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Mara Leveritt

Devil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three Paperback – October 21, 2003

by Mara Leveritt (Author)

728 ratings

Book 1 of 2: Justice Knot Trilogy

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*A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING REESE WITHERSPOON AND COLIN FIRTH*

The West Memphis Three. Accused, convicted…and set free. Do you know their story?

In 2011, one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in American legal history was set right when Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley were released after eighteen years in prison. Award-winning journalist Mara Leveritt’s The Devil’s Knot remains the most comprehensive, insightful reporting ever done on the investigation, trials, and convictions of three teenage boys who became known as the West Memphis Three.

For weeks in 1993, after the murders of three eight-year-old boys, police in West Memphis, Arkansas seemed stymied. Then suddenly, detectives charged three teenagers—alleged members of a satanic cult—with the killings. Despite the witch-hunt atmosphere of the trials, and a case which included stunning investigative blunders, a confession riddled with errors, and an absence of physical evidence linking any of the accused to the crime, the teenagers were convicted. Jurors sentenced Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley to life in prison and Damien Echols, the accused ringleader, to death. The guilty verdicts were popular in their home state—even upheld on appeal—and all three remained in prison until their unprecedented release in August 2011.

With close-up views of its key participants, this award-winning account unravels the many tangled knots of this endlessly shocking case, one which will shape the American legal landscape for years to come.

Print length

432 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Atria Books
Publication date

October 21, 2003
Dimensions

5.5 x 1 x 8.44 inches
ISBN-10

0743417607
ISBN-13

978-0743417600
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Brutal, riveting....The true horror of Leveritt's well-written book is that this barely believable fate could potentially befall any American." -- Henry Rollins

"The abuses of the criminal justice system shown here are so blatant—and so profoundly tragic—that they would be hard to believe were it not for the depth and even-handedness of Mara Leveritt's reporting." -- Sister Helen Prejean ― author of Dead Man Walking

"Devil's Knot becomes the best horror novel you've ever read, one of those that leaves you wondering what new sick dread might be lying in wait on the next page...The monster Leveritt reveals in the end, however, is more terrifying than even the fork-tailed boogeymen conjured by West Memphis police and prosecutors to fit their crime. What Leveritt reveals to us is the most horrible fiend a rational person can imagine when matters of life and death are at stake: the Specter of Doubt." ― Arkansas Times

"The chronology [of Devil's Knot] is the first time all elements of the case have been assembled in one narrative, which offers surprises, even for those familiar with the events. As such, it is a true public service." ― Arkansas Democrat Gazette

"An affecting account of a controversial trial...Leveritt's carefully researched book offers a riveting portrait of a down-at-the-heels, socially conservative rural town with more than its share of corruption and violence." ― Publishers Weekly

"Well written in descriptive language, Devil's Knot is an indictment of a culture and legal system that failed to protect children as defendants or victims. Highly recommended." ― Library Journal

About the Author

Mara Leveritt has won several awards for investigative journalism, including Arkansas's Booker Worthen Prize for her book The Boys on the Tracks. She is also author of The Mena File, Dark Spell, and Devil's Knot. A contributing editor to the Arkansas Times, she lives in Little Rock.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Atria Books; 1st Printing edition (October 21, 2003)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0743417607
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0743417600
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.7 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.44 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #109,554 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #342 in Criminal Law (Books)
- #436 in Criminology (Books)
- #591 in Murder & Mayhem True Accounts

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5 star		79%
4 star		13%
3 star		4%
2 star		2%
1 star		3%

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Ilecia Baboolal

Brilliant book ... incites severe emotion in anyone with a high functioning mental capacity

Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2019

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I have to give this book five stars simply because the author aroused such anger in me, I actually thought of everyone in that trial as a bunch of hick, hill billy, son of ... well you get my point. Then it dawned on me that I was classing all these people the same way they had done the west Memphis 3. So because Ms. Leveritt was able to get me into that mindset, I have to say kudos on a job well done. The book was brilliantly written and the level and depth of research is evident (yes I even read all the foot notes). I wouldn’t recommend it to someone who knows the case and has a brain (since your conclusion would have been obvious)... because it will engender anger and frustration

10 people found this helpful

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Maddie M

So Important - A True Crime Must Read!

Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2020

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What a wild ride. I love true crime, and this is a case that I’ve heard about a few times but never knew the real facts of. The entire time I was reading this book, I kept thinking this couldn’t be true. The incredible injustice that the WM3 faced and the fact that the entire system seemed to be against them… it was horrifying. As someone who went through a pretty heavy emo phase, I couldn’t fathom the thought that someone could believe you guilty of a crime just because of your taste in music or fashion. Especially as a teenager! It really highlighted how scary the small town mentality can be when the people who are supposed to protect you offer you up as scapegoat.
The worst part about this story is the fact that the three victims of this horrible crime will never receive justice. Because of the sloppy and truly unbelievable manner in which this case was investigated, we’ll never get the real answers as to who committed these crimes. I really appreciated all of the research that went into writing this book and thought it was a really thought-provoking and important case to discuss. Now it’s time to dive into the documentaries!

7 people found this helpful

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Richard Weems

Mind-boggling true story, less than well written

Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2018

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The story of three eight year-olds murdered and the West Memphis Three, the three boys who were subsequently tried, convicted and condemned for those murders, is a full-blown clusterbomb of sloppy and irresponsible investigation, prosecution and adjudication and well worth being prominent in the public record for the foul-ups that can and do happen in the justice system that can lead to innocent lives on death row. Read all you can about this case, watch the documentaries, and know that there are serious problems in our way of things. But I just wish Leveritt's book was more readable and involved more storytelling to bring the details to life. Granted, Leveritt may have had TOO much to work with, as the sheer magnitude of problems behind convicting these three is mind-boggling.

