Customer Reviews

Murder In Brentwood

5 star:		(82)
4 star:		(28)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Although the writing is basic and somewhat repetitive, I found this to be an insightful book regarding the investigation of the murders in Brentwood. As any educated person can tell, Mark Fuhrman was the scapegoat of this century. He was strung up and left out to dry by many, namely the "dream team" defense for OJ Simpson. But lets look at the basic facts, Nicole and Ron are dead. DNA blood samples from BOTH bodies are found in OJ's Bronco, OJ runs from police or attempts suicide?, OJ can't even get his alibi straight, and Detectives Van Natter and Lange don't seem to find this strange? Well because of their mistakes and others (namely Marcia Clark and Fung) Fuhrman became the "fall-guy."

I don't care what Fuhrman did, said or wrote in a screen play lined with racial ephitats 15 years earlier. Two people are dead and the a miriad of evidence points to only one suspect. Clearly the American justice system has failed Nicole and Ron. So has the media, so has the LAPD. But they all also failed Mark Fuhrman. Hang tough, Mr. Fuhrman, you have been vindicated in my book!

I enjoyed reading Murder In Brentwood. Mark Fuhrman, the infamous former LAPD detective provides evidence that the O.J. Simpson murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were not investigated appropriately. Mark Fuhrman who was the first investigator at the murder scene talked about evidence that were overlooked from the crime scene, from O.J. Simpson's home, and also from his car. Mr Fuhrman discussed the reasons certain witness were not called to testify. Mark Fuhrman outlined what he thought happened on June 12, 1994, at South Bundy Drive, the home of Nicole Brown. I found myself at the crime scene following step by step through Mark Furhman's detailed account. I highly recommend this book.

Before I read Murder In Brentwood I was not sure wheteher O.J. was guilty. Now I am.I had believed Mark Fuhrman to be a racist. Now I know that he is not. That was an illusion created by the scheme team. I could not put the book down.I felt a lot of outrage from reading it. Outrage over our atrocious criminal justice system and over the fact that a good man and cop was destroyed so that an obviously guilty celebrity could go free. Mark Fuhrman was an outstanding police officer as his distinguished service record clearly indicates(he received more than 55 official commodations in 20 years) and he was no racist. In the book he tells of how hard he once fought to clear a black man of a murder charge because he believed the man to be innocent.He tells how it is impossible to a racist and a good cop. But most of all he makes it clear just how absurd the defense's conspiracy theory really was. The prosecution should have let him present closing arguments. At the book's beginning, Detective Fuhrman walks us through the gruesome murder scene at Bundy and gives us a fascinating insight into detective work. He tells us of how evidence was mishandled and walks us through Vannatter and Lange's interogation of O.J.pointing out their many mistakes. He shows how nearly everyone was intimidated by O.J. and his celebrity status. It is at times a frustrating read but it is always fascinating.The last page of the book where he says that even had he known the nightmare awaiting him, he still would have answered that call at 1:00a.m. and vigorously investigated the case doing all that he could to solve it because what else could he do, he was a cop is one of the most enlightening and moving things I have ever read.

First of all...yes, the book is worth reading. I was amazed at the mass of evidence which pointed directly to OJ Simpson. I never realized that there was THAT much evidence which would have put away any man in a matter of days (of court). Fuhrman also points out the reasons why much of the evidence was not used - and one will be utterly amazed at the tactics of the defense and the prosecution to suppress evidence!

There were two parts of the book that, at first, I did not think belonged in the book. The sections were about Fuhrman's later problems with his former lady friend, the potential screenwriter, and what he said ten years ealier. And how it came back to haunt him. The other section dealt with his problems with Margaret York (a police capitan who was Judge Lance Ito's wife). At first, I didn't think these were necessary to be in the book. But, at the conclusion of the book, I now understand why Fuhrman included these chapters. It sets up the whole trial against Fuhrman.

I enjoyed Fuhrman's caustic attitude toward York, the Defense Team (especially Cochran), and the prosecution (both Marsha and Christopher). Fuhrman was vilified at the trial because he said the "n-word", and OJ kills two people and gets off scott free!

This book clearly shows the incompetence of the prosecution by using Mark Fuhrman as the scapegoat. Mark not only does a superb job in his investigation, but also testifying. Being a police officer, I've had the opportunity to view numerous detectives testify. I can honestly say that he is one of the most professional detectives I've ever seen. It is a shame that a double murderer gets off, due to a circumstance which had nothing to do with the trial. The book was superb and I could not put it down. Mr. Fuhrman should not be seen as a person who is a racist, because he is not, but should be congratulated for his outstanding job in his performance of his duties. I salute Mark Fuhrman and only hope that he could go on to live a normal life.

