Winner of the Literary Titan Book Award After retiring from twenty-five years on the bench, former chief judge, Belvin Perry Jr., reveals a rare and disturbingly vivid first-hand perspective of the most gruesome death penalty cases in which he played a key role, including the infamous Casey Marie Anthony, who was dubbed "America's Most Hated Mom" after her shocking acquittal. The Velvet Hammer is the gripping, true crime memoir of former Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr., who sentenced some of Florida's most evil and ...
Read More
Winner of the Literary Titan Book Award After retiring from twenty-five years on the bench, former chief judge, Belvin Perry Jr., reveals a rare and disturbingly vivid first-hand perspective of the most gruesome death penalty cases in which he played a key role, including the infamous Casey Marie Anthony, who was dubbed "America's Most Hated Mom" after her shocking acquittal. The Velvet Hammer is the gripping, true crime memoir of former Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr., who sentenced some of Florida's most evil and notorious murderers to death, fulfilling his oath to uphold justice. Perry provides a clear, accurate description of America's criminal justice system and explains why the death penalty can, and should, work and how it was applied to certain capital murder cases he either prosecuted or presided over. Perry discusses his journey as an African American growing up in the segregated South, his life as a prosecutor and chief judge, and how he ended up presiding over one of the world's most intriguing capital murder trials of the century: State of Florida v. Casey Marie Anthony . From the widow who slowly poisoned her lovers; to the lust murderer who mutilated his victim while she was still alive; to the serial killer who slayed a family of four, including his own child; as well as several other violent and frightening murders, Perry spares none of the gory details when bringing each case back to life in his debut, true crime memoir.
Read Less
Add this copy of The Velvet Hammer: Judge Belvin Perry, Jr.'s Capital to cart. $14.14, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2024 by Post Hill Press.
Not everyone is cut out to be a judge, and it takes a special kind of person to be a Chief Judge. In Ã?Æ'Ã?¢Ã?¢ââ?¬Å¡Ã?¬Ã?â?¦"The Velvet Hammer: Judge Belvin Perry, Jr.Ã?Æ'Ã?¢Ã?¢ââ?¬Å¡Ã?¬Ã?¢ââ?¬Å¾Ã?¢s Capital Murder Cases and Memoir,Ã?Æ'Ã?¢Ã?¢ââ?¬Å¡Ã?¬Ã?â??Ã?Â? Belvin Perry, Jr. tells us of his classic success story. Raised by a single father, Perry and his two siblings didnÃ?Æ'Ã?¢Ã?¢ââ?¬Å¡Ã?¬Ã?¢ââ?¬Å¾Ã?¢t have things handed to them. His father, a police officer, exposed him to the legal system at a young age, and over the years his early fascination with the law became his passion.
Despite having to deal with institutional racism, Perry was able to get a job in the State AttorneyÃ?Æ'Ã?¢Ã?¢ââ?¬Å¡Ã?¬Ã?¢ââ?¬Å¾Ã?¢s office, then later ran successfully for Chief Judge. Over the course of his career, he was involved in numerous murder trials Ã?Æ'Ã?¢Ã?¢ââ?¬Å¡Ã?¬" both as a prosecuting attorney and as a judge Ã?Æ'Ã?¢Ã?¢ââ?¬Å¡Ã?¬" and here he explains the crimes, the trials, and the verdicts. Most famously, the Casey Anthony trial where a young mother was charged with murdering her daughter.
Perry and his co-author Amy Mitchell tell an engaging tale of his upbringing and his journey into the legal profession. His memoir, however, is interspersed between retellings of the trials he was involved with. For the casual reader, the details of the crimes Ã?Æ'Ã?¢Ã?¢ââ?¬Å¡Ã?¬" all murders Ã?Æ'Ã?¢Ã?¢ââ?¬Å¡Ã?¬" may be too much. Perry and Mitchell go into almost exquisite detail when describing the actions of the killers. However, for the fans of true crime novels and podcasts, these details may be just what youÃ?Æ'Ã?¢Ã?¢ââ?¬Å¡Ã?¬Ã?¢ââ?¬Å¾Ã?¢re looking for.
The other thing to keep in mind is that Perry also uses these murder trials as a means to justify the death penalty. From his point of view, thatÃ?Æ'Ã?¢Ã?¢ââ?¬Å¡Ã?¬Ã?¢ââ?¬Å¾Ã?¢s understandable. As a prosecutor and judge, Perry has had a front-row seat to some of the most heinous murders in Florida. No one can be repeatedly exposed to those situations without being affected by them. But if you are against the death penalty, youÃ?Æ'Ã?¢Ã?¢ââ?¬Å¡Ã?¬Ã?¢ââ?¬Å¾Ã?¢ll find yourself disagreeing with his arguments and justifications.
Ã?Æ'Ã?¢Ã?¢ââ?¬Å¡Ã?¬Ã?â?¦"The Velvet HammerÃ?Æ'Ã?¢Ã?¢ââ?¬Å¡Ã?¬Ã?â??Ã?Â? is a well-written and engaging combination of memoir and true-crime collection. The narrative alternates between PerryÃ?Æ'Ã?¢Ã?¢ââ?¬Å¡Ã?¬Ã?¢ââ?¬Å¾Ã?¢s life and the legal system, offering dissections of his cases and the reasoning behind his legal decisions. I found it insightful; a bit morbid, but overall a fascinating read.
L.T.
Sep 3, 2024
Literary Titan
The Velvet Hammer by former Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr. offers a unique perspective within the true crime genre. It sets itself apart from the usual narratives penned by detectives, third-party authors, or perpetrators. Instead, it is written by the judge who presided over some of the high-profile cases detailed within its pages. The title, a nod to his courtroom nickname, will be familiar to those who recognize Perry as the judge in the infamous Casey Marie Anthony case.
Perry acknowledges that many readers will be drawn to the book because of his role in the Anthony trial, and he does not disappoint. A significant portion of the book delves into this case, revealing behind-the-scenes details that even avid followers may have missed. Perry shares insights from the courtroom, including moments that weren�t captured by cameras or recorded in transcripts, offering a fresh perspective on a case that captivated the nation. Beyond the Anthony case, The Velvet Hammer explores Perry�s personal life and other significant cases he handled, such as the Judy Buenoano case, also known as the Florida Black Widow. These accounts provide valuable context for understanding Perry�s approach to the highly publicized Anthony trial. The book paints a picture of a judge who, while emotionally detached in his professional capacity, also grapples with the isolating nature of his role. Perry presents certain elements of the case in a matter-of-fact manner, avoiding excessive graphic detail. This makes The Velvet Hammer accessible to a broad audience, including those new to the true crime genre.
For seasoned true crime enthusiasts, the book is a must-read, offering a rare viewpoint from the benchâ�"a perspective that is both judicially objective and personally reflective. Perryâ��s account sheds light on the complexities of the justice system and the inner workings of a judgeâ��s mind. The Velvet Hammer is a compelling read for true crime aficionados and an excellent entry point for newcomers to the genre. Its balanced approach, combining legal insight with personal narrative, makes it a standout work that offers something unique in true crime literature.
