Judge & Jury

Book Description

Senior FBI agent Nick Pellisante is closing in on the notorious mob boss The Electrician, when the scheduled sting goes spectacularly awry. Two FBI agents are dead, the boss is wounded, and Pellisante vows the Electricians next move will be from a jail cell. Andie Echeverra, a part-time actress and a single, full-time mom, is assigned her next role as Juror #11 in the landmark trial against Mafia Don Dominic Cavello. Everybody is on edge. No one has ever crossed the man whose orders have made entire families disappear. Though Cavellos influence extends across blue uniforms and black robes, the case should be open-and-shut. But the legal system fails with devastating results, and Nick and Andie are the only ones left to seek justice. To stop the Electrician, they must take matters into their own hands. They are the judge and jury now. James Patterson spins an all-out heart-pounding legal thriller that pits two people against the most vicious and powerful mobster since John Gotti.

Customer Reviews:

A different ending than what I thought.........2007-09-15

I never could of imagined the the ending to turn out like that.And no im not giving away the ending,But i dont feel the ending had closure to it.It didnt give the reader a sence of closure.I will give this book a 4 star,it wasnt to bad of a book.It was good clear up untill the end.....Book owl

not bad.......2007-08-12

I am new fan of Patterson, this was a great book! I don't like books that are very scary, like one of the Cross books I read, but this is not like that. Very good story and I enjoyed it very much.

Now what I expected..........2007-07-06

I was very disappointed with Judge & Jury. I like James Patterson books but his writing seems to be getting worse with each book. It mainly seems to be the books that have a "Co-Author" that I find are not written well. And I know that James Patterson can write so much better than this.

So I recently visited the website of Andrew Gross (www.andrewgrossbooks.com), James Patterson's "Co-Author" on Judge & Jury to find out a little more about him. I found a couple interesting bits of information that I thought James Patterson fans might like to know before purchasing another one of his books that have been "Co-Authored". Upon meeting James Patterson, Andrew Gross said that James Patterson had several projects he wanted to write and NOT ENOUGH TIME TO DO THEM. And then Andrew Gross goes on to say that James Patterson comes up with the outline for the book and then passes it on to Andrew Gross. It sounds to me like the only part of James Patterson that is in Judge & Jury (as well as his other "Co-Authored" books, I assume) is that he came up with the story and the outline but the book was written entirely by the "Co-Author". This is definately going to make me think twice about buying another James Patterson book that has "Co-Authors" name on the cover with his. Mr. Patterson, this is a very sad way to let your fans down and lose some along the way. I hope that you go back to writing books on your own.

A Fast-Paced Thriller.......2007-07-04

Judge and Jury is a thriller that starts off and never lets off. This is the story of Nick Pellisante, an FBI agent who has been tracking mob boss Dominic Cavello. At Cavello's niece's wedding, Pellisante arrests Cavello, but loses 2 of his agents.

From here on out, we have a Legal thriller that has you on the edge of your seat the entire time. The one complaint I have about this book was that the final section felt rushed. Maybe it was just me, but this really annoyed me. This was my first Patterson novel. I have read 5 of his novels since then.

Good Read.......2007-06-25

Not Pattersons best, but defintiely worth your time. It takes about 100 pages for the story to really get going, but once it does, its a good thrill ride that is typical Patterson. I would recommend this to any Patterson fan, or fan of suspense novels. Good beach read. Read it in 2 days on the beach.

We, the Jury: Deciding the Scott Peterson Case

Average customer rating:

Not what I thought
Experiencing the Peterson trial through those who lived it
We The Jury
brilliant
Interesting but not news

We, the Jury: Deciding the Scott Peterson Case
Greg Beratlis , Tom Marino , Mike Belmessieri , Dennis Lear , Richelle Nice , John Guinasso , Julie Zanartu , Frank Swertlow , and Lyndon Stambler
Manufacturer: Phoenix Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Jury | Procedures & Litigation | Law | Subjects | Books

Murder & Mayhem | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

True Crime | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

All Deals | Blowout Books | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Blowout Books | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Inside the Mind of Scott Peterson
Train Wreck: The Life and Death of Anna Nicole Smith
Aruba: The Tragic Untold Story of Natalee Holloway and Corruption in Paradise
A Deadly Game: The Untold Story of the Scott Peterson Investigation
Every Woman's Nightmare: The True Story Of The Fairy-Tale Marriage And Brutal Murder Of Lori Hacking

ASIN: 1597775363

Book Description

In "We, the Jury," the jurors in the Scott Peterson case tell, for the first time, what life was like at the center of this sensational murder trial.

