A Double Life: The Anatomy of a Premeditated Murder

by Mikita Brottman

With sharp psychological insight, the acclaimed author of Guilty Creatures digs into the sensational murder of Florida physician Teresa Sievers in this engrossing and unconventional true crime tale of holistic health, childhood doppelgangers, dark obsessions, and an open marriage.

Teresa and Mark Sievers led a glittering life in Bonita Springs, Florida. Teresa ran a thriving medical practice specializing in anti-aging and holistic care. Mark, a former nurse, managed the business while home-schooling their two daughters. Then, in June 2015, the unimaginable Teresa was found bludgeoned to death in their kitchen.

Mark’s alibi was airtight. He and the girls were in New York on a family vacation. Initial signs pointed to a burglary gone wrong, but it soon became clear that the attack was targeted. The Sievers’ friends and relatives were shocked. Teresa was a respected, charismatic physician, nicknamed a “modern-day Mother Teresa.” Yet someone hated her enough to beat out her brains with a hammer.

Cracks appeared beneath the glossy surface of the Sievers’ lives. Teresa’s quest for fame had led her to make some questionable decisions. The couple’s marriage was passionate but volatile. Then there was Mark’s childhood best friend, who looked so much like him that the two were often mistaken for twins. Though Wayne Wright lived in an Ozarks trailer park, far from Bonita Springs in every way, his bond with Mark was intense and intimate.

In an intriguing narrative that goes beyond conventional true crime tropes, acclaimed author and psychoanalyst Mikita Brottman delves into a case that encompasses both obsessive love and deep hatred, probing the corrosive, often deadly nature of both.

Genres: True Crime

Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 29, 2026

About the author

Mikita Brottman (born 30 October 1966) is a British scholar, psychoanalyst, author and cultural critic known for her psychological readings of the dark and pathological elements of contemporary culture. She received a D.Phil in English Language and Literature from Oxford University, was a Visiting Professor of Comparative Literature at Indiana University, and was Chair of the program in Engaged Humanities with an emphasis in Depth Psychology at the Pacifica Graduate Institute from 2008 to 2010. She currently teaches at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Brottman's articles and case studies have appeared in Film Quarterly, The American Journal of Psychoanalysis, New Literary History, and American Imago. She has written influentially on horror films, critical theory, reading, psychoanalysis, and the work of the American folklorist, Gershon Legman.

Brottman also writes for mainstream and counterculture journals and magazines. Her work has appeared in such diverse venues as The Los Angeles Times, The Huffington Post, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Bad Subjects, The Fortean Times, Headpress, and Popmatters, where her column, "Sub Rosa", ran from January 2007 to July 2009. Her essays have also appeared in a number of books and anthologies.

She is the author of the cult film books Meat is Murder and Hollywood Hex, as well as books on psychoanalysis, critical theory and contemporary popular culture. Her most recent book, The Solitary Vice: Against Reading (Counterpoint, 2008) was selected as one of the Best Books of 2008 by Publishers Weekly, who said: "Sharp, whimsical and impassioned, Brottman's look at the pleasures and perils of compulsive reading is itself compulsively readable and will connect with any book lover."

Brottman's partner is the film critic David Sterritt.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Ceeceereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent true crime read. An account of the murder of mother, wife and doctor, Teresa Sievers in the sleepy, upper class beach town of Bonita Springs, Florida. I was immediately gripped. This felt like shining a torch onto the murky psyche of a murderer and the circumstances that transpired. The anatomy of a crime. Sketchiness, bad intentions, bottom feeders, and a stone cold lack of empathy. The case was intricate and the author thoroughly untangled the personal lives and psychological make up of those involved. A wolf in sheep’s clothing, someone playing a role until, times up. Very slippery characters and a despicable crime. I felt that the author got in and under everything, which was a satisfying read. I felt I gained a comprehensive understanding of this case.

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5. Excellent true crime book.

[Collyn Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

read if you like:
😭 non-fiction
🏳️‍🌈 true crime with psychological backstories
📚 murder

summary:
This is a non-fiction book about a real life crime that I actually hadn't When Florida physician Teresa Sievers is found brutally murdered inside her home, suspicion eventually turns toward the person closest to her—even though he was hundreds of miles away when she died. What follows is a disturbing story of obsession, manipulation and the idea that even when your story lines up, there might be more to it than meets the eye.

This is a true crime book that focuses less on the drama of the murder itself and more on understanding the psychology behind it. The author takes a detailed look at the complicated relationships around Teresa, including her eclectic marriage, her husband’s hidden rage and the childhood friends that would eventually become part of the crime itself. Personally, I found the psychological elements especially interesting. The idea that someone can maintain the appearance of an amazing husband and father while quietly planning something so calculated is so wild. There are parts when the level of detail makes the story feel slower than it needs to be, but the case itself is so bizarre—and the motivations so twisted—that I stayed hooked.

Thanks to Kensington Publishing and Citadel for the advanced copy, and if you like true crime, check this book out when it releases on September 29!

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellently-researched and well-laid-out book. It's one thing to capture a true crime story right from the headlines, and entirely another to lay out the facts and background information in a succinct way to the reader. I enjoyed all the details, giving full backgrounds of each person entangled in this salacious story. I didn't feel like they were unnecessary or redundant. I am baffled by the amount of people in our country (and certainly others) who kill their spouses...if indeed you believe the charges and subsequent conviction. I thought Brottman did a great job presenting facts with no opinions. Definitely a must-read for any fan of true crime or just those interested in a sensational story that had so many layers than at first seemed likely.
Thanks to NetGalley and Citadel for this ARC. All opinions are mine.

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I respect a true crime author when they cover all the facts of a case and this author has done that. If you watch say the TV show 48 hours to learn about this case - well you won't get the whole truth and nothing but the truth (yes pun intended). The author writes with full impartiality and without any details being boring, dry or unnecessary. The only thing lacking for me was pictures of the parties involved. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember hearing about this case in the news very briefly so I really appreciated the thorough look at all the details of it. I could barely put this book down because it rolled along at a fast pace from the night of the crime to the events immediately after and then got down to the nitty gritty. Definitely a true crime book that will catch your attention the whole way through. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sad reality of the world today that instead of seeing divorce as an option, death is the first thought. Mark and Teresa had an unconventional marriage, and no one likes the idea of starting over, but death should not be the answer. I felt that all of those involved got what they deserved, but Wayne should have gotten more.

I read and reviewed a copy of this book.

[Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love true crime!!