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Murder in Brentwood
Recounts the first twenty-four hours of the investigation into the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson, describing evidence that was not used in the trial and sharing the author's impressions of the case and why it failed to bring about a conviction.
351 pages, Hardcover
First published February 15, 1997
161 people are currently reading
1751 people want to read
About the author
Mark Fuhrman
10 books96 followersFormer LAPD detective, true crime writer and talk radio host.
He is primarily known for his part in the investigation of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman and his subsequent felony conviction for perjury.
He is primarily known for his part in the investigation of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman and his subsequent felony conviction for perjury.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
August 24, 2015
This was my second reading of this book. I listened to an audible version at times. And I enjoyed it even more this time around. For a detailed review of Murder in Brentwood, see my first review. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Warning! The following thoughts are just my political views - why I re-read Brentwood - not so much a book review. :)
I started Murder in Brentwood again because, as an African American, I wanted to weigh this book amidst the racial divide that is currently besmirching our nation. When OJ was freed I actually believed - please don't laugh :) - that he was innocent. Hey, it was 1995 - I was 20 years old! I was naive and went along with the crowd. Afterwards, I never gave that man or the crimes I later believed he'd DEFINITELY committed a second thought. I remember almost approving of the crime - as sick as that sounds - thinking, "if he is guilty, then that is one up for the blacks who had to watch Rodney King's probable murderers beat the man to within an inch of his life, or the many other blacks and Latinos who've suffered the same fate or worse." Sadly, that is how I felt.
I'm proud to say that my thought processes have matured.
The same racial ignorance and hatred that put people (not just minorities) at the end of police sticks and bullets throughout the years was the same ignorance and hatred I held and let brew bitterly in my spirit. Now I try and use empathy in every endeavor. I think that we can all agree that there have been horrific policemen of every race. But there have always been great policemen of every race as well. Thousands upon thousands of policemen and women have devoted and even given their lives to keep you and me safe. Some have lost marriages, health, and even their minds to the integrity that it takes to police our neighborhoods. I find it strange that when we're in danger, no matter our race or how we feel about the police, most of us call 911 BEFORE we call GOD. Yet, when AN officer does something that looks racist or insensitive we condemn the whole lot. Condemning an entire occupation; that is some sort of 'ism, I'm sure. We just don't have a word for it yet.
So, what's my point? Racism is racism even when it comes from those on the "slighted" end. When INDIVIDUALS do wrong, judge them INDIVIDUALLY. That's all I want to get across. I stand behind this view because of my heritage and because I wish to be treated this way - don't judge me by what others who look like me have done, whether it's a good judgment or a bad one. Judge me for what I do and who I am. And if you don't know me, please, don't judge me until you do.
That's why I do not stand with those of us who preach hatred of other cultures, including the police culture. My prayer is that my kinsmen of every race, nationality, and culture do the same.
Warning! The following thoughts are just my political views - why I re-read Brentwood - not so much a book review. :)
I started Murder in Brentwood again because, as an African American, I wanted to weigh this book amidst the racial divide that is currently besmirching our nation. When OJ was freed I actually believed - please don't laugh :) - that he was innocent. Hey, it was 1995 - I was 20 years old! I was naive and went along with the crowd. Afterwards, I never gave that man or the crimes I later believed he'd DEFINITELY committed a second thought. I remember almost approving of the crime - as sick as that sounds - thinking, "if he is guilty, then that is one up for the blacks who had to watch Rodney King's probable murderers beat the man to within an inch of his life, or the many other blacks and Latinos who've suffered the same fate or worse." Sadly, that is how I felt.
I'm proud to say that my thought processes have matured.
The same racial ignorance and hatred that put people (not just minorities) at the end of police sticks and bullets throughout the years was the same ignorance and hatred I held and let brew bitterly in my spirit. Now I try and use empathy in every endeavor. I think that we can all agree that there have been horrific policemen of every race. But there have always been great policemen of every race as well. Thousands upon thousands of policemen and women have devoted and even given their lives to keep you and me safe. Some have lost marriages, health, and even their minds to the integrity that it takes to police our neighborhoods. I find it strange that when we're in danger, no matter our race or how we feel about the police, most of us call 911 BEFORE we call GOD. Yet, when AN officer does something that looks racist or insensitive we condemn the whole lot. Condemning an entire occupation; that is some sort of 'ism, I'm sure. We just don't have a word for it yet.
So, what's my point? Racism is racism even when it comes from those on the "slighted" end. When INDIVIDUALS do wrong, judge them INDIVIDUALLY. That's all I want to get across. I stand behind this view because of my heritage and because I wish to be treated this way - don't judge me by what others who look like me have done, whether it's a good judgment or a bad one. Judge me for what I do and who I am. And if you don't know me, please, don't judge me until you do.
That's why I do not stand with those of us who preach hatred of other cultures, including the police culture. My prayer is that my kinsmen of every race, nationality, and culture do the same.
March 6, 2013
I was 35 in 1995 and followed the OJ trail throughout. It was obvious from the beginning of the trail that Johnny Cochran knew OJ was guilty before the trail began so the only way to get his client off was by making the case about race, wild conspiracy theories, Cops planting evidence, lies and innuendo. He also used the LAPD’s mishandling of evidence as way to convince jurors that the crime scenes were contaminated and as such cast reasonable doubt. Sadly it worked. The end result was Mark Fuhrman became a scapegoat and he was the one convicted of a crime and his life forever altered after the trail.
The mountain of physical evidence, circumstantial evidence and even eye witness testimony (which wasn’t used in the trail) was more than enough to convict OJ. It overwhelming proved beyond a reasonable doubt that he alone committed the 2 homicides.
