Pete Earley

A fascinating history of the witness protection program. I learned a lot, and I now have mixed feelings about the program. I didn't realize so many of the protected witnesses (around 90%) were hardcore criminals themselves, or the ridiculous and expensive demands that government officials were willing to give in to. For instance, taxpayer funds have been used to provide various breast and penis implants. Yes, really. The government has bought businesses for some, and one witness received the equivalent of a six-figure salary for ten years straight - and this was 40-50 years ago!

Unfortunately, there is profanity, including God's name used as a curse word; some crude, sexual humor; and blunt depictions of violent acts.… (mere)

This was well-researched, well-written book about a man (Silverstien) in the prison system. He seemed doomed from the start with a rough upbringing (with an abusive mother and mostly absent father) and then apparently being falsely accused of murder. He argues (quite believably) that his tough behavior in prison was to try to maintain his safety. It is either kill or be killed. But it is hard to sympathize with a man who stabs someone in the chest 67 times.

The book reveals a horrific and terrifying prison culture. One of the most interesting elements of it was the strict moral code of the criminals. Snitching is a big no-no. But murder apparently is totally acceptable. It was tough read that provided a lot to think about, including the role of prisons – punishment vs rehabilitation? Can people be rehabilitated? Can we trust a murderer won’t murder again? And how much is society to blame for people turning to crime? In the case of Silverstien, no one saved him from a childhood of abuse, so is it any wonder he turned out to be so violent himself? And what of prisoners’ rights vs safety (of themselves, the other inmates & the guards). As we hear mostly from Silverstien’s perspective, the guards are seen as somewhat heartless. So, I would have liked to get a bit more from their perspective, having to work with murderers. I was also intrigued by the incomprehensible women on the outside who become pen pals for the purpose of being romantically involved with convicts. In another book perhaps…
I won a free copy of this book (thanks to the author & publisher!) and am voluntarily providing an honest review.… (mere)

Not for the squeamish, this story is about a teenager who suffers a traumatic brain injury and develops mood swings and intense anger as a result of the accident. He also develops an affinity for the minds of serial killers, writing to them in jail and trying to find out if they are like him. Filled with gory details, such as the man who made sandwiches out of his victims, this book will shock you. I"m not that easily shocked, so really, the only thing that filled me with wonder was the entire family, sitting around the table, opening and reading these letters from prison. Totally not "The Wonderful World Of Disney".

As for "unlocking" the secrets of the murderers, I'm not sure how much of that really was done. The killers told many stories, and there may have been a body or two dug up, but we find out just what we had really known all along; these men and women are sociopaths, incapable of feeling remorse, and evil to the core. That's no secret.… (mere)

Circumstantial Evidence: Death, Life, and Justice in a Southern Town Book was written by Pete Earley, way back in 1995 before the 2020 protests. Apparently, it was written in the "early days of eBooks" and the editing is atrocious. There are extra spaces throughout and some noticeable misspellings. However, the book was well-researched and presents a balanced view of the murder mysteries. The other book that discusses the case is by Bryan Stevenson, the actual lawyer in the case, and is titled Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption.… (mere)