Appalling!

Brutal rape and murder occur, followed by a shoddy police investigation. Suspects are wrongly identified through guilt by association, and unsubstantiated prosecution theories are put forward. The defense is neglectful, and there is a rush to judgement, resulting in a wrongful conviction and death sentence. It just gets worse from there.

John Grisham, a masterful writer, takes this story through the entire sequence, laying bare the many flaws in the criminal justice system. Kudos to Grisham, who is usually a fiction writer but does an excellent job of handling this true story and presenting the unvarnished reality of wrongful convictions, the death penalty, and mental illness, as well as the costs we all bear for this mess.

I was shocked to discover that Oklahoma leads the nation in the number of death penalty executions. After reading this book, one has to wonder how many of those executed are innocent.

It's highly improbable that I would ever award 5 stars to non-fiction. However, this particular work was truly very good. And if you have a genuine passion for non-fiction, you might even rate it higher.

It is the account, not just in this one instance, but perhaps on multiple occasions in this specific location, of the blind stubbornness and utter incompetence that pervaded the criminal justice system. The police, rather than relying on evidence to solve the crime, pre-determined the perpetrator(s) and then set about fabricating evidence to prove their guilt. The attorneys and the judge showed little interest in truly examining the accused and the evidence, and the jury simply rubber-stamped the entire process, believing that those "bad men" couldn't harm anyone else.

I don't believe that this is the typical functioning of our justice system, but I'm not so naïve as to think that this is an isolated case. It does occur, and unfortunately, it happens more frequently than we would prefer.

Perhaps it's not quite as excellent as some of Grisham's best works, but undoubtedly he remains at the pinnacle of the field of legal thrillers, and his expertise and experience are clearly evident in this piece.

This True Crime story is like a straightforward Master's thesis that delves into the injustice endured by some accused but innocent Death Row inmates. There are no embellishments or random fillers, just the facts.

While it might seem daunting if you seek a bit more color and storytelling in your True Crime reads, it remains a very good and enthralling book that will surely make your anger boil.

As someone who gets extremely frustrated by tales of false accusations (I still shout at the TV whenever I watch The Fugitive), this was a hair-pulling experience. However, that's not necessarily a good or bad thing; it simply means I was highly engaged and invested in the story. Sometimes, the best and most interesting stories come with a great deal of pain along the way, and this is definitely one of them.

What makes this story especially heartbreaking is the waste of money, time, and resources, the ignored evidence, the unjust imprisonment, and, worst of all, the complete apathy towards mental illness. There was a convenient "answer," so they went with it. It's terrifying to think that any of us could one day be in the wrong place at the wrong time and become the convenient "answer." I emphasize... SCARY!

Throughout history, there have been many stories of legal injustice, some worse than others. 2020 has been a particularly bad year for that, so you might feel like postponing this one if you've had enough. But if the subject of what the wrongly accused endure interests you, this is a true story worth exploring.

This is a non-fiction account of two men, Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz, who were wrongly convicted of murder and rape in Oklahoma.

Ron Williamson had once dreamed of becoming a baseball star, but various circumstances made this dream unattainable. He then befriended Dennis Fritz, and the two became drinking and partying companions. Later, they were both convicted of the murder and rape of a young woman named Debbie Carter. Ron was sentenced to death, while Dennis received a life sentence.

Years passed before they were finally exonerated and proven innocent.

Aside from Grisham's two latest books, this is the only one of his that I hadn't read until now, simply because it's non-fiction. I used to avoid non-fiction. I have to admit that I was initially put off by the writing. It's not the typical Grisham style that I've come to love. However, I can't deny that he did an excellent job of narrating every stage of Ron's life, making the reader feel more connected to him and care for him.

I think this is one of the main reasons why Grisham wrote this book, to make us care about Ron. Nevertheless, it took me a month to finish this book. Why? Because Ron had many mental issues, and it was difficult for me to keep reading. I hated the fact that instead of receiving treatment, Ron was sent to prison, which only made his condition worse. He was extremely depressed.