Customer Reviews:

Not what I thought .......2007-09-26

I'm reluctant to write this review, since I just read a bunch of negative reviews which were then bashed in the comments, so I'm going to start with this: I do believe Scott Peterson is GUILTY. I believe the jury got the verdict right. I have read numerous other books about Laci and Scott ... including on which was published BEFORE her body was found.

But I did not like this book. Perhaps it's because I really did think they were going to go more indepth in their deliberations, perhaps because they really didn't mention much of the evidence except in passing. I know I was bored to death when they were describing clothing and looks. Part of me has to wonder after reading this if they didn't vote guilty because Geragos didn't come through on his promise to prove Scott "stone cold innocent". Now I'm sure this isn't the case, but by reading the book I sensed that they were waiting for this proof. I would have liked more information on how they deliberated the evidence.

It is not a horrible book for what it is. But it is NOT a book about deliberating the Peterson case. It's a book about 7 out of 12 people and how the trial affected them and their lives (mostly in negative ways).

Now I hope no one feels the need to bash my review just because I didn't enjoy this book. For someone interested in the case I would recommend Catherine Crier's book. For someone interested in Laci's life and the emotions, I recommend For Laci.

It's just my opinion!

Experiencing the Peterson trial through those who lived it.......2007-09-09

Since I'm still reading the book, I can't give a full and accurate review. The four stars reflects my opinon of the book up to this point. So far so good! If you followed this trial, I would recommed this book to read.

We The Jury.......2007-07-18

It was an interesting book and filled in some of the blank spaces in my view of the trial.

brilliant.......2007-06-10

this was an excellent book,i have read about 5 from this tradegy already, it is very interesting to get a different angle on the story.

Interesting but not news.......2007-06-02

I found this book an interesting read. However, most of the information in the book was information we already knew due to the previous books published on the case and the intense media coverage. There were a few surprises but for the most part the book covers what anyone following the case would have already known.

Theater Tips and Strategies for Jury Trials

Average customer rating:

A Necessary Tool for the Trial Lawyer

Theater Tips and Strategies for Jury Trials
David Ball
Manufacturer: National Institute for Trial Advocacy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Civil Procedure | Procedures & Litigation | Law | Subjects | Books

General | Law | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Professional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

David Ball on Damages: The Essential Update, A Plaintiff's Attorney's Guide for Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Cases
Win Your Case: How to Present, Persuade, and Prevail-Every Place, Every Time
Courtroom Psychology and Trial Advocacy
How to Do Your Own Focus Groups: A Guide for Trial Attorneys
Ladies And Gentlemen Of The Jury: Greatest Closing Arguments In Modern Law

ASIN: 1556817797

Book Description

In this new, third edition of Theater Tips and Strategies for Jury Trials, David Ball updates his methods and approaches to jury persuasion. This practical step-by-step guide helps you navigate the changes that occur in jury trials instead of being blindsided by them.

Based on both research and the experience of lawyers and trial consultants across the country, Theater Tips and Strategies for Jury Trials, Third Edition, presents techniques of the stage and screen you can use to win in the courtroom. Ball tells how to use theater concepts to persuade and motivate jurors. He tells attorneys how to look, talk, and act naturally, and to communicate the truth clearly and memorably, so they gain trust and credibility from judges and jurors.

Ball provides practical guidance for voir dire, openings and closings, testimony, and focus groups. He describes what practitioners can learn from actors about their manner, voice projection, and behavior. He explains how to grab the jury from the beginning--just as a good movie opening captures the audience. He details how to prepare your "cast" of witnesses so they testify clearly, credibly, and memorably. He offers advice on telling the story so that it commands attention and motivates jurors to argue for your side.

Customer Reviews:

A Necessary Tool for the Trial Lawyer.......2003-10-15

Professor Ball uses his special skill in Theater Arts and perceptions of jury reaction to instruct the advocate in trial techniques.
I often refer to this book in CLE presentations along with Wellman's work on Cross Examination.

