This book is non fiction and I did enjoy it in the beginning but it became rather repetitive
I am not sure that I would recommend this book 📕

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

I tried to get through this book but it work me a while. The first half was great. The second part not so much I felt like more of a obsession to the case then anything.
Very sell written but wasn’t my favorite.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book wasn't what I expected, and I didn't enjoy reading Juror Number 2.

I don't usually read memoirs. Those are very few and far between in my TBR, but I enjoyed this one for the most part. I think it raised a very important issue which is that of racial inequality, especially within the economic and justice systems. The statistics given in this book were overwhelming and at times hard to follow, but I think it was a necessary read for anyone looking to learn about these racial inequalities.

I honestly really enjoyed this memoir. It was so interesting to read about the experience of being a juror, something I’ve never experienced. It was very good to hear about a first hand experience, very interesting to read about the case and I really enjoyed the way it was written. I would definitely recommend this if you like true crime memoirs. Very good.

Not my favourite book , but that could be my preference
I read crime thrillers a lot- I could not engage and was not grabbed and hooked into book
This again is no reflection on writer or book just my preference so don’t be put off reading it


Sorry

I really enjoyed the book as it pertained to the trial and the author's experience as a juror. However, I'm not sure how to take the whole comment near the very end of the book on 'supposed white privilege', seeing as how white privilege is very much a thing.

This was a great read, really insightful and unfortunately reminisce of so much we have seen in the media over the past year as cases of Kalief Browder and the young boys false accused and imprisoned for the rape of a white woman in New York City's central park when they were nowhere near that park at time the crime was committed became more prominent in the media and in the public eye. These young people are from poor, uneducated backgrounds and especially when born black, are at an instant disadvantage, not just socially but also legally and emotionally too. They do not stand a chance. Not one shred of justifiable evidence actually pointed at any of the individuals mentioned above but the justice department wanted a conviction each time, so a conviction was granted. The deciding factor was the colour of their skin. This book focuses on the failures in NYC to grand equality and equal rights to these marginalised citizens. as well as focusing on the small minority who do fight for justice and who do try to enforce change in a deeply prejudiced society. It is an excellent read. I highly recommend it.

I liked the first half of this book well enough. The second half completely lost me. It read as he was completely obsessed with the case (rightfully so) but he came about it and wrote about it in a very bizarre and unsettling way. There were also a few comments made about "supposed white privilege" and how it's not a thing. I would have expected this author of all people to realize that the reason this crime happened in the first place was because of white privilege.

I had a hard time with this one. The first part is about a trail of a hand related crime and the author's experience as a juror. The secondary part was about the author's take on why these crimes happen to begin with. Where does the person's life begin to shift towards the path that leads them down the wrong path and who's fault is it? The author has many ideas from which I agree and disagree.


Reviews posted on Goodreads, B&N, and Amazon

Fascinating read. Tough going but worth the sticking to it. The author allows you to imagine being on the panel with him. Informative and inspiring.

This was definitely a book of two halves. I LOVED the first part, detailing the court case and the jury deliberations. I love legal thrillers so to see first hand experience of how a jury comes to a decision was fascinating to me.
However, the second part went to a different place, clearly blaming the education system for teenagers getting involved with gangs and violence. Although it was heavily researched, the author didn't take much into account about the men's upbringing and family life, which I believe are huge factors that need to be considered also.

This was a book of two halves for me. The first half is about a trial and why the crime was committed. The second was about reform programs in NY. The second half, while very credible actions, lost me a bit. I've never been to America and I struggle to visualise or understand some of the aspects of the programs. That being said the fact that the author was prepared to go beyond the crime and the trial and look into the backgrounds of the victims and the criminals, and to look at how things could change for the better. A commendable approach.

I would give this book a 3 star review. I enjoyed this book. It was the first type of book that was in the point of view of a juror.

I gave this book 3/5 stars although some of my fellow readers who are either researchers or sociologists may give it a higher rating. The topic matter was excellent - who would not want to see first hand into the matter of a jury trial? I have always wanted to serve on one myself. However due to the nature of the trial - gang related - I ended up getting bogged down by the statistics and facts, so it wasn’t a light read for me. But, it was interesting and kept my attention.

This is not just the recounting of the experience of being on the jury in a murder trial, it goes much deeper than that. Looking at the background of the defendant, family circumstances, housing situation, educational opportunities and lack of choices.
From mayoral level the funding, school choices funding and role models. The choices to become a gang member and the routes that can and will take you.
A very important piece of writing that needs to be taken note of not just in the US but the same applies to certain sectors of the UK population.

The Juror number two is about street criminals and how broken the system is. It goes o. To report how the DCS let the kids down along with the school system and police. The book delivers a good story about a murder trial but could of not reported so much about ball the districts and law enforcement within each district. That was a lot to take in and just wondering how pertinent it was to the book. Perhaps some but not so extensive. I received this book from net galley free and thank the other for the opportunity to read this.

Thanks to netgalley I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a great true crime book that had me on the edge of my seat. A must read for any true crime fans.

The autobiographical book, Juror Number 2: The Story of a Murder, The Agony of a Neighborhood, by Efrem Sigel is the gripping tale of Efrem’s experience as a juror in a trial involving a horrific double murder, borne from the poverty and neglect children experience growing up in the projects in New York’s Harlem district and the failure of the educational system in the area. After the trial Efrem researched and interviewed people associated with the projects, the school system, the government, the judicial system, the police, and several philanthropic organizations created to alleviate the problems. The book is in turn compelling, disturbing, engaging, and boring. While most of the book is a page turning, interesting read, wherein we learn the backgrounds of the witnesses and defendant and the history of the projects, etc, the book gets bogged down with numbers and statistics regarding school performance and levels of math and language proficiency. I would have preferred more descriptive language to make it read more smoothly and easily, like the rest of the book.