What do you think?
Rate this book
Conviction: The Untold Story of Putting Jodi Arias Behind Bars
Juan Martinez, the fiery prosecutor who convicted notorious murderess Jodi Arias for the disturbing killing of Travis Alexander, speaks for the first time about the shocking investigation and sensational trial that captivated the nation. Through two trials, America watched with baited breath as Juan Martinez fought relentlessly to convict Jodi Arias of Murder One for viciously stabbing her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander to death. What emerged was a story wrought with sex, manipulation, and deceit that stunned the public at every turn. Arias, always playing the wronged and innocent woman, changed her story continually as her bizarre behavior surrounding the crime and its aftermath came to light. Unwavering, Arias and her defense team continued to play off the salacious details of the case, until she was finally found guilty and—controversially—sentenced to life behind bars. Now, speaking openly for the first time, prosecutor Juan Martinez will unearth new details from the investigation that were never revealed at trial, exploring key facts from the case and the pieces of evidence he chose to keep close to the vest. Throughout the trials, his bullish and unfaltering prosecution strategy was both commended and criticized, and in his book, Martinez will illuminate the unique tactics he utilized in this case and how they lead to a successful conviction, and-for the first time-discuss how he felt losing the death penalty sentence he’d pursued for years. Going beyond the news reports, Martinez will explore the truth behind the multiple facades of Jodi Arias. Sparring with her from across the stand, Martinez came to know Arias like no one else could, dissecting what it took for a seemingly normal girl to become a deluded, cunning, and unrepentant murderer. With new stories from behind the scenes of the trial and Martinez’s own take on his defendant, the book takes you inside the mind of Jodi Arias like never before. Complete with 16 pages of photos from the case and trial, this book is the definitive account of the case that shocked America.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published February 16, 2016
515 people are currently reading
3029 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 416 reviews
May 2, 2016
I watched the stupid trial from start to finish and came away with so much respect for Mr. Martinez. I've seen many trials both televised and live and this was the first time I saw one without a second chair.
Some reviewers have said that they saw nothing in the book that wasn't shown in trial however what I found fascinating was the strategy used by Mr. Martinez. This was something that obviously could not be"seen" and the interesting fact that Mr. Martinez and Detective Flores had never even met prior to this case.
Some reviewers have said that they saw nothing in the book that wasn't shown in trial however what I found fascinating was the strategy used by Mr. Martinez. This was something that obviously could not be"seen" and the interesting fact that Mr. Martinez and Detective Flores had never even met prior to this case.
Read
December 3, 2024I'm not a fan of true crime so I wasn't quite the right audience for this book, not sure why I even picked it up.
I felt too much of the book was focused on Martinez's dislike of Arias and it got really repetitious at times but it was interesting to see his thought process.
No rating, I don't rate memoirs.
I felt too much of the book was focused on Martinez's dislike of Arias and it got really repetitious at times but it was interesting to see his thought process.
No rating, I don't rate memoirs.
June 13, 2017
I wanted so badly to give this book five stars because, well, it's Juan Martinez and I've been waiting impatiently since last summer to get it in my hands. That said, I think it would have been better & should have been written after Arias gets her first & only state/taxpayers funded appeal. Since that hasn't happened yet I felt so much information and opinion was missing from the book. What was Juan's take on the jurors from first trial who couldn't agree on the Death Penalty? What about the juror in the second phase who seemed to be a ringer? What happened to Alyce LaViolette after she approached Samantha Alexander? What did he think about the Judge and her ridiculous rulings? I could go on wondering about things I hoped would be in the book but was sadly omitted.
I know practically every tiny detail about this case which I should probably be concerned but I was hooked the moment I had seen Jodi Arias on the 48 Hours program. I found her lies so over the top that when I came across the trial on TV four years later I couldn't believe she wasn't already in prison. I had watched previous trials but I have never experienced someone so passionate & dedicated as Juan Martinez. I enjoyed reading how he prepped for the case, why he likes working alone & his intelligence & ability to read a defendant. Some call his style abrasive but I call him a man who cares & seeks justice for victims. I hope one day Juan will release another book filling in all the gaps omitted from this one.
April 19, 2016
So first and foremost, Jodi Arias committed an unthinkable crime and deserves to be punished. However, this book should've been better. It was probably too much to ask the prosecutor to be objective in his retelling, but he could've saved himself from the sanctimonious retelling and the unprofessional pot-shots at the defense team. Jodi Arias and her numerous versions of the "truth" provided him with enough material, it truly was a cliff hanger. However, his personal views on the defense strategy, and the impact of the testimony, even his "take" of the defense teams questioning style were unnecessary. Additionally, his characterization of Jodi Arias as a Jezebel while glossing over Travis Alexander's participation in the sexual aspect, and his abusive name calling which Martinez initially acknowledges and then ignores, is a bit distasteful. Lord knows he didn't deserve to die, but Martinez never explained how he was going to deal with this aspect of his victim, instead he blames Arias for "provoking" Alexander. He also glossed over the mistrial which is fascinating, as well as ignoring the numerous little battles he lost along the way including the battle of the experts. It seems to me that Martinez characterized himself as the knight taking down the evil witch, which unfortunately did something I never expected - it made me sympathize with Arias for a single moment. It made me angry, that he blamed her for the sexualized nature of the relationship, for Alexander's sexts, for the phone sex and the other really normal sexual behavior a 27/28 year old woman engages in during a consensual relationship; casting her as a whore and Alexander as the poor little boy led astray by her. He ignored Alexander's participation in the relationship, even in other sexual relationships which would be outside his faith. It made Arias sympathetic in a way that quite frankly she shouldn't have been. He also never digs to deep into her motive, giving no real explanation as to how she came about to commit premeditated murder. It also makes you wonder if this case wasn't as lock stock as he portrays and instead did his victory had more to do with the fact Arias couldn't keep herself from lying which was her ultimate undoing. Hopefully there's another book, which will answer some of these lingering questions
October 13, 2022
Lieta, kas savulaik izraisīja tik pat lielu ažiotāžu un mēdiju cirku kā Dž.D. un A.H. prāva. Crazy ex girlfried šajā gadījumā izrādījās ekstra bat shit crazy. Ja interesē true crime, šī grāmata gluži nebija visinteresantāk uzrakstīta, bet autors (kurš bija šīs lietas prokurors tiesā) ir savācis ļoti daudz tiesu materiālu, interviju utt., lai radītu kopainu par notikušo.
February 23, 2016
I was one of the masses obsessed with this trial so I was pleased reading Juan Martinez's point of view. It was interesting to read about all the pre-trial drama and to read chronologically how the trial progressed.
Though the book read easy, I was disappointed that after a methodical summation of pre-trial and of the witnesses on the stand before Arias, Arias' testimony and anything after were lacking. The redirect, the rebuttal witnesses and then the portion of questions posed by the jury felt rushed and I felt myself wanting more. Then, not much about the second and third phases of the trial either, including during the retrial where one of the jury was suspected of being against the death penalty.
At any rate, for anyone who followed this trial, the book is enjoyable and an easy read.
Though the book read easy, I was disappointed that after a methodical summation of pre-trial and of the witnesses on the stand before Arias, Arias' testimony and anything after were lacking. The redirect, the rebuttal witnesses and then the portion of questions posed by the jury felt rushed and I felt myself wanting more. Then, not much about the second and third phases of the trial either, including during the retrial where one of the jury was suspected of being against the death penalty.
At any rate, for anyone who followed this trial, the book is enjoyable and an easy read.
September 26, 2016
Very well written book!
I watched the trial and already knew most of the details offered in the book, however it was interesting learning the prosecutor's strategy. At times during the trial I wondered why the prosecution's questions to Ms. Arias jumped around to different events, and now I understand why. It didn't give Ms. Arias the advantage of predicting the questions or the opportunity to fabricate more lies.
I thought the prosecutor's aggressive style was not only appropriate, but necessary, in dealing with such a cunning manipulative liar. He did a great job of exposing her vicious character, penchant for lying in the face of facts, and her nasty temper.
Despite the defense's attempts to turn the trial into a seedy story and dilute the trial with irrelevant salacious details, Mr. Martinez always ensured the jury remembered this was about a horrific murder of a kind man
My thoughts go out to Travis' family not only having to deal with the loss of their brother in such a heinous way, but compounding that loss with a bitter assassination of his character by such an evil lying non-human that is Jodi Arias.
I ordered this book last July and it was well worth the wait!
