Fatal Vows: The Tragic Wives of Sergent Drew Pearson

by Joseph Hosey

In March of 2004, Kathleen Savio, the third wife of Police Sergeant Drew Peterson, was found dead in her bathtub. Three years later, in October 2007, twenty-three-year-old Stacy Peterson vanished from the Chicago suburb of Bolingbrook, leaving behind Peterson and their children. Drew Peterson, thirty years Stacy's senior, steadfastly asserted his innocence and maintained that his fourth wife had simply fled their tumultuous marriage and run off with another man. In light of Stacy’ s curious disappearance, however, Kathleen’ s body was exhumed, a second autopsy was conducted, and her death ruled a homicide. Drawing upon exclusive interviews with Stacy’ s friends and family and even Drew himself, Chicago-area reporter Joseph Hosey presents the most researched account of the Stacy Peterson case. As the charges against Peterson mounted, one haunting question remains: Where on earth is Stacy?

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime

232 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Native New Yorker Joseph Hosey has been a reporter for the Chicago area's Herald News since 1999 and has been on the cusp of every major development in the Drew Peterson case. He is the only member of the media to cover Kathleen Savio's inquest, and he broke the stories of her death as well as Stacy Peterson's disappearance.

Reviews

[Ronnie Cramer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Published before Peterson was even arrested, so obviously the story is incomplete here. Plenty of information, but also loaded with inuendo, repetition, snippets from cable news shows, etc.

[Janet Hosey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a must-read. :)

[Ken Heard · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, the overall writing in this book was good.

Now, to the point: Fatal Vows seemed more like a collection of news stories Joseph Hosey wrote during the initial investigation into Stacy Peterson's disappearance. It was extremely repetitive, including at least three or four references to the blue barrel, the fact that Dateline covered this and the fact that Geraldo Rivera was in Peterson's home doing a sensationalistic interview.

The book focused on Drew Peterson mainly, but skimmed parts about his career with the police. I thought he almost ignored Kathleen Savio's life, other than to write about the exhumation of her body for further investigation into her death.

Since this was written in 2008, a short time after Peterson's death, there was no resolution. Peterson was convicted in Savio's death in 2011, but the reader won't know that unless he or she remembers the case or follows up with internet searches. This may have been one of those quick-write books to capitalize on the immediacy of the case and to earn fast bucks. Maybe Hosey could write a second one, trim down the repetitiveness between chapters and update Peterson's conviction, and the status on Stacy Peterson's search, if there are any updates to note.

[Michelle McConachie · Rating 1 out of 5]

What an arsehole (Drew Peterson).
Written before he was finally charged.
Not the best crime book I've read, not the worst.
Just okay

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thirteen months ago Stacy Peterson vanished from her home in the Chicago suburbs. She left behind her husband and children. Stacy's disappearance ultimately lead to the reopening of the investigation into the death of Drew Peterson's second wife, Kathleen. Fatal Vows by Joseph Hosey of the Chicago's Herald News sums up the circumstances of the investigations.

Fatal Vows is well written and easy to read. If you are interested in this particular case or enjoy true crime, you'll enjoy this book. Personally, I found the timing of the book distasteful especially since the Stacy Peterson investigation is still on going.

On a side note, the mysterious death of Kathleen Savio in 2004 reminds me of a CSI episode: "Last Laugh" i (April 2003) in which a woman's accidental death in a bathtub is later discovered to have been a murder. When I was reading the book I thought the show had used the case as a starting point. Now though on comparing dates, I see that's not possible. It's just an interesting coincidence.

Having now read two true crime books in close succession, I'm ready for a break.

books | nonfiction

[Carla · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was published before Drew Peterson was even charged with his third wife's murder. Sensationalism at it's best. Someone made a lot of money from a book here (Joseph Hosey). There wasn't anything in this book that I hadn't read about in the papers. Drew Peterson is no different than how he was portrayed in the media. Sociopath at his best/worst. Garbage reading. Glad I didn't buy this book. lol

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This pales in comparison to the other true crime books I’ve recently read.

In chapter one, the reader is bombarded with multiple members of Stacy’s family. The names are thrown at you all at once. Some of the account is repeated. The telling of other similar crimes is interesting and served as filler for this one. If it wasn’t for the telling of family backgrounds, repetition, and similar crimes, there wouldn’t have been enough in this one to profit from a book.

[fleegan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love true crime. But this one was a dud. And I know the author is supposed to be the main newspaper guy who wrote about it in the papers, but even so the research and interviews seemed limited. i dunno, maybe i'm too harsh. But lately it seems that true crime books are written really well or just plain hack.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sad story and I really hope the author can finish it with justice to the families of the two wives. By this I mean it is a true story and the murder has never been solved and the other wife has never been found. I really hope the ending is solved soon.

[Dorothy Eichler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, insightful coverage of a true crime.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Of course, because this book was published in 2010, it was written at a time when there was no resolution on this case of this particularly obnoxious person. Drew Peterson, at the time of publication of this book, was riding high on the fact he appeared to have got away with murder (literally) at least once, and very likely twice and worse, was getting enormous amounts of publicity to feed his oversized ego (making up for what, one immediately wonders?).