Anyway, although this story is very informative, I found it extremely sad and heartbreaking. And perhaps I was angry at times while reading, not because of the writer, as Grisham simply told us the story, but because of what was happening to Ron. I truly cared for him.

In John Grisham’s first foray into non-fiction,

we are presented with a truly harrowing account of the miscarriage of justice that befell two young men,

Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz, from the small town of Ada, OK.

The local law enforcement and the legal system railroaded them,

wrongly convicting them of rape and murder and sentencing them to die for crimes they did not commit.

Despite their complete innocence,

the DA and police were determined to get a conviction at any cost,

even if it meant cooking up their own scenarios and evidence when the truth and evidential proof did not support their case.

The defense attorneys and trial judge were also negligent,

failing to provide the defendants with a fair trial.

Ron Williamson’s case is especially tragic,

as the process of his trial and incarceration drove him to the brink of insanity,

turning his life into a living nightmare.

This cautionary tale about small-town politics and injustice is truly mind-boggling,

and serves as a reminder of the importance of due process and the need to ensure that justice is served fairly and impartially.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in true crime or the criminal justice system,

as it is a riveting and eye-opening read.

This case is truly a bizarre one. It's about a dream that took a nightmarish turn for Ronald Keith Williamson. His arrest occurred nearly 5 years after the crime, and by that time, Mr. Williamson's alibi witness was already dead. The arrest was based almost entirely on the 'confession' of a seriously mentally ill man, Ron Williamson, which was related as a dream.

This book is very much like 'The Innocent Men'. In this true crime book, Grisham expertly details the unbelievable mis-carriages of justice that took place in a small Oklahoma town called Ada. I constantly had to remind myself that it was true because of the extraordinary circumstances. In fact, Grisham actually noted: "Not in my most creative moment could I conjure up a story as rich and as layered as Ron’s."

It sort of reminded me of the 'West Memphis Three' situation, where the police and prosecutors seemed to just pick out targets that they thought they could get an arrest on. They went after the small town petty criminals, drunks, misfits on the edge of society, and the mentally unstable. If they could find all four of these attributes in one person, they had themselves a conviction, even though the person had nothing to do with the crime. As you read through the book, it's truly remarkable. The evidence presented at the trials was zero. I don't want to give anything away, but it's just staggering what the police and prosecution can get away with when the person being convicted is poor and vulnerable.

BAUSTI NEGALIMA PASIGAILĖTI

Perhaps it's not the first time you've heard the story and the question: in a certain situation, where would you put the wire?

This book tells a true story about how a wire that was placed in the wrong place damaged more than one life.

In 1983, in the small town of Ados, Debra Sue Carter was found raped and murdered in her home.

After a five-year police "investigation" (sorry, it's simply impossible to put quotes around this), two men - Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz - were arrested and convicted.

Although both categorically denied their guilt,

the shady lawyers, the false presentation of jailhouse informants, the botched investigations by the police, and the bribed investigators achieved their goal - Ron was sentenced to death, and Dennis to life in prison.

This is one of the most interesting true crime books I've read. There weren't many gruesome details here, but Grisham spent a lot of time delving into the lives, circumstances, and experiences of the people described. A great deal of attention was paid to Ron's emotional state, and it was incomprehensible to me how such a person could be locked up in prison when he clearly needed help as soon as possible. Shattered dreams, ruined lives, but never-dying hope that helped them survive even on the darkest days.

I could probably write ten pages about the anger I felt while reading about how the court process and the police work went, but you have to read the book yourself to understand how absurdly bad everything was.

A great example of how one person's botched work can cost another person's life.

It's a very sad book, although it has a happy ending, but it makes you think about all your beliefs.

A big thank you to Book Damai for the recommendation. It's definitely a book worth reading.

