The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town

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“Both an American tragedy and [Grisham’s] strongest legal thriller yet, all the more gripping because it happens to be true.” — Entertainment Weekly

John Grisham’s first work of nonfiction is a true crime masterpiece that exposes how small-town justice can go disastrously wrong.

In the 1971 Major League draft, Ron Williamson was the first player chosen from Oklahoma. Signed by the Oakland A’s, he left his hometown of Ada with dreams of baseball stardom. Six years later, his career and health were in ruins—his arm failed, his mind faltered, and he returned home, sleeping most of his days away on his mother’s sofa.

Then in 1982, Ada was shaken by the brutal rape and murder of 21-year-old Debra Sue Carter. For five years, police had no leads—until they suddenly turned their attention to Ron Williamson and his friend Dennis Fritz. In 1987, the two men were charged with capital murder. Despite the absence of physical evidence, prosecutors built their case on junk science and false testimonies from convicts and jailhouse snitches. Fritz received a life sentence. Williamson was sent to death row.

The Innocent Man is a haunting, unforgettable story of injustice, corruption, and redemption. If you believe you’re innocent until proven guilty, this book will shock you. If you trust the fairness of the criminal justice system, it will infuriate you.

Also don’t miss: Framed — John Grisham’s first work of nonfiction since The Innocent Man, co-authored with Centurion Ministries founder Jim McCloskey.

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