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Kirk Bage (1775 KP) rated The Innocence Files in TV

Apr 8, 2021

The Innocence Files

2020 | Crime, Documentary

7.0

(2 Ratings)

TV Show Rating

A very interesting concept of highlighting criminal cases that an actual organisation called The Innocence Project is trying to overturn by exposing them on TV in documentary form. 3 sets of 3 episodes that focus on the evidence, the witnesses and the prosecution. Watching it in entirety will set you back a full 10 hours, so I recommend taking it in one at a time or in the sets of 3 it makes logical sense to group together. There is no through line exactly, only that they all share the distinct possibility of a huge injustice based on dodgy evidence, unreliable witnesses or a corrupt prosecution.

It is perhaps a little dry taken as a whole, but several of the individual stories are so obviously miscarriages of justice that it is worth observing just how easy it is for the system to get it grossly wrong, resulting in an innocent person serving a long sentence behind bars. As with a lot of these shows, the faith we should have in law and order is shaken to the core by what we can plainly see has happened. It is as terrifying as any crime in itself that if in the wrong place at the wrong time anyone could find themselves in the position of being accused and losing a large portion of their lives to the misery of pursuing freedom.

Kudos

Tom Turner (388 KP) rated Skallagrigg in Books

Jun 15, 2021

Skallagrigg

William Horwood | 1988 | Fiction & Poetry

8.0

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

I very rarely post about books while I'm still reading them, but for this book I had to, because I felt, and still feel it is criminal that this is book is not that well known. It should be in the pantheon of novels that get read my millions each year. However, I doubt given its obscurity that this is the case.

This story is so much more than its basics of being an exploration of disability. Though as someone with a disability it did bring home to me how much my life could have been different if I had been born in a different era - but also, how far society has yet to travel. It's as much a story about the human spirit and the importance of wholeness. To be honest, there are many levels one could read this book. If one has the tearducts strong enough, I am sure it's the kind of book that a reread would give even greater insight than the first read through. I first picked this up in the early 2000's, and for various reasons never finished a complete read through until now. But it was definitely one of those books that kept calling me back, and I'm so glad it did!

If you can get hold of a copy, it really is a must read!

Kudos

Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Turn of The Key in Books

Sep 10, 2019

The Turn of The Key

Ruth Ware | 2019 | Thriller

7.7

(10 Ratings)

Book Rating

‏I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

What would you do if you were in jail for murder? Try to get someone to help you, of course. That is exactly what the main character in Ruth Ware's latest, The Turn of the Key, attempts to do. From her jail cell, Rowan Caine writes her lawyer begging for his help.

I work in a courtroom in the criminal court system and hear trial after trial of people accused of various felonious crimes, including murder. I heard countless defendants testify. However, their stories are always fed bit by bit as the attorneys ask questions. This book is a defendant's story as it happened, from her point of view, from start to finish.

While I enjoyed the format, I found the story hard to get into. I am glad that I finished reading it because the surprise ending makes the story worth reading.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the story takes place inside a smart house. The house is so central to the story it could be considered a character itself. Ware makes us question whether the convenience of smart technology is worth the lack of privacy.

The story is a slow burn but worth reading.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 9/9/19.