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Burned
Burned: A Story of Murder and the Crime That Wasn't | Edward Humes
6 posts | 7 read | 16 to read
Was a monstrous killer brought to justice or an innocent mother condemned? On an April night in 1989, Jo Ann Parks survived a house fire that claimed the lives of her three small children. Though the fire at first seemed a tragic accident, investigators soon reported finding evidence proving that Parks had sabotaged wiring, set several fires herself, and even barricade her four-year-old son inside a closet to prevent his escape. Though she insisted she did nothing wrong, Jo Ann parks received a life sentence without parole based on the power of forensic fire science that convincingly proved her guilt. But more than a quarter century later, a revolution in the science of fire has exposed many of the incontrovertible truths of 1989 as guesswork in disguise. The California Innocence Project is challenging Parks's conviction and the so-called science behind it, claiming that false assumptions and outright bias convicted an innocent mother of a crime that never actually happened. If Parks is exonerated, she could well be the "Patient Zero" in an epidemic of overturned guilty verdicts--but only if she wins. Can prosecutors dredge up enough evidence and roadblocks to make sure Jo Ann Parks dies in prison? No matter how her last-ditch effort for freedom turns out, the scenes of betrayal, ruin, and hope will leave readers longing for justice we can trust.
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ClairesReads
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I love a good true crime story. This one deviated a little from the conventional ‘who is the murderer?‘ vibe but I enjoyed the critique of fire science and arson investigation just as much. It‘s engagingly told, and balances a sufficient level of detail without getting bogged down in minutiae.

Suet624 Wow. Do you think she was guilty? 4y
ClairesReads @Suet624 it doesn‘t sound like it! 4y
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Hooked_on_books
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In 1989, 3 children were killed in a house fire. In 1993, their mother, Jo Ann Parks, went to jail for life for the crime. But then innocence lawyers starting looking into her case, revealed to be investigated with junk science and conformational bias. Humes shows a “justice” system which is more of an “I refuse to admit I could be wrong” system. Tragic and searing.

Librariana This one sounds like a must add! 6y
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Hooked_on_books
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Audio flower sorting! My book doesn‘t match my surroundings, but it‘s definitely interesting. I have moved on to a new endeavor—owner of a flower farm in Hawaii—and it‘s nice to be able to listen to an audiobook while I work.

britt_brooke Pretty! 6y
CaliforniaCay Sounds like you have a dream job in a dream location 😌❤⚘🌻🌼🌷🌸💐 6y
RealBooks4ever Oh, these flowers bring back sweet memories! They are the favorite flower of my ex. 😊 Guess I'll be buying them from you now! Will you be shipping to California? 6y
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Hooked_on_books @RealBooks4ever Not unless we grow more. We took over the farm from the person who built it and have kept all the vendors in place, all of which are in Hawaii. Maybe in a couple of years we will expand and be able to ship to the mainland! 6y
Hooked_on_books @CaliforniaCay Exactly! Less stress is a good thing. 6y
Soubhiville Beautiful! You made it there?! I hope your house sale and move went smoothly. ❤️ 6y
Hooked_on_books @Soubhiville Yes, we made it! The property is beautiful. There are the usual frustrations of getting stuff done but overall things are good. 6y
Librariana Wow! I've been absent from Litsy for some time, but I do remember you mentioning a move. Congratulations on this amazing new endeavor! 😊🌺 6y
Hooked_on_books @Librariana Thanks! It‘s been an education for sure, trying to get the business part set up. We‘re enjoying it so far! 6y
49 likes9 comments
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Chelsea.Poole
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This turned out to be about errors in ways of investigating fires, innocent people behind bars, the California innocent project, and Joanna Parks...the woman accused of purposely starting a fire which killed her 3 young children. It was heartbreaking. i was expecting more of a #truecrime feel with investigations and such, but I enjoyed it all the same. It's an important look into our justice system as well.

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Chelsea.Poole
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I forgot to post about this one when I started it a couple days ago on #Libby. I'm such a #truecrime addict, and I read an article that mentioned this title as a 2019 true crime, but I'm not so sure I would label this one as such. It is interesting, but not exactly what I was expecting. Hope to finish today so I can move on to my plethora of arrived #audiobook holds! 😁

RadicalReader Love when audiobooks arrive nothing more awesome 6y
Mdargusch Fascinating. I think I need to read this one. 6y
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catherine2
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Requested this one from the library so I‘m the first to read it!!

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