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Jerry's Riot: The True Story of Montana's 1959 Prison Disturbance
Jerry's Riot: The True Story of Montana's 1959 Prison Disturbance examines the explosion that resulted when the prison's new reform warden collided with career convict Jerry Myles, who wanted to run the prison.
464 pages, Paperback
First published April 25, 2005
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46 people want to read
About the author
Kevin S. Giles
9 books9 followersKevin S. Giles, a Montana native, wrote the popular prison memoir “Jerry’s Riot,” the coming-of-age novel “Summer of the Black Chevy,” and a biography of first US congresswoman Jeannette Rankin, “One Woman Against War,” which is an expanded edition of his earlier work, “Flight of the Dove.” His new novel, “Mystery of the Purple Roses,” is the first in his Red Maguire series. "Masks, Mayhem and Murder" is his second Red Maguire mystery novel.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 28, 2017
Wow, after seeing several docu-dramas and such over the years I always wanted to read actual account. Very detailed and researched. Reads very quickly and was glad to see the bad guys made even worse than profiled on TV from over the years. Highly recommend especially for fans of true crime and suspense thrillers. Five stars out of a possible five stars.
August 21, 2017
Prison Tour
Toured the old prison in Deer Lodge. It was as though ghosts were walking through the prison. Very eerie feeling. Read the book after touring the prison. Pictured it happening just as the book.
Toured the old prison in Deer Lodge. It was as though ghosts were walking through the prison. Very eerie feeling. Read the book after touring the prison. Pictured it happening just as the book.
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May 23, 2018Jerry's Riot: The True Story of Montana's 1959 Prison Disturbance
I wish to thank all my readers. I welcome your ratings and reviews. As I researched the 1959 Montana prison riot, I began wondering if I would ever write the book. I felt like a detective working a cold case because I spent hundreds of hours tracking down missing documents and, harder yet, survivors from the riot. I eventually found most of them and interviewed several in person. (I wrote in the book that when words failed them, tears told the story.) I sensed there was more to know about Jerry Myles, the convict who led the takeover of the prison on April 16, 1959. Sure enough. I took a shot at requesting Myles' federal prison file. Months later it arrived at my house in a box of 700 pages. Those documents contained evidence about his upbringing and his misbehavior in other state and federal prisons. Although the riot was portrayed at the time it happened as "an unsuccessful escape attempt," the truth was that Myles tried to build Montana State Prison into an empire he could control. The book I wrote was about more than an isolated historical event. Instead, it's the portrait of a prison riot, known in literature as a "prison memoir," lending insight into power struggles that haunted most American prisons of that era. And so, I offer my book to you, dear readers. Please let me know what you think.
Thanks, Kevin
I wish to thank all my readers. I welcome your ratings and reviews. As I researched the 1959 Montana prison riot, I began wondering if I would ever write the book. I felt like a detective working a cold case because I spent hundreds of hours tracking down missing documents and, harder yet, survivors from the riot. I eventually found most of them and interviewed several in person. (I wrote in the book that when words failed them, tears told the story.) I sensed there was more to know about Jerry Myles, the convict who led the takeover of the prison on April 16, 1959. Sure enough. I took a shot at requesting Myles' federal prison file. Months later it arrived at my house in a box of 700 pages. Those documents contained evidence about his upbringing and his misbehavior in other state and federal prisons. Although the riot was portrayed at the time it happened as "an unsuccessful escape attempt," the truth was that Myles tried to build Montana State Prison into an empire he could control. The book I wrote was about more than an isolated historical event. Instead, it's the portrait of a prison riot, known in literature as a "prison memoir," lending insight into power struggles that haunted most American prisons of that era. And so, I offer my book to you, dear readers. Please let me know what you think.
Thanks, Kevin
May 21, 2017
This is a fascinating account of an important event in Montana. The background of each character must have been a painstaking research project. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the history behind it. I have a new perspective on inmate life and the role of prison guards and prison administration.
February 24, 2016
Loved this nonfiction about a local historical event. Well done. Helpful in gathering information about our region and interesting reading. Thanks Kevin Giles.
September 2, 2020
Great Read
Wow. My stepfather, David Hinton, was one of the hostages. This book gave great insight to what occurred during the riot. It is disturbing to read how prisons in general were operated back then. The conditions for both inmates and guards seemed to have been far less than adequate. This was a great read for me. Lol..maybe even a bit of family history.
Wow. My stepfather, David Hinton, was one of the hostages. This book gave great insight to what occurred during the riot. It is disturbing to read how prisons in general were operated back then. The conditions for both inmates and guards seemed to have been far less than adequate. This was a great read for me. Lol..maybe even a bit of family history.
December 27, 2017
Well Researched and Historically Documented
Such a great book....especially after visiting the prison where it took place. Now after learning about where things took place, I want to go back and explore some more. This comes as a highly suggested read for me, even if it seems a bit long winded at times. Overall a great read!
Such a great book....especially after visiting the prison where it took place. Now after learning about where things took place, I want to go back and explore some more. This comes as a highly suggested read for me, even if it seems a bit long winded at times. Overall a great read!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews