The Innocent Man

Murder and Injustice in a Small Town

By: John Grisham

Narrated by: Craig Wasson

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • LOOK FOR THE NETFLIX ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY SERIES • “Both an American tragedy and [Grisham’s] strongest legal thriller yet, all the more gripping because it happens to be true.”—Entertainment Weekly

John Grisham’s first work of nonfiction: a true crime masterpiece that tells the story of small town justice gone terribly awry.

In the Major League draft of 1971, the first player chosen from the state of Oklahoma was Ron Williamson. When he signed with the Oakland A’s, he said goodbye to his hometown of Ada and left to pursue his dreams of big league glory. Six years later he was back, his dreams broken by a bad arm and bad habits. He began to show signs of mental illness. Unable to keep a job, he moved in with his mother and slept twenty hours a day on her sofa.

In 1982, a twenty-one-year-old cocktail waitress in Ada named Debra Sue Carter was raped and murdered, and for five years the police could not solve the crime. For reasons that were never clear, they suspected Ron Williamson and his friend Dennis Fritz. The two were finally arrested in 1987 and charged with capital murder. With no physical evidence, the prosecution’s case was built on junk science and the testimony of jailhouse snitches and convicts. Dennis Fritz was found guilty and given a life sentence. Ron Williamson was sent to death row.

If you believe that in America you are innocent until proven guilty, this book will shock you. If you believe in the death penalty, this book will disturb you. If you believe the criminal justice system is fair, this book will infuriate you.

Don’t miss Framed, John Grisham’s first work of nonfiction since The Innocent Man, co-authored with Centurion Ministries founder Jim McCloskey.

Critic reviews

“A gritty, harrowing, true-crime story.”—Time

“A triumph.”—Seattle Times

“Grisham has crafted a legal thriller every bit as suspenseful and fast-paced as his best-selling fiction.”—Boston Globe

“Grisham’s pared-down prose and matter-of-fact voice make for tense reading.”—People

“Skillfully told . . . An important book.”—Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“Meticulously researched . . . a compelling narrative.”—Entertainment Weekly

“John Grisham’s latest book has the usual touches fans have come to expect from the master of the legal thriller: suspense, shock, even a wrongful conviction and near execution. But this time, the tale is true.”—Associated Press

Wake up people...

I am stunned by the reviews that find this book uninteresting and/or poorly written. It was difficult to read because it is the story of our wonderful American justice system at its absolute worst. It is also the story of a couple of dozen Americans who allow their prejudices to prosecute and convict two men for murder with absolutely zero evidence. A man in Columbus was recently jailed for eighteen months and tried for the murder of his twin brother with the same 'evidence', none whatsoever. This can happen to anyone. If you aren't interested in this problem then you need to pray that you are never mistaken for a suspect and end up on death row.

Different

This was not your typical Grisham novel. I listened to the entire thing before I realized that it was non-fiction. I suppose that should be a compliment. It was just too detailed for me. I may have ignored that had I realized that it was all true. I just kept thinking that no police force could be that stupid but I guess I was wrong. You can only imagine how shocked I was to find out that it all really happened. I guess that is why I give this 4 stars. I would give it 5, but I did not like the narrator. It could have been so much better with someone who has a more appealing voice.

Very good

Enjoyed the writing of this story, I listened to it on my phone audio app.

Great book

I thought the book was really good. it was a little slow in some areas but overall a good read.

Who knew Grisham was a good non-fiction writer?

What made the experience of listening to The Innocent Man the most enjoyable?

The reader is top notch. The research is remarkably thorough. It helps you see the occasional failures of the US judicial system.

What other book might you compare The Innocent Man to and why?

It's like a long Dateline episode.

What about Craig Wasson’s performance did you like?

He changed voices for the protagonist. After a while, you feel like you're listening to the actual person he's portraying.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

Hair evidence is completly unreliable.

Any additional comments?

You'll really root for the protagonist and empathize with his plight. This is in spite of the fact that he's not a very likable person.