This was a truly remarkable book that was not only well-written but also thoroughly researched. It delved into two heinous true-crimes that took place in Ada, OK. Sadly, as a result of these crimes, four innocent men were unjustly sent to prison. One of them came perilously close to facing execution, missing it by a mere five days.

Reading about such injustice was extremely difficult and deeply disturbing. It left me with a profound sense of shock and a burning desire to know more. This led me to turn to Google, where I discovered the Innocent Project. This organization is dedicated to the noble cause of getting innocent prisoners exonerated.

It is truly inspiring to see that there are people and groups out there who are working tirelessly to right the wrongs and ensure that justice is served for those who have been wrongly convicted. The Innocent Project gives hope to those who have lost it and stands as a beacon of light in the fight for truth and fairness.

I should first say that this was my first John Grisham novel. I should also say that one of the main reasons, if not the reason, I decided on picking this up was that Craig Wasson was the narrator. I know, not a great reason, but who’s asking?

I would love to go into the whole in-depth details, but I can honestly say I can’t without leaving a chunk out. The story of Ron Williamson was a bitter sweet one. He was an underdog, a man who had made mistakes, but not the one he was tried and convicted, and sentenced to death row for, awaiting execution. I have never been into the legal dramas but I apparently have been missing out. The story is covered in what felt like a documentary style of storytelling. I became very quickly intrigued with this story about a guy who essentially goes out partying one night with a friend, had a couple of drinks, hit on some women to no avail, and spent the rest of the night in a drunken stupor.

Debra Sue Carter was at the same bar as Ron that night. She was confronted by some guys for dances and what-not, but she never gave in to them. She left her friends behind and went home - for the last time. Later in the night, someone breaks in to her apartment and begins to harass her. She then gets hold of the telephone and calls her best friend who is still out for the night. The conversation was brief, ‘hellos’ were exchanged and Debra Sue Carter told her friend in an uneasy fashion that someone was at her house and they were making her feel ‘nervous’. Naturally her friend became very worried for her and started getting ready to pay Debra a visit. This friend knew that she was putting her life on the line for Carter, but she just couldn't sleep easy knowing her friend was in potential danger.

Minutes later the friend receives another call from Debra Sue, her voice much calmer now telling her that everything was fine, and not to worry about coming over – do not come over! This friend was even more scared for her girlfriend now. She made her way to Carter’s apartment and immediately noticed there was a break in. The window was busted in the front door, the house was in disarray, red blotches were strewn across the walls in what looked like blood, and there were massages written on the walls with what was later revealed as ketchup. One of the messages was, “don’t come looking for us”. At the age of 21, Debra Sue Carter was followed home on a cold December evening, harassed, beaten, strangled, and raped left to die alone in her apartment. It was a massacre.

This was a very incredible story of the injustice that affected two innocent men who were blamed for the death of a girl, and were mere moments away from being put to death for something they didn't do. I began listening to this because of the narrator, Craig Wasson, and ended up loving every minute of this heart breaking, bitter-sweet tale of how the legal system and police departments can very seriously accuse and convict a person without having an iota of proof. I can honestly say that John Grisham is a new favorite of mine now. He has a very simple but elegant way of telling a story, and I am very happy that this non-fiction novel was my first of many of his.

This is the most astonishing, terrifying, and horrifying book by the brilliant author John Grisham that I've ever read. And believe me, I've read quite a few.

We've all surely heard the saying that "the truth is stranger than fiction." One may or may not subscribe to that theory, but this story definitely confirms it.

One of the reasons I usually avoid non-fiction, especially about current events, is that it so often infuriates me. This story is yet another example of that. It truly infuriates me.

It doesn't help that I was born in Oklahoma and spent nearly all of the first 23 years of my life there. I know most of the towns mentioned in the story from first-hand experience.

When I sat down to write this "review," I thought of summing it up in just one sentence: "The American criminal justice system is just that: criminal." Read this excellent book, and perhaps you'll understand what I mean.

