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A review by gretasbookclub
The Tall Man : Death and Life on Palm Island by Chloe Hooper
5.0
Synopsis: Cameron Doomadgee, a 36-year-old member of the Indigenous community on Palm Island, was arrested for swearing at a police officer. 45 minutes later he was found dead.
The police claimed he'd tripped on a step, but the pathologist likened his injuries to those received in a plane crash. The main suspect was the handsome, charismatic Senior Sergeant Christopher Hurley. Australian journalist Chloe Hooper follows the case and trail of Chris Hurley over a number of years and has written this book as an expose on Indigenous deaths in custody.
Review: This Australian true crime novel about police brutality and the corruption in the law enforcement system, to the point where the life of an innocent human being was ended, was well-researched, emotional and gripping from the beginning to the end.
This book broke my heart. It was also such an insight into the legal process of Australia and why it continually fails for Indigenous Australians. I really enjoyed the legal aspect of this book, and found it very informing and accessible to read. However, in saying this, it was a very depressing book to read which leaves little hope for future change which is so necessary for this country.
This book is also very easy to read and digest, which is often not the case when reading non-fiction. I highly recommend reading this if you are looking to educate yourself further on systemic racism and deaths in custody in Australia.
When To Read: Now! Great book to diversify your reading and learn more about abhorrent treatment of Australian First Nation Persons
The police claimed he'd tripped on a step, but the pathologist likened his injuries to those received in a plane crash. The main suspect was the handsome, charismatic Senior Sergeant Christopher Hurley. Australian journalist Chloe Hooper follows the case and trail of Chris Hurley over a number of years and has written this book as an expose on Indigenous deaths in custody.
Review: This Australian true crime novel about police brutality and the corruption in the law enforcement system, to the point where the life of an innocent human being was ended, was well-researched, emotional and gripping from the beginning to the end.
This book broke my heart. It was also such an insight into the legal process of Australia and why it continually fails for Indigenous Australians. I really enjoyed the legal aspect of this book, and found it very informing and accessible to read. However, in saying this, it was a very depressing book to read which leaves little hope for future change which is so necessary for this country.
This book is also very easy to read and digest, which is often not the case when reading non-fiction. I highly recommend reading this if you are looking to educate yourself further on systemic racism and deaths in custody in Australia.
When To Read: Now! Great book to diversify your reading and learn more about abhorrent treatment of Australian First Nation Persons