Book Review: John Grisham’s “An Innocent Man”
I have always been a big fan of John Grisham’s writing and legal thrillers in general, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I received Grisham’s newest book, “An Innocent Man,” for Christmas. “An Innocent Man” is about two men who were convicted of a murder that they didn’t commit. Based upon an extremely coerced confession which was filled with inaccuracies and was immediately reneged, Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz were convicted of a 1982 murder of a young woman in Ada, Oklahoma. While Fritz was sentenced to life in prison, Williamson (who clearly suffered from bipolar disorder and potentially other mental illness) was sentenced to death. The book is about the legal process both before and after the convictions.
While I was reading I felt as though there were several traits of Grisham’s usual style – allowing us to become familiar with the main character who had been abused by big business or an overzealous prosecutor and the obvious signs of the author being both knowledgeable about the law and a great storyteller – but I felt as though the pace was a little slower than usual. Furthermore, within the first few pages I had a fairly accurate picture of what the outcome of the book would be, which left me waiting for some twist that would come later in the book. After I had read about 10 chapters or so, however, I realized why there were some differences between this novel and Grisham’s usual work – it was a true story!!
This discovery, which was made when I realized there were photos of the people involved included in the middle pages of the book, was the twist that I had been waiting for. Although Grisham makes it perfectly clear what his opinions about the case are, this is still a honest representation of what can happen when a small town legal system decide to disregard the obvious fouls it committed during an investigation. At the same time, however, this book is a prime example of the unsung heroes in our legal system who take the time to ensure that everyone receives a fair trial. For anyone looking for a good read, I would recommend reading John Grisham’s “An Innocent Man.”
Filed under: Book Review
Can’t wait to read it!
Thanks for the heads-up.
Who And Where Is Dennis Fritz, You say after reading John Grisham’s Book “The Innocent man”, Grisham’s First non-fiction book. The Other Innocent Man hardly mentioned in “The Innocent Man” has his own compelling and fascinating story to tell in “Journey Toward Justice”. John Grisham endorsed Dennis Fritz’s Book on the Front Cover.
Dennis Fritz wrote his Book Published by Seven Locks Press, to bring awareness about False Convictions, and The Death Penalty. “Journey Toward Justice” is a testimony to the Triumph of the Human Spirit and is a Stunning and Shocking Memoir. Dennis Fritz was wrongfully convicted of murder after a swift trail. The only thing that saved him from the Death Penalty was a lone vote from a juror.
“The Innocent Man” by John Grisham is all about Ronnie Williamson, Dennis Fritz’s was his co-defendant. Ronnie Williamson was sentenced to the Death Penalty. Both were exonerated after spending 12 years in prison. They were set free because of a simple DNA test. The real killer was one of the Prosecution’s Key Witness. John Grisham’s “The Innocent Man” tells half the story. Dennis Fritz’s Story needs to be heard. Read about how he wrote hundreds of letters and appellate briefs in his own defense and immersed himself in an intense study of law. He was a school teacher and a ordinary man from Ada Oklahoma, whose wife was brutally murdered in 1975.
On May 8, 1987 while raising his young daughter alone, he was put under arrest and on his way to jail on charges of rape and murder. Since then, it has been a long hard road filled with twist and turns. Dennis Fritz is now on his “Journey Toward Justice”.
He never blamed the Lord and soley relied on his faith in God to make it through. He waited for God’s time and never gave up.
Sincerely,
Barbara
I think people need to wake up and realize this can happen to anyone. What a shame for this poor man.
I honestly have to say this book touched me more than any book I have ever read. I say three cheers for John Grisham for writing this novel it was outstanding. I hope everyone realizes this can happen to anyone innocent, it happened to me but like Dennis Fritz I too am now free.
Thank You
I appreciate John Grisham taking on this serious task of revealing the injustice at work in our criminal justice system in THE INNOCENT MAN. Until this hits close to home upon those least expecting this kind of trouble we will never know how at risk we are to being the very NEXT victim of prosecutorial misconduct and injustice.
See our story:
http://wrongfullyaccusedinusa.blogspot.com/
Don’t dream, and don’t have any illusions about Ada, Oklahoma.
Don’t think that the cases outlined in “An Innocent Man” are unusual for Ada, Oklahoma. I grew up in the area. The justice system in this place is the “good ole boy” system that never hesitates to jump to “justice.” There is the Petersen side, the citizens side, then there are the rest of us. We are from the wrong side of the tracks and it is a well known fact, from my father’s time till now, that if you were targeted, you would end up in jail or dead. The powers that pushed for the quick trial are so convinced that they can’t be held accountable, they are virtually untouchable in the state of Oklahoma. They will never be held accountable unless the US Department of Justice starts handing out indictments.
I read “The Innocent Man” and was shocked, yet not shocked. I, too, grew up in Ada, OK. I wasn’t shocked because in Ada you’re guilty until proven innocent, depending on who you are, who you know or who you’re related to. I was shocked that depths of the injustice in Ada sent innocent people to prison for life and to death.
It’s a VERY good book, I couldn’t put it down! This really can and did happen in our America, a land where you’re supposed
to be innocent until proven guilty.
John Grisham tells a deeply interwoven story, inviting you to read the next chapter NOW! He also writes facts showing it wasn’t just the DA, or just the investigators, or just the interrogators, or just the jailhouse snitches, or just the mental health system, or just the state prison system, or just the judge, or just the defense lawyer, or just the people on the jury who had a conflict of interest, or just the indigent defendents, no, it was all of these and at NO point did justice prevail. This book cites precedent cases regarding police conduct during interrogations, the 5th ammendment, denial of due process of a mentally incompetent person, the state providing basic tools for an adequate defense to an indegent defendent. The justice system in Ada, OK is not the justice of the Constitution of the United States and it’s laws. Where else is this happening? Everyone in America should be outraged, I am!
I haven’t yet read Dennis Fritz’s book “Journey Toward Justice”, but I intend to.
I also haven’t read “Dreams of Ada” by Robert Mayer, published in 1987 about another murder in Ada, OK in 1984 (less than 2 years after Debbie Carter, “The Innocent Man” murder) and the 2 persons convictioned of that murder based on “dream confessions”, with the same DA, police detectives/interrogators, jailhouse snitches, etc. John Grisham touches on the book, and I intend to read it as soon as I find it again.
Let us bring God and justice back to America!
I too have lived in the Ada area and I wasn’t shocked at all when I read Grisham’s book–as Carol above said it depends on who you are, who you are related to and oh what church you attend. God help those who don’t attend any church at all. The sad part is that the idiots they hire for police officers are usually the biggest criminals in town or the village idiots. These idiots have put the Carter family through 4 trials because of what they called “police investigative work.” What I find interesting is that no one talks about how Bill Peterson reduced Glen Gore’s 140 prison sentence for the crimes he committed that put him in prison down to 40 years which meant he would have got out of prison in about 20. He was in prison when he testified against Ron Williamson. The idiots also didn’t test Gore’s hair or his fingerprints yet they had 3 sets of fingerprints from the crime scene that they couldn’t identify. I’m not even a cop but I have enough sense to know they could have got his fingerprints from when they were taken on his “kidnapping, assult, shooting at a police officer, etc” charge. DA Peterson adopted a theory and then constructed a case to fit that theory–sense he couldn’t get the “real” bad guy they got two innocent men they could sell to the other idiots of Ada as the bad guys. I read Dennis Fritz’ book too–Peterson had better not say his is inaccurate–afterall he was the one who lived it.
I am a huge J.G. fan, let me state that from the outset.
I found myself trying to find out everything about the characters straight after I finished the book.
I then decided to check out what Bill Peterson was doing these days and came across the Ada City web site.
Bill Peterson has a link there stating his case and answers all J.G’s inaccuracies in the book.
I am still a massive J.G fan but I have now relabeled the book a non-fiction book.
If you are interested to read the facts on this case, go to …
http://www.billpetersondistrictattorney.com/
It will not stop me feeling for those on death row and nor will it stop me reading J.G books, but I think his research on this book was utterly shocking.
It is bordering on an insult to those who do things the right way with law and order in towns like Ada.
oh well… he can tell the story how he likes, he is a writer, and we love him for it.
Neil.
I’m glad that Neil has labled Grisham’s book as non-fiction because he wrote it as non-fiction. It is his first non-fiction book.
Does anyone know
1) was the table at the preliminary hearing knocked over, knocking down Barney Ward or not? Dennis Fritz in his book says it was, Peterson in his rebuttal says it wasn’t. Both were in the court room when the incident took place.
2) Was it the outcome of the trial of Glen Gore? Those of you with Ada, OK connections might know. Eva
I am Debbie’s cousin. Has anyone ever thought about this: These two men ARE guilty …she had conscentual sex with her boyfriend that night. Williamson & Fritz committed the murder after he left.
We all know in our hearts and minds that OJ murdered Nicole. I know that Williamson & Fritz murdered my cousin.
hey peggy,
interesting theory… and they left no fingerprints? no dna, nothing?
dont think so……
I grew up in a town smaller then this one and seen a murder go unsolved and the pressure this puts on the police department. Don’t sugar coat for a second that most of the cops are barney fifes. I’m not making fun of them because most of it is just flat lack of experience and training. I have lived in the city for many years now and watched the differences in styles. It happens everywhere though, but in small communities that are close knit the rumor and gossip is deafening. It’s amazing that with this kind of evidence you can take someone’s life from them. The juries are often people from the town wanting to pin the rap as bad as the police. How could you have the guy who was last seen with the girl arguing no less not brought in to face the music?