Synopsis – The Velvet Hammer
After retiring from twenty-five years on the bench, former chief judge, Belvin Perry Jr., reveals a rare and disturbingly vivid first-hand perspective of the most gruesome death penalty cases in which he played a key role, including the infamous Casey Marie Anthony, who was dubbed “America’s Most Hated Mom” after her shocking acquittal.
The Velvet Hammer is the gripping, true crime memoir of former Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr., who sentenced some of Florida’s most evil and notorious murderers to death, fulfilling his oath to uphold justice. Perry provides a clear, accurate description of America’s criminal justice system and explains why the death penalty can, and should, work and how it was applied to certain capital murder cases he either prosecuted or presided over.
Perry discusses his journey as an African American growing up in the segregated South, his life as a prosecutor and chief judge, and how he ended up presiding over one of the world’s most intriguing capital murder trials of the century: State of Florida v. Casey Marie Anthony.
From the widow who slowly poisoned her lovers; to the lust murderer who mutilated his victim while she was still alive; to the serial killer who slayed a family of four, including his own child; as well as several other violent and frightening murders, Perry spares none of the gory details when bringing each case back to life in his debut, true crime memoir.
My Review
The Velvet Hammer: Judge Belvin Perry, Jr.’s Capital Murder Cases and Memoir by Judge Belvin Perry Jr.
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
The Velvet Hammer is partially a memoir and partially a true crime book detailing some of the more heinous cases that Judge Perry presided over.
Learning his life story was interesting and in particular what lead him into law.
I am a lover of true crime so I was interested in learning more about some of these particularly upsetting cases. Some of the cases are quite gruesome and very disturbing. A lot of time is devoted to the Casey Anthony case – which dragged in parts.
What I was very disappointed in is the very biased way that the judge recounts these cases. I was expecting an objective retelling. Instead the judge is very pro the death penalty and uses every opportunity to advocate for it. For ME that detracted from the story of the cases and impacted my reading of the book.
Overall, if you are a lover of true crime there is lots of interesting information in this book. Just be aware that it does come from a prosecutorial, pro death penalty stance. If that is not an issue that is bothersome to you then you will enjoy learning more about these cases.
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