The Innocent Man

[zorro]

The Innocent Man (subtitled Murder and Injustice in a Small Town) is John Grisham's first nonfiction book. As A Time To Kill, his first published fiction book, was his best work of fiction, this book will be extremely difficult for Grisham to top as a work of nonfiction.

The main setting of the main murder and injustices depicted in this book is the small town of Ada, OK (I was happy that it wasn't a MS town because the rest of the nation seems to love it when MS gets trashed). The first chapter gives the story of the murder of a young woman in Ada, and from the info given in this chapter (which was available to the police of Ada during the investigation immediately following the murder), it is readily apparent who should have been considered the chief suspect. However, not only was this person not considered as a suspect, but eventually a couple of innocent men were convicted of this crime on the flimsiest of evidence. When you read how so-called evidence is procured, and other evidence either missed or ignored, it is really hard to believe.

There is one thing that I definitely learned from this book of very practical value: NEVER, BUT NEVER go to talk with the police or detectives at the place of their choice, no matter how innocent you are or how nonthreatening they appear, without having a good lawyer by your side! You could end up regretting it for the rest of your life.

The words from the back inside cover of the dust jacket that comes on this newly released hardback are so true: "If you believe that in America you are innocent until proven guilty, this book will shock you. If you believe in the death penalty, this book will disturb you. If you believe the criminal justice system is fair, this book will infuriate you."

[carsalesguy]

ahhh...the first post in the book report series.....cool............

[maxim]

Gotta admit, I read it, cover to cover at one sitting. Stayed up real late to finish it. It made me very angry. The killer deflected suspicion and was believed even though many people contradicted him. It is a classic case of tunnel vision by investigators.

The DA and the detective should be in jail. period. Buy it or get it from the library and read it. Oughta be mandatory reading for every detective and prosecutor out there.

And, if you're a law and order type, you will be thanking your lucky stars for court appeals and all the stuff we love to bash. The federal 10th circuit court of appeals finally figured out what a travesty of justice this was.

[Matt Mayo]

I guess I like the fiction stuff better. I never finished the book and that is unusual for me when reading Grisham. I have read most of his previous work in one sitting, generally thru the night.

[TamHill]

Thanks for this suggestion. I haven't really appreciated Grisham's fiction-I find his style and characters too simplistic -say compared to Greg Iles-but this sounds good. And when I was in my early teens I actually was in Ada, Ok. and attended my first and last rodeo there!

[Guru]

I have most of Grisham's work on cd, for traveling. This non-fiction was a bit more lalala kind of drawn out but there were parts of it that would really hold your attention. Like most of you have said, there are some points of interest that the casual person needs to take note of.

[dollfus46]

The Innocent Man (subtitled Murder and Injustice in a Small Town) is John Grisham's first nonfiction book. As A Time To Kill, his first published fiction book, was his best work of fiction, this book will be extremely difficult for Grisham to top as a work of nonfiction.

The main setting of the main murder and injustices depicted in this book is the small town of Ada, OK (I was happy that it wasn't a MS town because the rest of the nation seems to love it when MS gets trashed). The first chapter gives the story of the murder of a young woman in Ada, and from the info given in this chapter (which was available to the police of Ada during the investigation immediately following the murder), it is readily apparent who should have been considered the chief suspect. However, not only was this person not considered as a suspect, but eventually a couple of innocent men were convicted of this crime on the flimsiest of evidence. When you read how so-called evidence is procured, and other evidence either missed or ignored, it is really hard to believe.

There is one thing that I definitely learned from this book of very practical value: NEVER, BUT NEVER go to talk with the police or detectives at the place of their choice, no matter how innocent you are or how nonthreatening they appear, without having a good lawyer by your side! You could end up regretting it for the rest of your life.

The words from the back inside cover of the dust jacket that comes on this newly released hardback are so true: "If you believe that in America you are innocent until proven guilty, this book will shock you. If you believe in the death penalty, this book will disturb you. If you believe the criminal justice system is fair, this book will infuriate you."

Good advice, Z. I've learned from watching real police stories on TV not to even open my mouth. They can have my name and address. That's it. I'll refuse to speak one word after that. Nothing they can do about it.

[proudtobefrompetal]

I've read everything written by Grisham and saw this book as a chance for him to renew himself... I couldn't even finish it. Horrible writing... horrible subject. HORRIBLE BOOK.