11 people found this helpful

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ReactingtoLit

When Justice is Unjust

Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2016

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America's criminal justice system is far from perfect for many reasons. When three 8-year-old boys are gruesomely murdered, the people of West Memphis are outraged and scared. The police and detectives need to solve the crime to mitigate people's fear. Unfortunately, they accomplish this objective by finding suspects and attempting to prove their guilt rather than truly finding those responsible for the murders. The police, the district attorney's office, and the judge all contribute to the lack of justice in this case as three teenage boys are found guilty of murder with nothing more than circumstantial evidence. The unethical practices of those in charge show that those who wield power can often have more control than anyone desires. Leveritt presents an unfortunate, disturbing example of how our justice systems creates injustice. We must remember, "There by the grace of God go I" for anyone could find themselves in a similar situation.

18 people found this helpful

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AussieChick

True Story. Real People. Read and watch it, now.

Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2021

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Documentary with the real live footage as it happened. How three innocent teenage boys were framed and jailed for the murder of three little 8 year old boys. The eldest, Damian Echols was 18 when he was sent to death row. There are books and videos. Buy read and watched. Even though they have now been released thanks to Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), Johnny Depp, Dixie Chicks etc., and HBO reporters, Joe Berlinger, and millions and millions of people from all over the world, this story still needs to be told and retold. They came out to a very different world to what they went in. They had to do the "Alfords Plea" to be released from jail. Justice was not done. Highly recommended.

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Alley

Not conclusive of course, but blows some big holes in case.

Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2015

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I did not truly remember this story, even though I live in Arkansas, as I was a younger teenager at the time. After reading this alongside other online stories and recollections, I am embarrassed by the willful ignorance of the prosecutors and a judge vying for higher office. The mismanagement of evidence and railroading of someone with low mental capacity, alongside relying heavily on the local "occult expert" generating Salem like hysteria is ludicrous. The police truly needed some outside help with this one. Just glad these guys made it out the other side.

12 people found this helpful

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Sarah Lynch

Stunning and infuriating - a must-read for any true crime fan

Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2021

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I've heard of this story on many true crime podcasts and I wish it hadn't taken me so long to read it. Well-written, well-researched, and seems to be a (mostly) non-biased statement of the facts of the tragic case of the West Memphis Three and the three little boys whose deaths left a dark shadow over their families, their town, and the entire justice system. Definitely one of those books that makes you want to do something.

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teresa hedegaard

the truth will set you free

Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2015

Verified Purchase

i don't know why it took me so long to get around to reading this book. it was way more then i expected. ms. leveritt's style of writing is very interesting. i enjoyed it because in many ways it gave the public's view (especially at the time of the crime) and then the obvious mistakes and efforts to basically frame the 3 teenagers esp. damien echols. i especially found the notes very interesting and helpful ( they filled all the missing details that in the most the public and juries did not have a chance to hear). i have seen all the films associated with this case and all the different newsmagazines (i.e. 48 hrs) several times. i feel this work fills in missing parts in the films & tv shows. thank you mara for all your hard work both with this book and helping to finally get the west memphis three free.

7 people found this helpful

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Tattooedbrunette

A+ book,I recommend it especially if interested in true crime & corrupt cops/ "justice" system

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 6, 2019

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I 1st read and owned this book when it 1st came out, the 1st copy. I purchased it again as this is one of those books that's always stuck with me and I own the follow up book plus books written by the individual's this book Is about ( the ones who wrote ones) I won't say too much as if you haven't read this book then I don't want to put any spoilers but it stayed with me from my late teens and I'm early 30's now. Unbelievable the corruption and so called justice system and the fact this is recent history is insane to me how this could happen. A cautionary tale, an emotional journey to read as are the other books associated and I recommend it so highly. The reason I purchased again is my friend did not know of the case or story behind it so thought this was the best starting point and he's hooked too and has started on other books and the documentaries. It won't be a disappointment if you are interested in true crime, small town corruption and basically a modern day Salem is what happened.

2 people found this helpful

Kat

Excellent, educational read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 28, 2013

Verified Purchase

An excellent insight to the case but it takes forever to read as all the case notes/sources/references are in the back and throughout the book, it references back to these so there is a lot of flicking back and fourth and a lot to take in. The only consolation of reading this is knowing the 3 are out. Check out West Of Memphis as a follow-up... Mara Leveritt also features in the documentary -- but this is a fantastic but thorough "introduction" to the case. It's also being turned into a film at some point!

3 people found this helpful

Katy

Great book, although dated

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 7, 2012

Verified Purchase

For anyone looking for the facts of the West Memphis 3 case, where three teenagers were falsely imprisoned for murdering three small boys, this is a great kicking off point. Mara Leveritt goes into great detail, which helps explain the who, what, where, when and how.

However, given that the book was written years ago now, there have been major updates, and it would be great to see an addendum or new version that brings those in.

But definitely a must read.

5 people found this helpful

Ms. D. Barrett

Gripping from start to finish

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 30, 2016

Verified Purchase

A very well written and clear book for such a complicated story - it tells the story of prejudice and lack of police procedure that lead to the conviction of three young teenagers for the murder of three small boys while their killer remains free!

2 people found this helpful

Autodidact

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 8, 2018

Verified Purchase

Good read

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