A Book A Week

How do you find your next read? Over the years, I've developed several ways to discover books, but nothing compares to a recommendation from a trusted fellow reader. Since I first began blogging, John Valeri has been one of my favorite and most reliable book-reviewing friends. He's a prolific reviewer, author, interviewer, and an all-around professional reader. He's also among the nicest people I've met in the book world. So when John contacted me about reviewing Marcia Clark's latest true crime book, Trial by Ambush, I jumped at the chance. Even more compelling was the fact that John had helped Clark, his personal friend, with research for the book. Never one to turn down a recommendation from John, especially for a project he was personally involved in, I eagerly dove in.

Marcia Clark is no stranger to high-profile, controversial murder trials. As the prosecuting attorney in the O.J. Simpson case, she became a household name, and her extensive career in law has provided her with unique insight into the world of crime and justice. In recent years, Clark has shifted gears, finding success as a bestselling author of crime novels. When she decided her next book would be non-fiction, she struggled to find a case that genuinely captured her interest and inspired her to dedicate hours of research. It wasn’t until she stumbled upon a striking photograph of Barbara Graham, a woman on trial for murder in the 1950s, that Clark knew she had found the perfect subject for her book.

Barbara Graham's early years were marred by neglect and hardship. With little support from her parents, she relied on her striking looks and survival instincts, turning to petty crimes just to get by. Her life seemed destined for a downward spiral, and she appeared to have little power to change that trajectory. But things were about to take a dark turn. In 1953, Barbara allegedly became one of three people involved in an attempted robbery that escalated into the murder of a local woman. The media quickly seized on the case, portraying her as a femme fatale—a woman whose beauty masked a ruthless killer. Yet, there was a significant flaw in the narrative. Barbara maintained her innocence, and compelling evidence supported her claims. Despite this, the media sensationalized the story, and a jury, influenced by the prosecution's relentless drive to convict, ignored the facts and rushed to judgment. What followed was a trial riddled with injustice, where the desire for a scandalous conviction overshadowed the truth.

Barbara Graham's story has been explored before, with her enigmatic trial inspiring several books and even a film. What sets Trial by Ambush apart is the perspective Marcia Clark brings to this infamous case. Drawing on her extensive legal experience, Clark uncovers the truth buried in the court transcripts, revealing the trial’s proceedings in a way never seen before. The result is a riveting and infuriating story of injustice. Having already made her mark in crime fiction, Clark proves her skill extends seamlessly into true crime. Trial by Ambush is a gripping, fast-paced read that meticulously exposes the flaws in Barbara Graham’s trial and the crucial evidence that was unjustly concealed.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2024, 91)

Less than a year away from the next United States Presidential Election, Americans are talking about the issues that matter to them and the things that they hope the presidential candidates will speak about. One of those topics is the reform of the criminal justice system. Social movements such as Black Lives Matter have shined a light on the alarming amount of police brutality that takes place in our nation. Many of the presidential candidates have spoken about reducing the severity of punishment for petty crimes and attempting to decrease the number of Americans who are incarcerated. In his new book, Stolen Years: Stories of the Wrongfully Imprisoned, author and New York Post reporter Reuven Fenton delves into another equally important aspect of this conversation.

In the book, Fenton tells the stories of ten individuals who were tried and incarcerated for crimes they did not commit. Through these personal recollections, readers gain insight into the alarming lengths that investigators and prosecutors will go to for a conviction. Many of the people who are featured in this work were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Fenton writes of the grueling interrogation techniques meant to eat away at a person until they confess. Several of the people featured here were fed confessions that they then repeated simply so that they could escape the arduous process.

As I worked my way through each of the short stories, I was shocked to learn how easy it is for a person to slip through the cracks of the justice system. Whether by police oversight of undeniable evidence or an overeager prosecutor willing to spin a narrative so that their version of the events seems the most correct, many people have had large parts of their lives stolen from them. Can you imagine sitting in a confined cell on death row for 15-20 years, all while knowing that you are innocent? The bureaucracy involved in overturning a false conviction can often be even more trying than the events leading up to imprisonment. These personal stories combined with exhaustive research illuminate the absurdity of parts of the system.

There is no denying the importance of police and the criminal justice system. Most of the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect and serve deserve our utmost respect and gratitude. Fenton never approaches these stories with a biased disdain for law enforcement. Rather, he shows how the system is not a flawless entity. These mistakes affect people just like you and I. The ramifications of wrongful convictions linger in their lives long after redemption and release. With this sympathetic, informational, and consistently engaging portrait of injustice, Fenton gives a voice to the men and women whose stories deserve to be part of our important national dialogue.

For more information visit Amazon and GoodReads. This review is part of a blog tour sponsored by TLC Book Tours. Check out the full tour schedule here.

(2015, 34)








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Since Jon Stewart vacated his post as longtime host of The Daily Show earlier this year, the internet has been rampant with articles speculating the famed comedian's next career move. Regardless of your political affiliations, it is safe to say that Stewart's presence is missed amongst the varying voices in the American political discourse. While only Stewart knows for sure what his next move will be, his directorial and screenwriting debut Rosewater may offer one plausible explanation.

The film chronicles the story of Iranian-Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari as he is imprisoned in Iran for his coverage of the country's presidential election. The 2009 election resulted in outrage as reigning president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won a landslide victory over his independent reformist challenger Mir-Hossein Mousavi. Domestic protests soon erupted as many citizens felt that the election results were fraudulent. The government swiftly went into action, banning any media, public demonstrations, or other forms of resistance from being proclaimed.

Maziar Bahari was covering these protests when he witnessed government violence against the peaceful demonstrators. Despite being warned by local contacts against filming any government reactions, Bahari's journalistic instincts moved him to capture the outrageous event. As it did with so many other reporters, the Iranian government soon intervened and imprisoned Bahari. For 115 days, the journalist endured merciless interrogations for simply reporting on the truth.

Jon Stewart trades in his comedic sensibilities for this bare-knuckle look at journalistic injustice. Based upon Bahari's own book about his experiences during his incarceration, Rosewater paints a bleak picture of Iran's treatment of visiting journalists and its corrupt political system. Bahari's story shows the lengths that the country was willing to go to in order to maintain the propaganda of a compassionate and beloved leader. From a political standpoint, Stewart does an excellent job in creating outrage at Bahari's unjustified treatment. Unfortunately, brief glimpses at Bahari's pregnant wife who is waiting desperately for her husband to return to their London home, do little to humanize the situation. This denies the film of ever truly connecting on an emotional level. It ends up coming off as a well-informed but slightly cold news feature. Still, Stewart's penchant for revealing political commentary is well served in this medium and makes Rosewater an important achievement in what hopefully becomes a fruitful filmmaking career.