Substantial Evidence: A Whistleblower's True Tale of Corruption, Death and Justice (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: criminal district attorney, homicide autopsy, cranial examination, Bill Hubbard, Travis Ware, Ralph Erdmann (more...)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 332 pages
• Publisher: New Horizon Press (February 25, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0882821601
• ISBN-13: 978-0882821603
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #863,044 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Believe Bill Hubbard!, September 19, 2007

By	Crystal Starr Light "You can't always get wha... (Here) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Substantial Evidence (Mass Market Paperback)

After my theories of crime class, I have kept my eyes open for true crime books. I saw this one on sale and picked it up, intrigued by the back cover.

Plot:
Bill Hubbard is a police sergeant in the ID department of the Lubbock County Police Department. His predecessor gives him a file of the county forensic pathologist, Ralph Erdmann. Bill then takes this file and continuously adds to it despite the District Attorney's Office's objections. When he is subpoenaed to court about Erdmann's testimony, he tells the complete truth and is later indicted for telling the truth. The final parts of the book detail his legal battle to win back his job, his pride, and his reputation.

Good:
Intriguing! It is scary to think that there are counties that exist in the United States who are not above falsifying government reports and lying under oath. Bill Hubbard's integrity and perseverance is invigorating and refreshing in this fake, deceptive society. Even when it would have been easy to say "I don't remember" or to lie, he refuses to do so.
I was also moved by the great amount of donated support from other law offices. I wish in this world there were more people like Dennette Vaughn, Gerald Goldstein, and Dan Hurley who worked, not for a big, fat paycheck but because the person was wrongly convicted.
Further, Bill is gifted with, not only being a good, honest cop, but being a great writer. I feel Bill did a good job incorporating dialogue (which probably came from court transcripts and memories) to liven up the book. He kept me interested every step of the way, dropping hints and providing great detail. He should be very proud of the work he has done here.

Bad:
The first 100 or so pages are quite gory as they detail autopsies and the like. If a person is faint of heart, this is not a good book to read.

Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
Two instances of the f- word that someone besides the author says. No sexual situations. Violence is mostly referencing prior police jobs--the shooting of a cop, a rape, and the like.

Overall:
After reading another true crime book about Laci and not learning more than I could have found on Wikipedia, I was a little worried about this book. However, my concerns were not founded. This is an excellent book about how the truth won out. Definitely worth reading.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth reading - it is a warning, July 2, 1998

By A Customer

As a west Texan I felt a little embarassed or slammed by the book but facts are facts and courage like this is extremely rare. This has national relevance. This REALLY happened and new crimes and cover-ups of the pathologist are still surfacing. Hubbard (and his wife) basically took on the world. They are BOTH heroes. You will wonder what makes a person even continue to believe in the human race. Truth always divides but it eventually prevails. This is not just a mystery....it is a warning and an uplifting testimony to faith and truth. Actually it is a love story. You'll recommend it to others. He tells a story well. I would buy his next book based on this one.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent - Excellent - Excellent, May 6, 1998

By A Customer

Well written, quick paced and quite a ride. It's easy to get lost in this book, until it sends a shiver down your spine when you remember this is a true story and that it happen just four or five years ago. Bravo to the Criminal Defense Attorneys that championed Bill Hubbards cause. As much as everyone wants to bad mouth defense attorneys, one must remember - they are the only people in this country trying to preserve the Constitution.