Devil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three

For Anyone Who Believes in the Unites States 'Justice' System...

I have not only read this book through twice, I also own both documentaries. I used to be pro-death penalty and I used to believe that everyone in prison is guilty. Everyone in America should read this book because this crap happens every day! Innocent people are sent to prison because law enforcement and prosecutors have to 'get someone' and get the crime solved. These three men have grown up in prison and they are as innocent as they come. The wheels of justice turn much slower when trying to overturn sentences. Each time I read this book, I found more and more atroceties in our system. This book is a wake up call. There is much, much change that is needed. If you are interested in more information, please visit WM3.org. I highly reccommend the documentaries as well. Free the West Memphis Three and may the appropriate justice come to those who falsely imprisoned them.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

The Devil's Knot: A True Story of a Terrible Miscarriage of Justice Still Happening Today.

The Devil's Knot is a story that I will never forget. Mara Leveritt very specifically laid out the facts of the West Memphis Three case in a way that leaves me hungering to know what the final outcome will be. It challenged my perception of the US law enforcement and judicial process. It very specifically defined and described the perfect case for MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE. I have already recommended this book to everyone I know!

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Highly recommended - fantastic read

After watching the countless news reports on this case, I thought that this book would be a boring, repeat of what I had learned on those news shows...

It turns out there is so much more to this case than one could possibly imagine. Leveritt tells both sides of the story and manages to keep you in, page after page.

For anyone who enjoys true crime books, this is one you don't want to miss.

FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE!

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Such an outrageous story almost impossible to beleive it's true!

I live less than an hour from where this crime occured and I remember the sensational media coverage, even as a child. I had seen the 'Paradise Lost' documantry on HBO, but still had NO clue the magnitude of INJUSTICE that occurred. My heart is broken for these young men. It is almost hard to reccomend this read because I feel powerless to help yet I could not stop reading out of sheer disgust! I would like to see an IQ test on Inspector Gitchell and that 'judge' and I use that term loosesly! As for the prosecuters, I do not see how they sleep at night. Anyone that is from a rural area and knows how jaded, ignorant and injust the 'small town' legal system can be should be scared and ashamed! This could happen to anyone who is considered 'different' This is not a book you can finish and walk away from, it demands you to try and do something, anything to help spread the REAL story and stop the ignorance and injustice!

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Absolutely one of the best true crime stories I've ever read

Three teenage boys were wrongfully convicted of killing three innocent children. Their civil liberties were violated and today one sits on death row for the act. Justice in America doesn't exist for the people in this story.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Free the West Memphis Three

Anyone who has ever heard of this crime needs to read this book. The injustice these three men have gone through is almost as horrible as the crime itself. While the judicial system may seem full-proof, this book clearly demonstrates how wrongly accused men can be convicted on practically nothing other than rumors and clothing. It is a disgrace to our legal system that these innocent men sit in prison while the real killers are out there. While we feel sympathy for the victims and their families we should feel anger that our judicial system can be so flawed and unjust.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

obsessed

through reading this book i became somewhat obsessed about the events that took place. i cried for the victims and for the 'wrongly' accused. i visited the wm3.org website to find out more. i could not put his book down, i read it in 3 days and i have two small children. i had to keep on reading to see what happened. i hope more people take interest in the case and those children (men now) get to live a normal life one day. please read this and get an insight of how people and judicial systems judge people by their outward appearance and behavior.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

fills in the blanks

This book is a comprehensive look at the infamous events in West Memphis. How such judicial malfeasence and incompetence can be tolerated in our nation is a mystery. The arrogance of the judge, the prosecutors, and the police scream for redress. FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Free the WM3

Do you think that because you live in the United States, this supposedly free and just society, that you will be free from a grossly unjust incarseration? You shouldn't and this book will shine a light on that truely nieve notion. Please visit wm3.org

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

......And Justice For Who?

This is on of the most insightful books I have ever come across. I had heard of the case before, but I had no idea that it was that messed up. I always knew cops could be dirty but, this is horrible. If you want to know about injustices pick this up. This world can be really jacked up sometimes. This book has been enough to make me want to get involved, and try to help the three men that were wrongly convicted as teens. The only time I was able to put this book down was when I went to sleep and when I got so angry I HAD to stop reading. I think that everyone that believes in our court system should read this and rethink their beliefs.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Justice, what justice?

This book was excellent on stating the facts and showing the reader some truth in today's judicial system. These three kids, now men are in jail for the rest of their lives (Damien on death row) for a crime they did not comment. There was no "sufficiant evidence" to convict these three of capital murder. But the state of Arkansas had to pin somebody and these three fit the category of murderers. Why, because they wore black, because they weren't Christians, and because they listened to Metallica. Do you know how many children that counts for, A LOT!!! The judicial system needs to stay with the facts and stop being prejudice.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Law and Order is just a tv show

For those of us who have seen every episode of Law and Order, and think that's the way the police and the prosecutors and the judges work, we have only to read Devil's Knot to know that in the real world, the game is not played the way it is on tv. Mara Leveritt has done an exhaustive job on a difficult case where murdering 3 children was the last honest and straightforward action to take place in this mess. The police investigation is a joke; the prosecution took their lines from the Salem witchtrials; the judge was essentially a prosecutor in a judge's robe; and the Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed each conviction without so much as a question. This book begs the question: why were obvious leads not followed? Leveritt gives a powerful, reasoned answer for this - I could not recommend this book more highly. It is the finest thing I've read this year.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Interesting, sad story

I have followed this case for many years and thought I knew just about everything there was to know about it. This book had information that I was unfamiliar with. The author didn't seem biased to me, she simply put forth the facts for the reader to decipher.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Free the WM3

Great book. The author is careful to show what both sides of the people involved thought and what was going on in WM at the time. She interviewed many of the people involved in the situation and wrapped it up all neat. Very good.
It is high time Damien, Jason and Jessie are free. After reading the book, watching the films and reading Damiens book and seeing that there is no evidence against these thee it truly is time for them to be free and for the three children who were murdered to get justice.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

blatant disregard for the truth...

I had to read this book for school... but I really enjoyed the way Mara Leveritt put this horrifying story into words... before this book I'd never even heard of the West Memphis Three, and now I am tell everyone I know about the case! It is such an injustice that those three at being punished for someone else's crime... I am truly outraged at the West Memphis police departments blatant disregard for the truth... I would highly recommend it!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

More Confused Than Ever!!

This book was written for someone obviously who has dealt with the legal system from time to time. I was confused more often than not with all the legal bable. I think that before you open the covers on this one you should hire a laywer to help you understand it.

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Quick question.

What is th nane of Damien's book and does B&N carry it as an E-book? Because I'd very much like to read it. Someone let me know. Thanks guys!

West memphis three

Couldnt put this book down.

Enlightening

Amazing book

I love this book!

I, for one, believe that Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley are innocent. No, I am not some fanatic from New York! I live in right outside of West Memphis and drive by the Robin Hood Hills every time I go to West Memphis. My curiosity was sparked when I was assigned to write a research paper on this topic and this book is the most reliable source I could find!! (: I definitely recommend this book!