The Innocent Man

I don't bother with the John Grisham airport fodder, but as this was a true crime account I thought I'd give it a go. The fact that Grisham can obviously write thrillers really helps the narrative in this book which otherwise might be a bit slight. He pulls you through the dull sections, doesn't spend too much time on the legal wrangles and gives you just enough colour to keep the interest going. The strongest part of the book was his depiction of Death Row and for those of you who think that prison might be some sort of easy ride, this will change your mind. I finished the book feeling some of the outrage and anger that Grisham has over a justice system that so easily can fall over and, that when it does, it's human beings, families and communities that fall with it. The system isn't perfect, but it's all we've got, and books like this, you hope, will challenge it and strive to make it better.

An interesting story of injustice (0/0 people found this helpful)

After a long time of not having picked up a book by John Grisham, an author who probably suffers from overkill, I found this to be a pleasurable - and at the same time, a disturbingly unpleasurable - read. The story centres around Ron Williamson, a former baseball player with a reputation for drinking and womanising: not the most sympathetic character. Yet, Grisham turns out an engaging work of journalism.

My one criticism is that it does seem one-sided, with Grisham carrying out a hatchet job (if you pardon the pun) on many members of the Oklahama police, judiciary, etc for their part in Williamson's wrongful conviction. Grisham is probably right that Ron Williamson is a victim of an horrendous injustice. Unfortunately, we do not know because the book was sourced from those closest to Ron Williamson and the other exhonerated men. The strongest message to come from the book is that the death penalty can hardly be justified. It's a shame that we have to be told this in the twenty-first century, but it's still a worthwhile read.

A valuable exposé (4/4 people found this helpful)

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.

Innocent but Predictable (0/0 people found this helpful)

Not John Grisham's usual but we know the result from the start. All the police are stupid and the accused and Grisham are wonderful.

I did not enjoy this but his next book, Playing for Pizza, was worse!

I loved his earlier books but he's having a problem. Good luck Mr. Grisham. get better!

Sad, but true (0/0 people found this helpful)

How could anyone so obviously innocent be found guilty and sentenced to death? If this had happened a century ago I could believe it, but we're talking the 80's here! The state of Oklahoma and the town and prosectutors of Ada should be ashamed. This book will bring you to tears, and is one of the best I have ever read. Buy it, read it, you wont be able to put it down.

John Grisham

Reader Reviews:

If you like True Crime (0/0 people found this helpful)

An interesting story of injustice (0/0 people found this helpful)

A valuable exposé (4/4 people found this helpful)

Innocent but Predictable (0/0 people found this helpful)

Sad, but true (0/0 people found this helpful)

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