The Rising: Murder, Heartbreak, and the Power of Human Resilience in an American Town

On July 23, 2007, Dr. William Petit‘s wife and two daughters were senselessly murdered when two armed strangers broke into their home in Cheshire, Conn. Brutally beaten and tied to a metal pole in the basement, Dr. Petit was helpless as his family was sexually assaulted and senselessly murdered. Amazingly, he managed to escape and alert a neighbor to call 911, but by then it was too late. Instead of dwelling on the salacious details of the assault or the family’s assailants (the author offers little more than a rough sketch of the men), D’Agostino, who first wrote about the Petit family murders for Esquire in 2011, chooses to focus on the attack’s aftermath and the tremendous swell of positivity and support Petit received as he attempted to recreate a life in this amazing and inspiring account. Wracked with guilt and grief, Petit was near catatonic for some time until the spontaneous creation of a foundation engineered by his friends roused him and helped him find new purpose as he slowly rebuilds his life. D’Agostino’s tender approach to his subject and story is impressive as he artfully charts Petit’s emotional thawing without resorting to cloying prose or melodrama. D’Agostino’s three-dimensional portrait of Dr. Petit and the family members he lost gives the book an additional emotional punch. Though a horrific crime provides the backdrop, this book is a remarkable account of hope, fellowship, and love in the face of tragedy. Agent: Richard Pine, Inkwell Management. (Sept.)