Fortunately, a quick search on Wikipedia and I discovered that actually, this arsehole is now going to spend the rest of his pathetic life in gaol. The world will definitely be a nicer place without him. However, during the chapter where the author described the traits of a sociopath, it felt like he was describing a certain obnoxious egomaniac who for some reason can list the White House as one of his many luxury addresses...

This book fell down on the fact there was no real resolution to it, it was very repetitive and despite the thorough research by the author, even going so far as to interview all of the key players (who weren't dead or missing), it didn't seem to say a lot. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but this book would have been far more successful if it had been written in 2016.

[K · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't know much about the Peterson case(s) before reading this, and I feel like I don't know that much about them after? I know more about the murderer Drew Peterson himself than I ever wanted to though.
I felt like the victims--Kathleen Savio and Stacey Ann Cales--were glossed over here. A lot of the book was just about Peterson's antics, which is exactly what he wanted. There wasn't a whole lot of straight fact about the potential crimes or backstory. Generally, this feels sensationalized and like a quick cash grab based on a popular case without a lot of deep insight included.

[Shell Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written before Drew Peterson was indicted. I like Hosey as a fair reporter and a writer. Vital if you're researching the case. He reminds you how rabid the media was once this case exploded. It led many of the public by the nose and when that happens, the FACTS get lost along the way.

[Joyce Bringle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad story of murders of two of Drew Peterson’s wives. He was a Bolingbrook cop who gained National attention by being on the news, the Today Show, and Fox News acting smug and cocky.

The book ends before they finally convicted him, but it’s a good read!

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 1 out of 5]

VERY poorly written - the time line jumped all around. A bunch of dysfunctional low-life's. Went to Google for "the rest of the story"!

[Terre Arena · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awfully written and edited

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 2 out of 5]

What was even the point of this book, with no resolution on the time it was written?

[Kerry Olson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok. It repeated several things which got annoying

[Lori Carmone · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was not a fan of the writing style and found it redundant. I don't normally say this...but in this case the movie was better than the book.

[Kim Gasparini · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s an important story. But the book was poorly written.

[Mia D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book was just EXCELLENT! Very well written and made to perfection. Amazing job, Joe! P.S. I love your cat!

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book Fatal Vows was amazing and very well written!! I don’t agree with the other people saying it jumps around, I understood the book perfectly!! I do recommend! -Barb

[gwyneth young · Rating 1 out of 5]

it's giving 205 page school report about a case the teacher made them research

[Cora Naiberk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poor writing quality. Author used victim blaming wordage on numerous occasions.

[Jaxon Buel · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is incredible it is very well written still waiting for this author to release again.

[RNOCEAN · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Stacy Peterson vanished without a trace, her husband, retired police sergeant Drew Peterson, steadfastly asserted his innocence and maintained that his wife, thirty years his junior, had run off with her lover. Months passed; exhaustive searches and clues turned up nothing; more questions than answers were raised about their marriage, about Stacy's vocal concerns for her safety, and about Drew Peterson's own bizarre behavior in the limelight as the number-one suspect in his wife's disappearance. Then came yet another shocking development, this time concerning his third wife Kathleen Savio. Three and one half years earlier, her suspicious death had been ruled an accidental drowning, but after a new autopsy it was now ruled as a homicide. A subject of intense media coverage and speculation, the case against Drew Peterson is still unraveling, but one haunting question remains- where on earth is Stacy? (overview Barnes & Noble)

***Rate 3/5 An interesting take on the case against Drew Peterson and how he has successfully eluded prosecution on the deaths of 2 of his wives. I felt the book detailed too much information about other crimes that were not related to this one.

[Lorie Bonano · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had mixed emotions about this book. A part of what I read I had already read about in the local papers, but there was a substantial amount of behind the scenes regarding political, neighborhood and interview issues that were not printed in the past that were of interest. After reading "Erased" a month or so ago, I can't seem to wrap my brain around the issue of women "disappearing" without quick response on the part of the authorities. However, I read the book with a mindset that this is an ongoing case and it definitely wouldn't serve justice well to alert everyone of everything. Again, very disturbing subject.

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a DNF for me mostly because of the subject matter rather then the writing itself hence the four stars. Hosey's book was very detailed and I learned things I didn't know about Peterson and his many wives, but I'm a bit burnt out on true crime and decided to review this one unfinished.

True crime fans will like this one if they decide to pick it up.

[Dionne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I followed the Drew Peterson case avidly when Stacy Peterson first disappeared. Yet, I learned a lot from this book that I didn't know. I also learned about other missing women in the same area.

Amazingly, when Hosey wrote this book Peterson hadn't been arrested or convicted for Kathleen Savio's death yet. And he wasn't optimistic that they would. I'm very glad he was wrong.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book just reconfirmed what we have known all along. Drew Peterson is a DIRTBAG and needs to be PUNISHED! More Lacey and her family, what they've had to endure and what they endure on a daily basis knowing that man is still walking our streets in Illinois!