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The Innocent Man

Murder and Injustice in a Small Town
cameralover53
Feb 03, 2013cameralover53 rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
I have read several Grisham novels, and this is the first one I have had difficulty maintaining my focus and interest...it's not the story itself, it's the absence of dialogue and the style in which it was written. There are so many characters, numerous facts and details and sudden switches to different characters and scenarios. I didn't realize this was a non-fiction book, let alone that it is Grisham's first attempt at non-fiction. That explains the difference in writing style. I sympathize with the main character, Ron Williamson, who is diagnosed with manic depression. Although talented and intelligent, his drug and alcohol use becomes out of control, making his manic and depressive mood swings even worse. His lack of insight into his illness is so typical with people who are diagnosed with this illness. Sadly, since he does not continue to take his medication he has one struggle after another which results in very poor quality of life. Too bad the police seem to lack any insight and understanding of mental illness. They are bent on finding a scapegoat for the rape/murder in their town, they make the evidence (lack of) point to an innocent man. Just another example of how indigent, mentally ill people fall through the cracks in our society, and end up being used and abused, pawns in the games played by witless police officers. Not one of his best books, but now that I am aware that it is NF, I can understand the non typical Grisham style. The story is so sad, but not surprising to me. It makes the reader take a good hard look at the danger of the death penalty, or at least it should.