The Innocent Man (2006) (edit title/settings)

• Rated 4 stars

“This book made me angry at times. Obviously the reader is looking at the situation through the eyes of the narrator, but it seems that there was so much injustice in this true story. There were many times that I really disliked the selfish, ignorant, and obviously insane Ron Williamson. But even though he didnt help his situation much, he clearly didnt deserve the life that was awarded to him by the justice system. If it was fiction, it would have been unbelievable. ”

• Rated 5 stars

“Non-Fiction Review

5/5 A Poignant and Compelling Story!

What would you do if you were suspected by the police of the rape and murder of a young woman? Whom would you turn to if you were convicted of a crime based on circumstantial evidence and shoddy legal tactics? Whoever believes we are all innocent until proven guilty hasn’t truly been put to the test.

John Grisham’s newest legal masterpiece hits home--and hits hard. Temporarily forgoing his status as a legal thriller novelist, he delves into a non-fiction tale that could be almost anyone’s story. Ron Williamson had to rely on officials of a system that was corrupt and desperate, and he paid a terrible price. Twenty years of his life. Haunting, chilling and foreboding, The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town gives us a glimpse into the life of a man hounded by police, found guilty because of fraudulent testimony from convicts and sentenced to death row.

Williamson isn’t the only man wrongly convicted and sent to prison. Over the years, many cases have been appealed, and with new DNA testing and other evidentiary sciences in place, both Canada and the US have released convicted felons with little more than a “we’re sorry”. Grisham, a former criminal defense attorney, reveals a world of political power and policing agencies that show very little remorse for getting it wrong. It’s hard to imagine that even now there are people waiting on death row or in prisons who are innocent of the crimes of which they have been convicted. Powerful and emotional, this is one book I couldn’t put down!

~ Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a freelance journalist, book reviewer and editor. She is also the author of three mystery novels set in Canada, including the bestselling ‘assisted suicide novel’ Whale Song, which was released April1st, 2007, by provocative publisher Kunati Books.
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• Rated 5 stars

“Very good book and out of character for Grisham. It is very sad that this story is true and to even think of the cases that have yet to be discovered...”

• Rated 3 stars

“I got into the story of Ron Williamson - so much that I began to forget it was a true story - Unbelieveable the mistakes that were made in his defense - from the lawyer, to the unreliable witnesses, to the DA who had an agenda. Very sad ending however - after serving 12 years of prison. Very good book.”

• Rated 1 stars

“I have been a John Grisham fan for a VERY long time. This one just didn't make it for me. The last 80 to 100 pages were pretty good, but getting there was painful”

• Rated 2 stars

“Please stick to fiction. I bought this book because I love Grisham books. This one was horrible. I do appreciate him bringing to light the fact that there are many innocent people that are wrongly convicted; but this was just a very slow read. I had to force myself to finish the book.”

• Rated 5 stars

“We all have one or two authors who, whilst not the world's greatest writers, we often find the most enjoyable. Grisham falls into that category for me, and 'The innocent man' didn't fail to deliver. Whilst I wasn't aware that it was going to be non-fiction until it arrived on my doorstep (his name alone was enough for me to buy it), it was as gripping as any of his works of fiction.
The field of true crime 'literature' is too often a murky area, appealing to some of the less desirable elements of society. Grisham has managed to rise above that, and 'The innocent man' may be placed alongside Capote's 'In Cold Blood' as true crime for the more sopisticated reader.”