Review of Mr. Prosecutor
Posted: 21 Jun 2022, 11:39
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Mr. Prosecutor" by Terry jones.]
A prosecutor works for the state and the good of the public, especially to put criminals behind bars. As a prosecutor for Fayetteville and Madison County, Arkansas, Terry Jones had his work cut out for him. Although Fayetteville had a relatively small population, shocking crimes still happened. From murders to child pornography to animal brutality to fraud, Jones saw it all and handled the cases as best as he could. Sometimes, he got the conviction he sought from the jury, and other times, some factors got in his way. But through it all, he showed competence and dedication. In Mr. Prosecutor, Terry Jones has compiled many stories from his time as a prosecutor.
The author utilized the shock factor to the maximum. While not deftly done, the amateur way he writes shows just how real the cases are, serving to bring them closer to home. Jones mentioned in the epilogue that if it seemed that he wrote the book with little empathy for the victims, it was because he detached from the cases so that he could sleep well at night. Nevertheless, I found his “matter of factly” style of writing to be the right fit for this book. To the author’s credit, he also included some informal commentary like “gotcha” and many more that reduced the tension from all the serious crime cases herein.
Aside from the despicable cases Jones witnessed and included in this book, Mr. Prosecutor is truly an inside look at what it means to be a prosecutor in the United States. The author met many people and had a good grasp of the law. He also explained the legal implications of many actions. For instance, he clarified the jury selection process in the state of Arkansas and how they can arrive at the sentence of a criminal. He also gave a personal glimpse into his thoughts and mild insecurities regarding the media and tips on how he dealt with them during his time. Throughout the narration, his voice remained distinct and mildly teasing, which I found entertaining.
With its shocking stories of murder, rape, child abuse, and many more (including the heartbreaking ones like social services taking a couple’s kids away), this book is undeniably engrossing. But its disorganization and lack of cohesion take away from its positives. With this book being a compendium of the author’s prosecuting experiences, almost all the stories are independent of each other. Some stories took only one page. I, for one, did not see the point of “The Grandpaw Scam” and a few other stories that were too short or bland to have much of an impact.
Because of the explained issues, I rate Mr. Prosecutor 3 out of 4. I left my reading experience feeling a range of emotions and knowing that, from time to time, I will remember Terry Jones and his wild run of a career. This and a captivating writing style are what, in my opinion, make a good book. The author did well on those fronts, so I cannot rate the book less. With additional professional editing to its structure, this book can be a masterpiece. Readers with even the slightest interest in the US criminal system will enjoy this book.
******
Mr. Prosecutor
View: on Bookshelves
A prosecutor works for the state and the good of the public, especially to put criminals behind bars. As a prosecutor for Fayetteville and Madison County, Arkansas, Terry Jones had his work cut out for him. Although Fayetteville had a relatively small population, shocking crimes still happened. From murders to child pornography to animal brutality to fraud, Jones saw it all and handled the cases as best as he could. Sometimes, he got the conviction he sought from the jury, and other times, some factors got in his way. But through it all, he showed competence and dedication. In Mr. Prosecutor, Terry Jones has compiled many stories from his time as a prosecutor.
The author utilized the shock factor to the maximum. While not deftly done, the amateur way he writes shows just how real the cases are, serving to bring them closer to home. Jones mentioned in the epilogue that if it seemed that he wrote the book with little empathy for the victims, it was because he detached from the cases so that he could sleep well at night. Nevertheless, I found his “matter of factly” style of writing to be the right fit for this book. To the author’s credit, he also included some informal commentary like “gotcha” and many more that reduced the tension from all the serious crime cases herein.
Aside from the despicable cases Jones witnessed and included in this book, Mr. Prosecutor is truly an inside look at what it means to be a prosecutor in the United States. The author met many people and had a good grasp of the law. He also explained the legal implications of many actions. For instance, he clarified the jury selection process in the state of Arkansas and how they can arrive at the sentence of a criminal. He also gave a personal glimpse into his thoughts and mild insecurities regarding the media and tips on how he dealt with them during his time. Throughout the narration, his voice remained distinct and mildly teasing, which I found entertaining.
With its shocking stories of murder, rape, child abuse, and many more (including the heartbreaking ones like social services taking a couple’s kids away), this book is undeniably engrossing. But its disorganization and lack of cohesion take away from its positives. With this book being a compendium of the author’s prosecuting experiences, almost all the stories are independent of each other. Some stories took only one page. I, for one, did not see the point of “The Grandpaw Scam” and a few other stories that were too short or bland to have much of an impact.
Because of the explained issues, I rate Mr. Prosecutor 3 out of 4. I left my reading experience feeling a range of emotions and knowing that, from time to time, I will remember Terry Jones and his wild run of a career. This and a captivating writing style are what, in my opinion, make a good book. The author did well on those fronts, so I cannot rate the book less. With additional professional editing to its structure, this book can be a masterpiece. Readers with even the slightest interest in the US criminal system will enjoy this book.
******
Mr. Prosecutor
View: on Bookshelves