The pull of this story lies in the fact that it is not fiction.

The book was tagged as something every American should read. However, this is not an issue confined only to the USA. It is a very sad fact that has a global application.

After reading this, I am left with several thoughts regarding law enforcement personnel who would take extreme measures to solve a case, even at the expense of prosecuting the innocent. Can they truly be that bad at the core, or are they simply in such a hurry to resolve a case that even a half-hearted investigation will suffice?

The questions I pose are not only directed at those conducting the investigation; they extend to the prosecution, the highest court, and even the defense lawyers. It encompasses the entire system.

In the end, Ron was able to find true rest, and I pray that he was indeed able to do so. For Dennis Fritz, I am glad that he was able to rebound.

This story serves as a powerful reminder of the flaws that can exist within the criminal justice system and the importance of ensuring that justice is served fairly and accurately.

What could be worse than two incompetent policemen? The answer is an entire incompetent system. The only non-fiction book of the genius of police literature clearly shows that life beats the movie.

Moreover, the author himself says at the end of the book: "even in my most inspired moments, I would not have been able to pull out of the hat a story so rich in events and so stratified...", and Grisham only has inspired moments.

This book offers a unique perspective on the inner workings of the police force and the flaws within the system. It delves into the real-life experiences and challenges that officers face, painting a vivid picture that is both eye-opening and thought-provoking.

By reading this book, readers can gain a deeper understanding of the complex issues surrounding law enforcement and the need for reform. It serves as a wake-up call to society, urging us to take a closer look at the systems we have in place and work towards making them more efficient and just.

I've had the pleasure of devouring several of Grisham's works over the years, and of course, I've also watched a number of the films based on his novels.

However, this particular book is truly remarkable, as it marks his first foray into non-fiction.

Personally, I'm involved in criminal law. And while I'll admit that there are indeed bad apples in every profession - bad cops, bad prosecutors, bad defense attorneys, and bad judges - I never could have fathomed the truly devastating travesty that is laid out in these pages.

This is a story of small town justice gone horribly wrong. It wasn't a case of vigilantism, but it wasn't far off either. They exploited the "system" over a period of two decades to achieve what a mob with a noose could once do in a single night.

The evil that even prosperous and educated individuals can inflict upon one another is truly astonishing in this detailed and chilling account. A man's constitutional rights were flagrantly violated on his path to a death penalty conviction for a murder he didn't commit and for which there was no real evidence.

This is an informative, thrilling, fast-paced, real-life chiller that everyone should read to understand how something completely unbelievable can and, apparently, does happen to "anyone."

Novo izdanje je otišlo u štampu, 10 godina posle prvog objavljivanja u Srbiji. To je veoma značajan trenutak za sve one koji su zainteresovani za ovu knjigu. Odsad je Grišamov izdavač Kosmos izdavaštvo Beograd/Nova knjiga Podgorica. Ovaj izdavač je poznat po kvalitetnim izdanjima i ovaj put nije ostao u znaku lošeg. Sjajan prevod Vlade D. Jankovića je omogućio da se ova knjiga može razumeti širokom krugu čitaoca.

Najnovija verzija ove knjige pruža nove perspektive i dodatne informacije koje će vas zaposljediti. Netflix upravo prikazuje dokumentarnu seriju snimljenu po ovoj knjizi koja se bavi istinitim događajem. Ova serija će vam dati mogućnost da vidite kako su se događaji iz knjige odvijali u stvarnosti. Svako čitanje ove knjige će vas privući i zadovoljiti. Nudimo vam da je uživate i da steknete nove znanja.

A truly depressing book that has exposed the stupidity and ignorance of the American "rule of law." It seems almost worse than that of some dictatorially led countries. One might think that there are only a handful of Americans who can think independently.

Especially small-town people fare so poorly in this regard, even worse than in some clichés in movies and TV series.

The entire messed-up life of the main character is also so depressing, both before and after the truly unjust situation. In the end, one can only feel pity for Ron Williamson's sisters, who had to endure all that suffering and yet always took care of their brother. They are, for me, the only pitiful people in this book.

I wish I had not read this depressing book. It makes one question the very foundation of what we believe to be a just and fair society. The portrayal of the American legal system and the treatment of the characters within it is truly eye-opening and disheartening. It serves as a reminder that there is still much work to be done to ensure that justice is truly served for all.

This was an extremely interesting and rather disturbing experience.

I have also had the pleasure of watching the limited series available on Netflix.

The storylines and characters in the series were so engaging that I found myself completely immersed in it from start to finish.

The production values were top-notch, with excellent cinematography, editing, and sound design.

Whether you prefer the article or the series, or both, I would highly recommend giving them a try.

You are sure to be entertained and perhaps even a little bit challenged by the thought-provoking content.

So, don't hesitate to check them out and see for yourself what all the fuss is about.

You won't be disappointed!

My second Grisham for April was "The Innocent Man", which was also my non-fiction read for that month. In fact, both the Grishams I read in April were different from his usual works. One was the YA "Theodore Boone", and this one was non-fiction. "The Innocent Man" can be classified as 'true crime', and it was more or less my first foray into this genre.

The book tells the story of Ron Williamson, an innocent man from the small town of Ada in Oklahoma, who was wrongly convicted and spent many years on death row. Williamson was an excellent baseball player as a child and was seen as a future star. However, when his career didn't take off, he turned to alcohol, drugs, and women, and couldn't even hold a job for long. He faced serious charges on more than one occasion. In the early 1980s, his life was turned upside down when he was accused of murdering a young waitress near his house, a woman he had never even met. Along with him, his friend Denis Fritz, a school teacher, was also wrongly accused simply for being Williamson's friend and taking a trip out of town with him. Based on flimsy evidence and the testimony of snitches, Ron ended up on death row, and Dennis received a life sentence.

This book was a very disconcerting read for me. The thought that not one or two, but many innocent people end up in prison, even on death row, due to botched investigations, poor legal aid, and unfair trials is truly disturbing. It shows that there are investigators who start with 'gut feelings' and then collect evidence to convict the person they have these feelings about, conveniently overlooking what doesn't help them. There are also judges who aren't as concerned with ensuring a fair trial as they should be. All this in a system that supposedly presumes innocence, but in practice, it may be more like a presumption of guilt. Williamson was far from an ideal person, but did he deserve to suffer so much? The journey is also difficult for the victims' families, who believe the culprits have been caught and punished, only to be told that they were wrong. What are they to believe? What if a mistake is made again? And even if the suspect's innocence is finally proved, can their life ever go back to 'normal'? This book was well written and held my attention throughout, but it also made me feel very unsettled at times. However, that was probably the point of bringing these cases to our attention, to show us how imperfect the system can be and how it can turn lives upside down for no reason. For that alone, it is worth reading.

A True Story, filled with details specific to Grisham's unmistakable style.

It is a lesson, a slap in the face to the system but from my point of view... too late. I liked it.

This story seems to unfold like a complex tapestry, with Grisham's masterful touch weaving in and out of the narrative. The details are so vivid that they bring the story to life, making it easy for the reader to immerse themselves in the events.

The lesson it teaches is profound, highlighting the flaws and injustices within the system. However, the realization that it may be too late to make a significant change adds a layer of sadness and inevitability.

Despite this, there is still something captivating about the story that keeps the reader engaged until the very end. It makes one think about the world we live in and the choices we make. Overall, it is a memorable piece that showcases Grisham's talent as a storyteller.

We have never before quoted the publisher’s blurb in a review.

However, this one is so incredibly accurate that we couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

“Impeccably researched, grippingly told, filled with eleventh-hour drama, John Grisham’s first work of nonfiction reads like a page-turning legal thriller.”

Indeed, “Innocent” is completely engaging.

It is about a death-row convict who was always completely and totally innocent, as should have been obvious to all of the police, the district attorney, the judge and jury, and the appeal courts involved.

Chapter upon chapter, it invokes incredulity and outrage.

The events in the book occurred in a small Oklahoma county in the 1980’s.

It is mind-boggling that the main victim was incarcerated for over 15 years without one shard of physical or legitimate evidence for his conviction.

To say the least, it shatters any hope we might hold that “innocent until proven guilty” is the norm.

The fact that the man was mentally incompetent (and officially ruled so several times throughout) makes the matter even worse.

Meanwhile, two other men were equally railroaded to death row in the same place and time frame, but fortunately, all were ultimately cleared.

If Grisham wrote this book to advocate abolishing the death penalty once and for all, we’re certainly convinced.

But we also cling to the aspiration that law enforcement and judicial authorities can and will do better.

Although recent events may suggest that to be little better than a Pollyanna thought process.

Sad... And depressing...

I always experience a tinge of guilt when commencing a Grisham book. I am fully aware that ten hours later, I will still be engrossed in its pages.

However, at least this particular one is a true story, which makes me feel as if I have gained some knowledge.

The author endeavors to shed light on potential miscarriages of justice in America, specifically in the small town of Ada, Oklahoma. There are individuals in prison and on death row who truly do not deserve to be there. They end up in such a situation for a myriad of reasons. There are corrupt cops, ambitious prosecutors, judges overly focused on retirement or reputation, snitches willing to lie under oath, or perhaps even innocent people who find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. At least one of the wrongly convicted men believed that his coerced confession would not matter as the police would uncover the truth. He had placed his faith in the criminal justice system, but it failed him.

The story is both sad and believable. As always, it is a well-written account that held my attention until the very last page. Being non-fiction, it is also thoroughly researched. The author dedicated a significant amount of time with many of those involved in these cases and delved into the culture of small town Oklahoma. The story centers around two men convicted of the rape and murder of a 21-year-old waitress in 1982. The cases are connected to other possible innocents behind bars. All of the cases covered are captivating. I hope that some progress is being made for those who still languish in prison.

I have always found Grisham's stance on faith issues somewhat perplexing. He frequently includes powerful Gospel statements regarding salvation by faith in Jesus in his books and refers to himself as a Christian. Nevertheless, he also asserts that his faith is a private matter that he keeps to himself. How can a genuine Christian think it is acceptable to keep their faith to themselves, especially someone with the vast platform that he possesses?

This book contains only a small amount of bad language. There is some violence and some graphic details of the crime, but it is presented factually rather than sensationally. There are also some details about the sexual aspects of the crime, but again, it is factual.

I enjoy Grisham's books and will undoubtedly read more of them and likely re-read those that I have read in the past. Discovering a non-fiction book by Grisham was a pleasant surprise, and I am glad I read it. I hope that one day Grisham will take a more definitive public stand on faith issues, choosing God over popularity or success.

A non-fiction book by John Grisham was published in 2006.

This is an incredibly unbelievable story that it's difficult to comprehend that it's not a work of fiction. The saying 'fact is stranger than fiction' has never been more true than what is presented within these pages.

The title is somewhat of a misnomer as it is the story of not just one but four young men. Three of them were sentenced to life in prison, while the fourth was sentenced to death by lethal injection.

In the small town of Ada, Oklahoma in 1982, a cocktail waitress named Debra Sue Carter was raped and murdered. Two young men, both known for their wild behavior, were brought to the police station for questioning. Based solely on gut instinct, the police built a case against both men.

No one in law enforcement, from the police to the prosecuting attorney, was at all interested in guilt or innocence. All they wanted was to close the case.

Ron Williamson, the young man who received the death penalty, spent 11 years on death row, during which his physical and mental health deteriorated significantly. At one point, he was just five days away from being executed when a last-minute stay of execution was granted.

What happened to these young men is beyond belief and makes one question the infallibility of the justice system.

Interestingly, not long after the publication of this book, a defamation case was brought against John Grisham and his publishers by none other than the Ada police and the prosecuting attorney. However, the case was dismissed by the presiding judge.

This is an enthralling 4-star read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

This is the first non-fiction work of John Grisham.

After reading this book, I am deeply saddened for all those who are wrongly convicted and have to endure the pain that Ron Williamson went through.

The question that keeps萦绕 in my mind is, if there is such poor policing in developed countries, what about in developing countries like mine?

In developed countries, with relatively advanced legal systems and higher levels of social civilization, there can still be cases of unjust convictions due to bad policing.

Then in developing countries, where the legal system may not be as perfect and the level of law enforcement may vary, the situation may be even more serious.

We need to pay more attention to the issue of policing and the protection of the rights of the accused in developing countries to ensure that justice is served and that the innocent are not wrongly convicted.

Only in this way can we build a more just and harmonious society.