I read the racist comments the Defense used against Fuhrman in the trail. They were horrible and offensive but if people knew what context they were made in they’d come away with a completely different view of him. I thought so then and I’m more completely convinced now that Fuhrman was one of the best Detectives the LAPD ever had. Was he arrogant? Yes. Was it possible he was a racist? Maybe but the fact is his views on race were completely irrelevant to the guilt or innocence of OJ. The LA DA made a motion to deny the racist comments on the Fuhrman tapes as inadmissible and irrelevant because under the law they actually were but Judge Lance Ito allowed it. I’m not going to write any spoilers here but after you read this book you’ll have a completely different view of Ito and his reasons for allowing the tapes in as evidence.
In hindsight Marsha Clark, the LAPD, the Crime Scene investigators all made mistakes in the prosecution of the OJ case. One must remember that not long before the OJ murders the Rodney King episode was still fresh on the minds of everyone in LA. The DA's office knew the world would be watching their every move in court and the King verdict was like a noose around their collective necks. The trail should never have been televised. Everyone involved on both sides became instant media celebrities and the DA’s office lost control of the trail as a result. The procedural tactics and the outcome of the trail most certainly altered the verdict by televising it.
The OJ trail is old news but I really enjoyed hearing Fuhrman’s side of the story. He’s not blameless in the outcome but his role was small by comparison and after you read what he has to say you’ll agree.
A few years ago I read his book entitled “Murder in Greenwich” which involved the murder case of Martha Moxley. I’ve been following this particular case for years and Fuhrman in his small way helped finally bring some justice to the Moxley family. The case had similarities to the OJ trail; it took 27 years to finally uncovered the truth about what happened to Moxley. Moxley finally received justice but unfortunately for Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman it never came.
Fuhrman was and still is a flawed individual but the biggest mistake he ever made was getting involved in the OJ case to begin with. I highly recommend both books. If you’re a true crime buff like me they’re MUST reads.
The mountain of physical evidence, circumstantial evidence and even eye witness testimony (which wasn’t used in the trail) was more than enough to convict OJ. It overwhelming proved beyond a reasonable doubt that he alone committed the 2 homicides.
I read the racist comments the Defense used against Fuhrman in the trail. They were horrible and offensive but if people knew what context they were made in they’d come away with a completely different view of him. I thought so then and I’m more completely convinced now that Fuhrman was one of the best Detectives the LAPD ever had. Was he arrogant? Yes. Was it possible he was a racist? Maybe but the fact is his views on race were completely irrelevant to the guilt or innocence of OJ. The LA DA made a motion to deny the racist comments on the Fuhrman tapes as inadmissible and irrelevant because under the law they actually were but Judge Lance Ito allowed it. I’m not going to write any spoilers here but after you read this book you’ll have a completely different view of Ito and his reasons for allowing the tapes in as evidence.
In hindsight Marsha Clark, the LAPD, the Crime Scene investigators all made mistakes in the prosecution of the OJ case. One must remember that not long before the OJ murders the Rodney King episode was still fresh on the minds of everyone in LA. The DA's office knew the world would be watching their every move in court and the King verdict was like a noose around their collective necks. The trail should never have been televised. Everyone involved on both sides became instant media celebrities and the DA’s office lost control of the trail as a result. The procedural tactics and the outcome of the trail most certainly altered the verdict by televising it.
The OJ trail is old news but I really enjoyed hearing Fuhrman’s side of the story. He’s not blameless in the outcome but his role was small by comparison and after you read what he has to say you’ll agree.
A few years ago I read his book entitled “Murder in Greenwich” which involved the murder case of Martha Moxley. I’ve been following this particular case for years and Fuhrman in his small way helped finally bring some justice to the Moxley family. The case had similarities to the OJ trail; it took 27 years to finally uncovered the truth about what happened to Moxley. Moxley finally received justice but unfortunately for Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman it never came.
Fuhrman was and still is a flawed individual but the biggest mistake he ever made was getting involved in the OJ case to begin with. I highly recommend both books. If you’re a true crime buff like me they’re MUST reads.
December 29, 2011
I was a sophomore in high school when O.J. Simpson was acquitted of double murder charges. I don't really remember whether I was shocked at the verdict or not. I think I was a little surprised, but that probably stemmed from opinions that I heard from the adults around me about the case and how it was mishandled. I do remember thinking that Mark Fuhrman was an idiot. A typical white LA cop that hated black people. Of course, I was a naive teen feeding into all of the media nonsense.
This is by far the best true crime novel I have read. It is a plodding, well thought out account of the events that took place once Mark Fuhrman arrived at the crime scene at Nicole Simpson's house. The writing is crisp. Fuhrman takes the time to explain legalese and aspects of detective work that the lay person wouldn't know. His story is simple. He lays out very clearly why he thinks the case was lost and why he was crucified in the media. He doesn't attempt to make himself look like the perfect cop, but he stands up for hisself and finally says what needed to be said during the trial.
If you like true crime, you have to read this book.
This is by far the best true crime novel I have read. It is a plodding, well thought out account of the events that took place once Mark Fuhrman arrived at the crime scene at Nicole Simpson's house. The writing is crisp. Fuhrman takes the time to explain legalese and aspects of detective work that the lay person wouldn't know. His story is simple. He lays out very clearly why he thinks the case was lost and why he was crucified in the media. He doesn't attempt to make himself look like the perfect cop, but he stands up for hisself and finally says what needed to be said during the trial.
If you like true crime, you have to read this book.
April 14, 2016
Murder in Brentwood would have been a really good book had he stuck to the facts. Instead Mark Fuhrman spent the vast majority of the book telling us about every Black or Latino person he's ever met in a sad attempt to prove he's not racist. He failed. As much as this would kill him to admit Mark Fuhrman & O.j. Simpson have some things in common. They both think they're the smartest person in the room, they both feel that everyone's out to get them, & most importantly they're both guilty as sin. O.j. is a murderer & Mark Fuhrman is a racist.
April 11, 2024
Mark Fuhrman is perfect, was the biggest victim in the OJ Simpson trial, and everyone else was inept or corrupt - according to Mark Fuhrman.
October 23, 2019
Going into this book, I thought that this was going to be an inside look at the OJ trial from one of the people who was first on the scene. I understood that Mark Furhman was assumed to be racist and him lying on the stand is what lead to credibility issues. I was not alive for the trial, but this case really interests me. And every since I started looking into the case, it always came up that he was a racist. I agreed with that statement because of his use of the n word. I understand that there was context to when he said it, but I believe that it shouldn't be said, especially if the person is not black. I wanted to read this because I thought this was just going to be about the case and that his use of the word would be a small part. Boy was I wrong.
This book was just Mark Furhman complaining about how everyone else screwed up and he was such a great cop and he didn't deserve anything he got. Well, he shouldn't have lied about using that word. It is hard to believe that he forgot using the word when he said himself, in this book, that the screen play was something he thought was going to go some where. It's also hard to believe that this was the only time he said that word because LAPD at the time, under Daryl Gates, (who was friendly with Furhman), was notoriously unfair and violent towards minorities. Also he spent a good amount of time telling the reader all the people of color he knows, listing their ethnicity, and then talking about how much they liked him and how he got a long with him. It's that ol' 'I'm not racist because I have black friends' defense.
It was also apparent that not only does Furhman seem racist, but is is also sexist as well. He talks about the Men Against Women thing, which was male officers 'just making jokes to get through their tough jobs' at the expense of female officers. And he really doesn't like Margaret York, who is Judge Ito's wife, and in my opinion, it was because she wanted to get to the bottom of the Men Against Women thing (which would have taken away his fun) and that he didn't like taking orders from a woman.
I have never rolled my eyes so much at a book that I was reading. He talks like he is the real victim in this case, but two people are dead. One of those people is a mother whose children didn't get to have their mom growing up. He literally said that they sentenced him to death because he was convicted of perjury. Like it was his own fault. They asked him if he had ever used the word in the last 10 years. He said no and they had proof he did. He should have just said I could have but don't remember. Also he mentions that he tried to get the screen play writer to destroy the tapes because he knew they were incriminating.
This whole book was him whining about how unfair he was treated. It should have been called 'My Character Assassination in Brentwood.' All I have to say it, at least Mark Furhman got to go home to his wife and kids. Sydney and Justin Simpson grew up without a mother. And Ron Goldman never got the chance to have a family.
This book was just Mark Furhman complaining about how everyone else screwed up and he was such a great cop and he didn't deserve anything he got. Well, he shouldn't have lied about using that word. It is hard to believe that he forgot using the word when he said himself, in this book, that the screen play was something he thought was going to go some where. It's also hard to believe that this was the only time he said that word because LAPD at the time, under Daryl Gates, (who was friendly with Furhman), was notoriously unfair and violent towards minorities. Also he spent a good amount of time telling the reader all the people of color he knows, listing their ethnicity, and then talking about how much they liked him and how he got a long with him. It's that ol' 'I'm not racist because I have black friends' defense.
It was also apparent that not only does Furhman seem racist, but is is also sexist as well. He talks about the Men Against Women thing, which was male officers 'just making jokes to get through their tough jobs' at the expense of female officers. And he really doesn't like Margaret York, who is Judge Ito's wife, and in my opinion, it was because she wanted to get to the bottom of the Men Against Women thing (which would have taken away his fun) and that he didn't like taking orders from a woman.
I have never rolled my eyes so much at a book that I was reading. He talks like he is the real victim in this case, but two people are dead. One of those people is a mother whose children didn't get to have their mom growing up. He literally said that they sentenced him to death because he was convicted of perjury. Like it was his own fault. They asked him if he had ever used the word in the last 10 years. He said no and they had proof he did. He should have just said I could have but don't remember. Also he mentions that he tried to get the screen play writer to destroy the tapes because he knew they were incriminating.
This whole book was him whining about how unfair he was treated. It should have been called 'My Character Assassination in Brentwood.' All I have to say it, at least Mark Furhman got to go home to his wife and kids. Sydney and Justin Simpson grew up without a mother. And Ron Goldman never got the chance to have a family.
August 24, 2015
The book was well-written. It gave more information on the OJ Simpson case than I'd ever seen before. Throughout the book there was information that supported OJ's guilt and no typos at all. I appreciated the Appendix where it transcribed every word of OJ's first police interview, listed each search warrant. I enjoyed the detailed courtroom drama and looking at things through Mark Fuhrman's eyes. Fuhrman understands the legal system and gave great insight into what should have been done by prosecutors. He even stated the wrongs he committed. There were both real pictures and drawings that kept the reader transfixed to the book and made me personally want to research the entire ordeal.
It was sad that Mark Fuhrman was so harshly set up to be the scapegoat for the murders. I think everyone knows by now that OJ got away with murder. Fuhrman was vilified, but he was vilified because of his thoughts that he willingly and openly shared with someone else. He allowed himself to be taped saying some really tragic things, and though I no longer believe that he planted evidence, his being vilified is somewhat his own doing. He's not as innocent as the book makes him appear to be. We all have to answer for our wrongs and this book was unputdownable primarily because Fuhrman acknowledged his personal wrongs while guiding us to a clearer view of what really happened.
