Within These Walls

Memoirs of a Death House Chaplain

By: Rev. Carroll Pickett, Carlton Stowers

Narrated by: Tom Pile

Within These Walls is the powerful memoir of Rev. Carroll Pickett, who spent fifteen years as the death house chaplain at "The Walls," the Huntsville unit of the Texas prison system. In that capacity, Reverend Pickett ministered to ninety-five men before they were put to death by lethal injection. They came with sinister nicknames like "The Candy Man" and "The Good Samaritan Killer," some contrite, some angry -- a few who might even have been innocent. All of them found in Reverend Pickett their last chance for an unbiased confessor who would look at them only as fellow humans, not simply as the convicted criminals the rest of society had already dismissed them as. This firsthand experience gave Reverend Pickett the unique insight needed to write an impassioned statement on the realities of capital punishment in America. The result is a thought-provoking and compelling book that takes the reader inside the criminal mind, inside the execution chamber, and inside the heart of a remarkable man who shares his thoughts and observations not only about capital punishment, but about the dark world of prison society.

©2009 Carroll Pickett and Carlton Stowers (P)2017 David N. Wilson

Emotional & Eye Opening

This book was recommended by a coworker who happens to be related to Rev. Pickett. I went in with no expectations and I now leave this audiobook knowing that I will listen again and again. The raw emotions and heart wrenching insight draws you in and keeps you engaged until the very last spoken word. This man showed great bravery in his dedication to his work. What an extremely difficult topic to not only write about, but to live in the midst of for such a long portion of one’s life. The narrator, Tom Pile, did a great job here. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone that has a steady enough emotional capacity to hear the stories Rev. Pickett has to share.

Humbly Political

I really liked this book; until we came to the end. Pickett moves from telling us accounts and letting us draw our own conclusions from traveling beside him, to heavy handed advocacy. You know going into a book like this that he's against the death penalty. The strong tone the end of the book takes is not in line with the humble, sweet, pastoral tone of the rest of the book. I was deeply moved by Rev. Pickett's account.

Incredibly moving

This book is difficult to get through, very emotionally intense at times, but so worth it. The author seems to truly care for the prisoners he worked with, a population that receives very little empathy but who are highly marginalized. Loved it!!

Great book of a pastor during condemned men

This book captivated me from the beginning to the end. Reverend Pickett thanks for writing a book of your support of those being executed on Texas' death row. Your work and care of the men you took care of until their executions was heart felt. God bless you in your retirement. Job well done.

Nicely written!

I enjoyed the personal insight and am thankful he took to time to publicly stand against capital punishment. Regardless of what any person commits being killed by a State or Government is wrong. We must, no matter how difficult find a way to forgive everyone. Jesus clearly states that if we do not then his Father will not forgive us of our own sins when we stand before him in judgment one day. I pray someday more senseless killing will stop across this country.