How to Do Your Own Focus Groups: A Guide for Trial Attorneys

Average customer rating:

DIDN'T SEND ME THE CD THAT WAS PART OF THE BOOK

How to Do Your Own Focus Groups: A Guide for Trial Attorneys
David Ball
Manufacturer: Natl Inst for Trial Advocacy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Law | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

David Ball on Damages: The Essential Update, A Plaintiff's Attorney's Guide for Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Cases
Theater Tips and Strategies for Jury Trials
Rules of the Road: A Plaintiff Lawyer's Guide to Proving Liability
Win Your Case: How to Present, Persuade, and Prevail-Every Place, Every Time
Legal Blame: How Jurors Think and Talk About Accidents (Law & Public Policy - Psychology & the Social Sciences)

ASIN: 1556816952

Book Description

How to Do Your Own Focus Groups, is an easy-to-follow book. Written by leading jury consultant and best-selling trial advocacy author David Ball, it shows you how to organize and direct your own focus group from deciding what kind of focus group best fits your case to selecting the focus-jurors, to analyzing your conclusions. The book is designed so that attorneys can easily start conducting their own focus groups or find trial consultants for hire to run them. The book comes with a CD-ROM that includes sample schedules, letters, forms and questionnaires that you can easily import to your own word processing program and adapt to your focus group.

Customer Reviews:

DIDN'T SEND ME THE CD THAT WAS PART OF THE BOOK.......2007-09-10

I bought this book for $65.00 and it was supposed to come with the CD which has all the documents for the focus group. I got jipped. Did not get it, just got the paperback book.

Average customer rating:

Formulaic, predictable and ridiculous
No talent chimp could do better
MY FAVORITE PATTERSON BOOK SO FAR

Judge & Jury
James Patterson , and Andrew Gross
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Psychological & Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Cross
Step on a Crack
The 5th Horseman (Women's Murder Club)
Lifeguard
Beach Road

ASIN: B000JSDPP0

Customer Reviews:

Formulaic, predictable and ridiculous.......2007-05-25

This is a pretty bad thriller, it is formulaic, predictable and ridiculous. The characters are one dimensional and totally unoriginal. Although there were a few entertaining sequences, the book is not worth buying as there are far far better examples of the genre out there.

No talent chimp could do better.......2007-01-30

As an editor, I read a lot and this book is the worst item I've read in the last several years. How am I to get my precious four hours of time back? I want my $29 back and a promise from Patterson to find another job. If this is thought to be 'good writing' then we are doomed.

MY FAVORITE PATTERSON BOOK SO FAR.......2006-12-26

I just finished reading this book. This is my third James Patterson book. I love this one as well as Four Blind Mice and the 3rd Degree. I loved the story and the characters are intriguing. You could really get into one of these books and cannot put it down. You could spend the hours reading these great books. His books are easy to follow and are real page turners. This one is my favorite so far. I can't wait to start reading more of this man's books. ANOTHER GREAT READ BY MR PATTERSON.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury: Greatest Closing Arguments in Modern Law

Average customer rating:

Celebrity cases, mostly of the left - certainly not the "greatest."
If your idealism is waning, this book will help you find it!
A worthwhile read for a trial attorney
Legal History
Spellbinding

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury: Greatest Closing Arguments in Modern Law
Michael S Lief , H. Mitchell Caldwell , and Ben Bycel
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Civil Procedure | Procedures & Litigation | Law | Subjects | Books

Courts | Procedures & Litigation | Law | Subjects | Books

Jury | Procedures & Litigation | Law | Subjects | Books

Trial Practice | Procedures & Litigation | Law | Subjects | Books

General | Law | Subjects | Books

General | Law Practice | Law | Subjects | Books

Legal History | Perspectives on Law | Law | Subjects | Books

Rhetoric | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Law | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Trial Lawyers: The Nation's Top Litigators Tell How They Win
The Art of Cross-Examination
The Devil's Advocates: Greatest Closing Arguments in Criminal Law
Win Your Case: How to Present, Persuade, and Prevail-Every Place, Every Time
Theater Tips and Strategies for Jury Trials

ASIN: 0684836610

Amazon.com

Anyone who's ever watched Perry Mason knows that the closing argument is a very important part of a big legal case. The closing argument is the "game point" of law, the time when lawyers pull out all the stops on the cajoling and the litigating. Michael S. Lief and his coauthors have collected the closing arguments from 10 noteworthy cases in this volume, introducing each speech with background information on the trial and commentary on the lawyer's technique. In these pages, readers get front-row seats to some of the most riveting trials in this century, including the Charles Manson murder trial, Karen Silkwood's wrongful-death suit, and the trial of the Chicago Seven.

