The harrowing, heartbreaking story of Nick Yarris who spent twenty one years on Death Row for a crime he did not commit. When Nick was seven, his childhood was shattered when he was attacked and raped by a local teenage boy who went on to terrorize him throughout his teenage years. Nick responded by becoming a replica of his attacker, projecting a fierce and violent reputation in the hope that he would never feel so weak again. He became an alcoholic and drug addict, and started committing petty crimes to pay for his habit. On 20 December 1981, Nick was in a stolen car when he was pulled over for jumping a red light. A scuffle ensued after Nick was manhandled by the policeman, and he was placed in solitary confinement without treatment for drug withdrawal, causing him to collapse mentally. Having read the lone newspaper in his cell about the murder of Linda Mae Craig, who had been abducted from a local shopping mall car park, he concocted a story pinning the murder on a former drug buddy in a desperate bid for freedom. It backfired, and Nick was accused of the murder himself. Nick was charged and convicted on no real evidence other than his own failed story.At the age of 20 he was sent to one of the most notoriously brutal prisons in the United States, and was tormented by a guard later convicted of abuse at Abu Ghraib. During more than two decades of torment and suffering on Death Row, in despair, Nick often begged to bring forward his execution. But Nick refused to give up, educating himself while in prison, and battled to use DNA evidence to prove his innocence. He was finally released, and now lives in the UK with his wife and baby daughter and continuing to fight against the death penalty.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
About the Author
Nick Yarris was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. In July 1982 he was sentenced to death in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, for a murder he did not commit. He sat in solitary confinement on Death Row for nearly twenty-two years until DNA testing finally proved his innocence in 2003, and in January 2004 he was released form prison. He now lives in St Albans, England, with his wife Karen and baby daughter Lara Rebecca. He speaks all around the world against the death penalty.
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I've just got back from holiday where this is one of the books I read and have to say it was one of those where I could not put it down. I wanted desperately to get to the end so that I knew what had happened yet didn't want it to end as was so engrossed with it. Nick has written the book well and it reads fluently. For anyone who is interested in real life it doesn't get much closer than this.
Nick is open and honest throughout about his reasons for being on death row and unlike Kenny Richey in Death Row Scot (also an amazing read)are totally his own doing and how simple it is to slip into the American Death Row and be an escapee from death row!!!
The book is simply a must for all to read even my Boyfriend who hates non-fiction got stuck in, read it in 2 days and really enjoyed it. As annoying as this might be I do not want to go into any specific details simply because I don't want to spoil things for those prepared to buy it and read it. I just don't think the book will disappoint anyone who has even the remotest interest after reading the synopsis.
An all round good, easy to read, honest and heartfelt book - enjoy :-)
Nick is open and honest throughout about his reasons for being on death row and unlike Kenny Richey in Death Row Scot (also an amazing read)are totally his own doing and how simple it is to slip into the American Death Row and be an escapee from death row!!!
The book is simply a must for all to read even my Boyfriend who hates non-fiction got stuck in, read it in 2 days and really enjoyed it. As annoying as this might be I do not want to go into any specific details simply because I don't want to spoil things for those prepared to buy it and read it. I just don't think the book will disappoint anyone who has even the remotest interest after reading the synopsis.
An all round good, easy to read, honest and heartfelt book - enjoy :-)
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By lordroonie
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
An incredible TRUE story about this poor guy whose sad experiences as a youth led to 21 years on death row. Sometimes it doesn't read smoothly as the style is not always consistent, but you will be left wondering how the American justice system can morally and legally use the word 'justice' in its title! Incredible.
By Sophia
Format:Hardcover
Nick Yarris comes across as a man who can't take responsibility for any of his actions. Everything is always somebody else's fault. This book was obviously edited to the enth degree, as he has a very flowery way of writing - almost like a Victorian lady!
This appears to be a man who has constantly broken the law, been violent and extremely unpleasant, yet there is always another person to blame. Yes, it is terrible that he ended up on death row, but that too was his fault. If he had been arrested for every crime he had committed, he would have definitely served more than 23 years in prison.
In short, I would say this is a very unpleasant man who has written an average book with a lot of help from agents and publishers.
This appears to be a man who has constantly broken the law, been violent and extremely unpleasant, yet there is always another person to blame. Yes, it is terrible that he ended up on death row, but that too was his fault. If he had been arrested for every crime he had committed, he would have definitely served more than 23 years in prison.
In short, I would say this is a very unpleasant man who has written an average book with a lot of help from agents and publishers.
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Biography > True Crime
- Books > History
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
