What do we really know about putting another human being to death under the aegis of a humane method ? Is killing another person, even a killer ever justified? Can we really close our eyes to the inhumanity involved in selecting a weapon of death and assuming it is painless and swift? These questions and much more are addressed by Corinna Barrett Lain in her meticulously researched book, “The Secrets of the Killing State”, which was published on April 22, 2025.

What is legal injection? We euthanize animals swiftly and painlessly in an attempt to end their suffering. Most of us assumed that lethal injection did the same for death row inmates. This book is an eye opener. . Medical professionals have been absent in the formulation of the drug protocol for lethal injection. It is jailers themselves who become the chemists. I found myself shocked and appalled by the botched executions and the lack of scientific knowledge of those in charge of executions in this country described in detail by the author.

This book is an eye opener and a must read for those in favor of the death penalty as well as members of a jury charged with sentencing another human being to death. We have all been party to a sanitized version of the state’s role in selecting this method of execution. It is a very difficult book to read, filled with descriptions of errors that the public doesn’t get to see. Congratulations to the author for researching and exposing the facts. Thank you NetGalley and NYU Press for allowing me to read a prepublication copy in exchange for my honest review

Over on my booktube channel (Hannah's Books), I shared this book in my description of exciting books forthcoming in April. Link to the particular discussion: https://youtu.be/3iLFZz7j1bs?si=hP3zTwuMDqRVJk2t&t=849

This book is an infuriating, important, well-written read that all informed citizens should read. Lain's writing is not overly academic or "law professor-y" but is intentionally accessible to all readers, even (and maybe especially) those without any legal training. The stories told are unvarnished and raw but keep the focus on the mechanics of how the state is operating in the name of the public and how the state tries to hide that from the public. This well researched, thorough, and fascinating book should guide courts', legislators', and the public's discourse on Lethal Injection and will hopefully see it's impact reach far.

I want to start by saying this book was incredibly well written and such a powerful, thought-provoking read. There are almost 100 pages of notes/citations/sources of researched information at the end of the book, allowing you to not only trust how thoughtfully this was written, but also allowing you full access to dive deeper into whatever topics the book covered.

I will be honest. The very beginning had me questioning if this would be heavy-handed in religious aspects vs. science. I am happy to report that thought quickly disappeared as I began reading farther. The author shared Bible verses that spoke to her throughout the journey of writing this book, but it remained only within the first page or two and the authors notes.

This book is incredibly dense. However, somehow it still reads like a story instead of a textbook or research paper. It's honestly impressive how well balanced and engaging it is to read through. The distinct choice to discuss such a dark and polarized topic in such a truly neutral way, I think, was the perfect choice. I believe it will allow many people from various backgrounds to read and absorb this information without immediately being disregarded because of a potentially opposing viewpoint. This book also keeps on topic, and disregards a lot of added fluff. There was a specific choice to discuss the topic of lethal injection without diving into the crimes of those on death row committed. It really allowed for a thought-provoking and level-headed read that was separate from the often heated feelings of talking about the inmates themselves. In the same regard, because of this choice, I believe this could be read by those interested in the topic, but have a hard time with detailed accounts of true crime stories. (if that makes any sense)

Overall, I am happy that I read this book. I learned a lot about a topic I hadn't put deep thought into the details of, or how it's done. I would recommend this to anyone who is thinking about picking it up and hope it finds it's way to anyone who is willing to listen to what it has to tell.

This was quite a bit more dry than I had hoped it would be. I like narrative nonfiction and this didn't really meet that standard for me. While the topic is interesting, I think it could have been written with more stories involved to make it more relatable.

