraphs, I believe Peterson did harm his wives, and the author seems to still have doubts too at the end of the day. He seems pretty even-handed in presenting those facts. There were a few typos, which didn't bother me much, not enough to down grade my rating. One of the other reviewers complained about the portrayals of the victim families, but most of this, from what I saw, were media quotes, and some from Peterson's own mouth. I didn't think the author was taking a position. He does write like a Canadian, or like Mark Furhman, the hard presentation of facts without emotion, but I think the story is already wild enough without author hype. I wonder if he'll write a follow up when the case is resolved. He does rely a bit too much on polygraphs, but there is a lot more meat in here. I actually hate Peterson more now, after reading this book. All the affairs, the way he goes on about "conning people", the way he whines about how the media are unfair to him, and the way he blames his wives. Despicable. The hate and love letters are really interesting. I don't get where people can send this creep love letters, but then again Doreen Ramirez married the Night Stalker on death row. The Peterson timeline really helped, especially when the author linked it to the polygraph deceptive answers. A lot of new facts are presented. The only disappointment for me is I wanted the case to be wrapped up. It can't be, but I wanted it to be. I think the timelines, polygraphs and these interviews are going to help the police move this case on. I recommend for any fan of true crime, especially if you enjoy Mark Fuhrman, Anne Rule or Philip Carlo.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You be the judge, May 19, 2009

By 

R. Kyle (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Drew Peterson Exposed - Polygraphs reveal the shocking truth about Stacy Peterson and Kathleen Savio (Hardcover)

In high profile cases such as Drew Peterson's, we're bombarded with news stories and speculation, but very little factual information. Author and crime investigator Derek Armstrong takes us behind the scenes of Sgt Drew Peterson to show us family photographs and documents that we'd not otherwise be privy to. Having taken the class "History as Bibliography" taught by Dr. Don Carleton, who assisted Walter Cronkite with his autobiography, I can say that Armstrong did his work correctly by questioning the narratives presented within the book like he would witnesses in court.

Not only is the information appropriately questioned, it is presented in a logical and interesting manner. Armstrong's skill as a writer took a narrative which could otherwise become monotonous and created a fascinating read.

Like most readers of these types of books, I came to "Drew Peterson Exposed" with a preconceived notion of Peterson's situation. Clearly, from the diverging opinions of others who've read the book Armstrong allowed us to draw our own conclusions which is the best way to handle the story. While I didn't change my mind, I am now approaching the case with a good deal more information than I had before thanks to Mr. Armstrong's enlightening narrative.

Rebecca Kyle, May 2009