The Short Drop by Matthew FitzSimmons Shop Women's Athletic Shoes Learn more nav_sap_SWP_6M_fly_beacon The Beatles All-New Amazon Fire TV A New Year for a Healthy New You Journals Find the Best Purina Pro Plan for Your Pet Amazon Gift Card Offer mithc mithc mithc Amazon Echo Starting at $49.99 Kindle Trade-In Nintendo Digital Games Winter Sports on Amazon.com DOTD

Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

  • Apple
  • Android
  • Windows Phone
  • Android

To get the free app, enter your email address or mobile phone number.
Download to your computer
Kindle Cloud Reader
Facebook Twitter Pinterest <Embed>
Qty:1
FREE Shipping on orders over $35.
Only 2 left in stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
The Book of Matt: Hidden ... has been added to your Cart
Want it tomorrow, Jan. 5? Order within and choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
Ship to:
Select a shipping address:
Select a shipping address:
To see addresses, please
or
Please enter a valid US zip code.
or
Used: Good | Details
Sold by Jacobs Media
Fulfilled by Amazon
Condition: Used: Good
Comment: Good readable copy. Worn edges and covers and may have small creases. Otherwise item is in good condition!

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and .

If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you increase your sales. We invite you to learn more about Fulfillment by Amazon .

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.
Have one to sell? Sell on Amazon
Flip to back Flip to front
Listen Playing... Paused   You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more
See all 2 images

The Book of Matt: Hidden Truths About the Murder of Matthew Shepard Hardcover – September 24, 2013

by
Stephen Jimenez (Author)
› Visit Amazon's Stephen Jimenez Page
Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
See search results for this author
Are you an author? Learn about Author Central
Stephen Jimenez (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 164 customer reviews
See all 3 formats and editions Hide other formats and editions
Price
New from Used from
Kindle
"Please retry"
$11.92
— —
Hardcover
"Please retry"
$26.00
$14.94 $3.49
Paperback
"Please retry"
$14.12
$9.02 $6.50
Best Books of the Year So Far
Looking for something great to read? Browse our editors' picks for 2015's Best Books of the Year in fiction, nonfiction, mysteries, children's books, and much more.
$26.00 FREE Shipping on orders over $35. Only 2 left in stock. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Frequently Bought Together

  • The Book of Matt: Hidden Truths About the Murder of Matthew Shepard
  • +
  • The Meaning of Matthew: My Son's Murder in Laramie, and a World Transformed
Total price: $40.33
Buy the selected items together
NO_CONTENT_IN_FEATURE

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Steerforth (September 24, 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1586422146
  • ISBN-13: 978-1586422141
  • Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1.2 x 9.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (164 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #297,681 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Important Information

Ingredients
Example Ingredients

Directions
Example Directions

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

172 of 205 people found the following review helpful
An important book about the Matt we never knew
By Jeff Walsh on September 25, 2013
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
In The Book of Matt: Hidden Truths About the Murder of Matthew Shepard, journalist Stephen Jimenez reveals how little of the narrative we've all come to know is accurate, as he spent more than a decade slowly peeling away protected layers until the real picture emerged.

I was admittedly floored to have something so assuredly resolved be completely upended. I was also intrigued because in the mid 90s, I worked at a daily newspaper where my daily job was covering criminal trials. I've spend hours watching entire murder and rape trials unspool, and am always fascinated watching people online jump to wild conclusions based on scant information, but be completely assured that they have locked in on the crucial bit of information.

So, as I became fascinated by the existence of such a narrative-changing book, it was interesting watching the online world pick it apart before reading it. On one online site, an entire thread arose because Jimenez mentioned what started him down this process: an anonymous letter he found by accident in the previously-sealed court records.

The letter said the anti-gay nature of the crime was completely wrong, because Aaron McKinney (one of the defendants) had been a male hustler who was no stranger to sex with men. This, of course, set the comments flying about how irresponsible it was to write a book based on an anonymous letter.

But, having been a journalist for years, this didn't seem strange to me at all. Anonymous tips were a normal part of the job. They aren't sources, they are things to investigate, and sometimes prove to be true. Mystery is often a part of journalism.Read more ›
61 Comments Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
81 of 98 people found the following review helpful
Tells The Real Story The Locals Know
By Hoss Peterson on November 4, 2013
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
I grew up in Laramie, where this murder happened. I know probably 50% of the people in this book personally. I have personal ties to the places and people here, so I was very hesitant to read this book. HOWEVER...

EVERY SINGLE PERSON I knew in Laramie said the same thing about the Matthew Shepard murder - that it wasn't a hate crime because he was gay, it was a robbery over drugs. EVERY SINGLE PERSON.

I was worried that the writer would take the "easy way out" and not dig into the real story. I was happy to be disappointed. Mr. Jimenez spent the time to get the REAL story here. He talked to the people I knew and got the stories the locals knew were the right ones. For an outsider to get that kind of story, he had to have spent a LOT of time in Laramie, and he did. Great book, great research, great observation.

