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Inside the Mind of Scott Peterson is Keith Ablow's 2005 true-crime book about the convicted murderer of Laci Peterson, and it sits in an uncomfortable middle between forensic psychiatry and tabloid analysis. Ablow's actual clinical chops are present in the book's best sections. The packaging and the publication timing also make it clear that the book was riding a media wave.
The strongest material is the psychological-profiling commentary. Ablow has spent enough professional time with similar cases to bring real insight to questions about narcissism, deception, and the particular shape of certain kinds of male homicidal behavior. The weaker material is the parts where the book is essentially regurgitating press coverage with a few clinical asides.
Three stars. Recommended only to true-crime readers already invested in the case. Not the entry point for Ablow's clinical work.
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