Chasing Justice: My Story of Freeing Myself After Two Decades on Death Row for a Crime I Didn't Commit

by Kerry Max Cook

Book Overview

"Immensely compelling. ... If it were fiction, no one would believe it. Kerry Cook's account of his nightmare is fascinating." -John Grisham

"Cook's story is so gripping that only a heart of steel won't break after reading it." -People

An Edgar Award Finalist - Best Fact Crime Book A Dallas Morning News Bestseller

The...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060574658
• ISBN13: 9780060574659
• Release Date: March 2008
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Justice-Texas style

In March 2007, I attended a talk by Kerry Cook with a 80+year old nun who asked me to go with her. I did not have a clue the subject, I just went to drive for her. What an eye opening experience hearing Cook talk about his experiences in the small room crowded with college students, some of whom are part of various programs to help those imprisoned who are innocent. I later bought the book and I was angry the entire time I read it and ashamed I am a Texan, but relieved that Texas lawyers were the ones who finally helped Cook get free. Cook's story will change your life; if you are in favor of the death penalty, it will change your mind. If you are on the fence, you will get off it. You know in your heart and by current events that there are many more innocents wrongly on death row, put there by "evil" prosecutors, sheriffs, lawyers, etc., not to mention just sloppy police work. It's a crap shoot how you are treated. Kerry Cook is white, can you imagine how Blacks and Hispanics are treated in the criminal justice system?? I am still reeling and Kerry Max Cook has the rest of his life to have nightmares....

If you believe in Justice in our court system, read this....

because you won't be a believer for long. Kerry Max Cook tells us exactly how it is to be on death row in this country. He paints the picture of being wrongly convicted that chills one to the very core of their being. If your pro death penalty... you won't be so sure of that belief after reading this. One has to give this man KUDOS for enduring a 20+ year nightmare. As well as the attorney's that stuck by his side and believed in him and worked pro bono. It takes a hell of a belief system to get through what this man survived. I recommend this book to everyone, pro or anti death penalty. It is very educational on our justice system, prosecutor misconduct, judges who are blind to "real justice" & Investigators who will stop at nothing to gain a conviction. TRUST THE EVIDENCE, NEVER TRUST THE AUTHORITIES.

Justice?

Having just finished reading Chasing Justice I probably should be waiting a few days - or even months - to calm down a bit, but I'm finding that impossible. The anger I feel, not only for what the author somehow managed to endure for over 20 years, but how little has been done by the people of Texas to rid themselves of the continuing menace that infects their legal system makes me wonder what kind of a people we are, to continually put our heads in the sand, ignoring the continuing abuses perpetrated by the police, prosecutors, judges and politicians that are supposed to be serving us. In one of Cook's final chapters he tells us what most of the main participants are doing today. Aside from a few that have died or retired, all police, prosecutors and judges are still doling out Texas-style justice. The person who all of the legitimate evidence points to as the real murderer is still free. Of course all of the residents of Death Row who were there with Cook have been executed. I realize that this thirst for blood is not just peculiar to Texas - much the rest of our nation isn't that much better - but one would think that if we're going to be handing out the ultimate punishment so frequently, even though it doesn't accomplish anything other than satisfying a savage hunger for revenge, it might be wise to make sure that we get it right and make sure that the innocent don't get flushed down with the guilty. One also has to wonder how the family of the murdered girl managed to go along with the charade all of this time, knowing full well that the wrong man was being persecuted. It's also interesting that who should make an appearance in this Kafka-like saga other than George W. Bush himself. As Texas Governor between 1995 and 2000 one of the first things he did was to sign off on legislation to make it easier to execute those on Death Row by limiting the appeal process available to them, resulting in him signing off on over 150 executions in 5 years. How many of those men were innocent? Is this where he developed his officials-can-do-no-wrong attitude that he has ruled with since he came into power in 2001? In the case of Texas vs. Kerry Max Cook errors and incompetence led to lies and cover-ups which led to more lies as witnesses were coached into changing stories, forensic evidence misinterpreted and pages from witness accounts "lost." All this so officials in charge of the case wouldn't have to admit that they erred in the first place -something that they've refused to admit to this day. In the case of the Bush Administration vs. the U.S. - or perhaps it should be the World - errors and incompetence made after 9/11, accompanied by a huge dose of arrogance resulted in lies and cover-ups which have led us to where we are today. If those parallels aren't enough and we need more all we have to do is throw in a huge portion of a public that is willing to accept practically anything that is told to them because we must "trust our leaders." Kerry Max

Kerry Max Cook has endured more than most men could have imagined.

I haven't finished the book yet but I congratulate Mr. Cook on turning adversity into a awe inspiring book. I know it's a true tale that has inspired people to change their thinking on the death penalty all over the world. His story personally affected me and I can't wait to finish reading his book.

Kerry Max Cook is a genius and his tale will change your life

This is a must have book and one that you will recommend over and over. From the prologue you will be hooked. Kerry must be the only person on this earth who could have survived the torment he was faced with. All along Kerry never gave up. I now see that the seemingly insurmountable problems that 99.99% of us are faced with are so ridiculous to be considered impossible. May God be with you Kerry and may this book find its way into the leaders of the TX legal system and bring about the rest and restitution you deserve. -BP