The innocent killer A true story of a wrongful conviction and its astonishing aftermath

In the ABA's first venture into true crime, Griesbach, a prosecuting attorney in Manitowoc, Wis., offers a rambling account that does not take advantage of the unusual facts of its central case. In 1985, a Wisconsin jury convicted Steven Avery of a violent assault on a woman jogging on a beach, despite weaknesses in the prosecution's case. From the outset, it seems clear that there was a rush to judgment that led to Avery spending 18 years in prison before being exonerated by DNA evidence. The book suffers from overly simplistic prose: "Most people charged with a serious crime are guilty. They better be or the prosecutor has no business charging them." Irrelevant details-such as the subsequent history of the restaurant where the jury ate on the first day of the trial-dilute the impact of a complex case that would have benefitted from a more experienced author. With an afterword by Keith Findley, former codirector of the Wisconsin Innocence Project. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Steven Avery, of Manitowoc County, WI, was convicted in 1985 and sentenced to life for assaulting a local woman. Although an unsavory character, crude and prone to violence, Avery vehemently maintained his innocence. Ten years later, DNA testing emerged as a reliable forensic tool and substantiated his claims. With the assistance of the Midwest Innocence Project, Avery drew widespread support and sympathy, resulting in a new trial. He was exonerated in 2003 after serving 18 years in prison. Two years later, he was thrust into the media spotlight again when he was arrested for the brutal rape and murder of a young photographer. This time, Avery was convicted and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, the maximum punishment the state of Wisconsin could impose at that time. Johnny Heller narrates with solid tonal qualities and expression. Verdict Relevant to current issues in the U.S. judicial system involving wrongful convictions, this story is sure to fascinate the true-crime aficionado. It also served as the basis for a popular -Netflix documentary series called Making a Murderer; that series' fans may enjoy. ["Recommended for those who enjoy reading true crime, courtroom dramas, and Wisconsin history": LJ 6/15/14 review of the American Bar Assn. hc.]-JoAnn -Funderburk, Rowlett, TX © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.