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Dead Men Walking

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Dead Men Walking tells the incredible stories of those men and women who have lived their lives behind bars with the constant threat of death by fellow prisoners, or by state execution, hanging over them. What is it like to live out your days inside one of the toughest prisons,knowing you'll never again see beyond the exercise yard?Is it really possible to make friends or form relationships inside?What should you do if you've been sentenced to die for a crime you did not commit?This book examines the life-stories of men who claim to be innocent, men who were eventually proven innocent and those who are so dangerous that life simply has to mean life.

CONTENTS:
PART ONE : LIFERS including Machine Gun Kelly, The Bostons Strangler, Charles Manson, Son of Sam, The Yorkshire Ripper, Dennis Nilsen, Jeffrey Dahmer
PART TWO : HIGH PROFILE EXECUTIONS including Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, Derek Bentley, The Night Caller, James Hanratty, Gary Gilmore, Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy
PART THREE : DEATH ROW USA including Ray Krone, Nick Yarris, Richard Allen Davis, Kenny Richey, Michael Morales, Richard Ramirez, Karl Chamberlain
PART FOUR : WOMEN ON DEATH ROW including Ruth Snyder, Ruth Ellis, Velma Barfield, Aileen Wuornos

448 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

30 people are currently reading
63 people want to read

About the author

Bill Wallace

11 books
Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Bill Wallace is a former detective inspector and crime scene investigator from Glasgow, who began a career in true crime journalism after retiring from the force.

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5 stars
33 (27%)
4 stars
38 (31%)
3 stars
35 (28%)
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Profile Image for Bettye McKee.
2,191 reviews158 followers
March 7, 2018
True stories of death penalty cases

If you're interested in stories about the men and women on Death Row and the men and women who have been put to death, the cases in this book provide more detail than many others.

I found some misinformation in the book, such as stating that Judi Buenoano was only the second woman, after Karla Faye Tucker, to be executed in the United States, completely ignoring Velma Barfield who was executed in 1984.

36
Profile Image for Tracey White.
371 reviews1 follower
February 29, 2020
The common theme with most of the people featured in this book is parental abuse or neglect. Of course, this does not excuse crime but most of the people mentioned have had horrific childhoods. The death sentence is neither here not there to me, but authorities need to be certain.
Profile Image for Iola.
242 reviews
November 18, 2022
An interesting look into the death penalty. Although, somewhat dated now.
Profile Image for Madelyn Messick.
482 reviews5 followers
July 16, 2025
Many bite size stories of men and women who have been placed on death row.

3 patterns I noticed: family problems (parents), learning disabilities, and bad defense attorneys.
42 reviews1 follower
March 5, 2014
Good read

This was an interesting story of crime and punishment in the United States. short stories of criminal cases and their outcomes.a good read.
would have liked it to be more in-depth.
Profile Image for Diana.
28 reviews
June 3, 2012
interesting to hear the stories and compare the lives of each of the condemned. Lots of similarities in their upbringing, none of which are pleasant.
Profile Image for Emma Thackray.
5 reviews
January 13, 2013
Interesting reading. As a non believer in the death penalty it showed the many injustices in the system. Worth a read Definately.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews

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