I watched the trial and already knew most of the details offered in the book, however it was interesting learning the prosecutor's strategy. At times during the trial I wondered why the prosecution's questions to Ms. Arias jumped around to different events, and now I understand why. It didn't give Ms. Arias the advantage of predicting the questions or the opportunity to fabricate more lies.
I thought the prosecutor's aggressive style was not only appropriate, but necessary, in dealing with such a cunning manipulative liar. He did a great job of exposing her vicious character, penchant for lying in the face of facts, and her nasty temper.
Despite the defense's attempts to turn the trial into a seedy story and dilute the trial with irrelevant salacious details, Mr. Martinez always ensured the jury remembered this was about a horrific murder of a kind man
My thoughts go out to Travis' family not only having to deal with the loss of their brother in such a heinous way, but compounding that loss with a bitter assassination of his character by such an evil lying non-human that is Jodi Arias.
I ordered this book last July and it was well worth the wait!
July 29, 2016
Compelling, Informative, Insightful, Eye Opening Page Turner! A Fantastic Read! I Loved It!
February 18, 2016
Glad to finally hear what Juan Martinez' perspective of the case was, what he saw & dealt with during this case. I hate what happened to Travis Alexander, an innocent man that was defenseless in the shower and he must have went through hell during that relationship with Hodi and you can see he was crying inside & trying to get away from her and he did get away but she wouldn't leave him alone. Thank you Juan for everything that you have done for the Alexander's and being Travis' voice. Prayers go out to the Alexander family!
September 1, 2016
Boy, it's a good thing that Juan Martinez, who clearly thinks he is an outstanding prosecutor (the book should be called "Why I'm the Best Prosecutor in the World") handled this case. Not just anybody could have won a conviction against someone who accidentally took pictures of herself committing the murder and then left the camera at the crime scene. The self-righteous, self-aggrandizing, everyone-should-be-more-like-me tone of this entire book really spoiled what was a very interesting story about a very interesting case and a very sick woman.
December 31, 2019
Wow, very interesting! She's NUTS!! I've often wondered about this case, and lots of questions were answered!
March 1, 2016
Book of the century
I chose to read Mr. Juan Martinez' book because I think he's a fine man, and an awesome prosecutor. He deserves kuddos for working so hard and being so diligent is getting a guilty verdict.
Mr. Martinez, if you ever read my review of your book, please know this, I thought you were awesome during the trial. I loved and admired your tenacity and your determination to get to the truth and expose a lying and very deceitful and very evil person. Your aggression towards her was nothing but stellar. I am so glad you went strong at her. I think the way you chose to deal with her was spot on.
An evil, manipulative person was sent to prison for her horrible crime and for that, I'm thankful.
My heart still breaks for Mr. Travis Alexander's family. May they someday have some resemblance of peace in their life. My thoughts and prayers are always with them.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Cripps
I chose to read Mr. Juan Martinez' book because I think he's a fine man, and an awesome prosecutor. He deserves kuddos for working so hard and being so diligent is getting a guilty verdict.
Mr. Martinez, if you ever read my review of your book, please know this, I thought you were awesome during the trial. I loved and admired your tenacity and your determination to get to the truth and expose a lying and very deceitful and very evil person. Your aggression towards her was nothing but stellar. I am so glad you went strong at her. I think the way you chose to deal with her was spot on.
An evil, manipulative person was sent to prison for her horrible crime and for that, I'm thankful.
My heart still breaks for Mr. Travis Alexander's family. May they someday have some resemblance of peace in their life. My thoughts and prayers are always with them.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Cripps
February 20, 2016
Nothing untold in this book!
The book gets one star because I find it to be well written. And another star for the 5% of personal insight Martinez has offered. Other than this, the book is boring and offers nothing new. Every other book about this case was more interesting even Nurmi's .
The book gets one star because I find it to be well written. And another star for the 5% of personal insight Martinez has offered. Other than this, the book is boring and offers nothing new. Every other book about this case was more interesting even Nurmi's .
March 16, 2016
While Jodi obviously committed this crime, this book seemed to be more about the prosecutor telling us how much smarter he is than...anyone else in the world.
HE is the only one he can work with. HE is the only one that could piece everything together. HE is so much better tat his job than the other lawyer. HE is all around amazing.
