Reviews
"A lucid, page-turning account . . . Elmore's defense winds through nearly three decades of legal maneuverings as suspenseful as the investigation of the mysterious crime itself. Painstakingly researched by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bonner, the case illustrates in fascinating and wrenching specificity the widely acknowledged inequality and moral failings of the death penalty, while illuminating the less understood details of a criminal justice system deeply compromised by race and class. Indeed, Bonner's ability to succinctly and vividly incorporate the relevant case history and explain the operative legal procedures and principles at work-including the bizarre way in which court-acknowledged innocence is not necessarily enough to spare a life on death row-makes this not only a gripping human story but a first-rate introduction to the more problematic aspects of American criminal law." -Starred review, Publishers Weekly "Far-ranging in its implications, thoughtful, and utterly absorbing, this book is a fine example of involving narrative nonfiction." -Booklist "Sharp . . . A powerfully intimate look at how the justice system works-or doesn't work-in capital cases." -Kirkus "Bonner's gripping true-crime thriller shines a shocking light on American justice. I couldn't put it down." -Jane Mayer, author of The Dark Side "Race, sex, and murder in a Southern town are the explosive core of Ray Bonner's legal drama. Anatomy of Injustice is also a brave dispatch from the trenches of a forgotten war over capital punishment. Told with a reporter's tenacity, a lawyer's acumen, and an advocate's zeal, this book is both a gripping narrative and a chilling indictment of America's justice system." -Tony Horwitz, author of Confederates in the Attic " Anatomy of Injustice demonstrates dramatically and shockingly what bad lawyers are capable of doing, and is an inspiring example of what a good one can do. For that alone, law schools should assign it to every entering student." -Steven Engelberg, managing editor, ProPublica "Ray Bonner uses his skill as a lawyer and journalist to take us on a fascinating journey deep into the heart of the criminal justice system, where the stakes could not be higher or the failures more disturbing. Anatomy of Injustice reads like a novel, but it is, tragically, all too true." -Linda Greenhouse, author of Becoming Justice Blackmun "Most of us Americans don''t have a clue about how the criminal court system really operates and we need a good writer like Bonner to take us through, step by step. But be warned: If you have pressing duties waiting, don''t begin reading this book. This is seductive storytelling at its best." -Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking "Reading Ray Bonner's compelling account of a grossly botched murder case, I was overcome by outrage at the state of our criminal justice system. Rigorously researched and powerfully told, Anatomy of Injustice could-and should-change the national debate on the death penalty." -Michael Massing "Raymond Bonner''s Anatomy of Injustice is a powerful and poignant analysis of the case of Edward Lee Elmore. Bonner''s voice is a profound force for truth and justice in our difficult times!" -Cornel West, "Masterful . . . Eloquent, important, and accessible . . . The book of the century about the death penalty." -Andrew Cohen, The Atlantic "A lucid, page-turning account . . . Elmore's defense winds through nearly three decades of legal maneuverings as suspenseful as the investigation of the mysterious crime itself. Painstakingly researched by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bonner, the case illustrates in fascinating and wrenching specificity the widely acknowledged inequality and moral failings of the death penalty, while illuminating the less understood details of a criminal justice system deeply compromised by race and class. Indeed, Bonner's ability to succinctly and vividly incorporate the relevant case history and explain the operative legal procedures and principles at work-including the bizarre way in which court-acknowledged innocence is not necessarily enough to spare a life on death row-makes this not only a gripping human story but a first-rate introduction to the more problematic aspects of American criminal law." -Starred review, Publishers Weekly "Far-ranging in its implications, thoughtful, and utterly absorbing, this book is a fine example of involving narrative nonfiction." -Booklist "Sharp . . . A powerfully intimate look at how the justice system works-or doesn't work-in capital cases." -Kirkus "Those interested in human rights, issues of race, and inner workings of the U.S. legal system-not to mention true crime fans-will want to read this book." -Library Journal "Bonner's gripping true-crime thriller shines a shocking light on American justice. I couldn't put it down." -Jane Mayer, author of