Because the authors chose to include all the courtroom interruptions in the transcript, the Manson summation makes for especially lively reading. Manson and his codefendants repeatedly spoke out of turn during prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi's statement, saying things like "You are going to be eaten up by your own lie" and "Even if I have never been in the Gotham Bank!" Bugliosi's speech is among the most eloquent in the collection, which is why it is so stunning when one of the defendants provokes him so much that he loses his cool and calls her a name that rhymes with rich.

Although the title promises the "greatest closing arguments in modern law," some of the speeches seem to have been chosen because they were connected to important cases rather than because of their own rhetorical merits. However, the cases themselves are interesting, and these transcripts bring them to life better than any summary would. This collection should be of interest to anyone in the legal profession. --Jill Marquis

Book Description

Clarence Darrow saves Leopold and Loeb from the gallows in the Roaring Twenties. Gerry Spence takes on the nuclear power industry for the death of Karen Silkwood in a modern-day David and Goliath struggle. Vincent Bugliosi squares off against the madness of Charles Manson and his murderous "family" in the aftermath of their bloody spree. Clara Foltz, the first woman to practice law in California, argues passionately to an all-male jury, defending her place in the courtroom. Bobby DeLaughter brings the killer of civil-rights leader Medgar Evers to justice after thirty years and two mistrials. Aubrey Daniel brings Lt. William Calley, Jr., to justice for the My Lai massacre. William Kunstler challenges the establishment after the '68 Chicago riots in his defense of yippie leaders known as the Chicago Seven.

Each closing argument is put into context by the authors, who provide historical background, a brief biography of each attorney, and commentary, pointing out the trial tactics used to great effect by the lawyers, all in language that is jargon-free for the benefit of the lay reader.

Download Description

Until now, only the twelve jurors who sat in judgment were able to appreciate these virtuoso performances, where weeks of testimony were boiled down and presented with flair, wit, and high drama. For five years the authors researched every archive from those of the L.A. Times to the dusty stacks of the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and readers can now lose themselves in the summations of America's finest litigators. Clarence Darrow saves Leopold and Loeb from the gallows in the Roaring Twenties. Gerry Spence takes on the nuclear power industry for the death of Karen Silkwood in a modern-day David and Goliath struggle. Vincent Bugliosi squares off against the madness of Charles Manson and his murderous "family" in the aftermath of their bloody spree. Clara Foltz, the first woman to practice law in California, argues passionately to an all-male jury, defending her place in the courtroom. Bobby DeLaughter brings the killer of civil-rights leader Medgar Evers to justice after thirty years and two mistrials. Aubrey Daniel brings Lt. William Calley, Jr., to justice for the My Lai massacre. William Kunstler challenges the establishment after the '68 Chicago riots in his defense of yippie leaders known as the Chicago Seven. Each closing argument is put into context by the authors, who provide historical background, a brief biography of each attorney, and commentary, pointing out the trial tactics used to great effect by the lawyers, all in language that is jargon-free for the benefit of the lay reader.

Customer Reviews:

Celebrity cases, mostly of the left - certainly not the "greatest.".......2006-06-10

The authors claim that these "greatest closing arguments in modern law" were chosen for the "quality of [their] summation, as well as for [their] historical significance." The immediate question is who is judging the quality of the summation and, more importantly, their historical significance?

The view here is obviously that left-wing causes have the most historical significance, though some cases, such as Nuremburg, are politically neutral. Clarence Darrow's summation in behalf of two young men who brutally murdered another is an argument against the death penalty. Many would consider the resulting verdict an injustice, compounded by early release of one of the murderers. Also, the fact that the case was argued in a Cook County, Illinois courtroom, one of the most corrupt jurisdictions in the nation, casts the power of this closing argument into doubt since the parents of the murderers were wealthy and in Cook County, money has always spoken loudly even when passed in silence from one hand to another.

Gerry Spence is without a doubt one of the most eloquent and effective litigators in the nation. But the science his Silkwood argument rests upon is, to some, suspect as were the alleged facts.

The closing arguments are presented with a wrapping of context, though it is a bit on the light side. With that in mind, the closing defense argument in the John DeLorean case is truly great, cataloging a series of government misdeeds. But the reader searching for political balance may be troubled by equally meritorious closing arguments in the Rosenberg and Alger Hiss cases.

Vincent Bugliosi's closing in the case against Manson and his followers is competent, but isn't great. It is a narrative that virtually any competent prosecutor could have put together. The Manson case involved celebrities, but otherwise wasn't much different than many murder cases of the same nature: groups of people motivated to murder. Johnny Cochran's closing in the O. J. Simpson case was far more powerful, in my opinion, far outclassing Bugliosi in persuasiveness.

The inclusion of Robert Jackson's closing at Nuremberg is puzzling. It was not an American trial. The guilt of the accused was beyond doubt, though law underpinning the tribunal was not. From the commentary, I derived the feeling that the authors were trying to rescue Jackson's reputation from his disastrous cross examination of Hermann Goering.

William Kunstler, in the opinion of many, was a living insult to the practice of law. The authors describe his closing in the Chicago Seven case as a "four-part clinic in how to excel in persuasive argument." Others might see it and Kunstler's behavior in a circus presentation of how to flout the law. All of Kunstler's clients were convicted: so much for the persuasiveness of his argument. The convictions were overturned owing to the trial judge's behavior. Again, this was in Cook County, Illinois where for many years both the state and federal judiciaries were of abysmal quality, products for the most part of the Democratic political machine. (Many of the "murderers" convicted under the current Chicago Mayor, Richard M. Daley, had their convictions overturned because DNA testing became available. At least one Cook County judge accepted bribes to free a murderer. Great place.)

The authors note that it is probably "terribly presumptuous" of them to choose the ten greatest arguments - and they are correct. They admit to choosing only "noteworthy" trials . . . and it is there that they blinded themselves to a far wider range of great closing arguments.

All the arguments are interesting and all the lawyers who made them were clearly eloquent, so more so than others. But to call these ten the greatest in modern law? I think not.

Jerry

If your idealism is waning, this book will help you find it!.......2005-02-16

After years of arguing caseslaw, motions, picking juries, interviewing witnesses, going through all the day to day protocol that trial work demands, one may forget at times how important is the job of a lawyer. But this book reminds the practioner that he/she is a part of a wonderful system of justice. Not many cases will go down as "The Greatest" but to your clients, it is often the defining moment of their lives. And this book helps you reconnect to the reasons why you sought a lifetime devoted to the noblest of professions.
Reading about the great lawyers of in our history is humbling and worthwhile. Reflection is helpful as you try to regain a little lost idealism. And if you are a new lawyer and have all of you ideals from law school still in tact, reading this book will help you realize how important it is to never lose them. Great book for lawyers and non-lawyers alike.

A worthwhile read for a trial attorney.......2004-08-20

If only for Spence's closing in the Silkwood case, this book is worth every penny. A real thing of subtle and effective beauty, that closing contains so many incredible and useful techniques, it's just plain stunning. The subtle allignment of Spence to the jurors in groups in which Spence and the jurors can work together are wonderful and powerful -- Spence places himself and the jurors by turns in a self built retirement community, and in the class of local state citizens all the while emphasizing that the cause of the need for retirement and the genesis of Spence's new found home state membership is the defense's prolongation of trial -- wonderful. The rhyming "if the lion gets away, Kerr McGee must pay" is hard-to-forget and masterfully so. The analysis that proceeds each transcript is useful and informative. Buy it if you can.

Legal History.......2001-02-19

Describing or reading a speech is like describing color. I guess you can do it, but nothing is the same as being there and listening and experience a great speech. There is a poetry to the delivery which is missing from a dry read. Yet, if you want to read some of the great closes from the past, this is a good place to start.

This books picks 10 closing arguements which the authors state are the greatest of history. Whenever you have such a book, of course, people will differ on which closes should be included. By necessity, for mass appeal, oftentimes "famous" speeches, which may not be so great will be included while less famous speeches, which were much better, will not be the cut. I thought the ones chosen, overall, were very good.

Personally I liked the ones I read. My favorite was Clarance Darrow's close in the Leopald and Loeb case. It was great because it was effective. Everyone in this case knew they were guilty and wanted them to die. How did Clarence Darrow change the judges mind? It was in his words and his delivery. This was an effective speech.

There are others here which I also found very good. We hear the closing speech from the Nuremberg trials (which I would not have included because I think the win was almost preordained), the close in the Karen Silkwood civil case, the DeLorean defense close and six others. This is a good book and a good read. I would recommend it most to history fans, but I think some of the general public would also enjoy it.

Spellbinding.......2000-12-30

Ladies and Gentlemen... kills two birds with one stone by providing an eduactional and intruiging experience. You will hit your curiousity spot by learning what the landmark trials of the United States were all about, and you will also get locked into some of the most persuasive literature I have ever seen.

While those who are interested in the legal field are virtually guaranteed to be interested in reading Ladies and Gentlemen..., you don't need to be anything close to a lawyer to appreciate this. This anthology of closing arguments teaches the reader how to connect/communicate with others. After reading a series of closing arguments, I learned different strategies to use to relate to a group of people to get my point across (in this case, a jury). This book is great to any businessman, negotiator, or even those who want to improve their basic social, everyday, oral skills.

I just bought this book for ten of my friends for the past holiday season, and I got star reports from all of them. I recommend this innovative book to all types of readers.

Book Description

This collection of ten essays commemorates the 50th anniversary of an important but almost forgotten U.S. Supreme court case, Hernández v. Texas, 347 US 475 (1954), the major case involving Mexican Americans and jury selection, published just before Brown v. Board of Education in the 1954 Supreme Court reporter.

This landmark case, the first to be tried by Mexican American lawyers before the U.S. Supreme Court, held that Mexican Americans were a discrete group for purposes of applying Equal Protection. Although the case was about discriminatory state jury selection and trial practices, it has been cited for many other civil rights precedents in the intervening 50 years. Even so, it has not been given the prominence it deserves, in part because it lives in the shadow of the more compelling Brown v. Board case.

There had been earlier efforts to diversify juries, reaching back at least to the trial of Gregorio Cortez in 1901 and continuing with efforts by the legendary Oscar Zeta Acosta in Los Angeles in the 1960s. Even as recently as 2005 there has been clear evidence that Latino participation in the Texas jury system is still substantially unrepresentative of the growing population. But in a brief and shining moment in 1954, Mexican-American lawyers prevailed in a system that accorded their community no legal status and no respect. Through sheer tenacity, brilliance, and some luck, they showed that it is possible to tilt against windmills and slay the dragon.

Edited and with an introduction by University of Houston law scholar Michael A. Olivas, Colored Men and Hombres Aquí is the first full-length book on this case. This volume contains the papers presented at the Hernández at 50 conference which took place in 2004 at the University of Houston Law Center and also contains source materials, trial briefs, and a chronology of the case.

Presumed Guilty: What the Jury Never Knew About Laci Peterson's Murder and Why Scott Peterson Should Not Be on Death Row
Average customer rating:

Biased opinion

Interesting...BUT

Our FRIGHTENING justice system

Though not particularily well written, the information presented is interesting...

Ignores the obvious

Presumed Guilty: What the Jury Never Knew About Laci Peterson's Murder and Why Scott Peterson Should Not Be on Death Row
Matt Dalton , and Bonnie Hearn Hill
Manufacturer: Atria
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Murder & Mayhem | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
True Crime | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

For Laci: A Mother's Story of Love, Loss, and Justice

Inside the Mind of Scott Peterson

We, the Jury: Deciding the Scott Peterson Case

A Deadly Game: The Untold Story of the Scott Peterson Investigation

Blood Brother: 33 Reasons My Brother Scott Peterson Is Guilty

ASIN: 0743286952

Book Description

No one knows the story behind the sensational headlines of the Scott Peterson murder trial better than defense attorney Matt Dalton. For six straight months after Peterson's arrest, Dalton was the defense's only full-time investigative attorney on the case. During that time, he lived in Modesto and investigated every element of the case, interviewing scores of witnesses, reviewing more than 35,000 pages of police documents, and meeting almost daily with Scott Peterson in jail.

What he has uncovered will astound even the most informed observers of the Laci Peterson murder case and challenge the most deeply held beliefs about what really happened to Laci Peterson on Christmas Eve, 2002.

This is the first book to go inside the Peterson defense team, and the only book to detail all the evidence that the jury did not hear -- evidence that might have led to Scott Peterson's acquittal, and that will surely play a crucial part in his pending appeals.

Among the revelations in Presumed Guilty:

Reports from numerous witnesses who saw Laci Peterson alive and well the morning of December 24, after the police claim Scott Peterson had already killed her; none of them testified at trial

The story of another woman, eight months pregnant, who was harassed by two men the morning of December 24 only five blocks from the Peterson home

The burglary that reportedly occurred directly across the street from the Peterson home on the morning of December 24, and the confessed burglars' questionable claims that the burglary happened days later

Previously unreported details of the autopsy reports on Laci Peterson and her son, which cast strong doubts on key elements of the prosecution's case

The disappearances of six pregnant women, in addition to Laci, reported missing and presumed dead within eighty miles of Modesto between 1999 and 2002

Compelling, provocative, disturbing, Presumed Guilty is the fascinating story of one lawyer's relentless efforts to find the truth behind one of the most complex and notorious murder cases in American history.

Customer Reviews:

Biased opinion.......2007-10-07

I got a copy of this book at my local Dollar Tree for $1. That said, it was worth the price.

The author is certainly biased in his account about the defense's evidence that was suppressed in the Peterson trial. What about the suppression of evidence from the prosecution? There are ALOT of defense leads (satanic cult, screaming from the bathroom, witnesses that saw Laci) that were not followed up on. WHY? Did the Modesto police really want a repeat of the Chandra Levy case on their hands? If these leads were so good, why didn't the Modesto police follow up? Or did they? Since they didn't/couldn't convict Condit in the Levi case, you expect me to believe they wanted to prosecute Peterson in the worst way?

It seems to me that this attorney wasn't tenacious enough with his leads. The book insinuates that the Modesto police didn't follow leads, and the author didn't get along with Gerogos. BFD. The author was cut off from the case after 6 months. Why is that? If he was any good, they would have kept him on.

Very very one sided look at this trial.

Interesting...BUT.......2007-02-15

Not very convincing. It is very hard to buy the fact that an innocent Scott Peterson would have allowed his defense to ignore so many facts, if indeed they are facts; i.e. the 6 eyewitnesses, the scream, the brown van, the other pregnant women who vanished...
This book is mainly about accusing the Modesto police of misconduct. If the allegations here ARE true-then of course, it is horrifying and scary, as any one of us could be convicted if we have the misfortune of losing a spouse to murder...
Also, if true, I have to trust the Supreme Court will ultimately grant a new trial. But this book does not show any facts that stand out-why aren't those witnesses available and screaming aloud still?

Our FRIGHTENING justice system.......2007-02-12

I'm not sure I like the writing style of the author, but overall it's a good book. I gave it 4 stars because I'm so grateful that Matt Dalton wrote it. Our justice system is frightening when someone is tried and convicted in the media long before he was even arrested. It's frightening how credible leads were ignored. It's frightening that Scott was convicted and put on death row with no evidence. This book goes into all of that.

In my personal opinion, the trial was a joke.. Amber Fry and her mistress press conference as the "motive" who offered nothing as far Scott being guilty of murder.. the Rocha family and their news conferences implicating Scott long before he was arrested. I think it all contributed to Scott being convicted in the media long before his arrest, and I think it contributed to ignoring the credible leads and evidence discussed in Matt Dalton's book.

5 stars to Matt Dalton for writing this book.

Though not particularily well written, the information presented is interesting..........2007-01-18

...as well as interesting to see some of the thought processes (or lack thereof) of the defense team. Although I doubt any of the information presented here would change anyone's mind....I've found there's not a lot of 'free thinking' allowed in regards to this case. I still wish someone would write a book providing insight on why the public latched onto the case, and so vehemently believe in Peterson's guilt and hate him with such venom, as if they were 'attached' to the victims in some way.

The thoughts and ideas Dalton brings out, are some of the same ones I had during the investigation and trial. There are still many things the defense did, or didn't do, that baffles me. Chief among this is why they didn't attack the timeframe of the robbery? Dalton seems perplexed as well.

I didn't particularily believe the 'devil worshiper' theory, but after reading the book, I wonder why, if it's that prevelant in the Modesto area, it wasn't looked in to further.

As for the negative reveiws here....I think it's more of the emotion I mentioned above. Very few 'observers' seem to be able to think rationally about this case. IE - anything the defense says bad, anything the prosecution says good...same with the families.

It would be interesting to learn how this case is progressing through the appeals process.

Ignores the obvious.......2007-01-05

This book ignore the obvious question that should come to mind:
if indeed, there was evidence that would have exonerated Scott Peterson or at least have shed reasonable doubt on the prosecution's case, why did his legal defense team not present it in court? Where were those witnesses, where was the evidence?
Unlike some other defendants on death row, Scott was not represented by an incompetent, inexperienced and/or overworked public defender. His legal defense team was the best that money could buy: a renowned criminal defense lawyer (Mark Geragos) backed up by a team of top-notch attorneys, investigators, paralegals, etc etc.

Dread Champion (Chelsea Adams Series #2)

Average customer rating:

Hard to put down
WONDERFUL read!

Dread Champion (Chelsea Adams Series #2)
Brandilyn Collins
Manufacturer: Zondervan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Action & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Mystery | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Eyes of Elisha (Chelsea Adams Series #1)
Dead of Night (Hidden Faces Series #3)
Stain of Guilt (Hidden Faces Series #1)
Web of Lies (Hidden Faces Series #4)
Brink of Death (Hidden Faces Series #2)

ASIN: 0310238277

Book Description

Chelsea Adams has visions. But they have no place in a courtroom.

As a juror for a murder trial, Chelsea must rely only on the evidence. And this
circumstantial evidence is strong—Darren Welk killed his wife.

Or did he?

The trial is a nightmare for Chelsea. The other jurors belittle her Christian faith. As testimony unfolds, truth and secrets blur. Chelsea’s visiting niece stumbles into peril surrounding the case, and Chelsea cannot protect her. God sends visions—frightening, vivid. But what do they mean? Even as Chelsea finds out, what can she do? She is helpless, and danger is closing in. . . .

Masterfully crafted, Dread Champion is a novel in which appearances can deceive
and the unknown can transform the meaning of known facts. One man’s guilt or
innocence is just a single link in a chain of hidden evil . . . and God uses the
unlikeliest of people to accomplish his purposes.

Customer Reviews:

Hard to put down.......2006-02-27

Dread Champion is the sequel to Brandilyn Collins' book, Eyes of Elisha. While I enjoyed Eyes of Elisha, the plot didn't hold as many surprises as I would have liked. I'm very glad I kept reading. Dread Champion far exceeded my greatest expectations. The many threads of plot were tied together flawlessly and kept me guessing until the very end.

The heroine of the series is Chelsea Adams; wife, mother, and visionary--literally. Chelsea is a woman who sees visions from God. In Dread Champion, Chelsea is chosen to be on the jury of a well-publicized murder trial. Darren Welk, the "Salad King" of Salinas County, has been charged with the murder of his wife. Chelsea is sure she will be excused from the jury pool. After all, what lawyers in their right minds would pick her to be a part of a jury? Her visions of a young girl's murder in Trent Park had put her in the headlines just a year before. So she is stunned when she is accepted to be the second alternate juror. But, as the title Dread Champion (taken from Jeremiah 20:11) implies, God will accomplish His own purposes and choose to use whomever He will.

As fellow jurors give her the cold shoulder because of their knowledge of her visions; her visiting niece Kerra becomes involved with the son of the defendant; and God gives her a new, terrifying vision; Chelsea fights to pray and trust that God has placed her where He has for a reason.

God's work in each character's life in this story is as unique as the fingerprints He gives us. That, along with a tightly woven storyline, made this a book that was very hard to put down.

WONDERFUL read!.......2004-04-29

Once again, Brandilyn Collins has the perfect mix of suspense, drama, romance, and spirituality without preaching! I loved the characters, the believable storyline and was sitting on the edge of my seat at the end! Highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great read! I couldn't put it down! For more of my reviews, visit my website at www.robinmillerbooks.com

Questions & Answers: Civil Procedure (Multiple Choice and Short Answers Questions and Answers, First Edition Reprint)

Average customer rating:

Questions & Answers: Civil Procedure (Multiple Choice and Short Answers Questions and Answers, First Edition Reprint)
William V. Dorsaneo III , and Elizabeth G. Thornburg
Manufacturer: LexisNexis
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Similar Items:

Questions & Answers: Torts
Questions and Answers: Contracts (Multiple Choice and Short Answer Questions and Answers, Revised First Edition)
Questions & Answers: Property (Multiple Choice and Short Answer Questions and Answers, Revised First Edition)
Questions & Answers: Criminal Law: Multiple Choice and Short Answer Questions and Answers
Questions & Answers: Constitutional Law: Multiple Choice and Short Answer Questions and Answers

ASIN: 082056186X

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books