“Sidebar” Reviews are extremely early reviews designed to encourage readers to pre-order novels that will be released later in the year.
Mikita Brottman is probably most well known for her 2018 true crime release, An Unexplained Death, about the mysterious death at the Belvedere Hotel in downtown Baltimore. She has since written several true crime exposés and has another one coming out this Fall. A Double Life: The Anatomy of a Premeditated Murder will appeal to true crime fans looking for a deep-dive into the investigative practices of complex cases.
A Double Life examines the death of Florida physician Teresa Sievers, who was ambushed in her home upon returning from a family getaway. As per usual, suspicion immediately falls on her husband, stay-at-home dad and office assistant, Mark Sievers, except that he has an air-tight alibi—remaining with their children in New York for a few extra days of vacation. Or does he?
Brottman has a laidback style, telling the tale chronologically in a straightforward manner. As with many of these cases, fascinating detours arise from the investigation—here readers are introduced to what appeared to be the perfect marriage that concealed some big secrets, an unexpected link to at least two other crimes (the disappearance and presumed death of a pastor and the kidnapping and killing of a young girl), and then the controversial medical practices common in the holistic medicine world.
While this isn’t necessarily a case with wild twists and turns, the examination of a marriage and the clash between perception and reality makes for engaging reading. Mikita Brottman has a knack for crafting a narrative throughline that feels organic without getting tedious. Her research is impeccably documented with important footnotes.
A Double Life: The Anatomy of a Premeditated Murder is sure to be of interest to most true crime enthusiasts and anyone wishing to witness how real-world investigations connect the dots in complex murder cases.
Pre-Order Links: A Double Life by Mikita Brottman (releasing September 29, 2026)
Disclaimer: An e-galley of this title was provided to BOLO Books by the publisher. No promotion was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.
