Deathwork: A novel

by James McLendon

It is a chill morning at Raiford State Prison. For twelve years there have been no legal executions in the United States. Now, Florida has returned the death penalty to its books.
And today four murderers—three men and a woman—are going to be electrocuted.
The terrorist—He didn't kill hundreds of people, only eight or nine.
The woman—She poisoned her husband and children.
The ax murderer—A man born to be electrocuted.
The five-time rapist—A sex maniac who couldn't stop.

Genres: Fiction

327 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1978

Reviews

[Krzysztof Pacyński · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although largely (and unfairly) forgotten today, this book is perhaps even more relevant now, as the death penalty in the U.S. is in decline, but still lingering around.

[May Ling]

A chillingly disturbing work about four convicts who are on death row, McLendon book is quite gory. While so many books surround the intricate stories of what brings a person to such a point in life, this work is as interested in giving the reader a full experience of what it is like to watch someone die in the electric chair.

There is a certain bizarre, disgusting reality to it. While some books like to take a political stand, this one presents the realities of it; the despicable characters, the unpredictability of the contraption, the difficulty of the actual job as executioner, the politics, the mixed media and activist emotions. It's fascinating the way the executioners are portrayed.

The use of four inmates with a variety of stories makes the ending all the more chilling. After experiencing the description of one death, the other four become even more daunting. This is probably the way that the mandatory witnesses felt after seeing the gruesomeness of each execution. It's quite an interesting story to tell, in this regard.

The loss of a star is because I think there are places where - as an author - he could have brought the reader even deeper into the narrative. While his descriptions are adequately disgusting, they are not as detailed as they could be. He allows the reader a certain space from full experience. I appreciate it and at the same time, I think he should have been more aggressive and included it. Things like the smell, etc. I also thing there a few places where the dialog is a bit over done and could have been communicated differently for greater effect.

If you are interested in the topic of death row and want to get a sense for the various players, this novel does a great job as a work of fiction. It's a fairly straight foward/easy read, with very few slow parts.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost every criminal defense attorney's office where I go to work on a death penalty case has a tattered copy of this book in the library. An extraordinary number of the people I know who oppose capital punishment have read this book. It is billed as a novel, although much of what McLendon writes rings true. I have been on Alabama's death row, and seen the execution chamber, which is situated in the middle of the cell block.

In his story, McLendon traces the lives of four condemned men on death row as they await execution. He also includes the warden, other prison officials and guards who interact with the prisoners on a daily basis. His description of an execution by electrocution is powerful, gut-wrenching stuff, not to be borne by the faint of heart. It was enough to cement in me the belief that State-sanctioned killing of human beings is immoral and just plain wrong. I have been fighting it ever since.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would actually give this a 4.5 rating.
First read this book around 30 years ago. I ran across it while going through old books. I remembered very little about it, so decided to give it another go. I figured I must have liked it if I had kept it.
Very well written, other than a couple of editing miscues (a number of guards are described as 'solid six footer', etc) This book gives a In Cold Blood vibe. Not quite as good (ICB is a solid 5 star), and it is totally fiction, but has a certain feel that is comparable.

[Nikki Clementi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extreme and haunting book about a man who works the electric chair, the toll it takes on his psyche, and what it’s like for the ones who get the chair.

The title really sums up the whole thing: “DEATHWORK.”

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

i twas an awesome book all the details about the deaths cool!