Review of The Velvet Hammer: Judge Belvin Perry, Jr.'s Capital Murder Cases and Memoir

[Anthony__]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Velvet Hammer: Judge Belvin Perry, Jr.'s Capital Murder Cases and Memoir" by Judge Belvin Perry Jr. and Amy Mitchell.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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The Velvet Hammer by Judge Belvin Perry Jr. and Amy Mitchell is a riveting memoir detailing the early years of the former chief judge and his most disturbing cases on the bench in Florida.

Judge Belvin Perry Jr. isn’t one whose name gathers dust in the place of history. At age forty, he became the first African American elected to the bench, and barely six years after, he took the chief judge title. Serving at the bench for over twenty-five years, he earns his intriguing moniker — The Velvet Hammer, a by-product of his earnest candor and disciplined stance at justice. However, nothing prepares him for some of the most gruesome and heart-wrenching murder cases in Florida, especially Casey Anthony’s case. Casey Marie Anthony didn’t declare her two-year daughter missing until a month later. Taking the police on a wild goose chase with lies at every turn until the scattered remains of her child were found, which made people named her the “America’s most hated mom.” Her nonchalance petrified the world, and more significant ripples were elicited when she was acquitted. In this gripping piece, Belvin Perry Jr. walks readers through the excruciating details of the infamous case, giving up all the puzzle pieces to fit an answer to the big question, “What happened to Caylee Anthony?”

Amy Mitchell breathes life into Belvin Perry Jr.'s experiences with vivid scenes and crafty storytelling skills. Reading some scenes is similar to standing in the room and watching the event unfold right before your eyes. I appreciate that some chapter’s stories capture real-life issues and provide good advice. For instance, the Dusty Spencer Case was hinged on domestic abuse. The authors take time to explain the concept of domestic abuse, absolving victims of guilt, as fear is a significant restraint on victims in reporting their abuser. They state that “abuse is abuse” no matter the outfit it wears.

It is so fascinating and heart-jarring that these stories are actual events. The Casey Anthony trial case left me with a hollow feeling and a newfound understanding of the jury’s decision. There were so many loose ends, leads with dead-ends, and muddy stories with hanging truths. It appeared everybody was hiding something, and as the case dug more profound, more vile poured out of Anthony’s home. There were several skeletons in the cupboard, so it wasn’t hard to see how Casey grew up to be so dysfunctional.

Also, it isn’t difficult to feel Belvin Perry Jr.’s passion for justice through the pages of this book, especially on occasions when his hands were tied. Finding the right balance and giving each side a fair hearing is not a task for the weak-hearted.

There’s nothing I dislike about this book. The progression of the plot structure is beautifully compelling. The stories fall into place, creating a sequenced climax for the ultimate trial case. This book is exceptionally edited without any error and is also written in layman’s understanding without much technical jargon, which prompts my rating it a 5 out of 5 stars.

In conclusion, I recommend this book to readers interested in the trial details of murder cases and an insight into the justice system’s workings.

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The Velvet Hammer: Judge Belvin Perry, Jr.'s Capital Murder Cases and Memoir
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[Shaniz Tobiaz]

Thank you for sharing this great review, i guess the book must be very interesting. Its a must read for me.