Customer Reviews

Lethal Justice: One Man's Journey of Hope on Death Row (Today's Issues)

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Lethal Justice is an interesting,if slightly unbelievable,work of fiction. The "facts"have been poorly researched and the story itself is a hodge-podge of lies,half-truths and daydreams that were related to the rather naive author by the subject of the book.
I'm also a prisoner on Texas' Death Row and I knew Leslie Gosch for almost ten years before he was executed. His "life",his profound ideas and mystical insights,were his, only for the length of time it took him to transcribe them from whichever book he was reading to the letter he was writing - whether it was his "expertise" on flute-making and his knowledge of music,or his account of watching for hours while a sunflower blossomed when he was barely out of diapers. His "life",as told by Joy Elder,never happened.
However,as a glimpse into the twisted mind of a little man who dreamed impossible dreams of being respected and looked up to as a wise and humble,generous and compassionate human being,it is interesting and maybe even worth a reading. You should keep a box of salt close to hand, though.

This is a moving book. It makes a strong case against the death penalty and will force you to carefully evaluate your own stance on the issue. After an executed man was found innocent, a group came together in Britain to begin corresponding with death row inmates. Joy saw the television show about this innocent man and joined Human Writes. She began corresponding with Lesly Gosch.

This book uses the author's words and excerpts of correspondence from Lesly to tell the story of life on death row and one man's journey to self-acceptance before execution.

Although it does drag a bit at times, always in Lesley's correspondence, overall it is an interesting book. It is powerfully moving and the author does an exceptional job of presenting her position convincingly.

I read the review by the jealous, disgruntled current Texas Death Row inmate. There are no computers on death row. I question the lacky and co-conspirator working on his behalf. I knew Leslie Gosch while I was an innocent member of death row. Though I cannot speak of his innocence or guilt, what I can say is that Leslie never bothered anyone. I cannot fathom what he did to evoke such hatred and jealously from one of his peers. This is a good book into the horrors of the worst death row in America. Ignore the vindictive ramblings of this death row inmate who needs to remove the mote from his own eye before castigating another. Great job, Ms. Elder.

If you need convincing that the death penalty is a bad idea and you don't care for the academic or philosophical approach, then get this book today. If you want to read a sensitive narrative written to portray what we should already know, then get this book. It's a light read in one sense, full of personal impressions, lovingly crafted to move you. Could be sub-subtitled: One Woman's Journey of Emotion to the Death Row Visitor Box.

Describing the prison town in Texas as "America's killing capital" puts the whole book in a slippery context. If I weren't from the area I might appreciate it as gruesome gringo modern emo western. But what about America's medical-malpractice capital, armed-murder capital or fetus-killing capital? Not in Texas. And not on this transient author's radar.

The topic is important and deserves every book that can be written about it.

Further shopping is recommmended.