I did not think much about the history of the lethal injection-how it came about, where the protocols came from or how often things go wrong. This book was quite eye opening and very well researched. It is scary to think about that the protocol used to execute had no scientific backing and this is being used on human lives, while research mice, have way more protections to be treated humanely and are euthanized and treated much better. Even with evidence and botched execution after botched execution, you would think things would change for the better, but it seems that most of the justice department just does not care and would prefer to put their heads in the sand. This book explores botched executions, the history of drugs that are used in lethal injection, errors made previously made about the drugs. This book should be required reading for anyone studying criminal justice, criminology, criminal law, and even for those jurors sitting on a case where the outcome could be a death sentence. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC copy.

Utterly Horrific. The crimes of Josef Mengele (Auschwitz) and Shiro Ishii (Unit 731) during WWII will (hopefully) live on in infamy throughout human history as among the worst things governments have ever done. Sadly, even since then, humanity has shown its horrific side more times than any of us care to really think about, be it genocides in Myanmar and Rwanda, the continual sex trafficking that despite efforts has never been eradicated, the child sex scandals that have rocked so many once-trusted professions, and many, many other ways.

While none of the above should be downplayed in any way whatsoever, they *do* set the stage for the horrors of this particular tale in that we know that most of those involved in the above were the bad guys. They were monsters clothed in scrubs or robes or wearing ties. Here, the monster is... well, the government itself and the sheer ineptitude of its bureaucracies and even legislative and executive leadership - not to mention the judicial leaders that are *supposed* to alleviate some of the worst excesses of the legislative and executive branches, but as Barrett Lain shows here, rarely do when it comes to the mechanisms of putting condemned criminals to death via lethal injection in the United States.

What Barrett Lain lays bare here in this very well documented (29% of the overall text) expose are the true horrors of lethal injection - the very execution method *specifically created* to give the *illusion* (as Barrett Lain makes clear) of a "humane" murder. Except that, as noted often within this text, the particular mechanisms of how this is done in humans are actually so barbaric and horrific that they are actively outlawed for use in animals!

No matter your position on capital punishment, no matter how much you may think a particular convicted criminal (or even, as is so often the case in social media, people merely accused of various crimes and yet so many still clamor for their execution before even a criminal conviction, without any form of legal due process as guaranteed for all persons - not just citizens - in the US Constitution) "deserves" to die... you NEED to read this book.

Read this book, and consider your own conscience. Can you honestly say after reading this book that this particular method is truly reasonable in its actual application today? Can you honestly say after reading this book that you are 100% comfortable with your own loved one going through this exact process? Because as others have noted in so many other works about the other problems with the American retribution system, there are next to no actual guarantees that you or your own loved ones won't face this fate at some point, no matter how good and righteous you may feel you are - there are simply far too many laws - even laws with felony penalties! - within the US now, to the point that *no one* can truly know when they are not running afoul of at least one of them in any given moment or action. Read this book, examine your own conscience, and truly ask yourself if you could do this job or ask your best friend to do it. Read this book, examine your own conscience, and ask yourself if you could bear to allow your children to witness this process.

Read this book, examine your own conscience, and write your own review.

As SCOTUS has decreed, as documented by Barrett Lain here, that the condemned must offer an alternative to lethal injection for their challenges to have even a possibility of even being heard, let me state clearly here now that I would vastly prefer a firing squad to the inhumane and downright barbaric practice of lethal injection. As for me, while I've been an advocate of permanently ending the death penalty in favor of life without parole for many years now, even I hadn't been fully aware of just how utterly horrific this particular execution method - posed to the US public as the more "humane" option - truly is, and I for one now count as one calling for the end of this particular method even if capital punishment must be allowed to continue.

Read this book, examine your own conscience, and let the world know in your own review whether you agree with me or not.

Very much recommended.

Wow this book is a lot to take in but the information really needs to be known across the country if we're going to continue to allow such a horrendous practice to be done in our name. I have the issue where I already knew a large chunk of this, so I wasn't as wow-ed by the research and the information as many people are. My biggest complaint with this book is the tone. It is extremely anti-death penalty. I am extremely anti-death penalty, so you might wonder why that bothered me. Well, you're not going to persuade anyone with that kind of attitude. I think Lain has so much information on her side for why the death penalty is bad (hence this book) that if she had presented it more objectively, then the reader, no matter their prior thoughts, would be forced to agree with her. Her tone, in this day and age, would be enough to turn off someone who disagrees with her.

