5 comments about A Promise of Justice: The Eighteen-Year Fight to Save Four Innocent Men.

1. I read this book for a directed study on the death penalty. As a child of the Sixties, I had no illusions about our justice system. This book shows so clearly what so many of us know instinctively - if you are Black and poor your chances of justice in this country are very, very low. The book shows so many of the flaws in our criminal justice system, and shows why we must continue to fight to end the death penalty and overturn the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996. Innocent people die because of our court system. A book for all to read, especially those who still believe our courts are fair.



2. This is a powerful book. Every American should read and take its message to heart. Protess and Warden are to be congratulated.



3. A Promise of Justice is a great book, though the title is misleading. The prosecution of these four innocent black men shows the inherent flaws of the American adversarial system that often fails both the victims and the accused. The system often fails,with overzealous prosecutors or incompetent defense attorneys, perjured testimony, poor or incompetent police work, cynical or biased judges or jurors, flawed so called "expert" testimony , and all the flaws associated with the human personality. The exceptional courage and perseverence of these journalists and attorneys regretably are often the exception to the rule, as amply illustrated by the fact that it took 18 years to free these men who were plainly innocent. The adversarial system of justice means the wealthy, the educated and well appointed have a more practical oppprtunity for a fair trial than the poor or less educated . I cannot imagine how these innocent men were able to endure their convictions, imprisonment and in two cases - imminent threat of execution. This book compares well with "May God Have Mercy On You". As a civil litigation attorney, I find it appalling to find that the accused is provided less disclosure and less accessabilty to the facts/witnesses in a criminal case, when his life or liberty is at stake ,than is available in a civil case involving a fender bender. The prosecution and police can and often do conceal the fruits of their investigation. In this book it is shocking to find that a solid lead early in the police investigation shortly after the first indictments was not followed until 16 years later, exposing the real killers. Most of the public/legislators seem to complain that the death penalty for those convicted of heinous crimes takes too long to be implemented. In these cases, 18 years was nearly not enough ..This book illustrates how and why it can take so long to get to the truth, and in the words of Dennis Williams, offers some well thought out ways to improve our flawed system of justice. While the American criminal justice system is probably better in most ways than systems offered in other countries, this book amply shows the warts,blemishes and flaws of our system, whose worst feature may be a death penalty which kills the guilty, but very rarely, but unforgivably, the innocent as well.



4. If you are a staunch supporter of the death penalty you may find yourself second guessing your beliefs when you finish reading "A Promise of Justice". The travesty that befell the four men who were wrongly convicted of the rape and murder of a white couple is unspeakable. (The defendants were black which is a factor in the miscarriage of justice, due to an apparent racist police force and justice system.) Collectively, they spent over 60 years of their young lives in prison and two of them were on death row. Not to get all religious on anyone, but I have to wonder why a loving God would allow something like this too happen. I guess there is an ultimate reason for everything and fortunately they are free men today, able to enjoy a beautiful sunset, sleep in a comfortable bed, and most importantly, be with their families.

   Protess and Warden are excellent and VERY thorough investigative journalists. However, there were a few things that I didn't personally like about the book, which has nothing to do with their reporting abilities. The first was that it was written in the third person which is the way I was taught to report when I was in journalism school. ("Always remove yourself from the story," my professor emphasized.) In this case, since it was a book and not a newspaper or magazine article, I would have preferred the authors include themselves more in the story...relaying their feelings and experiences on a personal level. I also wanted more first-person accounts from the defendants other than how they felt wronged and persecuted. Not to say that they shouldn't have felt this...to the contrary. But I was hoping to glean a little bit more about their personalities in their own words.

   Aside from these two minor criticisms the book was great. As far as I'm concerned, Protess and Warden deserved the Pulitzer Prize for investigative journalism. They did an incredible service not only to these men but to our criminal justice system as a whole. BRAVO!




5. It seems there are a growing number of "wrongly convicted" books emerging in recent years, but this is one of the originals and one of the best.
   
   Students and lawyers examine a case where justice went wrong in Chicago. This was long before the days of the mass reversal of several death penalty cases in Illinois (which led to the moratorium on the death penalty in that state). This was a case that had mostly been forgotten by the public when a few lawyers and journalism students made it their cause. Their efforts and their findings are dramatically reported by David Protess who draws the reader into the story nicely, but while still showing a fair amount of objectivity.

No comments about The slaying of Joseph Bowne Elwell.

1 comments about No Kill, No Thrill: The Shocking True Story of Charles Ng - One of North America's Most Horrific Serial Killers.