It was sad that Mark Fuhrman was so harshly set up to be the scapegoat for the murders. I think everyone knows by now that OJ got away with murder. Fuhrman was vilified, but he was vilified because of his thoughts that he willingly and openly shared with someone else. He allowed himself to be taped saying some really tragic things, and though I no longer believe that he planted evidence, his being vilified is somewhat his own doing. He's not as innocent as the book makes him appear to be. We all have to answer for our wrongs and this book was unputdownable primarily because Fuhrman acknowledged his personal wrongs while guiding us to a clearer view of what really happened.
April 14, 2020
I was 14 when all of this transpired, a freshman with more important things on my mind, like how miserable freshman year was. But I remember enough to know that I was confused by the limited news I saw, unsure how the trial was racial, and under the impression that Mark Fuhrman was a bad rogue cop. By the time I got to college, I was a criminology major and really interested in the case and wanting to learn Dr. Henry Lee's part but it wasn't until I saw him on Oprah that I realized I had to read more about the case and what Fuhrman's role was.
Now, it's obvious he's trying to clear his name...who wouldn't with the media frenzy that surrounded him but what's also obvious is a very logical, experienced investigative mind with a clear idea of what transpired that night based on EVIDENCE. He presented the case that perhaps the prosecution should have. I am so infuriated that things were so mishandled, that evidence wasn't collected and/or tested, that questioning wasn't effectively done, all these things resulted in an inadequate case. I am infuriated by the prosecution and how they rigidly stuck to a story that wasn't supported by evidence, how they protected certain detectives and scapegoated others-Fuhrman, and how they apologized for prosecuting OJ. Black or white, this was a murder case...I don't care what color the defendent and/or victims were...you don't apologize for trying to punish the person that evidence says is the culprit.
Now obviously hindsight is 20/20...something that Fuhrman himself admits...and I'm sure he has instances in his own past of maybe missing something here or there. Therefore, I don't want to castigate completely the detectives and the prosecution but it feels like they were so nervous about getting it wrong with a celebrity that they allowed a straightforward murder case become a case of racial profiling and let someone guilty go free.
I guess karma is a b**ch because he's in for 33 years but if he gets parole after 9, I hope the riots they feared after the verdict happen...and I hope they're a coalition of black, white, cuban, asian, and any other ethnicity you can think of.
And, as for the racial epithets said by Fuhrman, well, as he admits, they were disgusting and it's true that nothing excuses comments like that BUT I would argue that no one owns that word and that the n word is an ugly word and shouldn't be used at all BUT, having said that, I'm going to make a comparison that I am aware is not adequate. But, men and women frequently use derogatory terms about women...words that we don't need to write here. And, while the role of women in society throughout history is not equivalent to the institution of slavery (though it can be argued that, to some degree, it is), it is hurtful to hear those terms. But even I have to admit that, as much as I don't like being called a b**tch, I've used that term in anger with friends and people I dislike and I've used it as a term of endearment, like "let's go b**ches." So, I understand that Mark was saying what he was saying for a screenplay. He might have even made comments with his friends. But calling him a racist is extreme and pinning all the conspiracy theories on him, calling into question his behavior during the investigation, accusing him of planting evidence is just wrong.
And, just as an addendum given the news in Summer 2011, I'm infuriated but not surprised that OJ got off, since the defense poked so many holes and offerred so many conspiracy theories, and since the Prosecution made so many errors, since this became a racial issue, and since OJ was a celebrity. And now, after reading this book, I'm no longer surprised that Casey Anthony got off. Instead, I'm just disgusted with the perversion of our justice system. I understand the important role of the defense attornies...they have to defend because everyone is innocent until proven guilty...but ARGH! And I'm frustrated with inadequate prosecutions and I'm frustrated with the jurors. It's a game...who can prove beyond a reasonable doubt and who can provide that reasonable doubt. But it's not a game to the victims or their families!!! :(
PS
I may delete this review. It was my opinion at one point. Now, having read Marcia Clark's memoir, I see things through yet another lens.
Now, it's obvious he's trying to clear his name...who wouldn't with the media frenzy that surrounded him but what's also obvious is a very logical, experienced investigative mind with a clear idea of what transpired that night based on EVIDENCE. He presented the case that perhaps the prosecution should have. I am so infuriated that things were so mishandled, that evidence wasn't collected and/or tested, that questioning wasn't effectively done, all these things resulted in an inadequate case. I am infuriated by the prosecution and how they rigidly stuck to a story that wasn't supported by evidence, how they protected certain detectives and scapegoated others-Fuhrman, and how they apologized for prosecuting OJ. Black or white, this was a murder case...I don't care what color the defendent and/or victims were...you don't apologize for trying to punish the person that evidence says is the culprit.
Now obviously hindsight is 20/20...something that Fuhrman himself admits...and I'm sure he has instances in his own past of maybe missing something here or there. Therefore, I don't want to castigate completely the detectives and the prosecution but it feels like they were so nervous about getting it wrong with a celebrity that they allowed a straightforward murder case become a case of racial profiling and let someone guilty go free.
I guess karma is a b**ch because he's in for 33 years but if he gets parole after 9, I hope the riots they feared after the verdict happen...and I hope they're a coalition of black, white, cuban, asian, and any other ethnicity you can think of.
And, as for the racial epithets said by Fuhrman, well, as he admits, they were disgusting and it's true that nothing excuses comments like that BUT I would argue that no one owns that word and that the n word is an ugly word and shouldn't be used at all BUT, having said that, I'm going to make a comparison that I am aware is not adequate. But, men and women frequently use derogatory terms about women...words that we don't need to write here. And, while the role of women in society throughout history is not equivalent to the institution of slavery (though it can be argued that, to some degree, it is), it is hurtful to hear those terms. But even I have to admit that, as much as I don't like being called a b**tch, I've used that term in anger with friends and people I dislike and I've used it as a term of endearment, like "let's go b**ches." So, I understand that Mark was saying what he was saying for a screenplay. He might have even made comments with his friends. But calling him a racist is extreme and pinning all the conspiracy theories on him, calling into question his behavior during the investigation, accusing him of planting evidence is just wrong.
