First published 2016
Juan Martinez prosecuted one of America's most watched murder cases when he faced Jodi Arias across the courtroom. Arias had killed her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander in a brutal attack involving multiple stab wounds. Martinez watched as she changed her story repeatedly, first denying involvement, then claiming self-defense. The case revealed a web of sexual manipulation and deception that captivated the public through two lengthy trials. Arias maintained her innocent facade while evidence mounted against her. Martinez employed aggressive tactics to counter her defense team's strategy of exploiting the case's salacious elements. He reveals previously undisclosed investigation details and evidence he kept private during the proceedings. The prosecutor analyzes what transformed Arias from an apparently ordinary woman into a calculated killer. Martinez discusses his disappointment at failing to secure the death penalty he pursued for years. He provides his unique perspective on Arias's psychology after their courtroom confrontations. The book includes behind-the-scenes trial moments and sixteen pages of case photographs.
Genres: crime, non-fiction, true-crime, legal-thriller
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
Setting: America
Period: 21st-century
384 pages · Hardcover · William Morrow
Content warnings: graphic-violence, murder, sexual-content