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Final Verdict
Shadows of War
Empire of Ashes
Drop Dead Gorgeous
The Man with a Load of Mischief (Richard Jury Novels)
Flint's Law
Into the Fire
Afterlife
Sister Noon
Acid Row
Walking on Water
Cerulean Sins (Anita Blake Vampire Hunter (Paperback))
Blindside
Every Step You Take
The Devil's Finger
Blowout
Code to Zero
Good News, Bad News
The Keeper
The Killing Game
Dream Country
Diplomatic Immunity
Lady Justice
Odd Thomas
Darkening, The

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20 yrs not enough
Interesting book on Albert Speer
How Much Did He Really Know?
"Good" Nazi or smooth operator? The reader decides
Verdict, He Understood and Did Nothing

Speer: The Final Verdict
Joachim Fest
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Face of the Third Reich: Portraits of the Nazi Leadership
Inside the Third Reich
Albert Speer: His Battle with Truth
Hitler
Inside Hitler's Bunker: The Last Days of the Third Reich

ASIN: 0156028743

Book Description

Albert Speer was an unemployed architect when Hitler came to power in 1933. Soon he was designing the Third Reich's most important buildings. In 1942 Hitler appointed him Armaments Minister and he quadrupled production, an astonishing achievement that kept the German Army in the field and prolonged the war.
Yet Speer's life was full of contradictions. The only member of the Nazi elite with whom Hitler developed more than a purely functional relationship (he has even been called "Hitler's unrequited love"), Speer was always an outsider in Hitler's inner circle. He saw himself as an artist, above the crass power struggles of the roughnecks around him. But his enormous ambition blinded him to the crimes in which he played a leading role.
Brilliantly illustrated, this gripping account of one man's rise and fall helps explain how Germany descended so far into crime and barbarism.

Customer Reviews:

20 yrs not enough.......2005-05-15

Speer fooled the Nurenberg tribunal. He admitted guilt and because Jackson, the US prosecuter, did a poor job of knowing the facts and keeping them straight, Speer was able to dodge the hangman. Without the dogged persevereance of the Russian prosecuter, Speer might have walked.
It was puzzling and sad that so many of Speers associates from the Armaments Group felt Speer betraded the leader, Hitler, and Germany. The book presents Speer as a good example of the many German citizens who went over the top for Hitler because they were in a position to personally profit from the period of National Socialism represented by the Nazis. This is an interesting book and the disclosure by Rudolph Wolters in his "Chronicles" indicates Speer was guilty of other crimes that he was never held accountable for. This is the first book I've read about Speer that discloses the existence of the "Chronicle" source kept by Wolters who worked daily with Speer. My hat's off to the author.

Interesting book on Albert Speer.......2004-06-12

I found this book to be one of the more perceptive books I have read on members of Hitler's inner circle. Albert Speer as many of the previous reviewers have already wrote, proves to be a great mystery. However, the author provides some very interesting insights to Speer's rather naive but contradictory asute behavior during the time he serves for Hitler.

The book proves to be very readable and easy to get into. Its provides a very informative picture of Albert Speer without overwhelming you with mindless details and gives a clear idea what kind of man Speer was, before, during and after the Third Reich.

Its interesting that of all the individuals of Hitler's inner circle, Speer was intellectually, culturally and morally above the rest but Fest make it understood that Speer had some sort of psychological blinder on and spent much of his post-World War life with that blinder still partially on. From what Fest wrote, it seem that Speer suffered from some sort of a self-imposed martyrdom at Nuremberg.

Interesting book and well worth the effort to read, I thought I knew Speer a bit better now then before.

How Much Did He Really Know?.......2003-05-08

Author Joachim Fest tells us that Albert Speer became fascinated with Adolf Hitler and was flattered that Hitler took a seemingly personal interest in him. Although Speer didn't think of himself as politically involved with Hitler and his cohorts, Hitler, nevertheless, saw Speer as one to build the monuments that would symbolize the Third Reich. While Speer accepts blame for his part in the Nazi regime he hedges in regard to his knowledge of the persecution of the Jews. Speer tried to distance himself from the other Nazi's being tried at Nuremberg, and although Speer expected the death sentence from the Nuremberg trials, he managed to escape with a lengthy prison sentence at Spandau prison. The author tells us about Speer's adjustment to prison life as well as his difficulties in readjusting to civilian life following his prison sentence. Of additional interest is the jealousies involved between the misfits that Hitler brought together in his entourage. The book held my interest even though I don't believe this book did, indeed, provide the reader with the final verdict as the title suggests.

"Good" Nazi or smooth operator? The reader decides.......2003-04-16

Joachim Fest's "Speer: The Final Verdict" is a solid contribution to the Speer catalog. Fest's book is essentially a biography of Speer's time within the National Socialist regime. It is a nice (if somewhat redundant) companion to Speer's pseudo-autobiography "Inside the Third Reich". Whereas Speer's writings in ItTR focus not only on his time in the Nazi regime but also childhood and university years, Fest's book really deals with Speer's rise in the Nazi power structure and his association (often volatile but never strained beyond distinct affection) with Hitler. While the title suggests that the reader will gain some new insight into Speer's complicity and complacency relative to war crimes for which had association, little new is brought to life. Yet, because Fest is looking from outside - he is not writing about himself as Speer has done - the analysis can be taken with a different grain of spice. Fest does not excuse Speer's actions but rather tries to place them in a context that the reader can draw judgment from.

It is clear that Speer is an enigma within the third Reich: 1) he was highly educated (if not successful as an architect before his association with the Nazi's) and cultured - in stark contrast to other power brokers like Rohm and Bormann; 2) while certainly not immune to Hitler's psychological powers Speer did actively disobey (at great personal risk) many of Hitler's orders late in the war - with the major exception of the assassination plot conspirators Speer is essentially alone in this regard, and 3) while he appears to have despised politics he played the intrigue game within the Hitlter Court to perfection and really had few rivals (Bormann being the strongest). Was he the "Good Nazi"? Or is this simply an oxymoron? Either way, Fest's book provides ample information to let the reader decide the historical fate of Albert Speer. With Speer's own writings he attempts to paint a fairly pretty picture of his National Socialist life. Unlike other works that try hard to project conclusions about Speer's culpability and motivations, Fest's work presents facts with little interpretation - that remains the responsibility of the reader.

Verdict, He Understood and Did Nothing.......2003-02-20

Albert Speer the only man in Hitler's entourage whose ambitions were peaceful and constructive, he wished to rebuild Berlin and Nuremberg. Nevertheless, in a political sense, Speer is the real criminal of Nazi Germany, for he, more than any other, represented that fatal philosophy which has made havoc of Germany and nearly shipwrecked the world. Albert Speer with his intelligence diagnosed the nature of the Nazi government and policy, but he did nothing,

Mr. Fest brings this all out well enough and what at times makes for a fantastic read.

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Great legal thriller
The best yet......
Rainy day book
An Amazing Read
One of my favorite authors!

Final Verdict
Sheldon Siegel
Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Criminal Intent
Incriminating Evidence
The Confession
Special Circumstances
In Her Defense

ASIN: 0399150420
Release Date: 2003-08-07

Book Description

Fate throws a curveball at the San Francisco ex-husband-and-wife legal team of Mike Daley and Rosie Fernandez, when Mike picks up the phone and hears the voice of Leon Walker. This is not good news-because Walker was the one who ruined their marriage. Years ago, he and his brother participated in a stickup that left a man dead. Through a series of (some said) questionable maneuvers, Mike got the charges dropped, but he and Rosie fought about it all the time and it finally drove a wedge between them.

Now, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist has been found dead in a dumpster on San Francisco's skid row. The new murder has been pinned on Walker, but he not only tells Mike he is innocent, he says he is a dying man and doesn't want to go to his grave proclaimed a murderer. Dogged investigation, courtroom nimbleness, and a healthy dose of luck usually have helped Mike before, but it looks like it'll take more than that to prevail this time, and his time is running out-both on his client and, just maybe, on his partnership.

Filled with wonderful characters and suspense and more than a touch of humor, Reasonable Doubt is, like the author's first three books, a page-turner.

Customer Reviews:

Great legal thriller.......2007-06-12

First Sentence: Judge Elizabeth McDaniel is glaring at me over the top of her reading glasses.

Attorneys Mike Daley and Rosie Fernandez defended Leon Walker in the past. Although they won their case, it harmed their reputation and their marriage. Now Leon is accused of murdering a Silicon Valley venture capitalist. Leon wants Mike to defend him to clear his name. Leon is dying and doesn't want his daughter to life with the stigma of a murderer as a father. Reluctantly, Mike takes the case. As Mike investigates on his client's behalf, he finds there may have been others who wanted the victim silenced.

Siegel uses his experience as a private practice attorney to write a super series of legal thrillers and this is another great entry into that series. I always learn a lot about process and the legal system but without it ever being preachy or taking me out of the system. There are great, well-developed characters and excellent dialogue, both verbal and internal, and humor. Being that I live in San Francisco (okay, Oakland really), I love following him around the streets and neighborhoods. I enjoyed the way case and story evolved without letting me see where it was going. If you're looking for a fast-paced, page-turning read, I highly recommend it.

The best yet.............2007-06-03

Sheldon Siegel is my favorite author of "lawyer books", and a nice guy, too. One of the best things about his books is the cast of characters, whose lives we get to follow from story to story. By now they seem like old friends. You've heard of unconventional marriages; Rosie and Mike have an unconventional divorce, and manage to be great parents, together. We can wish that all couples were as strong as they are.

Without giving away the plot, I think that this is Sheldon's best. Great story, great character sketches that make us forget that these folks aren't "real". And, a really complicated client. Few mysteries will stand the test of being re-read; Sheldon's will. A word of warning: old memories will get dredged up, and friends of Mike and Rosie will have some tough times here. When our friends go thru bad days, so do we. When they don't know whether to laugh or cry, we laugh and cry with them. Nuff said. Read and enjoy.

Rainy day book.......2007-01-27

I am disappointed. Usually, Siegel's books are interesting and fast paced. This is not his best work, but on a rainy day when you've read everything else, it fills the gap.

An Amazing Read.......2006-03-26

This book is great from start to finish. Siegel holds the readers attention from beginning to end. The book opens in a courtroom where a former boxer is accused of "assualt with a deadly chicken." This had me laughing out loud. Siegel is a great writer.

One of my favorite authors!.......2006-01-03

Just finished reading this book. After I read his first book, I had to have ALL of his books -- which I immediately bought. Now I only have one more left to read -- and HE'D BETTER HAVE ANOTHER ONE WRITTEN AND READY TO PUBLISH!

Amazing attention to detail and plotting! Can't get enough of Sheldon Siegel.

Average customer rating:

An informative book that gives basic knowledge on Napoleon

Napoleon: The Final Verdict
James R. Arnold , Ian Castle , Guy C., Jr. Dempsey , Tim Hicks , J. David Markham , Peter Tsouras , and Andrew Uffindell
Manufacturer: Arms & Armour
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1854093428

Customer Reviews:

An informative book that gives basic knowledge on Napoleon.......1999-04-19

A very informative book, Napoleon: The Final Verdict, describes all aspects of Napoleon's military career. Although it lacked extensive details on individual battles, it gave basic knowledge necesary to understand the Napoleonic Wars. The book is divided into two sections. The First section gives the knowledge obtained on his life. The second section analyzes the information given in the first to help you determine Napoleon's true quality. I especially like the pages of quotes which the author has included in the back of the book.

The Honeycomb, An Autobiography by the Author of Final Verdict and Tell No Man

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Fascinating

The Honeycomb, An Autobiography by the Author of Final Verdict and Tell No Man
Adela Rogers St. Johns
Manufacturer: Doubleday and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000FN9VUW

Product Description

700 page hardcoverBook Club Edition takes Mrs. St. Johns as a star reporter for the Hearst papers through the Lindbergh Kidnaping Ttial, the Edwar VIII romas and Huey Long saga, clean ivory boards w black lettering dj shows age and small rips inside front page cut probably former owner

Customer Reviews:

Fascinating.......2007-05-17

This is a beautifully written book about one of the most fascinating women I've ever heard about. She knew everyone from Jean Harlo to Eleanor Roosevelt from Wyatt Earp to Bobby Kennedy. She was a newspaper reporter who lived in L.A. at the turn of the last century and watched Hollywood become Hollywood. The vast array of people in her life included almost everyone who was famous. I would love to have known her and spent house listening to her talk, but after reading this book I feel as though I did.
Reading about her life has enriched mine.

Average customer rating:

Fascinating

Final Verdict
Adela Rogers St. John
Manufacturer: Doubleday & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HB4EOU

Customer Reviews:

Fascinating.......2007-06-27

Adela Rogers St.John's biography of her father reads like fiction not only because it is so well written but also because her father was such a colorful character. The character of Perry Mson was based on Earl Rogers, but reading this is even better than reading Earl Stanley Gardner because this is not fiction. Mrs. St. John's is a writer par excellence.

Average customer rating:

Another Good Installment
Not Up To Par
GREAT Legal Thriller!
Page-Turning Legal Thriller

Until the Final Verdict
Christine McGuire
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Until the Day They Die
Until Judgment Day
Until the Bough Breaks
Until Death Do Us Part
Until We Meet Again

ASIN: 0743422295

Book Description

District Attorney Kathryn Mackay finds herself the prime murder suspect in this mesmerizing thriller by New York Times bestselling author and real-life prosecutor Christine McGuire.

Judge Jemima Tucker has been brutally murdered in her chambers at the Santa Rita County courthouse -- and Kathryn Mackay vows to bring her friend's killer to justice. But when both Tucker's husband and another judge become suspects, Kathryn ends up walking a minefield of deadly accusations. Meanwhile, Kathryn and her newly reconciled lover, Sheriff Dave Granz, bring an old enemy, Robert Simmons, back into custody. But when Simmons dies unexpectedly under Kathryn's sole supervision -- and the cause of death is found to be homicide -- Kathryn finds herself fighting for her job, her family, and her life.

A shocking novel of murder and betrayal, Until the Final Verdict is suspense at its finest.

Download Description

"District Attorney Kathryn Mackay finds herself the prime murder suspect in this mesmerizing thriller by New York Times bestselling author and real-life prosecutor Christine McGuire. Judge Jemima Tucker has been brutally murdered in her chambers at the Santa Rita County courthouse -- and Kathryn Mackay vows to bring her friend's killer to justice. But when both Tucker's husband and another judge become suspects, Kathryn ends up walking a minefield of deadly accusations. Meanwhile, Kathryn and her newly reconciled lover, Sheriff Dave Granz, bring an old enemy, Robert Simmons, back into custody. But when Simmons dies unexpectedly under Kathryn's sole supervision - and the cause of death is found to be homicide - Kathryn finds herself fighting for her job, her family, and her life. A shocking novel of murder and betrayal, Until the Final Verdict is suspense at its finest. "

Customer Reviews:

Another Good Installment.......2002-09-12

This was another great book in the series. However, I think it is about time to close up to finish up the current storyline because new readers to the series will be totally lost. For those of us who have read all of the books its great. I was hooked from the middle of the book and couldn't put it down until I finished it.

Not Up To Par.......2002-08-08

I thought this was going to be another Mackay mystery/thriller. Had I known the bulk of the "story" would be a trial, I could've saved myself the money and logged onto CourtTV.com.

More emphasis should've been placed on the actual story rather than the trial, but either way, anyone who hadn't read previous installments would've been left wondering about too many things. And there were way too many pages of filler, explaining all the legal terms and jargon used throughout the book. If that much space had to be spent on explaining what was being said, then perhaps the author should've found other ways to say it.

And, based on the Epilogue, it looks like we're in for yet another installment in which you really need to have read the previous installments to get the point.

Very disappointing from a series that's usually worth the money.

GREAT Legal Thriller!.......2002-06-22

Until the Final Verdict is suspenseful, intense, very tightly written, and takes the reader on a unique twist in the search for justice. Christine McGuire, a successful prosecutor, writes legal-mystery thrillers like better-known wannabes only wish they could. Also, try the earlier novels in her UNTIL series.

Page-Turning Legal Thriller.......2002-06-06

A fine addition to this long-running series about District Attorney Kathryn Mackay. This time the tables are turned, and she is arrested as a murder suspect. Real life ADA McGuire presents a taut and chilling tale of an innocent person caught in the criminal justice system. Good summertime read. The other books in the series are well worth reading, too.

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A poignant biography and one of the best
gripping book
His Daughter's Memoirs

Final Verdict
St. Johns
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Once upon a Time in Los Angeles: The Trials of Earl Rogers
Tell No Man

ASIN: 0451079949

Customer Reviews:

A poignant biography and one of the best.......2005-12-22

For all of us, reading about others is fascinating. We're curious about how others lived and we're interested in the play of their personality against the events of the time. For these reasons biographies are popular literature. One of the best is Adela Rogers St. Johns' story of her father, Earl Rogers, an outstanding criminal lawyer in Los Angeles in the early 1900s. Adela seems to have grown up in her father's law office and tagged along with him everywhere except when he was carousing. She had an eye for detail, a good memory and, because she was a professional writer, she tells an incomparable story. Much of the book is about of Rogers' battles with the DAs, his problems with his wife, and his friendship with John Barleycorn. While he won almost all the former encounters and drew with his wife, he slowly lost all to the bottle. An episode in that defeat led to one of the most moving scenes in the book and, I think, Rogers' greatest cross examination. It occured when Adela sought to have her Dad committed to a sanitarium so he could dry out. He asked for a hearing. Rogers defended himself and Adela had to testify against him from the witness chair in a courtroom. After she'd made her case and it was his turn to cross examine, Rogers told the judge, "Only a question or two." Geting up from the counsel table and approaching Adela, he said, "Nora (his affectionate name for her) Look at me please." Reluctantly she did. "Nora... do you really think I'm crazy?" he asked. "No, Papa," she said shaking her head, "Oh no, no..." "Then do you really want to go on with this?" Rogers asked, holding up a copy of the commitment papers filed with the court. "Do you really want to have me locked up?" "No, Papa," she said and burst into tears. If you want more about Earl Rogers and a less subjective view, look for "Take the Witness," written by Alfred Cohn and Joe Chisholm, reporters who followed Rogers' career. It validates his daughter but is only a ho-hum read.

gripping book.......2005-01-18

It's been a few years since I've read this book, but I still remember it as one of the most interesting nonfiction books I've read. A biography of a famous lawyer written by his daughter. When Clarrence Darrow (of the infamous "Scopes Trial" about teaching evolution in schools) himself needed a lawyer, Earl Rogers was who he chose. And Rogers was that good (I guess the modern-day equivalent is Gerry Spence). The book follows a few of his trials and it's a really gripping read. Although it may be a little hard tracking it down, you won't regret doing so.

His Daughter's Memoirs.......2002-11-01

This 1962 book is Adela Rogers St. Johns personal memoirs of life with her father Earl Rogers, the famous Los Angeles California lawyer from the turn of the last century. The author was a Hearst reporter and columnist for many decades, and Earl Rogers' daughter. It contains no pictures of the many people mentioned in the book, and no index. Yet it is worth reading for education as well as entertainment.

Earl Rogers was the real person who was the model for the fictional "Perry Mason". (ER also had a young lawyer on his staff named Paul Drake.) Other books tell of Earl Rogers' contributions to law and justice. Earl Rogers could have been on the Supreme Court.

Earl Rogers had a number of firsts: the introduction of ballistic evidence, the use of scale models, charts, and blackboards in the courtroom, etc. His advertised motto was: "Call us and keep your mouth shut", as true today as a century ago. He participated in many famous trials, and would win because of detailed study of the facts and testimony, and sometimes by finding overlooked witnesses and evidence. Unfortunately, his drinking limited and put an early end to his career (like some other trial lawyers).

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Final Verdict
D. Kincaid
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Lawyer's Tale
The Sunset Bomber

ASIN: 0451151267

The Wrong Man: The Final Verdict on the Dr. Sam Sheppard Murder Case (Ohio)

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THE RIGHT MAN
Fascinating Book
The Sordid Story of the Wrongful Conviction
Very good and thorough
Justice at Last

The Wrong Man: The Final Verdict on the Dr. Sam Sheppard Murder Case (Ohio)
James Neff
Manufacturer: Random House Trade Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Bitter Blood: A True Story of Southern Family Pride, Madness, and Multiple Murder (Onyx)
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Dr. Sam Sheppard on Trial: The Prosecutors and the Marilyn Sheppard Murder
Mockery of Justice: The True Story of the Sam Sheppard Murder Case

ASIN: 0375761055
Release Date: 2002-11-12

Amazon.com

Before O.J. Simpson, Sam Sheppard was probably the most famous man acquitted for murder in the United States. Sheppard was a suburban Cleveland doctor accused of murdering his wife in 1954. The essentials of his case are well known. Sheppard said he was asleep on the couch when he heard his wife scream from the bedroom; he ran up the stairs and was knocked out by her attacker. Before long, Sheppard himself became the leading suspect--and most of the public came to consider him guilty. In The Wrong Man, reporter James Neff offers a detailed and well-told narrative that argues for Sheppard's innocence. Based on 10 years of research and interviews with many of the people whose lives touched the case, from family members to jurors to Sheppard's famous attorney F. Lee Bailey, Neff's account seems convincing. He even proposes a perpetrator, who, Neff says, offered something "close of a confession" during an interview shortly before his death in 1998. There may never be a "final verdict" in the saga of Sam Sheppard, but many readers will think this book effectively closes the case. --John Miller

Book Description

On July 4, 1954, in a quiet suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, Marilyn Sheppard was bludgeoned to death in her bed. After a cursory investigation, the police accused her husband, Dr. Sam Sheppard. Until The Wrong Man, the full story of this brutal crime and its stunning aftermath had never been told. James Neff offers groundbreaking revelations—about DNA analyses, blood evidence, and negligent police work—that prove Sheppard was innocent and reveal the identity of the true killer.

Customer Reviews:

THE RIGHT MAN.......2007-04-03

As others have indicated, those with an interest in this case should also read "Dr. Sam on Trial," by Jack DeSario and William Mason - the prosecutors' side of the third trial. My own impressions are based on reading both books (and the many preceeding books on the subject - all of which are pro-Sam), my training as a pathologist in Cleveland in the 1970's (during which time I made an enduring friendship with Dr. Roger Marsters, blood stain expert at the second and third trials), a good
friendship with Dr. Lester Adelson (who performed the autopsy) and passing acquaintance with Dr. Gerber and Miss Cowan. My wife's father and his sister were backyard neighbors of the victim and her family and the sister dated Sam in high school - once.
In short, Sam Sheppard was a philandering osteopath in a west Cleveland suburb who was, other than his young son, the only known occupant of his house when his wife was bludgeoned to death in their bedroom on July 4th, 1954. The murder weapon was never found and Sheppard always maintained that the real killer was a bushy-headed intruder. He was convicted of 2nd degree murder and then acquitted after serving ten years in the penitentiary. He died (of alcoholism) a few years thereafter. Thirty more years passed and his son then sued the state of Ohio for damages related to wrongful imprisonment - the impetus for this book.
This book was published before the DeSario/Mason account and is most interesting and, perhaps, reliable, in its first part, before the author gets into the second and third trials and his omissions and distortions become evident. Sam's early life brings out a couple of aspects of his personality to me. He seems to have labored under some feelings of inferiority as an osteopath (such was the attitude in those days); after his acquittal, he signed a copy of his ghost-written autobiography as "M.D." (osteopaths are "D.O."). From the stories of his escapades and his own diary of life with his second wife, he also seems to have had a voracious sexual appetite - maybe satyriasis (the male equivalent of nymphomania). As Mr. Neff points out, only the Susan Hayes affair was brought into the legal proceedings - to me, for obvious reasons - why ruin more lives? Mr. Neff describes, as have many others, the campaign in the newspapers (especially the Cleveland Press) to pursue Sam, and yes, that should not have been done; color photographs of autopsies are no longer allowed in court - considered too garish (or too realistic) - but what does that have to do with whether Sam Sheppard was guilty or innocent? The Sheppard "team," from the day of the murder to today, has
on their part had no qualms about casting about for any and all suspects -
and besmirching the reputation of the victim, about whom little or no regret is voiced. Further observations:
1). the rumor about Sam keeping a barrelful of human heads in his garage is true. Lester Adelson gave the Cleveland Society of Pathologists a slide show in 1979, after a made-for-TV movie (George Peppard was Sam)
and this was included in the non-admitted evidence. Sam used them for surgical practice. Does it make him guilty? No. But it tells you about Sam.
2). Retrials after several years often obtain acquittals - prosecution evidence disappears, witnesses forget. It also helps to have a skillful
defense attorney. No surprise about the second trial (which was acquittal)- but the evidence was a lot stronger against Sam that this book indicates, since the jury in 2000 was out only a few hours and found against the Sheppard side, after even more time had passed!
3). Contrary to the implication of this book, ABO typing was not wholly dependent on old tissue forty-six years after the fact. It was done within days of the murder by a meticulous technician (Miss Cowan). Only type O (the victim's type) was found in the murder room. The DNA evidence in this case - first analyzed for this third trial - was rendered useless by years of deterioration and contamination - the Sheppard side really brought nothing new to the table.
4). The scenario fit perfectly with the FBI description of a domestic homicide, which was read to the jury. The prosecution's witness had a supervisor (Douglas) who MAY have disagreed (as often the case, the author makes hearsay statements about this) - why did he not testify?
5). You have to see the color photo of the pillow (DeSario/Mason book) - the black and whites in other books don't show the imprint - there IS an instrument there and it fits with a lamp harp. (The bedside lamp was the probable murder weapon).
6). The absence of a lamp in the murder room was not based solely on the recollection, 46 years old, of the repairman who fixed and returned it to the nightstand. Det. Fred Drenkhan noticed at the time of the murder that there was no lamp next to the telephone at Sam's bedside - where a doctor would have it - and heard from the repairman himself that he had fixed and returned it two days before the murder.
7). Yes, there was not much blood on Sam - suspiciously so. He said he had bent over his wife twice and grappled twice with an intruder! How about changing clothes - and where did his T-shirt go?
8). Mrs. Sheppard's body was exhumed for the third trial. By now the body was skeletonized and massive blunt trauma of the face was found -not evident at the first autopsy. MASSIVE. Someone powerful and in a rage
had delivered thirty or forty blows to her - a crime of passion and by a man (not the luckless female neighbor, also bruited about as a suspect).
9). After his acquittal, Sam autographed a copy of his book, Endure and Conquer. Inspection of the book later found not only his autograph, but also a boldly inscribed "Yes," written on the teaser page, following the book's rhetorical question as to whether "Sam" did it. A guilty conscience! Check the photo of this in the DeSario/Mason account. Then see if YOU buy Mr. Neff's claim that the "yes" was really in answer to the Minneapolis Tribune endorsement that follows it.
10). The police had their suspicions in 1954 about who may have helped Sam stage the scene: crime of passion + burglary (try putting those two together). The DeSario/Mason books adds further evidence about this.
Just about everyone who came in contact with Dr. Sam Sheppard was hurt by it. By all means read this book and find out a little more about him.
Then read the DeSario/Mason one. You'll learn why.

Fascinating Book.......2006-12-21

Really an outstanding book. I am the same age as Sheppard's son and grew up in Ohio and I remember the murder well. Although too young to follow it and later in my college and professional life did not have the time to follow the subsequent trials, it was very interesting to read about it.

If this crime were committed in the last 35 years, Dr. Sam would never have been initially convicted. With the Miranda Act and subsequent advances in DNA and other investigative methods there's no way that a conviction could have ever been obtained, if the trail venue had been changed and the jury sequestered. There was far too much of a rush to judgement by the corner, police, and prosecutor. Being a political animal his ego was bruised and he was out to protect his professional reputation and he showed his pettiness when Dr. Kirk subsequently refuted many of his determinations. There's far too much reasonable doubt to ever convict Dr. Sam. It's shows how the press and the police can railroad a big profile murder case. Not to mention the botched police investigation.

The corner and Dorothy Kilgallen should have Dr. Sam's conviction on their souls. The judge told Kilgallen in a meeting in his chambers before the trial that Sheppard was guilty as hell and that it was a open and shut case. Kilgallen should have disclosed that conversation and the judge should have been removed.

There was a terrible injustice done to the Dr. Sam and his family. It ruined their entire family. His mother committed suicide roughly ten days after the initial trial, and his father died several weeks later. It ruined the lives of his brothers and only child. Also in subsequent trials the prosecutors and police continued to back the conclusions of the police, corner and prosecutor from the original investigation and trial in 1954.

I don't buy the arguments that Ms. Connelly wrote that Sheppard is guilty, which she posted in a review in 2001. It's amazing how the system sticks up for itself.

By the grace of God this terrible injustice could have happened to your or my families. This is a compelling book and a must read if you remember the case. It's hard to put down once you start reading the book.

The Sordid Story of the Wrongful Conviction.......2005-09-08

James Neff grew up in Cleveland during the murder and trials. Those in the Cleveland area believed Dr. Sam was guilty, those living further away were more likely to believe in his innocence (p.xi). Biased coverage by the media can affect people for decades. While this book was being written, the prosecutors tried to commandeer his research (p.xii). The author is a prize-winning journalist and editor, who was a reporter and columnist at the Cleveland 'Plain Dealer'. This very readable book tells about the commercial rivalry between the "Sheppard clan" osteopaths and the allopaths who controlled Cleveland's hospitals. The Sheppard's suburban hospital performed therapeutic abortions, considered as murder to many in Cleveland (p.37).

Part 1 tells of the crime, trial, and conviction of Dr. Sam Sheppard. The county coroner disliked the "Sheppard clan", Dr. Sam was the suspect from the first day (p.16). Marilyn had fought her attacker, she had 15 lacerations on her head and 35 wounds overall (p.18). Important evidence was lost by mistake (p.19). Dr. Sam had physical injuries from a powerful blow to the back of his head (pp.28-29). Dr. Sam's rescue vehicle for car accidents in 1953 had irked the medical establishment (pp.36-37). Stories were leaked to the press to make Dr. Sam appear guilty (pp.39-40). Dr. Sam's family all backed Marilyn when there were problems in their marriage. Dr. Sam had been copying the permissive life style of the rich and famous in Los Angeles (p.48), but Marilyn tolerated Sam's affairs (p.65). There was a trail of blood drops from the kitchen to the cellar, Dr. Sam had no wounds. They was never tested by Mary Cowan, the co-worker and close friend of Coroner Dr. Gerber. People's minds were made up by the stories in the press (p.71). There was no forensic evidence to tie Dr. Sam to the crime (p.91). Possible evidence for an intruder was neglected (p.95)! The local press and court system were convinced of Dr. Sam's guilt (p.127). The prosecutor used Dr. Sam's adulteries as a motive for murder (p.133). The coroner testified that a "surgical instrument" was the murder weapon but there was no factual basis for this claim (pp.142-144). After many days the jury decided on murder second degree (p.166).

Part 2 tells of the appeals to reverse the conviction. Defense lawyer William Corrigan hired Dr. Paul Kirk, the "founding father of criminalistics" (p.174). The prosecution concealed evidence that suggested an intruder (p.175). Kirk found evidence to support Dr. Sam's story (pp.179-184). Coroner Gerber used his political connections to damage Kirk (p.187). The flashlight murder weapon was found in the lake, then neglected by the coroner (p.190). Chapter 22 tells of Richard Eberling's early life. In 1961 Paul Holmes published his book which presented Kirk's findings. Dr. Steve Sheppard was introduced to Francis Lee Bailey, who sued to get Dr. Sam's conviction overturned (Chapter 26). Bailey believed he could win an acquittal (p.242). The Supreme Court overturned the conviction. The retrial resulted in a 'not guilty' verdict because of the blood spatter evidence and the testimony for a third person's blood (p.281); there was reasonable doubt. But Dr. Sam's victory was followed by personal defeats. His surgical skills deteriorated; he also drank. Ariane divorced him, Dr. Sam became a professional wrestler (p.287). His drinking continued until he died of a liver disease (p.289). Chapter 32 tells of the career of Richard Eberling and Oscar B. Henderson. They gained power and influence under one Cleveland mayor. An elderly woman where Eberling lived died form an accident, a fracture like Dr. Sam's (pp.299-300). Later Eberling got a life sentence for murder, forgery, theft, and related crimes (pp.305-306).

Part 3 tells of Neff's investigations. Marilyn's death did not fit the usual profile (p.333). Kirk's old files were found, the blood sample pointed to Eberling, but not uniquely (p.336) Neff explains the "hard facts" why Dr. Sam did not kill Marilyn (Epilogue). [You can look up NY vs Charles Stielow for another example of local prejudice against the facts.]

Very good and thorough.......2004-10-22

Mr. Neff certainly did his homework on researching this case. A very interesting book, I could hardly put it down. I had to skim over the chapter on the last trial, but otherwise, it is a very good book.

Justice at Last.......2003-01-29

The Wrong Man is a gripping and provocative look at the sensational murder trial(s)of Sam Sheppard. While in high school in the 70's, I member first reading about the case in F. Lee Bailey's book 'The Defense Never Rests'. Neff's book takes you behind the headlines of this infamous case and moves forward from the day of the crime and through the various incarnations of the case in the state and federal courts. He looks in depth at the participants and suspects in one of the century's greatest 'unsolved murders.' This case is a clear example of a man and a family destroyed by politicians and the press. These folks refused to let the facts get in the way of a good story. Sheppard's life and reputation were lost because the case was tried in the newspapers and television, instead of the court room. Oddly enough, through three trials in a 'search for truth' justice was never served. It is ironic that Neff's objective review of the case as a journalist and a 'member of the press' may be the closest the Sheppard family ever gets to finding the truth and obtaining justice. This is not simply a regurgitation of the headlines but a probing anatomy of an infamous crime and what happens when a 'good story' over takes the facts, a community, and our system of justice. It also shows why our freedoms guaranteed by the constitution (including the freedom of the press) must be jealously guarded against all who would take them away. I could not put the book down once I started reading it and strongly recommend it to any one who enjoys the true crime genre or reading law related novels. Here, the facts are stranger (and more interesting) than any fiction one could invent.

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