1. An excellent read about the grisly crimes of two men bent on a killing spree to satisfy their twisted needs. Very interesting information on how the RCMP helped to convict one of the mass killers

4 comments about Never Too Late.

1. Medgar Evers was an American Hero. A young, articulate African American man, he had the courage to be head of the NAACP in Mississippi during the darkest days of the Civil Rights Movement. He was shot in the back in his driveway by an avowed "rabid racist" named Byron de la Beckwith.

   Beckwith was tried twice for the crime; each time the jury was hung.

   A quarter of a century later, an intrepid reporter named Jerry Mitchell of the Jackson Clarion-Ledger shook Mississippi to the core when he uncovered new evidence that pointed to Beckwith's guilt. Myrlie Evers, an amazing woman who was widowed by Beckwith's bullet, took that evidence to the Hinds County District Attorney's Office and asked that the case be reopened.

   At first, the DA was sympathetic but skeptical. Then a brilliant Assistant District Attorney, Bobby DeLaughter, began investigating the possibility of indicting Beckwith.

   This is the true story of DeLaughter's dogged, relentless search for justice. The story was partly told in the film "Ghosts of Mississippi" in which DeLaughter was played by Alec Baldwin. However, DeLaughter's real life account of the trial is far more captivating, amazing and, ultimately satisfying than the movie's version.

   This book has the passion and riveting surprises of the best of Grisham or Turow, combined with the emotional impact of "Eyes On The Prize" and "The Long Walk Home." DeLaughter, a fluid and powerful writer, takes us deep into the heart of evil as he investigates a powerful Klansman.

   In the end, this book is a triumphant and uplifting reminder of how the legal system can still bring justice.

   Highest Recommendation.




2. I had been interested by the story of Medgar Evers and the difficulty the state had in prosecuting his alleged killer for some time. When the State of Mississippi reopened the case for a potential third attempt at prosecution I was hopeful that some sense of justice might be achieved but not at all convinced that the then alleged killer would be found guilty of Medgar Evers' murder. Bobby De Laughter has written an insightful, thoughtful and intriguing book. As I read his account of the various threads of the story, the leads the DA's office had to develop to prosecute this case after so many years and the elements of good fortune that allowed this case to be pursued successfully I could not help but feel the presence of Medgar Evers. The goodness of the man and his persistent quest for justice is echoed in the actions of Mr. De Laughter, Ms. Myrlie Evers, the many dogged investigators and committed professionals who played their part in making the third trial come together.

   This is a great read, so compelling I could not put it down. In many ways this book reads like a mystery. So much of what was needed to prepare the case against Byron De La Beckwith was lost during the long period between the killing and the final trial. Twice shut out, the stakes couldn't have been higher for the prosecution in this third outing. The book is no less suspenseful because the verdict is known. Although an intensely personal account, Mr. DeLaughter clearly and consicely explains the legal hurdles the prosecution faced and incisively analyzes the behavior and motivations of the defendant. Mr. De Laughter is widely descibed as very private, but in his writing he and his experience are so accessible the reader feels as if s/he is there every step of the way. This is an intelligent and inspiring work that should not be missed.




3. Bobby Delaughter was a prosecutor of the right timbre, morals, and courage at the right time to help bring justice in a 30-year old murder case. This riveting book tells how, in the face of extreme odds, his faith was brought to the forefront, to show that God really does care and uses people such as Delaughter to produce what He desires most - justice. In this book, we see not only a story of Mississippi's catharsis in turning from a place of race-baiting politicians and of organized Ku Klux Klanism to a place where justice can truly be done, but also a story of the touching emotional struggle of the victims and prosecutors alike. As prosecutors face great opposition from not only racists and self-seeking politicians, but also from well-meaning but skeptical black and white citizens and even an arrogant FBI, they rise above the ordinary at great personal and political cost. As an attorney, I coined the phrase, "sometimes truth is very hard to come by." This story embodies that principle. The efforts of Mr. Delaughter and his D.A. boss should be applauded and lauded as a great triumph, not just for the machinery and tools of this great country's ever-grinding legal system, for they are but lifeless concepts apart from the souls that man their stations, but also for those with virtue and conscience, who are the fuel and oil without which there would be no production of justice.



4. As a new lawyer, this book really helped me realize so many things as to what a lawyer should do before, during, and after the trial.

   I am a Filipino, there is no racial discrimination in our country... yet I cried many times while reading this book.

   If you read this book you will really learn to appreciate the value of human dignity.

