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Reviewers are often at a disadvantage when asked to write about a "kiss-and-tell" book. Such is the case with WITNESS: FOR THE PROSECUTION OF SCOTT PETERSON by Amber Frey, Peterson's former lover. Frey was a key witness against Peterson during his six-month trial for killing his wife Laci and their unborn son Conner. Through in-court testimony and taped conversations between the two, prosecutors were able to bolster their belief that Peterson was not only a pathological liar, but also a sociopath who was fully capable of murdering the two people closest to him.
The book contains nine short chapters with names like: "Can I trust you with my heart?" "The day you went to the police, you became Laci's voice" and "We have been praying for someone like you to come forward." Somewhere toward the middle of the 210 pages is a series of pictures featuring Frey in a variety of poses: from her years growing up and a glamour shot of her at age eighteen, to the infamous photo of Amber in Scott's arms at a holiday party. Of those who choose to read WITNESS, some will definitely feel that they have been privy to Amber Frey's deepest feelings and her insights about the relationship she had with Scott Peterson. But for those who were glued to their TV sets following every talking head show that had panels discussing the case almost every night, or read the local California newspapers that are online, or visited websites devoted to the Laci Peterson murder mystery, or followed the discussions on the many cyber-bulletin boards, you probably will be disappointed.
While Amber Frey does discuss her fear, her devastation, her stress, and her anxiety over being seduced by a man who is a sociopath, most of the book is repetitive and redundant. Readers will find that the first person point of view reads like a stream of consciousness narrative edited and polished by a professional writer. In an interview, Frey did say that the book was assembled very quickly and that she had help getting it together. But no credit appears for the ghostwriter. Very little new information is to be found in the book. Perhaps a line here or there, or a paragraph tucked into the already familiar story, offers a tidbit not already known, but overall the book simply tells "Laci Peterson junkies" what they already know and offers no real understanding of who Amber Frey is, or why and how she generated the level of notoriety that attached to her.
What we do learn is how forcefully Amber puts forth her belief in God. She is convinced that she was "chosen" to be Laci's voice. The story is set up in a way to allow Amber's take on things and easily segue into transcripts of some of the taped conversations now on the record. These tapes are a result of her cooperation with the Modesto Police when she was asked to work with them in an effort to get Peterson to say something incriminating. While no clear confession erupts from the talks, Frey did a superhuman job playing the role of interrogator. She told the Modesto Police that she would do anything to help them find Laci and Conner --- hopefully alive --- but that prayer was not answered. The two bodies washed up at Point Isabel, a part of the San Francisco Bay area. This happened in April 2003, a few days before Peterson was arrested and charged with the gruesome killing of Laci and their unborn son Conner.
Gloria Allred has been Amber Frey's attorney and spokesperson throughout the two years she was under the gag order the judge imposed upon everyone connected to the case. Thus Amber was not to speak to anyone outside the courtroom, no matter how many press people invaded her life. In spite of all the attacks suffered by Allred, she remained loyal to her client and in her own inimitable way deflected much of the nasty, accusatory, slimy and cruel garbage spewed by pundits and cyber-mavens against Frey.
Allred always said that Amber only wants to see justice for Laci and Conner and is going to maintain the integrity of her testimony, which will be the truth. Amber also reassures readers that her only focus throughout her ordeal has been to see truth and justice prevail. No one can deny that, by a sheer twist of fate, Amber Frey went from being a hardworking single mom with a quiet, normal, stable life to becoming a woman who was put on a public platform she never asked for. Her life has been unalterably changed. Amber dreamt of someday finding her Prince Charming --- and when she met Scott Peterson he charmed and wooed her to the point where she believed he could be "the one." But the ending was nothing like a fairy tale. In the end she became a victim who was ensnared by a beast.
Yet at the end of her journey, through the hopes of a new life with Scott Peterson, through the searing pain of learning who he really is, through the trial, through the verdict and the penalty phase wherein he was deemed guilty and sentenced to death, when asked if she can forgive Scott, her reply is:
"I forgave him a long time ago ... I don't think I had a choice ... until I forgave Scott, I felt I couldn't move forward. I felt I wasn't free to get on with my life. I am no longer waiting for an explanation. I have moved on, and I have my whole life ahead of me."
--- Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum
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