Pacey, thrilling and gut-turning - Rated 
As the innocent man was my first Grisham book i started it with an open mind and no experience of the JG format. But apart from the text on the cover about the tale being true this is a pure genious work of fiction. Thick with detailed characters, twists and plots. It's impossible to put down you can't stop turning the pages. The book is brilliantly researched and crafted together and every detail is covered. In some ways this book is too sick and twisted (and unbelivable)for a novel ,The Innocent Manand you can't quite believe what your reading. But i will say that the very end (last 40) pages are tame (but the previous 40 make up for it)-but the whole story must be told so there is nothing Grisham can do to change the end. This book though has made me read all of Grishams fiction, and i have and will continue to ADVICE THIS BOOK TO ANYONE.
an absorbing read - Rated 
I read this book on holiday. It is not always in the style on a typical Grisham novel. It is all based on his research into a difficult story to tell. It is an excellent book, I could not put it down. The story is emotional, draining, chilling and absorbing. I feel that Grisham blows open the debate about the US legal and prison system. Grishams writing technique is precise, yet sympathetic to the families.
A compelling read which uncovers corrruption in the "land of the free". - Rated
This true story brings us into the world of small town USA and how people in positions of authority can conspire to steal the rights of their citizens, in a country I have so much respect for.
It begs the question, should so much power and responsibility be given to
people within their own community, without checks and balances being audited by the State.
Grisham has excelled on this book and "The Dreams of Ada", should be read too.
Compulsive reading - Rated
I was recommended this book by a lawyer friend and read it in one sitting. Like a previous reviewer, I couldn't believe this kind of injustice happened so recently. I had no problems with the writing style, found it easy to read. I had to keep reminding myself this was fact not fiction. Scary stuff.
Disturbing - Rated
I'm not a big John Grisham fan - I find his novels fairly predictable - and picked this up because it is non-fiction. It made for disturbing reading.
Following the police case of the rape and murder of a young woman called Debbie Carter, Grisham reveals how two innocent men, one of whom had mental health problems, were convicted on the flimsiest of evidence.
It is a very American book - I would have liked to an explanation of some of the legal jargon and also baseball terms (one of the accused was a former baseball player) used in the book. It also only scratches the surface in some respects. At the end, in the author's notes, Grisham states that he had enough information to make the book much longer than it is and I think that shows through in that some of the sections have been edited to the bone.
If I could have given it 3.5 stars I would have done but it deserves rounding up rather than down.
However, it is an interesting read and if you like true crime give it a go.
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