A truly Kafaesque real story awaits you, one that is bound to shatter your faith in the justice system. In the first half, the narration unfolds a series of facts and events that are nothing short of astonishing. It reveals how the justice system callously snares innocent men in its web and wrongly pins crimes on them. This part requires slow and careful reading as you absorb the details of this travesty. However, the second half takes a remarkable turn with the timely intervention and unwavering perseverance of a few individuals who are committed to liberating the condemned from the clutches of the Kafaesque clique that has infiltrated the judicial system. Their efforts offer a glimmer of hope in the midst of this otherwise bleak situation.

Book on CD read by Craig Wasson

In 1971, Ron Williamson was signed by the Oakland A’s and left Ada, Oklahoma, with great hopes of achieving big-league glory. However, an injury, along with bad habits such as excessive drinking, drug use, and womanizing, brought an end to his promising career. Back in Ada, he started to exhibit signs of mental illness. He moved in with his mother and would sleep up to 20 hours a day on the sofa.

In 1982, a young woman was brutally raped and murdered, and for five long years, the police were unable to solve the crime. For reasons that remained unclear, they suspected Ron Williamson and his friend Dennis Fritz. Despite there being a complete lack of evidence and Ron having a solid alibi, the two men were arrested and charged with capital murder. The prosecutors relied on jail-house snitches and a so-called “dream” confession to build their case against the two. Dennis was sentenced to life in prison, while Ron was sent to death row.

Grisham first learned about Ron Williamson when he chanced upon the man’s obituary. The facts presented in it raised numerous questions, and Grisham began to research how an innocent man could have been arrested, charged, convicted, and imprisoned with such little regard for his rights or for the truth. The result is a captivating tale that kept me completely engaged. Meticulously researched, Grisham fills the book with information that gradually and convincingly constructs the case. If the reader is disturbed by simply reading about these events, one can only fathom the horror and despair that Ron and Dennis must have endured while living through such a nightmarish scenario.

One of the most touching sections occurs after Ron has been released and is interviewed by a journalist. When asked about his beliefs, he replies: “I hope I go to neither heaven nor hell. I wish that at the time of my death that I could go to sleep and never wake up and never have a bad dream. Eternal rest, like you’ve seen on some tombstones, that’s what I hope for. Because I don’t want to go through the Judgment. I don’t want anybody judging me again.”

What starts as the story of one man’s nightmare evolves into a profound treatise on the state of America’s Justice System and its many flaws. From the author notes at the end of the book: “The journey also exposed me to the world of wrongful convictions … This is not a problem peculiar to Oklahoma, far from it. Wrongful convictions occur every month in every state in this country, and the reasons are all varied and all the same – bad police work, junk science, faulty eyewitness identifications, bad defense lawyers, lazy prosecutors, arrogant prosecutors.”

Craig Wasson does an excellent job performing the audio version of this book. He has a great pacing and truly brings Ron to life, making the listener feel as if they are right there with him throughout his harrowing ordeal.

This type of work is of utmost necessity. It allows the world at large to gain an understanding of just how sick the legal system can be.

Specifically in this work, the focus is on America, but one can only imagine how much worse it might be elsewhere.

I am reminded of an acquaintance of mine here in West Africa. He spent over half a year in jail simply because he was'suspected' of stealing something he knew nothing about.

Reading this book, one's mind boggles. How can kids, for example, have their entire lives ruined? Spending time in jail or on death row after being forced and coerced to confess to crimes they know nothing about.

How many countless 'criminals' have been killed or sentenced to life imprisonment only to be unequivocally exonorated by DNA evidence later on?

What price do the hapless denizens pay when law enforcement agents are determined to convict them at all costs?

Such is the case here, with the spotlight brilliantly shining on the life - the vicissitudes - of an innocent man who suffered horribly, accused of a heinous crime that he did not commit.

And what about his long-suffering (pious) mother and sisters? What about their vicarious and direct suffering?

And yet, through it all, the stigma of being accused and convicted of a crime will always be there. Members of the community, even relatives, will shun and snub such people, even long after they have been exonerated. It is truly so sad. Why is the world often so unfair?

DNF. True crime has always been a genre that I have a love-hate relationship with. Sometimes, it can be absolutely fascinating, drawing me in with its thrilling stories and complex characters. However, other times, it can be a complete disappointment, and unfortunately, this particular true crime book falls into the latter category.

I just couldn't get into it at all. From the very beginning, it felt extremely dull and uninteresting. It read more like a dry, academic report than a captivating narrative that would keep me on the edge of my seat. The writing style was平淡无奇, lacking the excitement and energy that I expect from a true crime story.