That all being said, this book was great. There was SO much research, and the secrecy of the death penalty makes the amount of research Lain was able to do even more incredible. This book has encouraged me to do more research into what I can do to help end the death penalty, because it truly is cruel and unusual punishment. I still don't know how I can do that, but I'm looking!

Thank you to NYU Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was profoundly eye-opening in how the lethal injection process works and how dehumanizing it truly is. This book was utterly mindboggling and so important.

ARC REVIEW

This book was riveting. What an eye opener. I cannot begin to think how much this book gave an insight regarding such a conflicted topic and I'm glad to have read it.

The truth contained in this book, with all evidence and sources, will live with me. Already the notions of it did, but laid out so cut and dry, and so well supported, just shored up the foundations of what I already knew to be the horrors of our criminal justice system. This is one I had to read in small chunks so as not to depress and anger myself too deeply.

There were some sections that I felt were unfortunately repetitive, in that I'd read a paragraph and the next one would feel like a restating of the previous, but that's about the only thing that felt off to me.

This is certainly a book I will recommend for our nonfiction shelves at my library, as its importance in terms of contents and delivery cannot be overstated.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and NYU press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!!

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Corinna Barrett Lain, and NYU Press for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

While the topic of the death penalty has been simmering in the United States (and elsewhere) for long periods, no one really talks much about the nitty-gritty. Many headlines about botched executions appear in the press, though there has been little to really peel back to see what's going on. Many of these mistakes are tied to lethal injection, the 'humane' way that states have chosen to put prisoners to death, but Corinna Barrett Lain has chosen to take up the cause to explore this form of killing. Is it as calm and peaceful as states would have us believe, or is there an underlying issue there? What Barrett Lain discovers will surely open the eyes of many, as it did me, and leave the reader wondering just what sort of circus is being done behind closed doors. A stellar look into lethal injections and the faux science that is being peddled by US states to try making the death penalty appear worthwhile.

While the topic of capital punishment is highly divisive, it is worth exploring. Corinna Barrett Lain does so in depth within the pages of this book. Her first foray into the topic is how the US got to the point of using lethal injections and why it is so popular. Interestingly enough, lethal injection is seen to be the most humane way to kill a human being, by inserting a three-drug cocktail into the vein. What few know is that this collection of drugs was never tested or properly assessed by any medical professional. Rather, it was pulled out of thin air in the late 1970s based on what one prison official thought might work best and then peddled to others. There is no science here and when asked about using something that is known to prevent pain, some scoffed at trying to be 'too gentle' to those who had done so wrong in society. This mentality makes such little sense, though it is pushed out. Why not use a single drug, as is done by veterinarians for pets? It has never been considered and might make people feel prisoners are pets on the same level. 

Barrett Lain then ventures into a discussion of the execution itself. She explores the drugs being used and what they do, as well as how they interact with one another. This includes their preparation, which is sometimes not done beforehand and left to prison officials. Issues arise in the mixing, which changes concentration and thereby alters effectiveness. As nothing is formally regulated, changes are not usually frowned upon and the courts have steered clear from making mandates in this regard. The delivery of these drugs is open to success or failure, which has been documented many times, as prisoners have been turned into pin cushions while searching for a vein. One might question how this happens, which advances the discussion to who is administering the drugs. Rarely are medical professionals involved at all, leaving the poking and prodding (not to say the steady nerves) to those with little training at all about how to properly find a vein and ensure the drugs enter effectively. The entire system ought to be examined under a microscope, as the author posits repeatedly.

