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sumrafarooqi 's review for:
The Innocent Man
by John Grisham
This was my first nonfiction book by John Grisham and I was surprised to find out that John Grisham writes nonfiction as good as his fiction books.
This was a captivating read despite knowing most of the facts of the case (because I searched it up and read online). I really enjoyed reading this book. At some places it did lag but John Grisham writes brilliantly.
I know there are competent and incompetent people in every profession same with good and bad. But I was appalled to read the gross misconduct of the police in this book. Despite the lack of evidence, they plowed through those men who are literally now considered to be victims of police brutality. It was just shocking.
I read some of the reviews while I was reading this book and many reviewers said it was too much detailed and that the details were not necessary. I strongly disagree. The devil was in the details. Why? Because when John Grisham lays out all the details even the minute details you can see clearly how much the District Attorney Bill Petersen was hellbent on prosecuting the innocent men despite lack of evidence. The means he used to frame two completely innocent men just because he was incompetent. The details were also important in letting us know that how outward appearances and behaviors justified people’s attitudes towards a certain person. When the innocent men weren’t clean-shaven or had mental health problems people thought they were weird and justified that behavior by telling the police that they must be the killers etc. Ron Williamson due to his failed career had depression and bipolar issues and not only that his jailers would adjust his dose and mess around with it to get variable responses from him. Also it’s outrageous how law enforcement uses jailhouse snitches to get away with their prosecution. That was completely absurd. And the dream confessions. Obviously in hindsight it’s easy to say that the police and district attorney and the law enforcement was WAAAAY off but even while it was happening they were off. Just gross misconduct all through out the book. I’m so glad that John Grisham laid it all bare for everyone to see. Therefore I believe each line and each detail were essential in this book.
It was so unnerving. I couldn’t believe what I was reading. That this happened? That the police did this? Each account got absurder. I just have to commend John Grisham for his amazing research on this book.
Despite the many flawed characters, there’s also the good guys and the heroes and they were so many. So many people who worked for Williamson’s mental health and his eventual release. And also the guys for Fritz. The teams involved and the people involved. Really great and selfless people who fought against the system and pushed through and saved the innocent men.
All in all this was a great book.
This was a captivating read despite knowing most of the facts of the case (because I searched it up and read online). I really enjoyed reading this book. At some places it did lag but John Grisham writes brilliantly.
I know there are competent and incompetent people in every profession same with good and bad. But I was appalled to read the gross misconduct of the police in this book. Despite the lack of evidence, they plowed through those men who are literally now considered to be victims of police brutality. It was just shocking.
I read some of the reviews while I was reading this book and many reviewers said it was too much detailed and that the details were not necessary. I strongly disagree. The devil was in the details. Why? Because when John Grisham lays out all the details even the minute details you can see clearly how much the District Attorney Bill Petersen was hellbent on prosecuting the innocent men despite lack of evidence. The means he used to frame two completely innocent men just because he was incompetent. The details were also important in letting us know that how outward appearances and behaviors justified people’s attitudes towards a certain person. When the innocent men weren’t clean-shaven or had mental health problems people thought they were weird and justified that behavior by telling the police that they must be the killers etc. Ron Williamson due to his failed career had depression and bipolar issues and not only that his jailers would adjust his dose and mess around with it to get variable responses from him. Also it’s outrageous how law enforcement uses jailhouse snitches to get away with their prosecution. That was completely absurd. And the dream confessions. Obviously in hindsight it’s easy to say that the police and district attorney and the law enforcement was WAAAAY off but even while it was happening they were off. Just gross misconduct all through out the book. I’m so glad that John Grisham laid it all bare for everyone to see. Therefore I believe each line and each detail were essential in this book.
It was so unnerving. I couldn’t believe what I was reading. That this happened? That the police did this? Each account got absurder. I just have to commend John Grisham for his amazing research on this book.
Despite the many flawed characters, there’s also the good guys and the heroes and they were so many. So many people who worked for Williamson’s mental health and his eventual release. And also the guys for Fritz. The teams involved and the people involved. Really great and selfless people who fought against the system and pushed through and saved the innocent men.
All in all this was a great book.