As a young reporter, Ellen McGarrahan witnessed the execution of a man who had been convicted of killing several police officers. Although McGarrahan didn’t stay on that job for long, she wasn’t able to shake that experience. In this memoir, she recounts her attempts to dig deeper into the crime that led to the execution.

At the beginning of the book, McGarrahan leans into her role as a private detective. The writing is modern and fast-paced, and the rhythm evokes an old school noir. As McGarrahan pursues information about the crime, the tone slowly shifts and becomes more personal as she begins to come to terms with the trauma that she has not been able to outrun.

The topic was heavy, but this memoir was very well-written. I was hooked almost immediately and jumped right into the investigation with her,. When she began to focus more on the ‘why’ of her journey, I was cheering her on. This book deals with heavy subject matter, but the constant focus on the act of investigating leaves little time for reflection, both for McGarrahan and the reader.

True crime fans and detective story readers will enjoy following along with McGarrahan as she seeks to find answers.

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Thank You NetGalley, Publisher & Author for this gifted E-ARC.

Summery
In 1990, Ellen McGarrahan was a young reporter for the Miami Herald when she covered the execution of Jesse Tafero, a man convicted of murdering two police officers. When it later emerged that Tafero may not have committed the murders, McGarrahan became haunted by that grisly execution--and appalled by her unquestioning acceptance of the state's version of events.

Review
This book really kept you guessing up until the end.
I loved the story this book told. The charterers.... felt real.
I loved this true crime story, it was simply amazing.
And I look forward to reading more from Ellen

Rating- 4/5

This true crime story is about Jesse Tafero and his girlfriend, who were both convicted of killing two police officers. McGarrahan covered Tafero’s botched and grisly execution in Florida when she was a young reporter for the Miami Herald, Years later, the author returns to Florida to investigate the case, as evidence contradicting the state’s claim that Tafero was the murderer has surfaced She’s appalled at the indifference of state officials when confronted with the fact that they may have executed an innocent man. This book was a tough read for me, we are brought up to believe in our justice system and the idea that it can and does fail is utterly terrifying