Discussion of medical ethics also enters the conversation, so much so that many medical professionals and their associations have refused to allow members to be involved in the process. Drug companies, some outside of the US, have also boycotted providing products destined for lethal injections, thereby making it harder to procure needed drugs and items that would pave the way for 'humane' solutions. This is surely worth noting and a problem, as Bennett Lain suggests, yet there has not been a halt to the process, at least permanently.

One final area worth mentioning is the legal perspective to the entire process. As Barrett Lain discusses throughout her tome, the courts (especially the US Supreme Court) have remained at arm's length on the matter of lethal injections. It would seem recent Supreme Court decisions have denied the power of the Eighth Amendment (cruel and unusual punishment) as it relates to lethal injections. This divorce from concern adds questions to the issue of being able to advocate for changes to lethal injections. The author does not pull any punches that this could pose advocacy issues. Additionally, states have started to use secrecy rules to protect themselves and any businesses who might play a part in supplying things for lethal injections. This is also concerning and opens additional confusions for those seeking to keep the discussion open and forthcoming.

Corinna Barrett Lain offers up this thrilling piece of analytical writing about the death penalty and the specifics of lethal injection. While not trying to engage in a debate around the usefulness or morality of capital punishment, there is surely a chance to pull back the curtain on this keep and shed light on some of the troubling aspects. Barrett Lain delivers her arguments with many facts and keeps the narrative moving along effectively. She is sure to provide supporting arguments and synthesises many of the arguments for the curious reader to enjoy. While there are technical aspects to the subject matter, Barrett Lain keeps the writing for the layperson to enjoy, not just legal or medical minds. I could not get enough of all the details, the revelations, and even then debunking of half-truths found throughout the book. It opened my eyes to a great deal and left me to wonder about even more. I will have to look through many of the references and bibliographical material to add some more books to read on this topic, when time permits!

Kudos, Madam Barrett Lain, for this enriching read!

Highly recommended for readers interested in criminal justice, human rights, and ethical issues surrounding the death penalty, Secrets of the Killing State is a crucial contribution to the ongoing debate about capital punishment and the methods used to enforce it.

Wow this book was wildly fascinating from start to finish. I should say right from the get go that I am anti-death penalty, but I don’t think that is WHY I liked this book so much. It was obvious how well-researched the information was. This book was extremely dense yet digestible. I totally do not consider myself a science person, but I was able to follow all of the discussion about the science and medical side of lethal injection. In this book, I learned about the history, process, and laws of lethal injection. There are so many common misconceptions about lethal injection that are cleared up in this book. It was not a happy, light-hearted read, but I am very glad I read it!

This is probably obvious, but this book is not for the faint of heart, as it does get quite graphic in parts.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest rating and review.

I am so glad I picked this up. I had a vague knowledge about lethal injection from my criminology courses so it was nice to brush up on the topic but also learn so much more about the history that we didn't get to really touch upon in class. So sad, and definitely thought provoking.

Negatives first because there aren’t many: the italics comments are a bit annoying, usually unnecessary too. Also the “brought the receipts” considering it’s a presumably academic book.

Not a negative but a warning: I have a strong stomach and reading the first chapter made me feel a bit icky, but the rest was fine. Awful to read, but not so detailed as to be nauseating.

Otherwise I really loved the numerous in-text citations. That the author also touched on the mental toll it takes on the executioner. And I spent a lot of time with my eyebrows raised at the ineptitude or going ‘come on WHAT THE HELL SERIOUSLY!?’

Fascinating and informative book to read. I always knew there was a lot more surrounding what happens with the death penalty and lethal injection. This book is very revealing and well researched. Informative.

The negligence around lethal injection practices were shocking to read, although not surprising. It was a lot of information to take in and process, although the author did try to balance the technical content with narrative storytelling and real life cases.

"Secrets of the Killing State" is a provocative and deeply researched exploration of the death penalty in America, weaving together history, law, and culture to reveal the darker truths behind capital punishment. Lain examines how the death penalty has been shaped not only by legal principles but also by social attitudes, political pressures, and systemic biases. The book draws on compelling historical cases and modern developments, shedding light on how the practice reflects broader trends in American governance and justice.