HE is the only one he can work with. HE is the only one that could piece everything together. HE is so much better tat his job than the other lawyer. HE is all around amazing.
January 2, 2017
Page turner! I was living in Phoenix when the Arias trial was big news. It bogged down when the defense went on and on about sex. If it was intended for shock value, I think the jury had to be desensitized with so much coverage. I couldn't wait until the end when Martinez backed her into a corner. I will never look at a red gas can the same.
January 14, 2019
Anyone who has seen Jodi Arias trial just wouldn’t stop watching it. It is that damn interesting. The murder trial which on the surface looks like a simple murder case turns out to be more complex than it looks like. I have seen every documentary and youtube footage on the trail and the case just keeps getting more intriguing and you keep desiring to know more.
One thing you never get to know in the entire case is why Jodi Arias actually killed Travis because if it was simple jealousy then it was a really petite reason to kill someone for. The case is very interesting but the more interesting is the case and the main reason why this case is so interesting is that one man – Juan Martinez, the prosecution lawyer.
When I opened the trial videos on youtube, I wasn’t ready for this force called Martinez. He is very interested in how he litigates and researches his material. He is often criticized about being very aggressive in the court but that is also the reason why people love him so much. People hated Jodi and they were angry with her and they wanted someone to be angry at her for what she had done and Martinez without knowing did exactly what people wanted from him. He fought the case like a hero that had all chances of Jodi getting out of jail very easily. The most amusing part was that Jodi was warned about him before trial and was told that the prosecution lawyer is very good at his job.
If you have seen the trail then the book doesn’t offer you much as in the book Martinez talks mostly about the trial only and how the opposition was trying to help Jodi unethically to get her out. The interesting bits and pieces are about his personal findings from interviewing people and joining the dots to find the loopholes in the arias story and also in the stories of other witnesses.
The job of Martinez was pretty difficult because it ceased to be a murder trial the day Arias accepted that she was the one who killed Travis and soon her lawyers turned the case into a case of Domestic violence. Knowing there were numerous instances when Arias had irritated Travis and he had been rude to her it was easy for the defense to prove the same. Martinez was left with just one option – to prove that the murder was not self-defense rather an act of premeditated well-planned murder.
There are stories mentioned in the book which you won’t otherwise find in any other book, documentary or trial videos like how Arias used to send messages to her near ones with the help of magazines and a coded language. It was discussed during the trial to show the intelligence of Arias and that she was capable of committing such kind of crime and was not an honest girl. Martinez also mentions how he came up with the fatal Gas theory that put Arias in the total blind spot and she didn’t know what to say anymore. He knew that with the gas theory he could easily convince Jury of Jodi's intentions but if the defense were given enough time, they would come up with a proper solution to that. So he didn’t discuss that with anyone till the day he asked Arias about it during her testimony and used it at the time when the testimony of Arias was about to end. It made an impact on the jury's mind, the court was adjourned for a day and jury got time to think about it. It was then Martinez believes the jury might have made the decision that there is no way this murder was a self-defense.
The book is nicely written and well edited. The events are listed as occurred and are mentioned in chronological order. Martinez refrains from talking about his personal life and talks only about the trial because he knew that would be the most interesting thing to his readers and that is why they would be buying his book. Absolutely must read even if you have no idea about the trial. The book is like an engrossing thriller and takes you on an inside tour of Martinez’s mind. I think more young lawyers should read it and know about the brilliant trail tactics of Martinez. Big fan of the author.
One thing you never get to know in the entire case is why Jodi Arias actually killed Travis because if it was simple jealousy then it was a really petite reason to kill someone for. The case is very interesting but the more interesting is the case and the main reason why this case is so interesting is that one man – Juan Martinez, the prosecution lawyer.
When I opened the trial videos on youtube, I wasn’t ready for this force called Martinez. He is very interested in how he litigates and researches his material. He is often criticized about being very aggressive in the court but that is also the reason why people love him so much. People hated Jodi and they were angry with her and they wanted someone to be angry at her for what she had done and Martinez without knowing did exactly what people wanted from him. He fought the case like a hero that had all chances of Jodi getting out of jail very easily. The most amusing part was that Jodi was warned about him before trial and was told that the prosecution lawyer is very good at his job.