The murder is a heinous crime, of that there is no doubt, it has just been blown into something way out of proportion to what it really was by an overzealous media. While Gay Rights may have a poster child in Matthew Shepard, the truth of the story is a long way from an innocent gay man being beaten to death for his sexual preference by a couple of thugs. This book will open your eyes.
1 Comment Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
58 of 72 people found the following review helpful
Reveals a much more tragic story than initially accepted
By Horace Vandergelder on October 5, 2013
Format: Hardcover
Mr. Jimenez has spent 13 years extensively researching and writing a very compelling book regarding the brutal beating and murder of Matthew Shepard in 1998. The result is much more complex story than what most us ever had an inkling too. Perhaps more than any other horrible crime in recent history, that has shocked our nation, the murder of Matthew Shepard immediately captured our hearts and compassion. We asked ourselves "Why?". Why would two young men in Laramie, Wyoming sadistically beat in another young man's skull and leave him to die tied to a fence post? The "reported answer" to that question came out almost immediately in the days following the murder. In retrospect the "answer" came out far too quickly.

As the media descended on Laramie en mass to report on the story as it unfolded word soon began to spread that one of the young men arrested for the murder was claiming a "gay panic" defense. That he had beat Matthew because Matthew had made sexual advances towards him. He wanted to teach Matthew a lesson by beating him. The news that this was an anti-gay hate crime spread like wild fire and we were all quick to believe it. Celebrities and Politicians were very vocal in expressing their outrage and to strengthen the case for Hate Crime Laws.

In writing this book Mr. Jiminez's intent was not to dispel the accepted story of the Matthew Shepard murder. He originally intended to write a screen play on the story. However while conducting his research he started to uncover clues that there was much more to this story. As a journalist he knew that "truth matters" and a more complete story needed to be told.

What is revealed is the dark world of the Crystal Meth scourge that was quickly spreading through Wyoming, adjoining states and beyond.Read more ›
5 Comments Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
48 of 61 people found the following review helpful
Very well written/well researched
By Ryan Roth on October 3, 2013
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
As a person born and raised in Laramie, and one who went to school with both Aaron and Russell, I was very interested to read what new material Mr. Jimenez had discovered. I was blown away at the new revelations and buried facts from the case. There is quite a bit of material that is brought to light, some of it for the first time. How different would things be now for many people involved if this material would have been brought up in the days and weeks after the murder and leading up to the trial? I highly recommend this book to people interested in Matthew Shepard, his life, and tragic death. Mr. Jimenez's research and commitment to this project is impressive. Five stars!
1 Comment Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse

Most Recent Customer Reviews

Laramie's endorsement of the drug trade-Matt's legacy.

Finally a book that tells the truth of Matt's murder and the seamy drug trade that went on in Laramie with "approval" of the police.

Published 1 month ago by Westie
Exceptional Journalism

It's not often, if ever, that I read a true crime book that drastically alters my perception of the case. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Amazon Customer
I don't usually believe conspiracy theories but...

This book moves quite slowly and the style is very pedestrian – I did this, then I went there, then I met…. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Mr. D. P. Jay
Don't Waste Your Money

This book should have never been written. The only thing that can be known for certain this many years laternis that Matthew Shepard was brutally tortured and murdered and the... Read more

Published 3 months ago by HRC
A MUST MUST MUST READ

As a gay person I've been fed the "ST. Matthew" story - it never felt right to me - this book is amazing - how could the real story not have come out? Read more

Published 3 months ago by Patrice Jensen
Riveting, and disturbing.

Meth, is a cancer on society! Addiction excuses some abhorrent behavior!
The Media is a powerful force, and often it is in their interest to keep the story simple. Read more

Published 4 months ago by Gary
Fascinating

I grew up near Laramie and as all my friends live there and I frequently visit, it made me more curious about the hidden layers of Laramie (that are in every state, not just... Read more

Published 4 months ago by Maria C. Osban
A Very Interesting Review Of The Matthew Shepard Murder

This is a very interesting book about the Matthew Shepard murder in Laramie, Wyoming in October 1998. Read more

Published 4 months ago by Amazon Customer
Five Stars

Excellent and unbiased. Highly recommend for anyone seeking out the true story behind the media firestorm.

Published 6 months ago by Kindle Customer
One Star

Completely oversold. Unbelievable, reckless, unconvincing.

Published 6 months ago by The Boat

Set up an Amazon Giveaway

Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers. Learn more
The Book of Matt: Hidden Truths About the Murder of Matthew Shepard
This item: The Book of Matt: Hidden Truths About the Murder of Matthew Shepard
Price: $26.00
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com
Set up a giveaway

There's a problem loading this menu right now.

Learn more about Amazon Prime.