First published 2016
Jeffrey Toobin takes readers inside America's most watched criminal trial. The former NFL star O.J. Simpson stands accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. Toobin examines how the prosecution's overconfidence collided with a defense team's cunning tactics. The Los Angeles Police Department's troubled relationship with Black residents becomes a crucial factor. Both legal teams engage in ruthless behind-the-scenes maneuvering as the case unfolds. The defense successfully plants reasonable doubt in jurors' minds through strategic moves. Toobin shows how racial tensions, legal missteps, and courtroom gamesmanship combined to create an explosive trial. This account captures the human drama that captivated the world and forever changed how Americans view the justice system.
Genres: 20th-century, crime, 21st-century, journalism, legal-thriller, american-history
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: courtroom-drama, investigative-journalism, social-commentary
Setting: Los Angeles
Period: 20th-century
482 pages · Paperback · Cornerstone Digital
Content warnings: racism