Mistrial

An Inside Look at How the Criminal Justice System Works...and Sometimes Doesn't

By: Mark Geragos, Pat Harris

Narrated by: Mike Dawson

The American legal system changed dramatically when the OJ Simpson trial became a television-ratings bonanza. Now it's all crime, all the time, from tabloid news to police procedurals. Americans now know more about the criminal justice system than ever before. Or do they?

In Mistrial, Mark Geragos and Pat Harris argue precisely the opposite: In pursuit of sensationalism, the public sees only a small, distorted sample of what really happens in our courtrooms. Geragos and Harris debunk the myth of impartial American justice - from stealth jurors who secretly swing for a conviction to cops who regularly lie on the witness stand. Ultimately, the authors question whether a justice system model drawn up two centuries ago is still viable today.

Geragos and Harris are legal experts and prominent criminal defense attorneys who have worked on everything from celebrity media circuses to equally compelling cases defending individuals desperate to avoid the spotlight. Mistrial gives a behind-the-scenes peek that reveals their most fascinating cases, enthralling legal eagles and armchair litigators alike, as it blows the lid off what really happens in a courtroom.

©2013 Penguin Publishing Group (P)2017 DawsAngeles LLC

Great read.

Very interesting insights into our legal system and highly entertaining. Great narration by Dawson, with his smoky cool voice.

the workings of our justice system

great overview of the functioning elements of today's justice system .... for normal people. Mike Dawson does a perfect job as the narrator.

Very good, not great.

Cool insiteful into the business. Geragos is wildly likable for a guy who takes on some truly truly horrible people, like Scott Peterson and Chris brown. Still worth a listen for sure, and I really dug the narrator. Dawson was born to do voice work

Very educational

I first heard of Mark Geragos when I was in Junior High. He was the attorney for Scott Peterson and Michael Jackson. Based on how people on the radio described him you'd think he breathed fire. Years later I see that he has a podcast with Adam Carolla and surprisingly enough he is very smart and funny. When I saw this audiobook I jumped right in. I realize how manipulated I had been by things like Talk Radio when I was younger. Defense attorneys are important and we should understand why they do what they do.

A Book I Didn’t Know I Needed to Read

Clearly explained with wit and sincerity. Mike Dawson has a powerful, authoritative and intelligent sounding tone well-suited to this book. He is in a league all his own. Thanks to the authors for not assuming that I knew anything. As I found out, I knew pretty much nothing about how judges, different types of lawyers, trials and juries worked even though I thought I did. Please write more books. Dawson, please read them.

Great insight to trials

Would you listen to Mistrial again? Why?

YES!

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The Scott Peterson trial i was living near modesto and did listen to the reports on tv. I didn't know how wrong the media got it. My mind has changed a lot about the whole case and wondering where i really stand with the whole thing.

What about Mike Dawson’s performance did you like?

A great job!

Interesting insights into the criminal justice system

The Good:
The authors bring all of their incredible experiences to bear on this book and share some fantastic stories. Their insights into the criminal justice system really help to pull back the curtain and shed some light on the secretive world of judges, prosecutors, lawyers and cops.
The chapter on police officers and the chapter on prosecutors stand out as two of the best.
For example - we learn that some cops get very good at "testi-lying" in court and that "Police Memory Syndrome" (PMS) is a thing. Overall, a fun read.

The Bad:
The book starts out a bit slow, and occasionally wanders. The producers also chose to add 30sec - 1min of various sultry jazz music numbers - usually played on a moaning tenor sax - between each chapter. I found the musical interludes to be annoying. They were distracting and served no real purpose. But hey, maybe some will like it. There are also several sections that were repeated verbatim in different chapters. It could have used some editing.

The Ugly:
The narration on this book is awful. I'm not sure why they chose Mike Dawson to read a book about the legal system, but his voice didn't fit the subject at all. He also makes quite a few errors in pronunciation, and the words he doesn't say correctly are important - and would be familiar to anyone with even a passing knowledge of current events. But beyond that - the narrator sounds like an 80s Classic Rock morning DJ. In fact - listening to this book is like listening to a nine-hour long drag racing commercial. (IT'LL BLOW YOUR DOORS OFF!!!!!!). I did get used to it eventually, but it took two or three chapters. I think the subject matter would have been better served with a more traditional narrator.

Overall: I'm glad I bought it, and I enjoyed it. You will too.

Great read

After listening to this book, it made me suspicious of everyone and everything. Very educational and thought provoking.

Eye Opening and Entertaining

To begin I will say that the narrator, Mike Dawson, was the perfect choice for the theme and content of this book. The content itself is entertaining, informative, and often surprising. I suppose some would go as far as to say that some of the information is controversial, but because it is opinion supported by anecdotal and experiential evidence I can say nothing negative about it.
Overall it is a superb listen (right down to the campy transition music) that is worthy of occasionally being dusted off for another play.

Great book, great topic

I loved every minute and was only disappointed by it when it ended, I wanted more!