Sandi K W. (Sandiinmississippi) reviewed The Dreams of Ada: A True Story of Murder, Obsession, and a Small Town on + 265 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
This is absolutely, hands down, the best true crime I've ever read. The work is meticulously researched and the information spliced into a full story. A convenience store employee is kidnapped and murdered; a town is turned upside down; and the people eventually convicted may or may not be guilty.
After reading the book I had to immediately reread it because I'd scampered through so fast I did not fully enjoy the great writing. Part of the book, including the 'dream' of one of the accused murderers, caused me to have chills. The writer does not come down on one side or another regarding their actual guilt - and that makes the book gripping. I have followed this case ever since with fascination.
The Grisham book set in Ada, OK, is a weak second. It's interesting to see how he used Mayer's structure, all the background material (not particularly updated) and a similar organizational structure to produce a second-rate book about another, less interesting murder.
After reading the book I had to immediately reread it because I'd scampered through so fast I did not fully enjoy the great writing. Part of the book, including the 'dream' of one of the accused murderers, caused me to have chills. The writer does not come down on one side or another regarding their actual guilt - and that makes the book gripping. I have followed this case ever since with fascination.
The Grisham book set in Ada, OK, is a weak second. It's interesting to see how he used Mayer's structure, all the background material (not particularly updated) and a similar organizational structure to produce a second-rate book about another, less interesting murder.
John O. (buzzby) -
Helpful Score: 2
Same town, same prosecutors, same situation as Grisham's "Innocent Man", murder convictions of innocent men.
