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The Ride: A Shocking Murder and a Bereaved Father's Journey from Rage to Redemption
The Ride A Shocking Murder and a Bereaved Father's Journey from Rage to Redemption
Author: Brian MacQuarrie
The Ride tells the true story of one of the most gruesome crimes in recent memory?the 1997 abduction and murder of ten-year-old Massachusetts resident Jeffrey Curley?and how his father, Bob Curley, managed to heal the deep wounds of rage and emerge to become an outspoken critic of the death penalty.In vivid, compelling prose, Boston Gl...  more »reporter Brian MacQuarrie recounts the brutal crime that shocked New England and chronicles what transpires after Jeffrey?s death, which is nearly as shocking as the crime itself. At the heart of this deeply touching story is the way Bob Curley summons the almost superhuman courage to reject the death penalty. In tracing his personal journey, The Ride presents an appealing everyman hero forced into the spotlight by unfathomable circumstances, and compelled to confront the consequences of his fury.

 
ISBN-13: 9780306816260
ISBN-10: 0306816261
Publication Date: 6/1/2009
Pages: 304
Rating:
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 5

3.5 stars, based on 5 ratings
Publisher: Da Capo Press
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback
Members Wishing: 1
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Sandiinmississippi avatar reviewed The Ride: A Shocking Murder and a Bereaved Father's Journey from Rage to Redemption on + 265 more book reviews
'The Ride' by Brian MacQuarrie is about the '97 abduction & murder of a 10yr old boy in Massachusetts. His father, Bob Curley, gets involved in one of the well-known campaigns amongst MA libs about capital punishment and is seized upon to promote the pro-death penalty side of the argument in the legislature. Actually the author writes one good true crime book and one tepid lib puff-piece all in one volume. His description of the crime is chilling, his picture of the working-class parents is on target, and his skepticism about how politics is probably not the way to deal with grief is interesting. The father (as he descends into first manic activity, then alcoholism) changes his mind about the issue due to continued assaults by both sides on his reason. He then starts working equally hard for the anti-cap punishment side. Of course, the author doesn't view the people on that side as 'exploitative.' Wonder why? Well, we quickly see as the author's viewpoints & ideas poison what he writes. This isn't the story of a guy who manages to forgive his son's killers. I's a depressing tale of how easily someone ravaged by grief can have his mind played with by people who have very little concern about crime in society. I didn't like it, but it made me think!


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