Customer Reviews

Mockery Of Justice: The True Story of the Sheppard Murder Case

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

While this book doesn't prove who really did kill Marilyn Sheppard, it does provide us with enough evidence to believe, beyond a reasonable doubt that, that Dr. Sam Sheppard was truly innocent. Unlike, Fatal Justice, which attempts to "prove" the innocence of Jeffrey MacDonald, Mockery of Justice does provide us with "hard" evidence indicating that someone else was involved--not Sam Sheppard. Whatever your beliefs regarding the case, the book is well-researched, informative and thought-provoking.

It is hard to imagine why the City of Cleveland and the media there still refuse to acknowledge the horrible error made in 1954 when Dr. Sam was convicted. As this fine book shows, there was much evidence to show that Dr. Sam killed no one--and no convincing evidence that he ever killed anyone, much less his wife. It is truly a tragedy. Not only was a woman murdered and her murderer never caught, Dr. Sam's life was ruined; his mother committed suicide; his father's demise was hastened--and on and on, down to the present day with the pain suffered by the son. If there was ever a good argument against the death penalty, this book is it--and I have long supported the death penalty in certain cases. This book should become a classic among fans of true crime stories.

The Sheppard murder case is probably the most famous in America, certainly the most famous prior to O.J. Dr. Sam Sheppard, a relatively prominent doctor from suburban Cleveland, was accused of murdering his wife. The case was tried in the newspapers, and he was convicted before the trial even began, served a dozen years in prison, and then was acquitted by a second trial. There are still legal proceedings going on in this trial (his family wants a full exoneration for him) and interest in the case continues.

Dr. Sam (as he is known to distinguish him from his son, Sam Reese Sheppard) was apparently wrongly convicted, and according to police investigators in the book, never would have been indicted under similar circumstances now. A more thorough investigation of the other people in the lives of the Sheppards would have been conducted also. The authors make a good case that the investigation in 1954 was very sloppy and incomplete, apparently because they'd already decided who the culprit was.

Unfortunately, this is all told in wooden prose, almost unreadable at times. Further, in the first half of the book there are numerous flashbacks (or flashforwards, depending on your point of view) with the action shifting between 1954 and the 90's. The second half of the book jumps between several suspects that were looked at in the investigation conducted by Sheppard's son (who's one of the co-writers) along with a host of other people, including the other author of this book. It's all not very well sorted (I found myself leafing back and forth trying to remember who various people were, and losing interest, to be frank) and somewhat confusing, though the conclusion seems obvious enough.

There is much to like about this book. Unfortunately, most of what is likable about it is buried under a mass of barely-readable prose, and told in such a way as to make it considerably less than compelling. Frankly I wish I could give this book a higher rating. Reality, however, has to set in. It's not that good a book, except on the level of exonerating Sam Sheppard.

I thought the writing in "The Wrong Man" was dull. Then I read this book...some of the worst writing I've seen in recent years. Cynthia Cooper manages to take a compelling story and make it a struggle to read with her awkward, turgid style.

Skip this book. There are much better books on this case available.

This was the third book I had read on the murder of Marilyn Sheppard...I had always felt that Sam Sheppard was innocent until I read my fourth book on this murder - Dr. Sam Sheppard on Trial: The Prosecutors and the Marilyn Sheppard Murder by Jack P. DeSario [Hardcover]...if you're really interested in this case and want the truth, then read Dr. Sam Sheppard on Trial...the FBI testimony about murder classification will blow you away. The characteristics of a domestic violence murder were ALL present in this murder. The book gives a little trial testimony from all three trials - this book is about the civil trial in 2000 brought against the state of Ohio by the son. My sympathies to him because he now knows the truth about his father.

I have been fascinated all my life by the Sheppard case, and my father before me. It is certainly the foremost American unsolved mystery case of all time, as well as being an incredibly chilling and gripping classic American Gothic story worthy of Mark Twain or Poe. The book "Mockery of Justice" pretty much wraps up the mystery. The book thoroughly proves that Dr. Sheppard was railroaded and framed by the Cleveland police. The most disturbing part of the story is how the police and good citizens of Cleveland had no qualms about putting away an innocent man for this crime, and about destroying all the evidence proving his innocence. Meanwhile the Sheppard family is all but destroyed and the real killer is allowed to go on his merry way....a phenomenally good book.

The reason I gave only 4 out of 5 stars is because in my opinion there should have been a bit more editing to help the continuity. At times the changing from one person's perspective to another's and jarring leaps from one time frame to another makes for choppy reading. Also there are times when it becomes confusing as to who is thinking or speaking because of odd phrases and awkward word placement, otherwise it truly is a fine read. If you enjoy minute details and background you won't be disappointed with "Mockery of Justice" and in the end the authors more than prove that Dr. Sam Sheppard was railroaded by the police, coroner's office and by the Cleveland press of the 1950's. The author, who is also the son of Dr. Sheppard gives almost a blow by blow account of how he and others have uncovered decades old lies, cover-ups, rumors and ultimately the clues that point to the probable identity of the true killer who has gone unpunished for so long. If you like true crime and micro-detailing you'll enjoy this book and come away convinced of the wrongful conviction of an innocent man and the brutal murder of a young mother and wife and the unraveling of a 50 year old mystery.

Mockery Of Justice gives the full story of what really happened 7/4/54 when Dr. Sam Sheppard's pregnant wife Marilyn was bludgeoned to death in their home. Their son, Sam Reese Sheppard co-wrote the book with Cynthia Cooper & they did a terrific job, providing much detailed information and photographs. After reading this you will most likely come away with the realization that Dr. Sheppard really was innocent. The trial transcripts & notes reveal information never before known to the public. A must-have book for fans of true-crime novels.

A lot of new evidence has been uncovered to prove that Dr. Sam Sheppard could not have committed his wife's murder and to prove that Richard Eberling, the window washer at their home, is the likely killer. Great, true crime reading!!

I recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn all the circumstances surrounding the Sam Shepperd Murder case. Still leaves open who really killed Marilyn Shepperd