This is an interesting story. Sadly, though, it is told in such a cluttered, choppy and confusing way that I could not continue reading it. I'm surprised Mr. O'Donoghue would write a book in such a way, considering his background. Sorry for no real review. I will only be posting this one here at NetGalley. Three stars for a neutral rating.

Brian Patrick O’Donoghue wrote a strong true crime novel, it had that research element that I was looking for and was engaged with what happened to the people in this case. It was brutal and was glad this was so well done.

Was this book written by a shotgun? Goodness, the topic changes are confusing!

I've never seen a book less structured than this. I am currently on page 30 of 286 and the book has already covered the murder, the investigation and the trial. Considering the later of those three things are the core basis of this topic, I really worry where the rest of this book is going.

At this point, I don't feel like I have any facts of the case, the crime or the participants. I've read about the victim, the witnesses, the responding officers, the dispatcher, the mother of the murdered boy, the Fairbanks Four, their relatives, their classmates, the judge, the prosecuting attorney, the defendants attorneys, the press, the Native community leaders, and God only knows who/what else. But each person and event is only given two or three paragraphs and then a new person or topic is introduced. At this point, I couldn't name the murder victim or any of the four.

I gave up at page 124. The rapid topic shifts has improved but only in that we now have 5-6 paragraphs and occasionally transcripts. That said, the author is now leap frigging back and forth in time. Each only a few paragraphs in length, we read of events in 04, 06, 04, 07, 07 again but prior to the last paragraph. And that is just one chapter. I can't keep up.

Also, its a minor gripe but the use of the hyphen in this book is outright abuse. There's a space after every hyphen but not before so it reads like this: walk- on late- night, etc.


I'm rating 3 stars because the amount of information presented is amazing and the author cites his sources so beautifully! I wish this story had been told in a linear fashion, I really think it would have been a very enjoyable read.



Thank you Sourcebooks and Netgalley for this advanced copy.

The Fairbanks Four by Brian Patrick O’Donoghue is a powerful, well-researched true-crime narrative that recounts the wrongful conviction and eventual exoneration of four young men in Alaska. The book dives deep into the details of the 1997 murder case, examining the flaws in the investigation, the manipulation of evidence, and the racial biases that led to the men's incarceration. O’Donoghue’s thorough investigation and clear, concise writing make the story both compelling and heartbreaking. It sheds light on a miscarriage of justice that affected not only the individuals involved but also the larger community. The Fairbanks Four is a sobering and thought-provoking exploration of the American criminal justice system, offering a profound look at the consequences of systemic failures and the pursuit of truth.

I do love me some true crime! And this book…this book is just that! the Fairbanks Four is a very interesting read and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys digging into the nitty gritty of crimes!

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️