The Wrong Man

Rating:
Summary: The penultimate word on the Sheppard case
Review: Given the antiquity of the Sheppard case, the loss of physical evidence and the death of virtually all of its chief figures, it is unlikely that this baffling murder case will ever be solved beyond the shadow of a doubt. But James Neff has come closer than anyone yet in penetrating to the core of this anguished puzzle. Well-researched and well-written, it demolishes many myths and misconceptions about the case and renders virtually every previous book on the case obsolete. Hard-core followers of the Sheppard phenomeon may be no more swayed by Neff's faith in the DNA evidence proffered in the 3rd Sheppard trial last year (the jurors weren't convinced)but he nonetheless makes a compelling argument for the guilt of Richard Eberling, a familiar and repugnant suspect to Sheppard buffs. True, Neff sidesteps the ludicrous implausabilities of Sheppard's "bushy-haired intruder" story but his evidence and arguments will be the starting place for any further controversy on this celebrated case. In a word, don't exhale until you've read this book.

Rating:
Summary: excellent journalism, gripping style
Review: James Neff took over 10 years to gather facts and to compose "The Wrong Man", and it's well worth your own time to read this book. His engaging style effortlessly incorporates important details into the narrative. We are transported back to 1954, back to the era of post-war prosperity and the rise of the suburbs.

The story of osteopathic doctor Sam Sheppard, who was convicted of his wife Marilyn's violent death and who served many years in prison before being released, re-tried and acquitted, is widely known. Neff's probing reveals that many people still hold misperceptions about the case.

In true Perry Mason style, Neff introduces us to the real perpetrator, and provides an in-depth look at his troubled life. Using scientific evidence as well as psychological insights, he leads us to his conclusion about how and why Marilyn Sheppard was murdered on that Fourth of July nearly half a century ago.

Neff's book is a first-rate true crime tale, highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Justice at Last
Review: The Wrong Man is a gripping and provocative look at the sensational murder trial(s)of Sam Sheppard. While in high school in the 70's, I member first reading about the case in F. Lee Bailey's book 'The Defense Never Rests'. Neff's book takes you behind the headlines of this infamous case and moves forward from the day of the crime and through the various incarnations of the case in the state and federal courts. He looks in depth at the participants and suspects in one of the century's greatest 'unsolved murders.' This case is a clear example of a man and a family destroyed by politicians and the press. These folks refused to let the facts get in the way of a good story. Sheppard's life and reputation were lost because the case was tried in the newspapers and television, instead of the court room. Oddly enough, through three trials in a 'search for truth' justice was never served. It is ironic that Neff's objective review of the case as a journalist and a 'member of the press' may be the closest the Sheppard family ever gets to finding the truth and obtaining justice. This is not simply a regurgitation of the headlines but a probing anatomy of an infamous crime and what happens when a 'good story' over takes the facts, a community, and our system of justice. It also shows why our freedoms guaranteed by the constitution (including the freedom of the press) must be jealously guarded against all who would take them away. I could not put the book down once I started reading it and strongly recommend it to any one who enjoys the true crime genre or reading law related novels. Here, the facts are stranger (and more interesting) than any fiction one could invent.