The Dark Side "Race, sex, and murder in a Southern town are the explosive core of Raymond Bonner's legal drama. Anatomy of Injustice is also a brave dispatch from the trenches of a forgotten war over capital punishment. Told with a reporter's tenacity, a lawyer's acumen, and an advocate's zeal, this book is both a gripping narrative and a chilling indictment of America's justice system." -Tony Horwitz, author of Confederates in the Attic " Anatomy of Injustice demonstrates dramatically and shockingly what bad lawyers are capable of doing, and is an inspiring example of what a good one can do. For that alone, law schools should assign it to every entering student." -Stephen Engelberg, managing editor, ProPublica "Raymond Bonner uses his skill as a lawyer and journalist to take us on a fascinating journey deep into the heart of the criminal justice system, where the stakes could not be higher or the failures more disturbing. Anatomy of Injustice reads like a novel, but it is, tragically, all too true." -Linda Greenhouse, author of Becoming Justice Blackmun "Most of us Americans don''t have a clue about how the criminal court system really operates and we need a good writer like Bonner to take us through, step by step. But be warned: If you have pressing duties waiting, don''t begin reading this book. This is seductive storytelling at its best." -Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking "Reading Raymond Bonner's compelling account of a grossly botched murder case, I was overcome by outrage at the state of our criminal justice system. Rigorously researched and powerfully told, Anatomy of Injustice could-and should-change the national debate on the death penalty." -Michael Massing "Raymond Bonner''s Anatomy of Injustice is a powerful and poignant analysis of the case of Edward Lee Elmore. Bonner''s voice is a profound force for truth and justice in our difficult times!" -Cornel West , "A lucid, page-turning account . . . Elmore's defense winds through nearly three decades of legal maneuverings as suspenseful as the investigation of the mysterious crime itself. Painstakingly researched by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bonner, the case illustrates in fascinating and wrenching specificity the widely acknowledged inequality and moral failings of the death penalty, while illuminating the less understood details of a criminal justice system deeply compromised by race and class. Indeed, Bonner's ability to succinctly and vividly incorporate the relevant case history and explain the operative legal procedures and principles at work-including the bizarre way in which court-acknowledged innocence is not necessarily enough to spare a life on death row-makes this not only a gripping human story but a first-rate introduction to the more problematic aspects of American criminal law." -Starred review, Publishers Weekly "Bonner's gripping true-crime thriller shines a shocking light on American justice. I couldn't put it down." -Jane Mayer, author of The Dark Side "Race, sex, and murder in a Southern town are the explosive core of Ray Bonner's legal drama. Anatomy of Injustice is also a brave dispatch from the trenches of a forgotten war over capital punishment. Told with a reporter's tenacity, a lawyer's acumen, and an advocate's zeal, this book is both a gripping narrative and a chilling indictment of America's justice system." -Tony Horwitz, author of Confederates in the Attic " Anatomy of Injustice demonstrates dramatically and shockingly what bad lawyers are capable of doing, and is an inspiring example of what a good one can do. For that alone, law schools should assign it to every entering student." -Steven Engelberg, managing editor, ProPublica "Ray Bonner uses his skill as a lawyer and journalist to take us on a fascinating journey deep into the heart of the criminal justice system, where the stakes could not be higher or the failures more disturbing. Anatomy of Injustice reads like a novel, but it is, tragically, all too true." -Linda Greenhouse, author of Becoming Justice Blackmun "Most of us Americans don't have a clue about how the criminal court system really operates and we need a good writer like Bonner to take us through, step by step. But be warned: If you have pressing duties waiting, don't begin reading this book. This is seductive storytelling at its best." -Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking "Reading Ray Bonner's compelling account of a grossly botched murder case, I was overcome by outrage at the state of our criminal justice system. Rigorously researched and powerfully told, Anatomy of Injustice could-and should-change the national debate on the death penalty." -Michael Massing "Raymond Bonner's Anatomy of Injustice is a powerful and poignant analysis of the case of Edward Lee Elmore. Bonner's voice is a profound force for truth and justice in our difficult times!" -Cornel West
