John Grisham is well known for his gripping thrillers and this one doesn't fail to deliver. It is his first piece of non-fiction and it really makes you think. It is a true story of a man, Ron Williamson who is falsely convicted of the murder of Debbie Carter in 80s Ada, Oklahoma. Ron was sent to death row and his friend, Dennis Fritz also wrongly convicted of the same murder, was given a life sentence.
The book reveals the inaccuracies in the criminal justice system and it is shocking to read how and why both Ron and Dennis were convicted. There was no actual evidence except for bogus testimonies and allegations made by jailhouse snitches and the bias of the detectives who for no real reason hated Ron Williamson. They were convinced he was guilty of the murder and they managed to convince the jury too even though evidence and testimonies had been fabricated.
The book also shows the harshness of death row and how Ron Williamson was put to his limit living there. He aged dramatically and his mental health deteriorated severely. The book is a shocking read because it is hard to believe that the justice system is inaccurate. It is horrible to think think that innocent people are sent to jail and even death row for crimes that they didn't commit. Grisham does a great job of digging up the truth in the Williamson case and he exploits the heinous activities of detectives, judges, lawyers, the judicial system, experts and prisons and prison guards in the ways that they exploit and damage the lives of innocent people.
This is another gripping read from John Grisham and I really recommend it to all. It is non-fiction but at the same time, Grisham turns it into a story, a narrative so that you still feel you are reading one of his great thrillers.
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