Book Review: Felony Review by Randy E. Barnett

“Ever wonder what it’s really like to be a criminal prosecutor in a city like Chicago? Felony Review is a vivid, behind-the-scenes account of the years Randy Barnett spent as a young prosecutor in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office during the late 1970s and early 1980s—an era of violent crime and widespread corruption in the criminal courts of Chicago…”

Goodreads blurb for Felony Review

Review:

I’m fascinated by true crime and I’ve read a wide range of topics and cases, but it’s not often that I’ve been able to experience it from a legal point of view (outside of famous trials). I was excited to receive the opportunity to read Randy E. Barnett’s memoir. 

Criminal prosecutor Randy Barnett shares decades of experience in court, based in Cook County (Chicago, IL). Although this is, at its core, a memoir, it’s also a collection of various true crime cases told from his perspective. With this, the reader also gets a glimpse at the political side of law (local politics in particular). 

I enjoyed the compilation of the various cases. As a linear autobiography, it felt a bit choppy due to most of the chapters being short and focused on the case itself, but that’s also what made the book stand out to me. It was a unique read, and I liked being able to read a more intimate account of not only the inside of law offices, but also a part of the country I’ve never visited. Also, the inclusion of pictures was a nice touch, which was placed in correlation with the text (nothing graphic).

A huge thanks to Books Forward for sending me a free ARC of the book!

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• A good range of subjects.
• Written respectfully.

What I didn’t like:

• I would have liked the memoir sections to ebb and flow a bit more smoothly.

Afterthoughts:

I’m very grateful for the opportunity to read this!

Where to buy the book: