Now as a huge fan of all things crime novels and true life crime, this book was right up my street.
The author Ian woods is a reporter for sky news and came across this case one afternoon and through the course of looking into this case struck up a strange and complex friendship with Richard Glossip.
The book focuses on Richard Glossip, a man sentenced to Death for the murder of Barry Van Treese in 1997 in Oklahoma, although he never actually never played a role in the actual murder - however it raises the questions how can a man who played no role in the murder be sentenced to death. Although the person who actually killed Barry Van Treese, Justin Sneed is currently serving life without parole after providing evidence to the authorities about Glossip.
It shows how the US justice system works and how in states such as Oklahoma the jury have to be willing to consider the death penalty.
Throughout the book we learn that there was no real evidence again Glossip apart from the allegations from Sneed, it also did not help that Glossip had an incompetent lawyer defending him.
Now I have watched many shows/documentations about the death penalty however you don't get a real understanding of the process in the days leading up to the execution however through this book you do..as Richard Glossip went through this twice and it was stopped at the last minute.
I found it interesting how Glossip's and Wood's friendship grew and how Wood was intent on ensuring that his reporting of the case was objective.
Regardless on your thoughts of capital punishment or your thoughts of the guilt/innocence of Glossip, this is a book that should be read by all.
The author Ian woods is a reporter for sky news and came across this case one afternoon and through the course of looking into this case struck up a strange and complex friendship with Richard Glossip.
The book focuses on Richard Glossip, a man sentenced to Death for the murder of Barry Van Treese in 1997 in Oklahoma, although he never actually never played a role in the actual murder - however it raises the questions how can a man who played no role in the murder be sentenced to death. Although the person who actually killed Barry Van Treese, Justin Sneed is currently serving life without parole after providing evidence to the authorities about Glossip.
It shows how the US justice system works and how in states such as Oklahoma the jury have to be willing to consider the death penalty.
Throughout the book we learn that there was no real evidence again Glossip apart from the allegations from Sneed, it also did not help that Glossip had an incompetent lawyer defending him.
Now I have watched many shows/documentations about the death penalty however you don't get a real understanding of the process in the days leading up to the execution however through this book you do..as Richard Glossip went through this twice and it was stopped at the last minute.
I found it interesting how Glossip's and Wood's friendship grew and how Wood was intent on ensuring that his reporting of the case was objective.
Regardless on your thoughts of capital punishment or your thoughts of the guilt/innocence of Glossip, this is a book that should be read by all.