The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town in Pick-a-Shelf

Sep 21, 2008 Kellie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-for-trade, 2007-reads, non-fiction

This was a story about Ron Williamson. He was wrongly accused and convicted of murder in the small town of Ada, Oklahoma. Grisham read Ron鈥檚 obituary in the NY Times and was so intrigued by his story, he decided to write about it. It is his first non-fiction work. I think Grisham did a really good job projecting a clear and concise chronology of the injustice that was done, not only to Ron but to about 4 other innocent men who spent time (some are still spending time) in the most horrific condit This was a story about Ron Williamson. He was wrongly accused and convicted of murder in the small town of Ada, Oklahoma. Grisham read Ron鈥檚 obituary in the NY Times and was so intrigued by his story, he decided to write about it. It is his first non-fiction work. I think Grisham did a really good job projecting a clear and concise chronology of the injustice that was done, not only to Ron but to about 4 other innocent men who spent time (some are still spending time) in the most horrific conditions of incarceration. The thing I like about Grisham is, he has a way of describing complicated legal terms and events in an understandable way so that your average reader has no problem comprehending it. I think this is why his audience is so broad. This book brought up several controversial subjects such as the death penalty, prisoner鈥檚 rights, junk science, shoddy police work, abuse of power, unsatisfactory legal representation, mental illness and the influence of inmate snitching and it鈥檚 impact in the decision of these cases. I was surprised that the prosecutor, Bill Peterson, is still allowed to practice law. I am surprised that there wasn鈥檛 more compensation given to these men and their families for the wasted years spent in prison. I am surprised that there wasn鈥檛 criminal action taken against those who showed such inadequacy at their jobs, that it cost these men a good portion of their lives. Although I am a supporter of the death penalty, I do agree with Grisham that there are some major flaws in the US penal system regarding this issue. It makes you wonder how many innocent men are put to death? Is it the same as the amount of guilty that are still in our society roaming free? If the Williamson family could feel that anything positive has resulted from telling this story it would be the fact that it may prevent another life from being ruined by the mentality of a system that a conviction, whether it鈥檚 legitimate or not, is more important than finding out the truth. ...more

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Mar 27, 2009 Luann rated it really liked it

Shelves: shelf-a-thon1, adult, nonfiction, 2009

John Grisham's nonfiction book of "murder and injustice in a small town" is well written, well researched, and completely engrossing. It's hard to believe that so many could be wrongly convicted of such heinous crimes, yet the evidence is there that it has happened. Scary. The hope is that we will learn from past mistakes and not allow things like this to happen so easily to innocent people. ...more

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Jun 22, 2011 Arlene rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, 2011-50-book-challenge, non-fiction

This book by lawyer and author John Grisham could be just another of his excellent legal stories but it is true. This amazing story is the biography of a man from small-town Ada, Oklahoma who is convicted of a grisly murder and sent to Death Row. Ron Williamson was a local baseball hero who doesn't make it to the big leagues. He is a hard drinking, hard smoking man who can't really take care of himself. He sinks into mental illness and after he was arrested his trial was littered with false witn ...more

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Feb 27, 2008 Julianne rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Took a bit longer to read. Since it was nonfiction, there wasn't much dialogue. Makes for a more choppy reading. Grisham did an excellent job story-telling. Just a shame that Grisham came into the picture when he did (didn't get to interview all the people he should have). ...more

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Oct 12, 2008 Atishay rated it it was amazing

Horrifyingly true. Read it. It's non-fiction.
A true story of total injustice being done blindly by American Law Enforcement. Told by the master himself. It left me spellbound and aghast. ...more

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