And, just as an addendum given the news in Summer 2011, I'm infuriated but not surprised that OJ got off, since the defense poked so many holes and offerred so many conspiracy theories, and since the Prosecution made so many errors, since this became a racial issue, and since OJ was a celebrity. And now, after reading this book, I'm no longer surprised that Casey Anthony got off. Instead, I'm just disgusted with the perversion of our justice system. I understand the important role of the defense attornies...they have to defend because everyone is innocent until proven guilty...but ARGH! And I'm frustrated with inadequate prosecutions and I'm frustrated with the jurors. It's a game...who can prove beyond a reasonable doubt and who can provide that reasonable doubt. But it's not a game to the victims or their families!!! :(
PS
I may delete this review. It was my opinion at one point. Now, having read Marcia Clark's memoir, I see things through yet another lens.
July 31, 2019
The true (?) story of the O J Simpson case by one of the first detectives on the scene. Mishandling of evidence seems to have been rife and no wonder 'The Juice' was 'not guilty'. Fuhrman was subsequently (wrongly?) discredited and had to retire from the force while O J continued as a celebrity until later events overtook him.
January 2, 2015
Didn't like this as much as his Murder in Greenwich, but didn't expect to, either. The writing in Greenwich is a bit more polished, but mostly I figured I would prefer Greenwich because I expected Brentwood to be a bit more about how Fuhrman was railroaded, which it is, however he keeps the whining to a minimum and I thought his apology sincere and worthy of note. Fuhrman does not do the usual, "I'm sorry my words hurt people" routine -- he says flat out that he did something wrong and cruel, and that he should have known better.
That said, one of my greatest frustrations watching the O.J. trial was that the prosecution never made any effort to deal with "the Fuhrman problem." My mom and I were practically shouting at the screen at one point, "CALL HIS PARTNER TO THE STAND, for crying out loud." The only significant discovery Fuhrman made on his own was the glove behind Kato Kaelin's unit; once Fuhrman was compromised, any sensible prosecution team would have brought in the many UNcompromised witnesses who could back Fuhrman up.
Fuhrman has some speculation on why the O.J. prosecution did not do this, but since those speculations boil down to "politics trumping truth," they don't make me feel any better. But, really, there is no excuse for that sort of incompetence, so I don't really expect ever to find a reasonable explanation.
Fuhrman believes the jury let O.J. off for racist reasons. Personally, I think the jury just didn't understand forensic evidence and so didn't weigh it heavily enough. The fact that the defense kept insisting the forensic evidence had been compromised feeds into that, of course. A lot of the arguments the defense made simply aren't possible -- but if someone doesn't understand how DNA works or how forensic work is done, they are not going to realize that.
Fuhrman also thinks that the forensic evidence was so strong, the prosecution got cocky. And he is correct that the forensic evidence was overwhelming and clear. But if the jury doesn't understand that evidence, they're going to discount it, and I think that's exactly what happened. I'm not saying O.J.'s personal charm or race loyalty or any of that didn't play into it, but I do believe that the fact that most of these jurors honestly didn't understand the forensic evidence was the primary factor in their verdict, and it would have been nice to see Fuhrman consider that.
For that matter, he doesn't always make clear in this book why the idea of him forging some of the evidence makes no sense. He does point out a couple of specific flaws in the defense's argument, but if he was going to touch on it at all, it would have been nice to see the false accusations countered point by point. I think Fuhrman considered most of them so obviously false they weren't worthy of being countered, but IMHO a lot of people reading his book likely aren't any more knowledgeable about forensic evidence than the jury was.
Although considering how many crazed theories the defense threw out, countering them point by point even in chart form would have made the book a fair bit longer, so I don't blame Fuhrman too much. I haven't read many books on this case, but I did think that, if anyone was going to touch on that, it'd be Fuhrman, so I was disappointed not so see that. But I didn't faithfully watch the trial beginning to end by any means, so the parts I wanted cleared up were likely not pivotal points for anyone else.
Fuhrman does do an excellent job at laying out the plethora of forensic evidence, and I would say this is the best O.J. trial book I have read -- but that's admittedly a pretty short list.
That said, one of my greatest frustrations watching the O.J. trial was that the prosecution never made any effort to deal with "the Fuhrman problem." My mom and I were practically shouting at the screen at one point, "CALL HIS PARTNER TO THE STAND, for crying out loud." The only significant discovery Fuhrman made on his own was the glove behind Kato Kaelin's unit; once Fuhrman was compromised, any sensible prosecution team would have brought in the many UNcompromised witnesses who could back Fuhrman up.
Fuhrman has some speculation on why the O.J. prosecution did not do this, but since those speculations boil down to "politics trumping truth," they don't make me feel any better. But, really, there is no excuse for that sort of incompetence, so I don't really expect ever to find a reasonable explanation.
Fuhrman believes the jury let O.J. off for racist reasons. Personally, I think the jury just didn't understand forensic evidence and so didn't weigh it heavily enough. The fact that the defense kept insisting the forensic evidence had been compromised feeds into that, of course. A lot of the arguments the defense made simply aren't possible -- but if someone doesn't understand how DNA works or how forensic work is done, they are not going to realize that.
Fuhrman also thinks that the forensic evidence was so strong, the prosecution got cocky. And he is correct that the forensic evidence was overwhelming and clear. But if the jury doesn't understand that evidence, they're going to discount it, and I think that's exactly what happened. I'm not saying O.J.'s personal charm or race loyalty or any of that didn't play into it, but I do believe that the fact that most of these jurors honestly didn't understand the forensic evidence was the primary factor in their verdict, and it would have been nice to see Fuhrman consider that.
For that matter, he doesn't always make clear in this book why the idea of him forging some of the evidence makes no sense. He does point out a couple of specific flaws in the defense's argument, but if he was going to touch on it at all, it would have been nice to see the false accusations countered point by point. I think Fuhrman considered most of them so obviously false they weren't worthy of being countered, but IMHO a lot of people reading his book likely aren't any more knowledgeable about forensic evidence than the jury was.
Although considering how many crazed theories the defense threw out, countering them point by point even in chart form would have made the book a fair bit longer, so I don't blame Fuhrman too much. I haven't read many books on this case, but I did think that, if anyone was going to touch on that, it'd be Fuhrman, so I was disappointed not so see that. But I didn't faithfully watch the trial beginning to end by any means, so the parts I wanted cleared up were likely not pivotal points for anyone else.
Fuhrman does do an excellent job at laying out the plethora of forensic evidence, and I would say this is the best O.J. trial book I have read -- but that's admittedly a pretty short list.
September 24, 2018
I read 4 different books about the OJ Simpson murders. This one was, by far, the best of the books. I was surprised at the good job that the supposed "racist cop" that investigated the crime did in giving a good view of all the different parties involved in the investigation and prosecution of these crimes. It was also a shame to see, both in this book and the others, how little the different agencies worked together and how territorial they were over their individual pieces of the pie. It is a shame that Nicole and Ron did not get the best cooperation of the different agencies and how in the end justice was denied to them and their families. It also showed how this focus on being sure you got your moment or moments in the spotlight took precedence over justice within our legal system. Of all of them this is the one I would recommend you read.
August 26, 2018
Downloaded a Kindle version because of some t.v. series that began. I actually found this a fascinating read through a detective's POV of the Simpson-Goldman murders. Stuff such as a bloody fingerprint on the rear gate, polic politics as Furhman and Ronald Phillips turning the case over to 2 senoir detectives Lange-Vannatter, and that 14 police officers arrived prior to Furhman and spotted one bloody glove.
Fuhrman's good as a writer. He was able to keep my attention throughout the book. It slowed a little with the I play basketball with black cops, blah, blah, blah.
But, him having to live in another state and the problems with the media his family had to go through was sad.
In any case, it's a very good first jand look at the murders from a detective's POV.
Fuhrman's good as a writer. He was able to keep my attention throughout the book. It slowed a little with the I play basketball with black cops, blah, blah, blah.
But, him having to live in another state and the problems with the media his family had to go through was sad.
In any case, it's a very good first jand look at the murders from a detective's POV.
February 11, 2017
At the time, I think I must have watched 90% of the trial, as I worked at home and stayed glued to the TV. There have been a lot of books about this trial as it was a media sensation. And there are many, many, points of view, all of them interesting, probably none of them exactly right. This isn't as good as Bugliosi's take, but it is still good.
January 7, 2013
Very well written. Read it in two days. Fuhrman is very defensive about how his reputation and career were ruined by this trial experience. But, he is a brilliant detective and very good writer. I thought the book was entirely credible.
February 13, 2016
I resisted buying this book for a long time because of the author and not being fond of the publisher. The book is competent, but a little whiny, as the author still seems to be unable to imagine why everyone was so mad at him.
May 16, 2016
Mark Fuhrman wrote the most boring book about an incredibly interesting subject. There was no real honesty or insight to his take on the case. Very disappointing.
November 14, 2018
some interesting insights by Fuhrman
April 2, 2016
Given the new docudrama now in 2016 I was interested in reading Mark Fuhrman's book because I didn't understand or remember why he would plead the 5th, so I thought it best to read Mr. Fuhrman's own account. I could not put this book down. It was well organized and explained the facts very well. It is astounding to me and many others after all the evidence that was presented in the trial and OJ Simpson has walked free.
There are three tragedies in this case. The first two are that Nicole and Ron were murdered and the only suspect that evidence pointed to did not pay for those crimes. My heart goes out to their families after all they have suffered and continue to suffer because of OJ Simpson.
The third tragedy is the fact that Mr. Fuhrman was put on trial based on race and planted evidence. The evidence may have been poorly handled by the lead detectives, but even so, it is totally clear to any human brain (whether they want to admit it or not) that all the evidence points to OJ Simpson. The evidence proves that. There is no other suspect.
The other criminal in this case is Johnny Cochran. He made this case about race. It wasn't about race. It was about two peoples lives that were stolen and Mr. Cochran helped OJ steal those lives. He is a disgrace. How dare he use the name of Jesus to further his cause. What Mr. Cochran may not realize that Jesus sees through all of it. OJ can't hide from him nor can Johnny Cochran.
Marcia Clark was weak and too consumed with getting famous herself. Shame on her for not standing up for Mark Fuhrman. I could go on about Marcia's incompetence, but I won't. I had planned on reading her book to be fair, but I am not going to waste my time.
Mr. Fuhrman, my heart breaks for you. Your sincerity and honesty in this book is commendable. I pray you can move on with your life and now that some time has passed, you have gained the respect you deserve for the work you did on this case.
I find it such a double-standard and a tragedy that OJ Simpson could lie repeatedly and was never once condemned for it yet Mr. Fuhrman was condemned for racial things he said for the basis of a screenplay. He stated the way things were in the police department; NOT how he felt personally. He was reporting facts for a screenplay and Mr. Cochran took that and exploited it.
The Brown and Goldman families have endured enough pain to last multiple life spans. OJ Simpson may have been acquitted based on his fame, wealth, popularity and celebrity and yes, even because he was black. If he were white, Mr. Cochran could not have played the angle he did. What a shame.
OJ Simpson and Johnny Cochran will some day be judged by their Maker. Mr. Cochran will not be able to pull the race and Jesus cards. God sees through all things and He will judge them accordingly. Only God can truly see the heart and based on actions I have seen, OJ and Mr. Cochran will get their due.
Hang on to that Mr. Fuhrman. May God bless you and give you peace.
There are three tragedies in this case. The first two are that Nicole and Ron were murdered and the only suspect that evidence pointed to did not pay for those crimes. My heart goes out to their families after all they have suffered and continue to suffer because of OJ Simpson.
The third tragedy is the fact that Mr. Fuhrman was put on trial based on race and planted evidence. The evidence may have been poorly handled by the lead detectives, but even so, it is totally clear to any human brain (whether they want to admit it or not) that all the evidence points to OJ Simpson. The evidence proves that. There is no other suspect.
The other criminal in this case is Johnny Cochran. He made this case about race. It wasn't about race. It was about two peoples lives that were stolen and Mr. Cochran helped OJ steal those lives. He is a disgrace. How dare he use the name of Jesus to further his cause. What Mr. Cochran may not realize that Jesus sees through all of it. OJ can't hide from him nor can Johnny Cochran.
Marcia Clark was weak and too consumed with getting famous herself. Shame on her for not standing up for Mark Fuhrman. I could go on about Marcia's incompetence, but I won't. I had planned on reading her book to be fair, but I am not going to waste my time.
Mr. Fuhrman, my heart breaks for you. Your sincerity and honesty in this book is commendable. I pray you can move on with your life and now that some time has passed, you have gained the respect you deserve for the work you did on this case.
I find it such a double-standard and a tragedy that OJ Simpson could lie repeatedly and was never once condemned for it yet Mr. Fuhrman was condemned for racial things he said for the basis of a screenplay. He stated the way things were in the police department; NOT how he felt personally. He was reporting facts for a screenplay and Mr. Cochran took that and exploited it.
The Brown and Goldman families have endured enough pain to last multiple life spans. OJ Simpson may have been acquitted based on his fame, wealth, popularity and celebrity and yes, even because he was black. If he were white, Mr. Cochran could not have played the angle he did. What a shame.
OJ Simpson and Johnny Cochran will some day be judged by their Maker. Mr. Cochran will not be able to pull the race and Jesus cards. God sees through all things and He will judge them accordingly. Only God can truly see the heart and based on actions I have seen, OJ and Mr. Cochran will get their due.
Hang on to that Mr. Fuhrman. May God bless you and give you peace.
July 25, 2024
I have no idea what to do with this one, because I definitely don't believe Mark Fuhrman framed OJ Simpson or did anything egregiously wrong in regards to the OJ Simpson case, and I agree with him that he was a scapegoat. But I can't judge what exactly the deal was with this racist screenplay. He waited until 85% of the way into the book to address it which was a huge mistake because the opening felt really evasive, which made him seem extremely guilty.
I honestly wonder what he would say if he wrote this book again now in today's climate. There's definitely some stuff in here that is really uncomfortable, and the way he went after Marcia Clark and a few other people felt really petty. It's somehow both better and worse than I expected. Like I was rooting for him to explain away the tapes after I heard it was a screenplay, but he does make a few statements that really don't make him look as good as I think he was hoping for. While I don't think he was the villain he was made out to be, I don't think he's a great dude either.
So I don't know. I think he offered some valuable insights into the case in this book and I was glad to read his take on events, but this had a lot of "oof" moments.
I honestly wonder what he would say if he wrote this book again now in today's climate. There's definitely some stuff in here that is really uncomfortable, and the way he went after Marcia Clark and a few other people felt really petty. It's somehow both better and worse than I expected. Like I was rooting for him to explain away the tapes after I heard it was a screenplay, but he does make a few statements that really don't make him look as good as I think he was hoping for. While I don't think he was the villain he was made out to be, I don't think he's a great dude either.
So I don't know. I think he offered some valuable insights into the case in this book and I was glad to read his take on events, but this had a lot of "oof" moments.
June 6, 2019
This book leaves you with bad vibes in your mouth. Mark Furham, I must thank you. Mmh. Thank you for putting all those egotistical law heads in their place. Yes, thank you for punching back. I was not their when this crime happened. But, it is highly irresponsible and unfair to pin the loss of the trial on one person's shoulders. Furham's foul crying is very much justified.
The problem with Furhman is that he chose the wrong topic to spin his mouth about. He chose the wronv topic for his screenplay. He tried so hard to justify his actions in this book but he came out empty. Nothing sold. He might as well try to sell America's statue of liberty or the Eiffel Tower in France. Nobody will buy. When all fails, blame it on the age old problem of 'love'.
The problem with Furhman is that he chose the wrong topic to spin his mouth about. He chose the wronv topic for his screenplay. He tried so hard to justify his actions in this book but he came out empty. Nothing sold. He might as well try to sell America's statue of liberty or the Eiffel Tower in France. Nobody will buy. When all fails, blame it on the age old problem of 'love'.
June 29, 2017
I finally read this, some 20+ years after the events took place. For some reason (I suppose because I knew that Fuhrman has written subsequent true crime books), I expected this to be a straight-forward account of the Simpson case. It was for the first quarter or so, then turned into Fuhrman's life story and an attempt to set the record straight as he sees it. I can't blame the guy for wanting to defend himself, but it got pretty heavy-handed and self-serving. It was also frustrating once again seeing the police, prosecutors, jurors, etc. blow a case that should have been a slam-dunk. I admit I'm interested in reading his books about other cases in which he was not personally involved.
January 30, 2014
This was an interesting book. I remember much about the O.J. trial when it occured but learned several new things from Mark Fuhrman's book. It is difficult to imagine someone against whom there was so much evidence of guilt being found not guilty or of a trial getting so far off course. The book was well written and well organized, giving detailed descriptions of the investigation process and steps taken by the detectives.
January 8, 2021
Two things are true at the same time: OJ Simpson was a domestic abuser who escalated to killing his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman, and that Mark Fuhrman, the police officer who found the key bloody glove evidence, is a virulent racist. It's certainly grotesquely fascinating to read a well-documented racist trying to rehabilitate his image, as though the former fact somehow magically makes the latter fact untrue.
June 21, 2012
So good! A must read. This guy got majorly bashed and did not deserve it.
January 22, 2016
Wow. Now I know it was wise to avoid the TV coverage of this murder trial. I don't think I could have stood it.
October 4, 2017
I got tired of reading how everyone in LA wronged him and how the case SHOULD have run.
January 4, 2021
Even spun through his POV and through the lens of time (written in 1997)....he’s still a piece of shit.
April 27, 2018
I’m at a loss for words after just having finished this book. It is absolutely incredible. The writer in me had a few critiques for the actual writing style, but that’s obviously completely irrelevant, since Fuhrman is not a writer and doesn’t claim to be. So with that said, I give this book five stars based on both the content and the fact that this man deserves any credit he can get. I pretty much devoured this book because I have an obsession with the Simpson case, and it is without argument Mark Fuhrman became (and unfortunately remains) a controversial figure involved. I can’t stress enough how meticulously Fuhrman addresses every shred of evidence, how it was discovered and by whom, under what circumstance, whether it was presented in court or even acknowledged... It’s so much, really. It’s unbelievable to read this and basically be presented with everything firsthand, and realize the travesty that occurred during court but also following the verdict. Two people were murdered, and justice has never been served. Mark Fuhrman essentially lost his life as he knew it. As a result of the defense’s slimy tactics as well as the prosecution’s cockiness and negligence, the media was able to tear him limb from limb. It’s been more than twenty years and it’s still popular opinion that Mark Fuhrman is a criminal and a racist. It’s so disgusting and vile. Almost like slaughtering your ex and her friend while your kids are upstairs sleeping.
October 24, 2022
Honestly, this book is incredibly annoying to read. According to this man, nobody did the right thing and everybody mishandled the case except him. Him. You know… the guy who lied on the stand about being a racist? Yeah, he’s the only one he defends and says “I have black friends.” as if that makes things any better.
It’s okay to have strong feelings and feel misunderstood but this man is just going on a tangent for pages and pages in this book and it’s incredibly tedious to read about. I’m surprised nobody has sued him for defamation. The way he talks about certain people is appalling. And also kinda fascinating. He bitches about OJ Simpson being self obsessed and one could accuse him of being self obsessed in this book.
There’s not much that he brings to the conversation of OJ Simpson that hasn’t been said before which is surprising considering he’s got a lot of shit to talk in terms of people. Yes, it became a race case rather than a murder trial. Everybody knows that. Say something new.
As one of the officers on the case, one would think he has something interesting to say about the facts of the case. The evidence that he lists out is fascinating. And that’s when the book becomes interesting for me. But that’s not what 90% of this book is.
90% of this book is him bitching and moaning about various people involved in the case. So be warned of how annoying and tedious that is.
It’s okay to have strong feelings and feel misunderstood but this man is just going on a tangent for pages and pages in this book and it’s incredibly tedious to read about. I’m surprised nobody has sued him for defamation. The way he talks about certain people is appalling. And also kinda fascinating. He bitches about OJ Simpson being self obsessed and one could accuse him of being self obsessed in this book.
There’s not much that he brings to the conversation of OJ Simpson that hasn’t been said before which is surprising considering he’s got a lot of shit to talk in terms of people. Yes, it became a race case rather than a murder trial. Everybody knows that. Say something new.
As one of the officers on the case, one would think he has something interesting to say about the facts of the case. The evidence that he lists out is fascinating. And that’s when the book becomes interesting for me. But that’s not what 90% of this book is.
90% of this book is him bitching and moaning about various people involved in the case. So be warned of how annoying and tedious that is.
November 21, 2017
Did you ever listen to someone make excuses for something you don't blame them for? That's what this is and it gets irritating. Mr. Fuhrman does provide a lot of details and information regarding the case but mostly the book is summed up with, "I did my job and they blamed me." I don't doubt that. Fuhrman was probably a fine police officer too and I'm sorry he had to go through that. I just didn't expect it to be the subject of the book.
I did appreciate the step by step experience of the crime scene, the insight on the trial and the aftermath. His version, Based on the evidence, of how the murders happened (he makes clear is just his theory) is entirely plausible, simple, and straightforward. I just would prefer not to have to go through the What if they had done this or what if they had done that. truly, if o.j. could've controlled himself, none of us would've had to go through that.
I wish the best for Mr. Fuhrman and hope this helped him heal from this. but if you're a reader of this book, just be aware of what it is.
I did appreciate the step by step experience of the crime scene, the insight on the trial and the aftermath. His version, Based on the evidence, of how the murders happened (he makes clear is just his theory) is entirely plausible, simple, and straightforward. I just would prefer not to have to go through the What if they had done this or what if they had done that. truly, if o.j. could've controlled himself, none of us would've had to go through that.
I wish the best for Mr. Fuhrman and hope this helped him heal from this. but if you're a reader of this book, just be aware of what it is.
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