There was no real sense of tension or drama, and I found myself constantly losing focus and skimming through the pages. It was a real struggle to get through even a few chapters, and in the end, I had to give up. I was really hoping for a gripping and engaging true crime tale, but instead, I was left with a feeling of boredom and dissatisfaction.

I have a particular preference for this work (and also "Time to Kill") for a specific reason.

It is because in these pieces, he deviated from his typical "prescriptive" style of writing.

Usually, his works might have followed a more formulaic or instructional approach, perhaps dictating certain norms or behaviors. However, in these particular instances, he took a different path.

This departure added an element of新鲜感 and unpredictability to the stories. It allowed the readers to experience a new side of his writing, one that was less rigid and more open to exploration.

It made the reading experience more engaging and thought-provoking, as we were no longer confined to the expected patterns.

Overall, this deviation from the norm made these works stand out and made me appreciate them even more.

I think this is probably the most riveting true crime and punishment tale I've ever read.

The injustice presented in it is truly catastrophic. It has indeed undermined my faith in our criminal justice system, especially in small towns.

It is soul crushing to read about the ordeals that these innocent men had to endure.

However, despite the heart-wrenching nature of the story, I highly recommend it. This is Grisham's one non-fiction title among dozens of his books, and I have enjoyed it tremendously.

The details and the way the events are narrated make it a captivating read.

It forces us to question the fairness and effectiveness of our legal system.

Overall, it is a thought-provoking and engaging piece of work that should not be missed.

This book is truly a heart-wrenching one. It has the power to bring tears to your eyes not just once, but several times.

I find it extremely difficult to even begin to fathom the intense pain that these wrongfully accused men and their families have had to endure. The thought of being unjustly punished for something one didn't do is simply unbearable.

What makes it even more sickening is the fact that this is a true story. It makes you realize how flawed our justice system can be at times.

It makes you question how many other innocent people out there are suffering the same fate. This book serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of ensuring that justice is served fairly and accurately.

It makes you want to stand up and fight for those who have been wronged. It is a must-read for anyone who cares about justice and the rights of individuals.

This is John Grisham's first Non Ficiion work.

It zeroes in on a young athlete who has been wrongly convicted of a crime that he didn't commit.

It offers a scathing perspective on our criminal justice system, presenting a story filled with sadness, tragedy, and gross incompetence.

Moreover, it is quite lengthy and demanded a significant amount of my time to complete. However, it is very well-written. I have always been a fan of Grisham's work, and this book, despite being tough to follow at times due to its tragic nature, is deeply poignant because of its reality.

Unlike the fictional characters in Grisham's numerous novels, this incident actually took place.

It is truly a searing and disturbing read that makes one reflect on the flaws within our justice system and the profound impact it can have on innocent lives.

I stayed up extremely late to complete reading this book. However, regardless of that, I am most definitely going to read more books of this kind, written by this author. His writing style truly captivates me. Even though he doesn't pen romance novels, this particular book was incredibly addicting.

It held my attention from the very beginning and refused to let go. I found myself completely immersed in the story, unable to put it down. The author has a unique way of creating characters and plots that draw the reader in and keep them engaged until the very end.

Each page turn brought new surprises and excitement, making it a truly enjoyable reading experience. I can't wait to explore more of his works and see what other wonderful stories he has to offer.

Let me say at the outset that the story behind the writing is a tragic one.

A wrongly-convicted man found himself on death row due to negligent police, a gung-ho prosecutor willing to stoop to anything to make his case, an incompetent judge, and an attorney who missed several opportunities to help his client.

The book as a whole, however, failed to impress me. The story behind the book was indeed tragic, but the book itself was choppy. It failed to flow smoothly and at times didn't seem coherent. It started out well enough and managed to hook me during an airplane trip. But I found myself putting the book down several times and picking up my sudoku book because I got easily frustrated with the writing.

The basic story in a nutshell is this: Ron Williamson grew up in Ada, Oklahoma. As a kid, he played baseball well enough to get signed to the Oakland As. Thinking he'd be a baseball big shot, he couldn't handle it when his dreams were crushed by an arm injury. His drinking and drug-taking made him completely unreliable. Eventually, he returned to Ada and couldn't handle the pressure of being unwanted by the majors, and began to exhibit signs of severe mental illness. While he was back after his failed career, a young girl was murdered, and the police suspected Williamson and his friend. The trouble was, they were both innocent, but the police built a case based solely on their belief in Williamson's guilt. The town wanted the murderers put away, so the prosecution made sure the jury would do just that by presenting a fabricated case. Grisham explores the crime, the case, the prosecution, the defense, and the incompetence of the legal system that put two innocent men behind bars, on death row.

I've read a lot of books like this (true crime, exposure of the sometimes unfair system of both law and order), and I have to say that this wasn't one of my favorites. Still, it is worth reading.