5 comments about Seeds of Evil: The Gray/Snyder Murder Case.

1. Seeds of Evil is a brilliantly written and soundly researched period piece centered around the murder in 1927 of Albert Snyder ,art Editor for MOtor Boating by his wife Ruth and her corset salesman lover ,Judd Gray.Combining true facts with imaginary dialogue ,the book vividly captures the dark compulsions that drove two ordinary people to deception,adultery and murder.As such it is a psychologically gripping analysis of those dark forces lurking within all of us --those forces springing from psychic depths that defy rational penetration and definition.But where the work makes its greatest contribution is in providing a spiritual dimension which gives the tale a sense of universality;in stressing and illustrating the importance of faith and divine grace to control our human propensity for sin,the author provides a timely message and compelling evidence for mankinds daily need to seek and heed the counsel of God.An important work of literary artistry,insight and reflection that through its dramatic theme and appeal makes the Lord's message accessible and relevant to all.



2. Seeds of Evil is a brilliantly written and soundly researched period piece centered around the murder in 1927 of Albert Snyder ,art Editor for MOtor Boating by his wife Ruth and her corset salesman lover ,Judd Gray.Combining true facts with imaginary dialogue ,the book vividly captures the dark compulsions that drove two ordinary people to deception,adultery and murder.As such it is a psychologically gripping analysis of those dark forces lurking within all of us --those forces springing from psychic depths that defy rational penetration and definition.But where the work makes its greatest contribution is in providing a spiritual dimension which gives the tale a sense of universality;in stressing and illustrating the importance of faith and divine grace to control our human propensity for sin,the author provides a timely message and compelling evidence for mankinds daily need to seek and heed the counsel of God.An important work of literary artistry,insight and reflection that through its dramatic theme and appeal makes the Lord's message accessible and relevant to all.



3. AS grippingly as any novelist,noted historian Karl Schweizer,a superbly talented writer,,tells the dramatic story of a 1920"s cause celebre:the brutal slaying of Motor Boating editor Albert Snyder by his wife Ruth and her lover Judd Gray.In an elegant though informal narrative,that ranges from humorous to heart-wrenching,Seeds of Evil ,explores the complex motivations behind the tragic crime,the character nuances of the protagonists,the conflicts and contradictions they experienced in their emotional relationships,and above all the precious and timeless spiritual lessons to be learned from these participants in what is essentially a modern morality play.In this sense the book is not only an exciting tale of crime and retribution but a guide to spiritual enlightenment--one that discards the sadly fashionable contemporary focus on "now" and "self" ,as a key to contentment but instead directs our attention to God as the only true ,lasting and enriching guide to our lifes.A unique achievement that could serve as a model to other writers in the true crime genre.



4. AS grippingly as any novelist,noted historian Karl Schweizer,a superbly talented writer,,tells the dramatic story of a 1920"s cause celebre:the brutal slaying of Motor Boating editor Albert Snyder by his wife Ruth and her lover Judd Gray.In an elegant though informal narrative,that ranges from humorous to heart-wrenching,Seeds of Evil ,explores the complex motivations behind the tragic crime,the character nuances of the protagonists,the conflicts and contradictions they experienced in their emotional relationships,and above all the precious and timeless spiritual lessons to be learned from these participants in what is essentially a modern morality play.In this sense the book is not only an exciting tale of crime and retribution but a guide to spiritual enlightenment--one that discards the sadly fashionable contemporary focus on "now" and "self" ,as a key to contentment but instead directs our attention to God as the only true ,lasting and enriching guide to our lifes.A unique achievement that could serve as a model to other writers in the true crime genre.



5. Seeds of Evil by Karl Schweizer is so good! The story is based on a true event--a murder--that took place in Queens, New York during the 1920's. If you like true crime and police investigation, or you like a story that takes place during the roaring twenties complete with bootleg gin and flappers, or you like a story that is a study of people and their thoughts and motives, or if you like a juicy read that is full of description and attention to detail, then this book is for you! The author writes in such a way that you feel like you have stepped into the very skin of each character. You the reader are privy to the character's innermost thoughts, feelings and reflections. Because of this you can't help but like or loathe each character--you cannot remain indifferent. The story is written so seamlessly that the reader cannot be sure of what is factual or what is supposed and this makes for an entertaining and thought-provoking read. Since this is a book based on true events, there must be an ending to the story but I loved this book so much that I found myself wishing that it wouldn't end. Lastly, the author challenges the reader, especially in the postscript, to examine his or her own life in view of the story they just finished reading and to think about the presence and influence of evil in one's own life. It gives one food for thought. I highly recommend Seeds of Evil. You will be in for a treat and it is the kind of book that will keep you thinking and reflecting for a long time.

