Customer Reviews

A Checkered Past

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The author has been incarcerated in Florida for most of his life, starting at age eleven. His book is well worth the read, particularly for those who want a better understanding of such matters in Florida.

He recounts his life, both committing crimes and incarcerated, as well as his many escapes. For a person who has been incarcerated most of his life, he is a good writer and gives very worthwhile descriptions of Florida "justice": Way too many law enforcement officers lie about him, causing him to have even less respect for our quite flawed criminal justice system.

He also recounts the injustices that others have suffered in Florida's "correctional" institutions.

And after he had been arrested for felony murder along with Frank Valdez, the death row inmate who was murdered by the prison guards in the late 1990s, he has a very powerful conversion experience to Christianity.

I read both Mr. VanPoyck's books and now ordering the third book.. I have shared these 2 books with members of my church and Checkered Past has helped in the youth dept to help educate the teens in what could happen in your life by one wrong decision and finding the correct path to take. Mr. Van Poyck has helped unbeknowst to him many a person see the right before its wrong. His transformation into the spiritual asset of his life has been a blessing .

This book is a phenomenal first hand prespective of a life long criminal and prisoner. Mr. Van Poyck gives a real life look into his middle class beginnings where the death of a parent can have a profound effect on a child. It is also entertaining story of twisted escape plots, jailhouse heirearcy and a TRUE STORY of the fast times of miami in the 80s and the life of a drug dealer. Billy is a sympathetic criminal since although involved in murder, he isnt a cold blooded killer, more like a product of the justice system, where respect and bonds of friendship throw you into the midsts of a modern day cowboy. A sympathetic character and A MUST READ

Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down. It was well worth the read, though, especially what happens toward the end of the book. He is working on publishing another book, "The Third Pillar of Wisdom". I've read the manuscript and it is another excellent read. It will be available soon.