01/15/2007; nil

A tragic life was over, and the one who’d lived it had now gone on to better things. He was finally free.

I am a fan of Grisham. I will just say that off the top. I think there is only one book of his I gave a poor rating too, and that was “The Exchange,” the story that followed “The Firm” years later. I have even enjoyed his non-courtroom books, like “Sooley” and “Calico Joe.”

I read this one years ago, (it was published in 2006), and thought I had already provided a review, but apparently, I did not. So, it almost seems fitting to provide a review now, since his latest non-fiction book, “Framed” had just been released. Which I am also currently reading.

This book is his first non-fiction book. The story follows the wrongful conviction of Ronald Keith Williamson, who was tried for murder and then exonerated. Dennis Fritz, a friend of Williamson was also tried, convicted and exonerated of the same crime.

Grisham shares in his 2024 novel, “Framed” the following: “I had never considered nonfiction – I was having too much fun with the novels – but Ron’s story captivated me. From a pure storytelling point of view, it was irresistible. Filled with tragedy, suffering, corruption, loss, near death, a measure of redemption, and an ending that could not be considered happy but could have been much worse, the story was just waiting for an author.”

Grisham’s telling of the story starts with the disappearance of their supposed victim, Debbie Carter who was later found dead at her home. Within a very short time, readers will be introduced to witnesses, relatives, law personnel and forensic experts.

Grisham’s introduction of Williamson comes by showcasing his habits that would come to the interest of the police. He does a relatively good job of allowing readers to see him as a victim of his own life and mental deterioration. Which allowed the prosecution to prey on him even more.

The story is grim with lots of narrative focused on an abusive system of “justice” and how it locked away its supposed “killers.” The descriptions of prison life were vivid and disturbing. Even if vindication is provided, would it bring peace to those who were locked away as innocent men?

This is a gripping, riveting, and compelling story with a strong focus on attention to detail. Which may or may not muddy the reading experience. Still, the story is obviously well-researched. For some readers, this story may even spark outrage for a system of justice that was clearly blind and unscrupulous.

The Author’s Note will give excellent background on Grisham’s motivation for writing this story and the people he encountered through his research. It provides valuable insights into the making of this powerful and thought-provoking work. The detailed accounts and the emotional journey of the characters make it a must-read for anyone interested in true crime and the flaws within the justice system. Grisham’s ability to bring the story to life and make the readers feel the pain and injustice is truly remarkable.

The Innocent Man, penned by novelist John Grisham, is a highly significant and deeply dispiriting piece of work.

On one hand, it vividly showcases how the American justice system can, at times, experience malfunctions. It reveals the flaws and shortcomings that can occur within the system.

On another level, it prompts us to have a certain degree of skepticism towards our law enforcement system. This is because there are incentives for the actors in the judicial system to distort facts in order to achieve a desired outcome.

The book centers around a fabricated murder charge leveled against Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz. Williamson was even sentenced to death. What makes this work so infuriating is that the police bungled the investigation. They failed to pursue a more obvious suspect and misused their investigative powers to bring the two to trial.

The prosecutor is also depicted as an opportunist. Despite having an extremely weak case, he pushed ahead regardless. Moreover, he violated established Supreme Court guidelines on evidence during the process.

This is also a story of shattered dreams. Williamson was once regarded as a potential "next Mickey Mantle" due to his remarkable baseball exploits in high school in Oklahoma. After a successful high school baseball career, he was signed by the Oakland Athletics. However, he struggled to hit professional pitchers and started engaging in excessive drinking and partying. As a result, his natural skills were no longer sufficient to meet the challenges of professional baseball.

His mental illness also began to manifest itself. He attempted a comeback in the New York Yankees farm system, the team he had always dreamed of playing for, like his idol Mickey Mantle. But he continued to struggle, even in the minor leagues, and a sore arm further hindered his chances of success as a pitcher.

He eventually drifted back to Oklahoma. When a violent murder occurred in his hometown of Ada, he became a suspect, along with Dennis Fritz. After years of failure in apprehending the true perpetrator and an embarrassing fiasco in prosecuting the wrong persons in another case, the local police and prosecutor fabricated a case against these two.

Later, the city had to pay a hefty price due to a successful lawsuit on behalf of the two wrongly convicted victims.

Thankfully, the system eventually exonerated the two convicted men. However, Williamson's mental illness led to his decline and eventual death. This is a tragic tale that highlights the misuse of police authority, the prosecutor's disregard for professional norms, and the inconsistent performance of defense attorneys.

It serves as a reminder that innocent people can sometimes be condemned to death, and it raises important questions that need to be widely discussed in our society. It also demonstrates the crucial need for law enforcement and judicial actors to "follow the rules" in criminal cases to prevent such situations from happening in the future.