Britta Olson

I have found Grisham’s novels boring, in the past, but saw this book in the Criminal Justice Studies section at school and was intrigued. I’m a non-fiction fan of true crime and social Justice topics. Stellar reviews, and student bookstore credit, persuaded me to buy it. The baseball nostalgia theme; evident early on, worried me. Without any background or interest, I had never been able to finish a book full of team sports references. However, it quickly becomes clear that the nostalgia stems from baseball being the last good thing that ever happened to the central character. Drawn into his struggle with addiction and depression, I did not want one more bad thing to happen to him, or his family. Of course, it does. The result is a train wreck I could not look away from. The author, unflinchingly and sympathetically, portrays the grim reality of a small town criminal justice system scapegoat. It exposes the injustice that happens more often than we think, when small town prejudice and the power of the police and courts combine. Other true crime books often drop the human interest story as soon as the legal arguments begin. Here, the tedium of the court process is offset by the wrenching devastation that keeps the reader invested in the outcome. This book will shock believers in American justice, and resonate with those who identify with the underdog. I highly recommend it!