Customer Reviews

Murder in Memphis

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I love true crime, but I approached this book with some misgivings after realizing the authors are close relatives of Debbie. I feared they might not be objective, might be overly emotional, and might not be very good writers. I need not have worried. Their prose is excellent and they stick to the facts of this brutal, horrifying crime. The writers do reveal the family's emotions from the time of Debbie's disappearance through the long quest for justice (just as we would wish them to do), but never with histrionics. The strongest emotions this book arouses will be those of the reader. You cannot help but feel tremendous sorrow and compassion for the victim and her family. Later, you will feel outrage as a Federal judge thwarts the administration of justice at every turn.

This is one of the best examples you will ever read of the infuriating imbalance in our justice system wherein the "rights" of convicted murderers are allowed to far outweigh the rights of their victims. Were it not for her courageous and determined family, Debbie would have been wholly depersonalized and forgotten--even as her cowardly and cruel killers were being fawned over and lavished with every excess of "rights" that our justice system can dream up. You will not be able to put this book down.

I've read many true crime books and this one is a favorite. I absolutely could not put it down. The crime was horrific but the book is very well written and your heart will bleed for the family.

It breaks my heart to read what Debbie Groseclose's family went through after her murder. Beware, the court descriptions of what happened to her as she was killed are very graphic. A great read. It reads like a fictional mystery book but the fact that you know everything that happened in the book actually happened makes it chilling.

This is a story that has covered twenty-one years of a family's struggle to assure justice for the murder of a family member. If you feel comfor- table with our country's justice system and feel you, as an innocent citizen, are represented with all fairness and consideration, you really need to read this account. It is an indepth account of the planning, carringout, investigation, and trial covering the murder of Debbie Groseclose. It also covers an unbelieveable twenty year journey through our legal system.

What has happened in this case is of grave importance to each and every one of us. And, the story goes on as the men who were convicted of this murder are now being scheduled for a retrial - twenty one years later.

To read this book is to challange oneself to get involved.

I am familiar with the history of this truely gruesome murder, and Deborah's family's search for justice. Dorris and Rebecca did a great job of being objective. Once I started the book I couldn't put it down, I actually read it in just 1 day! I hope someone sends a copy of this book to Rep. Henry Hyde, as justice for Deborah will probably rest in his hands...ie the impeachment of activist anti-death penalty federal Judge John T. Nixon, who accepted an award for overturning a death penalty in Tennessee.

Anyone who opposes the death penalty should read this book.

Why the people who committed this crime are still drawing breath is beyond my comprehension.

This book made me physically sick in places.The truth of it is gut wrenching. If it was fiction I would say it was overkill. That it is true is a sad reminder that we have a long way to go to sraighten out our justice system.Void of the usual flowery sentiment it is straight to the point.I loved the book but was overwhelmed with sadness for my friend Rebecca and whats left of her family.Now that Judge Nixon has granted retrials to two of the murderers in question I wonder when we can expect the sequal as it seems that this sad story is far from over.I recommend this book for everyone who has ever lost a loved one to a violent crime, been screwed over by the legal system , or knows anyone going through such an ordeal. I also suggest it to anyone looking for a good book to read. Enough said? I think so.

This book first interested me because I'm from Tennessee and then because it occured in my lifetime. I can't believe this murder took place. The most devastating part, after finding the victim, is the fact that the death sentence does not mean the death sentence. If I was a member of the victim's family; I just don't know how I would hold it together after all they've been through. When a case is as open and shut as this case was, I don't understand the rights of the accused. Obviously, the murderer does not think about thier victim's rights (to live); so why should the murderer be treated any differently.

"MURDER IN MEMPHIS" was the kind of book that keeps your interest and curiousity.I couldn't put it down.I knew about the case before due to my involvment in another murder case in Tennessee.It seems outrageous that in this modern era,criminals are able to beat the system.Thank goodness for people like Rebecca Easley,who are trying to make changes!My sister was also murdered 20 years ago,and the man was sentenced to death.Today he still is alive,still has rights,and is currently working on another appeal.Thankfully,this case is in front of a different judge.Maybe Judge Jordan will realize that his sentence should be carried out.

This book tells so much more than just the mechanics of the murder of Debroah Groseclose.

It describes the dehumanization and murder of a young mother so dramatically that one almost believes the perpertrators are merely performing a normal day's work.

Aside from the real life murder its most important point is how our government, especially the judicial system, fails to control unethical judges.

These judges are in positions of power, for all practical purposes an absolute power, for life terms. They literally can do whatever they wish and have no one to which they must answer. They have written the law to cover their own kind while making it appear the public has recourse. Even the Supreme Court of the land denies having any control over these federal judges.

Rebecca and Dorris have done an outstanding job presenting super critical points of inequities that remain hidden from the public, a judge who violates the canons of his office by accepting an award which is a direct conflict of interest with his responsibilities, his superior who covers with inept written answers to formal inquires, a judge who fails to resign when caught violating ethics, a system that permits appeals (writs of habeas corpus) to be sat on for a decade, a system that permits one judge to review all death penalty cases in the state, a system where one man decides whether a committe outside is jurisdiction should investigate alleged wrong-doing by one of his subordinates. The judicial system of the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals is revealed as a group of elite judges who blatantly override law to protect criminals of the worst kind.

To say that last statement means I must have some personal knowledge of how the system is being used. I qualify to say that because I, too, filed a formal complaint against Judge Nixon. When that was denied I filed an appeal, that like Rebecca's, was also denied.

I only know a small part of the frustration that families of victims have experience in the past two decades here in the 6th District. Nixon overturned another killer's conviction and sentence - this man (killer) raped and killed an 8 year old girl near my hometown; that's too close to home. You will experience hair raising, blood boiling emotion when you read about how our judicial system doesn't work.

It is, in short, an eye opening look at the judicial system that will change the way you see our government, especially the judicial system.

It is a spell binding book - once you begin reading it you can't put it down.

Glenn R. Snow n4mj@sunsix.infi.net