This book give a very detailed "behind the scenes" look at this terrible tragedy. The murders were horrific and the clarity with which Mark Fuhrman writes is excellent.

I believe the book is very well-witten. It lays out the facts, evidence, etc. in a way that allows a lay person to understand why Mr. Fuhrman proved O.J. Simpson to be a murderer. It is a bit self-serving, but I understand why. I believe that how Mark Fuhrman was treated, as learned in his book & other accounts, can shake the faith in our justice system. He is not, & never was, a racist. Anyone of us could have been thusly accused using the shameful tactics his accusers did. All his rights as a citizen should be restored. I enjoy his books a great deal. I hope he sees this review at some time.

Like many people who followed the trial, I watched in morbid curiosity while the media and the court set out to influence public opinion about O.J and the "Trial of the Century". I never appreciated Mark Fuhrman's position or knowledge of the case until I read this book. To be honest, I expected it to be an attempt to apologize to the country for contributing to this apparent miscarriage of justice. Instead, what I found was a facinating, professional account of the facts of the case. I have also gone on to read his book, Murder in Greenwich, and one thing is certain. Mr. Fuhrman is the man I'd want on the case.

Regardless of what you think of former LA detective Mark Furhman, this book is a fascinating look into the deaths of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman, as well as the investigation by LAPD and the subsequent trial of OJ Simpson for the deaths.
Furhman peppers the book with his own ancedotes and tries one last time to defend his actions while on the stand in the trial. I suspect many will be unwilling to understand Furhman's defense that his racist label was, according to him, partly the cause of a taped book about true crime which he was making with a girlfriend in the early 80's (tapes of a cop acting out racist scenes provide good ammo for any ex-girlfriend who wants revenge, and is shown as to why she kept the tapes for a decade, Fuhrman implies) and partly due to his strained relationship with the trial's own Judge Ito's wife who was Fuhrman's supervisor for a number of years. Fuhrman alleges in the book that Ito's wife never liked him, which led him to believe that because of this relationship, Ito allowed the defense to attack the police and specifically Fuhrman becuase of 'pillow talk' Ito probably had with his wife about the detective over the years.
That said, the strength of this book lies in careful examination of evidence by Fuhrman and how Detectives Phillips and Vanatter made sloppy mistakes from missing a bloody fingerprint on the rear gate to not properly impounding Oj's car after finding blood evidence inside of it. The infamous bloody glove is also discussed as Vanatter took it with him two the two crime scenes, a clear chain of custody violation.
Ultimately Fuhrman's point is that Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman will never get justice for their brutal murders. He identifies the obvious passion in her murder as her neck was cut so deeply she was nearly decapitated, passion that, besides the blood/dna evidence (Fuhrman states he had worked hundreds of crime scenes in his career and never seen that much evidence) OJ Simpson had to be the killer. He further argues this by providing the written log of the interview detectives had with Simpson where he provides multiple reasons why his finger is cut, a cut that is deep enough for a reasonable person to have remembered with clarity where exactly it happened.
The overall theme of the book seems to indicate that a high paid defense team can get a guilty person adquitted of murder. I was left wondering at the end of the book, were the circumstances exactly the same, but the suspect and evidence leading to a non-celebrity who was not wealthy, what would have happened? Keep in mind as you read that the defense's strongest argument was that the LAPD was framing Simpson. Think about the totality of the circumstances and read this book and see if you agree. I might add that there are other good books on this trial and it is important to hear what some of the other players have to say if you truly want the whole picture. Check this book out.

I would recommend this book to anyone who really wants to learn the truth of what happened that night in Brentwood. Detective Fuhrman leads you step by step through the crime scene and goes over all the evidence including those that were never mentioned during the Simpson trial. It seems unbelievable that his superiors could have been so careless in not even reading the young detective's notes. If they had, they would have seen the bloody print left on the gate and Simpson would be paying for his crime instead of playing golf The prosecution was so weak that they almost apologized because they were trying a man who once played football. I believed Detective Fuhrman when he was on the stand and this book only reinforced my belief in his integrity and honesty. That he used the "N" word should have never been brought up during the trial in the first place. Simpson's lawyers tried to turn it into the Mark Fuhrman trial which resulted in a killer being freed. I would be honored to know Mr. Fuhrman and think he is a superb writer. I have also read MURDER IN GREENWICH and will definitely buy the next book that he writes. The LAPD lost a valuable man, but the world now has another great writer.