'Till Death Do Us Part - by Robi Ludwig & Matt Birkbeck (Paperback)

About the Book

From Scott Peterson to Rabbi Fred Neulander, this book chronicles the psychological profiles of spouses who kill, told by a renowned psychotherapist who specializes in spousal behavior and the criminal mind. of full-color photos.

Book Synopsis

The first book chronicling the psychological profiles of spouses who kill--from Scott Peterson to Rabbi Fred Neulander--told by a renowned psychotherapist who specializes in spousal behavior and the criminal mind.

Every day six people in the United States are murdered by spouses or intimate partners. The stories of killer spouses tend to captivate us, as they beg the question of how so many seemingly normal and happy people manage to go over the edge. Indeed, every relationship presents "extreme moments" where scary feelings surface, yet what happens when those feelings turn to action?

In Till Death Do Us Part, noted psychotherapist Dr. Robi Ludwig, along with journalist Matt Birkbeck, presents the psychological profiles of notorious killer spouses--from Scott Peterson and Clara Harris to Rabbi Fred Neulander and Betty Broderick. Ludwig reveals ten killer personality types. These ten personality types are defined in detail and illustrated with examples from high-profile cases along with in-depth analyses of the motivations behind the murders. The ten types range from the Betrayal/Abandonment Killer (who loses control and kills from a broken heart) to the Control Killer (who micromanages every aspect of the spouse's life) and the Black Widow/Profit Killer (who kills for money).

With gripping stories and probing insight, authors Ludwig and Birkbeck examine the concept of peaceful versus violent resolution and why certain spouses believe murder is the best and only response. In an age when spousal murder is headline news, Till Death Do Us Part explores a phenomenon that many spouses can't help but think about at some point in their relationships, shedding light on the very notion of "happily ever after."

Review Quotes

"Till Death Do Us Part is an invaluable resource. It offers an expert's analysis of the psychological factors that oftentimes coalesce and are expressed violently."
-- Robert K. Tanenbaum, former homicide bureau chief for the Manhattan DA's office and New York Times bestselling author of Counterplay

"Straightforward...intelligent and timely.... Her case studies stick to the facts and don't dwell on or sensationalize the crimes."
-- Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Dr. Robi Ludwig is a nationally known psychotherapist and award-winning reporter. A frequent guest commentator on a variety of programs, including CNN's Larry King Live, Nancy Grace, NBC's Today show, and The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Ludwig provides commentary on the motivations behind the criminal mind. She lives and works in New York.

Matt Birkbeck is the author of A Beautiful Child: A True Story of Hope, Horror, and an Enduring Human Spirit and A Deadly Secret: The Strange Disappearance of Kathie Durst. A reporter for The Morning Call, he served for nearly a decade as a correspondent covering crime and human interest stories for People magazine, and his articles have appeared in The New York Times, Reader's Digest, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and other periodicals. He lives in Pennsylvania.