Devil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three (original 2002; edition 2003)

by Mara Leveritt (Author)

Members	Reviews	Popularity	Average rating	Mentions
742	14	30,796	(4.09)	13
The guilty verdicts handed out to three Arkansas teens in a horrific capital murder case were popular in their home state-even upheld on appeal. But after two HBO documentaries called attention to the witch-hunt atmosphere at the trials, artists and other supporters raised concerns about the accompanying lack of evidence. Now, award-winning journalist Mara Leveritt provides the most comprehensive look yet into this endlessly shocking case.… (more)

▾Book information

Member:	TimAnoe
Title:	Devil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three
Authors:	Mara Leveritt (Author)
Info:	Atria Books (2003), 432 pages
Collections:	Your library, Wishlist, To read, Read but unowned, Favorites, Currently reading
Rating:
Tags:	to-read, My Book Stax

Work Information

Devil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three by Mara Leveritt (2002)

all members

▾Members

Recently added by

streetdoc5063, riplummer, Irislover-4842, CLGrissom, Dennis1957, Amateria66, emelialang, CarolLove, darkloriscat, Jasmine_L

▾Tags

▾LibraryThing Recommendations

▾Lists

Books in Riverdale (108)

▾Will you like it?

▾Conversations (About links)

No current Talk conversations about this book.

» See also 13 mentions

▾Member reviews

date ▼ | votes

Showing 1-5 of 14 (next | show all)

This was such a shocking read. I mean it was very obvious from the beginning that the author was extremely biased, but even so, it’s impossible to deny that there was quite a bit of injustice that occurred. I’d be really interested in reading a book with the opposite viewpoint. I just have such a hard time believing that so many people (judges, jurors, Supreme Court justices, etc.) were so convinced that these boys were/are guilty. There’s got to be more to it. Worth the read though. (

)

jbrownleo | Mar 27, 2024 |

this is the first time that I find myself not sure what I want to say. did I enjoy the book (yes) but at the same time having close to 500 foot notes to go through at the end would not be the way I would set up this book. it is really not kindle friendly. (

)

b00kdarling87 | Jan 7, 2024 |

Devil's Knot will haunt me for the rest of my days. I guess it got to me because when I read this my kids were very young and the thought that this could happen to anyone really kept me up at night. I hated reading it and loved reading it at the same time. There were so many things that were done wrong during the investigation. It's terrifying to know that the justice system can screw up so badly. This novel isn't just a story, it's a deep look into an investigation gone wrong. (

)

mtngrl85 | Jan 22, 2023 |

3.50

My rating has decreased after first reading, although as far as true crime novels go this is an exceptional view/telling. (

)

Jonez | Oct 24, 2019 |

I have always had so much faith in the judicial system in this country and still have a lot of respect for it. This case throws that for a loop.
3 very young boys are murdered and mutilated in Arkansas and without a shred of hard evidence, Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, children themselves, were tried and convicted. This book goes through all the information about the charges, how they were applied at trial and the trials themselves.
Serious, serious misjustice. (

)

JReynolds1959 | Jul 3, 2019 |

date ▼ | votes

Showing 1-5 of 14 (next | show all)

▾Published reviews

no reviews | add a review

▾Other authors

» Add other authors (1 possible)

▾Series and work relationships

▾Awards and Honors

Awards

Booker Worthen (2003)

view history

▾Common Knowledge

You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.

For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.

Canonical title

Original title

Alternative titles

Original publication date

2002

People/Characters

Damien Echols

Jessie Misskelley, Jr.

Important places

West Memphis, Arkansas, USA

Mississippi River, USA

USA

Arkansas, USA

Important events

West Memphis 3, Robin Hood Hills murders

Related movies

Devil's Knot (2014 | IMDb)

Epigraph

Occult. 1. Hidden (from sight); concealed (by something interposed); not exposed to view. 2. Not discolosed or divulged, privy, secret; kept secret; communicated only to the initiated. 3. Not apprehended, or not apprehensible, by the mind; beyond the range of understanding or ordinary knowledge; recondite; mysterious. 4. Of the nature of or pertaining to those ancient and medieval reputed sciences (or their modern representatives) held to involve the knowledge or use of agencies of a secret and mysterious nature (as magic, alchemy, astrology, theosophy, and the like); also treating of or versed in these; magical, mystical.

Oxford English Dictionary

Dedication

To LSB,
with love and gratitude.

First words

Prologue
Were the West Memphis trials witch trials?

Part One
______________________
The Investigation

Chapter One
The Murders
At 7:41 P.M. on May 5, 1993, a full moon rose behind the Memphis skyline.

Quotations

Last words

(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

Disambiguation notice

Publisher's editors

Blurbers

Rollins, Henry

Original language

Canonical DDC/MDS

364.15230976794

Canonical LCC

HV6534.W47

▾References

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English (1)

Devil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three

▾Book descriptions

The guilty verdicts handed out to three Arkansas teens in a horrific capital murder case were popular in their home state-even upheld on appeal. But after two HBO documentaries called attention to the witch-hunt atmosphere at the trials, artists and other supporters raised concerns about the accompanying lack of evidence. Now, award-winning journalist Mara Leveritt provides the most comprehensive look yet into this endlessly shocking case.

▾Library descriptions

No library descriptions found.

▾LibraryThing members' description

Book description

Haiku summary