Under the Bridge by Rebecca Godfrey
For the those who like to read true crime, this one is intriguing. In a small Canadian community seemingly ordinary teenagers turn into murderers. Teenage girls plot to beat up 14-year old Reena Virk. The plan goes terribly awry when it turns into a heartless murder. These kids then keep this a secret for over a week.
Rebecca Godfrey brings this tragic murder to the page in a gripping and moving way. She conducts interviews with the people directly involved and the story unfolds from multiple perspectives. She attempts to give the reader an understanding of each of the key players in what happened. This is especially true of Warren, one of the convicted murderers. She attempts to show the human side of him and the psychology of how one very wrong decision alters so many lives. At times I even felt Reena Virk was minimized in the recount, as it leaned more toward the psychology of her killers.
I am not terribly familiar with the way the Canadian justice systems works. After finishing this book I did more research on what has happened to the people convicted of this murder. This was the first time I read about restorative justice and the role it plays in Canada. Warren is already out of prison. Kelly, the other defendant, was still wrapped up in appeals. She is the one that is clearly disturbed. T
his led me to question if restorative justice works and how it works. More research for me.
Showing posts with label true crime. Show all posts
Showing posts with label true crime. Show all posts
Monday, December 17, 2012
Monday, November 5, 2012
The Innocent Man
The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town by John Grisham
Description from Amazon:
"In the town of Ada, Oklahoma, Ron Williamson was going to be the next Mickey Mantle. But on his way to the Big Leagues, Ron stumbled, his dreams broken by drinking, drugs, and women. Then, on a winter night in 1982, not far from Ron’s home, a young cocktail waitress named Debra Sue Carter was savagely murdered. The investigation led nowhere. Until, on the flimsiest evidence, it led to Ron Williamson. The washed-up small-town hero was charged, tried, and sentenced to death—in a trial littered with lying witnesses and tainted evidence that would shatter a man’s already broken life, and let a true killer go free.
Impeccably researched, grippingly told, filled with eleventh-hour drama, John Grisham’s first work of nonfiction reads like a page-turning legal thriller. It is a book that will terrify anyone who believes in the presumption of innocence—a book no American can afford to miss."
Description from Amazon:
"In the town of Ada, Oklahoma, Ron Williamson was going to be the next Mickey Mantle. But on his way to the Big Leagues, Ron stumbled, his dreams broken by drinking, drugs, and women. Then, on a winter night in 1982, not far from Ron’s home, a young cocktail waitress named Debra Sue Carter was savagely murdered. The investigation led nowhere. Until, on the flimsiest evidence, it led to Ron Williamson. The washed-up small-town hero was charged, tried, and sentenced to death—in a trial littered with lying witnesses and tainted evidence that would shatter a man’s already broken life, and let a true killer go free.
Impeccably researched, grippingly told, filled with eleventh-hour drama, John Grisham’s first work of nonfiction reads like a page-turning legal thriller. It is a book that will terrify anyone who believes in the presumption of innocence—a book no American can afford to miss."
Monday, March 12, 2012
Secrets Can Be Murder
If you follow criminal cases, “Secrets Can Be Murder” by Jane Velez-Mitchell offers a glimpse into the criminal mind. She provides details on stories that have been high profile over the past several years, including Scott Peterson, Andrea Yates and more.
This book was worth the read, although the analysis provided was sometimes off-putting.
This book was worth the read, although the analysis provided was sometimes off-putting.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
A Stolen Life
I am intrigued by memoirs, reading the true story of someone else's life and seeing how they have overcome hurdles and challenges.
"A Stolen Life" by Jaycee Dugard is not to be missed. I was drawn into the news when she was found after being held captive for 18 years.
Having your child kidnapped is a horrifying prospect for any parent. And then not knowing where they are, if they are dead or alive, for 18 years...I cannot imagine. And, of course, who can imagine being that child. Being kidnapped at 11, being held in a backyard prison, bearing the children of your captor....unimaginable.
Jaycee tells her story in a straightforward, honest voice. I relished every page. I thought of her constantly while reading the book, and still keep her in my thoughts. What she has overcome is simply amazing. This was her story to tell, and I appreciated the lessons she imparted.
"A Stolen Life" by Jaycee Dugard is not to be missed. I was drawn into the news when she was found after being held captive for 18 years.
Having your child kidnapped is a horrifying prospect for any parent. And then not knowing where they are, if they are dead or alive, for 18 years...I cannot imagine. And, of course, who can imagine being that child. Being kidnapped at 11, being held in a backyard prison, bearing the children of your captor....unimaginable.
Jaycee tells her story in a straightforward, honest voice. I relished every page. I thought of her constantly while reading the book, and still keep her in my thoughts. What she has overcome is simply amazing. This was her story to tell, and I appreciated the lessons she imparted.
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