A Death in the Islands: The Unwritten Law and the Last Trial of Clarence Darrow
In this challenging novel, we are drawn into the retelling of the Ala Moana Boys trial for rape, and ultimately, the murder trial resulting from the racial tensions on the islands in the 1930’s.
If life doesn’t make you mad enough already, please, pick up this book and let it sink in that awful people have existed all throughout history, and that hasn’t changed. This book is nicely separated into parts: The happenings on the night in question, the investigation, the trial of the Ala Moana Boys for rape, the murder that ensues after verdict, and the trial for said murder. I couldn’t count the number of times I had to set my book down while reading to shake my head at the sloppy style of investigation that was done back in the 30’s. It made me wonder how many people during those days were unjustly convicted of any number of crimes. Yowza.
This book was well researched and wonderfully written as a narrative rather than a list of testimony and evidence. Besides the shitty detective work, the story was easy to get through and altogether full of surprises. I went in thinking I knew how the trials were going to turn out…but boy was I wrong. Disappointed in the end…but wrong all the same.
I would recommend this book to those who like fictional crime novels and want to dip their feet into a real case. I would also recommend this one to those who loved the films Anatomy of a Murder or A Few Good Men.
Malia's Pizza Rating
A hot Hawaiian