Don't care what evidence Warner allowed after the fact. NO lawyer or politician asks a question they do not already have an answer for. I think whatever Oxley gave them was tampered with afterward.

I read this book for my Law class, and I am so glad that I did. Such a fascinating book. I love even more that it's non-fictional. It brings light to the legal system and aspects of it that needn't be overlooked. I was so intrigued throughout the story, and actually bawled at the end. I recommend not looking up anything about the case until after you've finished the book. It's gut wrenching, heartbreaking and emotional. 5 stars.

A haunting tale of how the American criminal justice system can go oh so wrong.

This was quite a ride. I thought it was about a different case when I sent for it, and I was surprised and pleased to realize there was a whole book about the hideous murder of Wanda McCoy. Even though I knew exactly how it would all come out (the truth was revealed only long after the book ended), I was still drawn into the story and could easily see how this case tore apart everyone involved on both sides of the case, to say nothing of the general public. Well-written, compassionate and very unbiased despite the fact that most of the story was told from the defense perspective. Don't miss this one.

One of the best books I have ever read! I have read it twice and getting ready to read it again. This was a required reading in one of my undergrad criminology classes. An amazing story of the injustice of our legal system!

I read this in law school. It was eye-opening.

I still give this book five stars in spite of developments in the case since the book was written, although I would emphasize that readers must seek out this new information once they've read the book so that they will have a complete picture of the case. (Google should provide all the needed answers.) If this book was fascinating read before, it is still fascinating now, although for other reasons. Lots to think about and discuss here. We have to question what we are willing to believe and why, and never lose sight of the victim in cases like this.

In a word: creepy. I know, why would I expect otherwise? This non-fiction book follows the conviction of Roger Keith Coleman for the murder and rape of his sister-in-law. He is given the death penalty and the book explores efforts by various people, from lawyers to people working to free innocent inmates, to commute his sentence to life or prove his innocence entirely. The author (who was once a defense attorney) takes the view that Coleman could be innocent, but at the very least that if he had had better lawyers at his original trial that they may have been able to convince the jury of reasonable doubt. The crime was committed in 1981, so the DNA testing that was available at the time was not nearly as sophisticated as it is now. The book was published in 1992 and there have been new developments in the case since the book was published. I would recommend reading most or all of the book before looking up the more recent developments, so that you can explore the evidence and progression of the story as it unfolded.

A gripping story - that era makes you think and feel. I read it a decade ago - but the story stuck so well I literally googled the plot to find the right book. It’s one of those stories you remember for life - but also because it’s written very well without any extra fluff or confusing parallels.

I am a die-hard fan of books on serial killing cases and have read the dozens of books released on their crimes and legal cases from the early seventies until the early nineties.
From hands on killers like the Zodiac and Night Stalker to self-proclaimed self-taught mentalists like Charles Manson who caused others to kill for him, I have delved deeply into the fascinating world of human killers and the legal aspects following their capture. My descent into this fascination with the macabre ended with the mass murderer Jeffrey Dahmer, whose notoriety and ghastly evil deeds ended my search for answers into the human soul by 1994.
I thought I had thoroughly plumbed the depths of human depravity until I bought a copy of "May God Have Mercy" in 2015. This cannot-put-down, soup to nuts book about an Appalachian murder is one of my recommendations to hardcore real life murder stories! I beg you to read it, form your opinion, THEN research the latest findings on this case.

Perhaps you will find that there are countless little questions that add up to heart-rending truths about murder cases and the legal system does little to answer these questions in a truly satisfying way.

Thrilling and also sad.

A very engaging, nail biting true story! I started the book not knowing the outcome and boy was I in for a surprise! Lots of interesting people and a very detailed process of a trial and conviction.
After finishing the book, which was published in 1997, I looked to see if there were any updates given the advances in DNA we know have. That was ALSO a surprise.
Very good story if you like true crime!