The Innocent Man | John Grisham | Grishams best book

The Innocent Man | John Grisham | A valuable exposé

books:

The Innocent Man

	The Innocent Man John Grisham Dell, 2007 - 448 pages average customer review:based on 101 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

Grishams best book

I've read this book twice now, and I'm still enamored with it. I found the characters interesting, and sad. The story was well told, and was an eye opener. What really gets me is that this book was a true story, and I feel horrible for the miscarriage of justice that two men, and their families, had to go through.

An excellent read.

A valuable exposé

By now, there is no excuse for starting to read this book believing that it is written to Grisham's usual formula. This is not a brilliantly written legal thriller. It is an excellent piece of investigative journalism, and it is very clear that John Grisham has invested a huge amount of effort into his investigations.

He tells the true story of several wrongful convictions, concentrating mainly on the central character, Ron Williamson, who spends a considerable proportion of his life on death row and in other detention centres.

Grisham exposes the flaws in the American justice system, which is under constant pressure from the conviction-hungry public who will not allow the truth to stand in the way of their passionate pursuit of somebody to blame for any heinous crime, who, whether innocent or guilty, will receive the heavy punishment that such a terrible criminal would deserve. This leads to deliberate, and institutional, incompetence amongst the investigators and the lawyers.

For me, the book is far too long. I think that Grisham could have condensed the results of his rigorous investigations into about half the pages that he has filled. It is clear, from early on, what the outcomes would be. However, it is a valuable exposé, and I hope that US citizens will use it as the basis for successful campaigns against injustice in The Land of the Free.

for more information click here

Abuse of the Judicial System

John Grisham doesn't usually write non-fiction. But he felt that this story was compelling enough to do some serious research and writing. The result is a very solid, horrifying read.

I have always been against the death penalty on efficiency grounds, but this book really tipped the balance. I knew that mistakes were made in death penalty cases, but little did I realize that the mistakes would be the result of small-town avarice and a bloodthirsty desire to see someone - anyone - pay for despicable crimes. I shudder to think of all the folks behind bars because they just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The story itself follows Ron Washington, a promising baseball star who fizzles in the minor leagues. The rest of his life goes downhill from there, and his aimless lifestyle makes him a top suspect for clueless police. Ron's (and his alleged accomplice's) journey through the justice system is an eye-opening experience. If Grisham had put this story line in his fiction books, it would have been too ridiculous to believe. But since court proceedings are pretty well documented, it looks to be true.

The story is well written and has some very colorful characters. My only fault with the book is that it did drag in parts, but overall it was a very engaging read. Highly recommended for all who enjoy a shocking true life drama.

for more information click here