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An interesting and detailed study of a criminal case, and a miscarriage of justice, as seen by the author, a former police officer.

Lisa Lee Pruett was sixteen years old at the time of her murder, a horrific case that transpired in Shaker Heights, Ohio, that saw the teen stabbed multiple times and left to die on a terrible night in 1990. With multiple potential murder suspects, the police quickly honed in on Kevin Young, a “weird” kid, who had made threats against both Lisa and her boyfriend, Dan Dreifort, in the not-too-distant past.

Dan himself was a troubled teen, and at the time of Lisa’s murder had just been released from a stint in psychiatric care. Dan, who enjoyed partying, alone or with others, high on megadoses of cough syrup, was also suffering from other “teenage issues” in his young life, according to his father, who had arranged for his confinement.

After meeting the journalist James Renner, who delivered a definitive study of the murder, the author becomes interested and involved in the details of the case, and more specifically, the shortcomings he is convinced have tainted the outcomes.

A well written and very well-researched summary, this book is in some ways a call-out for justice for the victim of a still open homicide case, on behalf of the family and loved ones; and in in others, the telling expose of the author’s personal journey, — one man’s attempt to influence a closed criminal system (which may or may not be corrupt), despite his former status as an insider.

An absorbing work, I received a review copy from the author, and publisher, and thank them for the opportunity to read and review this book.