Exposed: The Secret Life of Jodi Arias Mass Market Paperback – Box set, August 26, 2014

This is a book published in 2013. At its conclusion, we do not know what the final verdict will be. We know Jodi Arias was found guilty, but there are two stages left in the process to decide whether she will get the death penalty, life with possibility of parole, or life without the possibility of parole. She was found guilty in 2013 and it took until April of 2015 before the judge was told to make a decision that was not the death penalty; she was sentenced to life without possibility of parole. So, knowing the result of this famous trial, why read the book?Many people are as familiar with this case as they are with the case of O. J. Simpson. But I am not one of them. As a permanent expatriate, I heard little of the trial. When a guilty verdict was reached in 2013 and deliberations went on to the penalty phase, I heard brief newsbytes about the trial. After a twenty-year absence from the US, I returned for a one-month visit with a sister in Scottsdale, Arizona, where Jody Arias was incarcerated. And still occupying news platforms. I wanted to know more background; this seemed to be the book to provide it.Getting up to speed on the facts of the case was easy. We know what happened, a lengthy trial revealed in gruesome and salacious detail what happened, and we even (finally) had an admission from Arias that she murdered Travis. What is interesting is the motive for committing such a crime and what conditions exist that can produce such a horrible criminal social misfit that goes by the name of Jody Arias? I found an answer in this book that I consider to be accurate and realistic; one that fits the situation.I do not believe it a spoiler to identify what some experts have called the condition ascribed to Arias. It is “borderline personality disorder featuring projective identification.” Many might be familiar with the first part of that, but not so much with the second part. It is worth reading the book to get to the part where those terms are discussed and explained. I won’t tell you where that part is; that might be spoiler.It is not the case that all mental health experts agreed, both inside and outside the courtroom. One well regarded expert who supported Arias in her defense was so vilified in public opinion that she, the expert, was hospitalized for anxiety attacks. But there is a body of experts, not only those who testified for one side or the other, that has come to some common agreement. The disorder is not one that excuses conduct such as murder. People still have to pay for their crimes. But, accurate identification of the disorder may point the way to preventative treatment.As a fan of crime fiction and horror, it can be a bit scary to realize that the stuff I read as fiction can be the reality of documented non-fiction. So, for those who did not follow this trial day-to-day as this book claims many in the US did, this non-fiction work presents the same levels of horror and gruesomeness as the most terrifying of a Stephen King novel.Unfortunately (and this is a comment on human nature) it is fascinating.

Even though the author did not try to hide her prejudice against Jodi Arias, I think her book reveals a huge amount of evidence and background information about Jodi and Travis so that any thinking person can logically draw their own conclusions about this case. When reading this book the question I had in mind personally was, what drove Jodi to commit such a brutal act of violence? She had other boyfriends in her life before Travis, but she never had any propensity to harm them in any way, so why did Travis set her off? I think there is plenty of blame to go around. Jodi had high hopes and expectations in her relationship with Travis of getting married and raising a family, and this was further fueled by the fact Travis was a Mormon and the high value of family relationships that the Mormon church emphasizes. But, unfortunately, Travis wasn't on the same page as Jodi. As far as I can tell from the book, Travis saw Jodi as a trophy girlfriend, and he enjoyed being seen with her and showing her off. After all, Jodi was a very beautiful young woman, and hanging out with her gave "T-dog" some street cred with his homies. He felt it now elevated him to the same level as his "power couple" Mormon friends, who were also his Prepaid Legal business buddies. But given his rough upbringing, Travis apparently had commitment issues, and even though he was enjoying Jodi in a wifely way, he never made a commitment to marry her. He would use her when it suited his purposes, and then cast her aside after he satisfied his carnal needs. Unfortunately this became a vicious cycle, where Travis would use Jodi and then toss her aside, until he needed another fix. In short, Travis used Jodi as his sexual rag doll, satisfying his carnal needs and then tossing her aside, never willing to marry her. So very sad for all involved. However, a human being can only bear so much of this kind of abuse, and it pushed Jodi over the edge, and we all know the final result. I think Jodi's defense would have been more successful if they had emphasized this deeply hurtful psychological abuse that Jodi suffered at the hands of Travis. Could this crime have been avoided if the mutual friends and church associates of both Travis and Jodi had intervened in a more personal and direct way? Travis was in dire need of counseling to help him overcome his rough upbringing that led to his commitment issues. I think his church friends were more interested is pushing their business success together, and glossed over the deep emotional scars that Travis possessed. The poor guy was caught in the middle and help was no where to be found...and the final result was so tragic...and many lives ruined that should not have been.