What makes Lain’s work so impactful is her ability to connect the past with the present, showing how historical practices and rhetoric continue to influence contemporary debates. Her writing is clear and accessible, making complex legal and historical concepts understandable without oversimplifying them. Whether you’re a student of history, law, or ethics, this book is a powerful and thought-provoking read that challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about justice and power in America.

“The state at its most powerful is also the state at its worst”. For a true democracy to exist, the citizens of a nation have to know what their money is funding, from the smallest aspects to such impactful issues as the death penalty. The lethal injection is one such method introduced as the "merciful" alternative to the classic "medieval like" methods that might not fit within modern society. Hiding behind the image of science and doctors, and the ignorance of the public, unwilling or not, the US has been using prisoners to impose an image of all-powerfulness grandeur. I believe that this book, "Secrets of the Killing State" by Corinna Barret Lain is changing the discussions surrounding the death penalty in the right direction by pointing out to the american public what it is that is happening in their backyards.

The book begins with a few of the astoundingly many botched executions of the last few years, just to give you a sense of whats at stake, what it is she means by tortuous death. She then dives right into the lawsuits, science and gubernamental incompetence and unwillingess to change. It is an eyeopener that all american taxpayers should read. Throughout the entire book the same executions and lawsuits are revisited so they can be seen through different lenses, and it is the best way to squeeze all you can out of them, making sure we can learn what all the mistakes and deliberate choices were, to understand how deeply the incompetence, or negligence, of the state was. In the beginning, I thought this book was a showcase of how the whole system was a case of the blind leading the blind, of how “they were wrong but they were confident”, but as I read I realized that it was more sinister than that; the purposeful hiding of information, their “if you can’t fix a flaw, hide it” approach to the public is inmoral at best and antidemocratic at worst. It is also my belief that it is a way for the government to remind people who is in charge and the consequences of not following their rules. The justice system will never be flawless enough for a death penalty based system to not devolve into a fear machine and tool to control the masses.

This was a curious read. I spent the first half just saying to myself, just get doctors to do it, it'll alleviate so much unnecessary pain, and just when youre convinced thats the solution, this book bursts that bubble and explains just why that is not possible. It was such a disappointing moment, it induced such profound desperation and makes you think there is no way this method can ever be redesigned to work. From its conception, the lethal injection was doomed to fail, and take with it those unlucky enough to be executed with it. As a european, the death penalty seems to me to be an inconveivable punishment, specially when considering the chances of accidentally executing an innocent, but when you add to it the horrific ways they use, I just don't have the words. I spent the entire book thinking to myself how if I was going to be executed I would rather be shot, have my head cut off, i didn't care, I just wanted for the poor prisoners that were going to be executed to be taken out of their suffering. Not even dogs are treated as callously as these convicts are. I have also come to the conclusion, in this anti-intellectual era, that even if we don't work in scientific fields, it does not hurt to have some knowledge of scientific terms and concepts. This way, they cannot sell you something at fase value, banking on society's lack of knowledge on substances not only used for executions, but in our daily lives in all products around us.

All in all, this is a must read for not only those paying for this system (American taxpayers) but all those interested in the justice systems around the world and how quickly can aspects of a society that seem so established can devolve so profoundly in the wrong hands. This book was also accesible to read, her prose and tone were never too complicated or convoluted and she laid out complex legal and chemical explanations in a way that most should be able to understand. Quickly changing the subject, I had some issues with my arc's format.The PDF did not allow internal navigation between chapters and annotations while also not specifying which pages corresponded to the chapters. This is however, a non issue with a physical copy but still worth mentioning. Finally I would like to mentiont hat since I started reading this book I have begun many conversations with those around me on capital punishment, and for that, I think "Secrets of the Killing State" was a resounding success.