5 comments about UnGodly: the Passions, Torments and Murder of Atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair.

1. Like other reviewers have stated, this is a very poorly written and biased book. One wonders if it is intentional or not. Easily one of the most biased books I have read, ever.



2. Although this book does give the chronological story of MMO's life, it is written in the sensationalistic style typical of true crime books; that is why I say it is more "true crime" than "biography". For 30 years MMO was the reigning goddess of atheism in America. Her fatal flaw was her contempt for humanity in general, not just Christians. Using MMO's diaries & atheist newsletter, the author lets us know her opinions of the people in her life. Her mother was a "dumb broad". Her office workers at her atheist headquarters in Austin were "scum, derelicts, lumpen proletariat" (the rest of the words she used -including racial slurs- might possibly be deleted by amazon.com if I included them here). Her oldest son, who converted to Christianity was a "post natal abortion". Her financial supporters were "gutless bastards". As noted in her diaries, she had a special dislike for Jewish people. It seems the only people she had kind words for were those who acquiesced to her domineering personality.
   The author has a lot of unkind words for people too, at one point remarking that Bill Murray's "homely" wife Susan wore thick, black-rimmed glasses "of a sort that a mean-spirited librarian might wear". (I'm not sure why the author singled out librarians for this insult.) There is a photo of Susan in the book and as far as I am concerned she has very pleasant features and I believe the glasses she is wearing were considered fashionable at the time. I think the catty remarks are unnecessary and take away from the quality of the book.
   At the time of MMO's disappearance I was living in Austin. I remember reading in the paper a speculative article that she had died and her son and grand-daughter had spirited her body away to someplace where Christians could not pray for her soul at her gravesite. Apparently nobody, not even the athiests cared enough about the abrasive and arrogant MMO to bother trying to find out what happened to her. The police seemed to have little interest in the case, and it took Bill Murray a year to file a missing persons report on his mother, half brother and daughter. It took a newspaper reporter, John MacCormack, and a private investigator, Tim Young, to initiate the investigation that would lead to the arrest and conviction of Waters and Karr for murder.
   One issue that I would have liked for the author to explore more fully was why Bill and Susan turned their daughter Robin over for MMO to raise. Neither Bill nor Susan seemed to like MMO, so why would they allow MMO to raise their daughter? If they had not done so, she would probably still be alive today.
   This is a very uneven work, still it is interesting and hard to put down due to the "true crime!" style prose that has a tendency to "hook" readers and hold their attention throughout the book.



3. UNGODLY is a superb account of the events in the O'Hair's lives. The book shows an UNBIASED look at these individuals despite what other reviewers have said. Most atheist reviewers will not like this book because it shows the true nasty nature of Ms. O'Hair. She was close to a criminal herself with all her tax problems. She was a hard person to like and was obnoxious beyond normal considerations. She had utter contempt for Christians and most people in general. Of course, this in no way excuses her horrible murder. It may be ironic, but I am not justifying murder. What I take issue with is that some reviewers have stated that the Christians in the book are portrayed as all good and the atheists are shown to be vile. I must have read a different book than they did. Certainly some Christians are portrayed as good, but others are portrayed as con-artists. Some atheists are shown to be kind people of good character while others push forward the gospel of hate. Some reviewers seem to take issue with any perspective that they disagree with. I am a Christian, and I have a dear friend who is an atheist. I feel that he is misguided, and he feels that I am incorrect. We debate, but we still maintain a mutual respect for one another. Dracos has shown both sides and told a reasonably accurate account of the O'Hair's lives. His work is researched to the hilt. UNGODLY is NOT biased in any way. Many times throughout the book Dracos portrays Madalyn in a negative light. He also shows respect for her abilities and empathy for her death. I have no idea if Dracos is a Christian or not, but in his acknowledgements he thanks Pan and the presiding Gods. This is tongue in cheek, but as a Christian I personally would not thank Pagan gods even in jest. I say this to point out that Dracos DOES NOT have some hidden Christian agenda. He is just giving a compelling account of a tragic yet interesting life.



4. I wouldn't classify this as a "biography," but it was a very interesting tale of O'Hair's life (and death). I hadn't followed the case against her murderers when it played out; it was quite fascinating to read about it.
   
   Despite what some of the reviewers have written, I didn't think this was a biased book. Hey, it's hard to portray as a saint a woman as wicked as her. Regardless of whether you agree with her Athiesm, she WAS an evil, greedy woman who bilked many of her supporters out of thousands if not millions of dollars. Sadly, it was greed itself that led to her murder.



5. A tawdry account of the life of O'Hair, apparently an egocentrist diminished by the history in which she found herself. The author's dislike of his subject and lack of documentation dominate.
   
   Omnisciently relates O'Hair's motives, thoughts, etc. without specifying sources. The author is contradictory, judgmental and petty in portraying O'Hair (e.g., how does he know she only bathed weekly?).
   
   One interesting point (speculative?--no sources) is on the origin of O'Hair's antireligious sentiment, a failed love affair. Fairly apparent that her response to religion was psychological contra philosophical, O'Hair was certainly not from the same cloth as Dawkins or Sagan.
   
   Interesting material, but lacks basic scholarship and appears to have been written for the tabloid set. Unfortunate, as the issues concerned are more critical today.

2 comments about Murder in the Heartland: Book I.

1. Ex-Sheriff Harry Spiller does a wonderful job in this book! The cases are fascinating. Spiller's experience in law enforcement shows. Well done!



2. I am from southern Illinois and live very near most of the case locations in this book. I am also a HUGE murder-mystery fan and love to read, as well as watch Forensic Files and similar shows. That being said, I was incredibly excited when I saw this book on the shelves at my local bookstore. At first I was a little disappointed that it was $25 (seemed a little high), but my curiousity got the best of me and I purchased it anyway. I should have trusted my gut.
   
   I began this book with very high hopes and the first case file did not let me down. It was very detailed and thorough, although there was little creative flair. This was the most interesting case of the 20. The others that followed lacked the intrigue and details that this one had. It read mostly like a laudry list, "He said this, she said that, he did this and then this, etc," but I was able to overlook that.
   
   What I wasn't able to overlook, however, was all the typos and misspellings. The first case file wasn't that bad. There was an instance where a witness/victim was referred to as Arnie for a few paragraphs and then suddenly Arnie disappears and Amie appears. I was lost for awhile, until I realized that Arnie was meant to be Amie all along and it was simply a typo. How Amie was referred as Arnie more than a few times accidentally, I'll never know, but I digress.
   
   As the book wore on, the frequency of grammatical and spelling errors increased. I actually laughed out loud when Mr. Spiller wrote "no" and "new" when he should have written "know" and "knew," and vice versa. He did this atleast 3-4 times throughout the book. My boyfriend and I began to make a game out of how many mistakes I could find. Halfway through the novel, there was at least one mistake on almost every page, if not several.
   
   This may seem trivial, but to someone who can read, it was very annoying and to be quite honest, slightly offensive. I don't doubt that those people who read this book might ask themselves if the rumors going around about Illinoisans being illiterate are true. Many of these mistakes could have been caught had Mr. Spiller simply chose to hit the SpellCheck button on his word processor or bothered to proofread his work.
   
   BOTTOM LINE: It's intriguing to see a book that promises to tell all the juicy details about cases in your area. I know it, otherwise I wouldn't have purchased this book. However, if you MUST read it and can get over the bad grammar, spelling mistakes, and just all-around poor writing, I recommend that you save your money and borrow it from some poor schmuck like myself who has already purchased it or rent it from your library.

5 comments about The Search for Grace: The True Story of Murder & Reincarnation.

1. This was a compelling read! In "The Search for Grace," Dr. Bruce Goldberg presents an absolutely convincing case for the transmigration of the soul. Documentation is superb and, at the same time, very haunting! Grace's Birth Certificate, her Death Certificate, archived contemporary newspaper articles, and precise details that only the true Grace Doze could have known add powerful credibility to the concept of reincarnation.

   What we see right now in our lives may be just a shallow perception where, in actuality, this life may be but a small piece on a string of our "past lives" and our "future lives." How does this work? Dr. Golberg suggests that our souls may be connected to us through mechanisms available via concepts explained in quantum physics. Indeed, physicists have recently been saying that in quantum physics there may be what are known as parallel universes. The idea that we exist in more ways than one is not far-fetched. Could this be where science and metaphysics meet?




2. As soon as I started reading this book, I could not put it down. Is Grace's spirit really reincarnated over thousands of years? Judge for yourself!



3. The book is well-written and I quite enjoyed it -- I read it in two days so it is also easy reading. However, there was one area I think the author needed to explain a little better because I did not understand it. How can a person live two lives in the same time period as this person reveals under hypnosis? He had an explanation that involved quantum physics but I'm much afraid that his explanation went zooming over my head like a fighter jet bound for Afghanistan.



4. I am a direct relation to Grace Loveless Doze and I was
   offended by the book, as was many members of our family
   including her son, Clifford who is now 80 years old.
   This book portrays Grace out to be a fluzy and she was not.
   Just an unhappily married woman.
   This book has brought disgrace to our family and a lot of
   heartache to Grace's son.
   Grace was a lovely person and well liked by the Doze family.
   Her mother, husband, son and relatives loved her and were
   horrified by her murder which is still unsolved today.
   Our family feels Dr. Goldberg is profitting money off of our
   family's tragedy.



5. This is another one of those books that I couldn't put down - in fact I read all of the nearly 300 pages in a couple of days - a testament to just how interesting this story is.
   
   "The Search for Grace" is about a series of lives lived by a woman currently named Ivy - and outlines a continuation of a love triangle that has lasted over many, many lifetimes.
   
   Past-life regression allowed Ivy to see this cycle in the varied ways that it was played out over the centuries, and enabled her to recognize two men who were in her life at the time of the regression. One was a man she had an on-again, off-again relationship with, who was abusive - he showed up in quite a few of her lives, always hurting or killing her. The other was man she dated who is really nice to her - he also showed up in many of her lives, always being a caring & supportive person.
   
   Will she be able to use this information to break this cycle once and for all?
   
   The author includes actual transcripts from Ivy's past-life regressions (which I found fascinating), as well as appendices that describe in more detail how & why regression/hynotherapy works.
   
   Overall, I found this to be a very interesting book, and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in past-life regression, as well as those involved in the field of psychology - it has much to offer.

No comments about The Lives and Adventures of All the Most Notorious Pirates.

5 comments about The Execution of a Serial Killer: One Man's Experience Witnessing the Death Penalty.

1. This book is a cant put down type book. Things I hadn't known about various killers were in this book. This is a in debth acct of anything involving the killer, it breaks down everything for you, the different types of killers, ect. You may not read everything about a killer in the first part of the book but as you read on you are going to read more than enough on each one, even some you've never heard of, before I could finish the last couple of chapters I had gotten to the point that I couldn't read anymore about these people, the things they've done and everything was more than the human mind could absorb. I am a Christian and believe in the death penalty, as is the way God deals with this in the Old Testiment and for good reason, they can't pass on the horrible things they've done this way. After reading this book you understand no two killers are the same.



2. I was the officer who arrested Mr. Castro in 1986 just after he murdered the man in Ocala. I was present during his interview when he described the murders he committed. I look forward to reading this book (ordered 9-10-07). Bobby Boatwright



3. www.DrJosephDiaz.com
   I wrote this book a few years ago, and was amazed at the response that followed. Within a year of its release readers from all over the world were contacting me to tell me that they were deeply affected by the book. I have to say that my intention wasn't to affect anyone, but to put down in words (to the best of my ability) what it looks, sounds, and feels like to sit inches away from a violent sociopathic killer as he is being executed. And, more importantly, what it feels like as a regular person off the street to watch a stranger being killed... and then share the horrible thoughts that come in the hours that follow. As a compassionate, Christian man, it was the most disturbing event in my life. It was, in so very many ways, unreal. I tried my best to capture that feeling and those thoughts in this book, and countless readers around the world have written to tell me that I succeeded.
   
   This new edition of the book is updated in many, many ways. I noticed problems with the first book at once, but it had gained such a large audience that it was decided that we should leave it as it is. With this new edition, I've fixed the parts I didn't like, made needed corrections, changed the layout, and the cover to match the content of the book. You can find a description of the changes on the website WWW.DRJOSEPHDIAZ.COM
   
   I'm very excited for this new book to be released, and again, I hope the book affects you in the same way that it did me to write it.
   
   Joseph



4. I was at a book store and recognized the name of the Author (a neighbor and friend). So I purchased the book and was mesmerized. As one who sided for the death penalty I went from for to ambivalent to against. Professor Diaz is a humble and brilliant man, gifted with humor and a perfect family. I never realized he had a book out (he never told me). I highly recommend it.



5. This book a must read. Gripping from the first page to the last. Dr. Diaz goes into more than just the behavior of Edward Castro. He explores other factors that helped contributed to what may have caused Castro to become a killer. While exploring these factors, one theme is constant - Castro was responsible for his actions. This book also explores the effects witnessing an execution has on those who witnessed it. This book is in two words.....well done.