I have always thoroughly enjoyed reading Grisham’s legal fiction books, but I was a bit hesitant to read The Innocent Man because few writers can make the transition from fiction to nonfiction and maintain their quality of writing.
Not Grisham! In The Innocent Man, Grisham offers readers an indepth view into the legal wranglings of a murder trial; and how, with the manipulations of prosecutors, police and other officials, an innocent man can be wrongly convicted….and sentenced to death.
I have read other reviewers’ comments on how this book was opinionated toward the prosecution. This is true, but within the first few pages readers can definitely understand why. I don’t think Grisham is slanted against ALL prosecutors, just Bill Peterson and his team in Ada, Oklahoma; especially since the convictions of Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz (the main story of this book) were not his first false convictions based on manipulated evidence and testimony.
If you’re a fan of Grisham or just a true crime fan, this is a must read! For true crime readers, it will be a refreshing piece of work to read about someone who actually DIDN’T commit the crime, yet heartbreaking to read the hardships of those falsely accused.
