In the Middle of the Night: The Shocking True Story of a Family Killed in Cold Blood

The affluent suburb of Cheshire, Connecticut, seemed like the perfect place for Dr. William Petit and his wife, Jennifer Hawke-Petit, to raise their two lovely daughters... Until July 23, 2007, when, according to police, two ex-cons invaded the Petit home hoping to embark on a routine robbery-one that would ultimately prove deadly.
What unfolded at 300 Sorghum Mill Drive was a tragic and horrifying sequence of events that shocked a community and made headlines across the nation. Before the morning was over, Mrs. Hawke-Petit and one of her daughters would be sexually assaulted, the entire house would go up in flames, and only Dr. Petit-his head bloodied, his legs bound-would manage to escape with his life. With the help of neighbors and local police, the two suspects were soon found and captured. Now, Joshua Komisarjevsky and Steven Hayes await trial for murder IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

Brian McDonald contributes frequently to New York City newspapers, including The New York Times. His first book, My Father’s Gun, won critical raves and became the subject of a major History Channel documentary series. Also the author of Last Call at Elaine’s, Indian Summer, and Safe Harbor: A Murder in Nantucket, he lives in Manhattan.