I got inspired to pick up this book after discussing the Jodi Arias case with a friend who also enjoys reading true crime books. When this case first broke I hadn't paid much attention. It was really close after the Casey Anthony case and I think I was in the middle of court fatigue. But then I saw snippets of the trial on Nancy Grace and Jane Valez Mitchell. Plus by then my mom was glued to it also. It was such a wild story. As I'm friends with a lot of Mormons I knew that a relationship like that would never be approved. Mostly because all of this was happening without being married. But as you get deeper into their personalities and perspective you realize this was a toxic relationship that was going to end in tragedy no matter what. Yes Jodi obviously was the more mentally ill of the two of them, but Travis had his own list of issues including being addicted to this very forbidden relationship.In the book Jane Valez Mitchell reviews the events leading up to Travis' death, the arrest, and the trial. I had forgot what a circus that trial was until revisiting it in this book. Valez Mitchell gives the facts and stays fairly impartial about their relationship itself. She also makes it clear that Travis wasn't engaged or nearly engaged which seemed to be the story his side was spinning during the trial. And even if he was, what kind of man goes out with one woman to share depraved fantasies with and another that he wants to marry? He clearly wanted a wife and a mistress.Overall the book gives a well rounded view of the trial and players involved. It did start to repeat information as I got into the last 3rd of the book which is why I have it 3 stars.

Despite the horrendous crime that was committed this book was one I was unable to put down. It was written in a manner that covered every aspect of the crime and was easy for the man on the street to understand the proceedings. My thoughts are very much with the family of Travis Alexander.

Brilliant book,very well written,and also very fairly written I thought.very informative for those wanting all the ins and outs of this very sad crime.I have read many many books on crime but this has to be the best done one I have read.like I say,very fairly done in pointing out the flaws in both jodie and Travis characters,saying things clearly and simply for those not maybe used to how things work during court etc.fascinating read.....now I just hope jodie gets the death penalty she very much deserves!!

I was late learning about this case. I was flipping through the channels and was intrigued to see a woman in prison garb singing a Christmas song and watched a documentary about the case so far. At that point I think the trial was just about to begin. I tuned in from time to time with a little curiosity about the case what kind of person thought that law enforcement would swallow a story of masked assassins who would let a witness go after they committed a murder. I never really took any real notice of this case until after she was found guilty and the penalty phase began. Seeing the siblings of Travis Alexander and how his murder has affected them all, I suddenly started to look back over the trial and listen to the allegations against their brother and was amazed at the courage they showed. I don't know if I could've been so brave had someone been trashing my brother's memory. So while others had been disappointed in this book because it basically covers everything shown at the trial and on every news channel, for me it was a chance to learn more background information about the case, the trial and the lives of both Jodi Arias and Travis Alexander. The story is well written and easy to read, it truly made me feel like I was in the courtroom listening to the testimony. My only complaint is that I would've liked more background on Travis and his childhood, especially his relationship with his siblings who hardly got any mention at all. Considering they faithfully went to the trial they must've been close but little to no mention is made about them. Was he a father figure for the younger ones? When he went to live with his grandmother did they go too or stay with their mother? While Jodi's childhood was completely covered Travis's had one chapter only. I understand that the book is supposed to be about Jodi so maybe I need to find a different book on this case. There certainly are enough of them. But overall it was a good read especially for someone like me who hadn't followed the case from the start and wanted to learn more. Very easy to read, very engaging, the topic was not the most pleasant, but that certainly wasn't the author's fault. Would recommend to anyone interested in true crime books.

I read Juan Martinez's book and it was excellent. Jane's version is more personal in discussing the background of Jodi and her relationship with Travis. It's an excellent read also. Also good pictures were included in both books.

I followed most of the coverage for the trial on HLN-TV and really enjoy Jane Velez-Mitchell's reports. Even though you know how this tragedy ends - there are a lot of little "bits" that are explained in the book. The trial and TV coverage was very one-sided which is to be expected because it is after-all Jodi's trial - however, it was nice to read and confirm my thoughts that there are THREE sides to every story: His, Hers and then the Facts!