It's a powerful and eye-opening account that will make you question the very foundation of our justice system. Grisham's writing is as engaging as ever, and he does an excellent job of presenting the facts in a way that is both accessible and thought-provoking.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about the American criminal justice system or who simply enjoys a good, well-written non-fiction book.

I was nearly at the conclusion of the first chapter when it dawned on me that I had read (or listened to) this particular story several years ago. Ron Williamson's life was truly a sorry state. He chased after a baseball career, relying on an arm that he had damaged early on. To make matters worse, he indulged in drugs and alcohol, which ultimately led to his downfall.

However, there is absolutely no justification for the way he and his, so-called, co-defendant (who were tried separately just days apart) were treated by the police and prosecutors in Ada, OK. With only two weeks remaining until his execution date, after habeas procedures had begun, he managed to get assistance from some individuals who recognized his mental illness and probable innocence. And after spending years behind bars, he was finally set free thanks to DNA evidence.

It is a tragic yet remarkable tale that highlights the flaws in the criminal justice system and the importance of perseverance and justice prevailing in the end.

I wasn't initially going to place this book here. After all, it's Grisham and I'm only reading it for class. However, for those who are unfamiliar with the criminal justice system, who hold a disdain for public defenders, or who take their liberty for granted, this book serves as a good introduction.

In the early part of his book, Grisham relates a 1909 incident from the "colorful" history of the small Oklahoma town of Ada (the main setting in the book). It's a striking story of vigilante action triggered by the murder of a local farmer. Four men are dragged out of jail, punished without the protections of a fair trial, and the local government reprints a picture of the lynching on a postcard. With this, Grisham then points to a modern "lynching" attempt, mainly focusing on one man, Ron Williamson, who came to suffer the injustice of being wrongfully convicted.

This book is about the conviction and exoneration of Williamson and his friend Dennis Fritz (convicted as an accomplice) in a small town in the United States. In 1988, Williamson was convicted of murdering a young woman despite the astonishing lack of evidence. Williamson was a local baseball prodigy who never progressed beyond the minor leagues. Over time, this failure pushed Williamson further into alcoholism and mental illness, leading to strange behavior that didn't go unnoticed by the locals of Ada. When it was time to find the murderer of a young waitress in town, many of the townspeople pointed to Williamson as the prime suspect.

From the beginning, it's clear that the title of the book, The Innocent Man, is not meant ironically. The mystery of this book is how people like Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz can be convicted of a murder where there is such scant evidence while a more obvious suspect is left uninvestigated. The research involved, as expected from a writer of Grisham's best-selling status, is not statistical or very academically thorough but anecdotal.

Grisham is not objective. Bill Peterson, the Ada District Attorney, is arrogant and shameless, and the local cops are corrupt and narrow-minded. To the extent that Grisham solves the mystery, so to speak, he does briefly get into the unreliability of other police practices, such as lie-detector tests and hair samples. Unfortunately, Grisham barely scratches the surface in explaining how such injustices can come about, even anecdotally. (He spends an inordinate amount of time recounting Williamson's baseball "career," for example).

This book conjures the common refrain that the basis of the U.S. criminal justice system is that it's better to let a guilty person go free than to put an innocent man in prison. The system is replete with safeguards to remove the accused from such horrors as lynching where local townspeople succumb to little more than personal prejudices, strong emotions, and violent tendencies. Grisham has written about how the system has truly failed. It's unlikely that there is a person who doesn't recognize the flaws of our adversarial and impersonal legal system. The criminal justice system is an institution like any other that can never escape the vagaries of human logic and prejudice. Where the injustice is so flagrant, however, as Grisham demonstrates (by both showing and, in a common literary faux pas, repeatedly telling the reader), everyone should take notice. The case of Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz, exonerated by the fortuitous introduction of DNA technology and an excellent team of defense lawyers, begs the question: how could this happen in modern America? Even worse, how many others remain in prison as a result of wrongful convictions? It's unlikely that an unremarkable town like Ada, which Grisham notes is much like any small town in America, is alone in its broken criminal justice system.