If you have seen the trail then the book doesn’t offer you much as in the book Martinez talks mostly about the trial only and how the opposition was trying to help Jodi unethically to get her out. The interesting bits and pieces are about his personal findings from interviewing people and joining the dots to find the loopholes in the arias story and also in the stories of other witnesses.
The job of Martinez was pretty difficult because it ceased to be a murder trial the day Arias accepted that she was the one who killed Travis and soon her lawyers turned the case into a case of Domestic violence. Knowing there were numerous instances when Arias had irritated Travis and he had been rude to her it was easy for the defense to prove the same. Martinez was left with just one option – to prove that the murder was not self-defense rather an act of premeditated well-planned murder.
There are stories mentioned in the book which you won’t otherwise find in any other book, documentary or trial videos like how Arias used to send messages to her near ones with the help of magazines and a coded language. It was discussed during the trial to show the intelligence of Arias and that she was capable of committing such kind of crime and was not an honest girl. Martinez also mentions how he came up with the fatal Gas theory that put Arias in the total blind spot and she didn’t know what to say anymore. He knew that with the gas theory he could easily convince Jury of Jodi's intentions but if the defense were given enough time, they would come up with a proper solution to that. So he didn’t discuss that with anyone till the day he asked Arias about it during her testimony and used it at the time when the testimony of Arias was about to end. It made an impact on the jury's mind, the court was adjourned for a day and jury got time to think about it. It was then Martinez believes the jury might have made the decision that there is no way this murder was a self-defense.
The book is nicely written and well edited. The events are listed as occurred and are mentioned in chronological order. Martinez refrains from talking about his personal life and talks only about the trial because he knew that would be the most interesting thing to his readers and that is why they would be buying his book. Absolutely must read even if you have no idea about the trial. The book is like an engrossing thriller and takes you on an inside tour of Martinez’s mind. I think more young lawyers should read it and know about the brilliant trail tactics of Martinez. Big fan of the author.
August 5, 2021
Style gets better as this one progresses, although most of the book is a verbatim recounting of the court transcripts. It does offer the prosecutor's interpretation of most of those transcripts, though, and was very informative. If you've any interest at all in this case, this would definitely be a good place to start.
Three stars.
***********************************************
Also on sale today - down from $12.99! Get one for $6.74 over here.
Three stars.
***********************************************
Also on sale today - down from $12.99! Get one for $6.74 over here.
July 17, 2023
DNF @ 28%
I love true crime and thought a case from the perspective of the prosecutor would be interesting. Additionally, I love Patrick Lawlor’s narrations. Unfortunately Juan Martinez’s writing was grandiose and repetitive and after 3.5 hours I couldn’t continue.
Probably 1/3 of what was written could have been removed because it just a rephrasing of what he just said. There’s also half a chapter about a completely different case that, while he claims is similar to Travis’s, seems only to be inserted so he can brag about prosecuting the first woman sentenced to death in Arizona.
Martinez simultaneously presents Arias as so incompetent and unbelievable that she’s obviously guilty and yet himself as the only person capable of properly bringing her to justice. Yet at the time of the writing there’s been two mistrials in terms of sentencing. There’s a great deal of hubris in the presentation (he refuses to co-chair, transcribers always make mistakes) because in his opinion others can’t be trusted to do their jobs properly.
I stopped when he kept interrupting the police interview transcript to reiterate what was just said.
Narration:
I only made it as far as I did because of Patrick Lawlor’s dynamic narration. He continues to be one of my favorites.
Additional Note: I didn't read other reviews or learn of all the accusations and eventual disbarment of Martinez until after I wrote my initial review. Sadly, it's not surprising given the attitude he displayed in the book.
I love true crime and thought a case from the perspective of the prosecutor would be interesting. Additionally, I love Patrick Lawlor’s narrations. Unfortunately Juan Martinez’s writing was grandiose and repetitive and after 3.5 hours I couldn’t continue.
Probably 1/3 of what was written could have been removed because it just a rephrasing of what he just said. There’s also half a chapter about a completely different case that, while he claims is similar to Travis’s, seems only to be inserted so he can brag about prosecuting the first woman sentenced to death in Arizona.
Martinez simultaneously presents Arias as so incompetent and unbelievable that she’s obviously guilty and yet himself as the only person capable of properly bringing her to justice. Yet at the time of the writing there’s been two mistrials in terms of sentencing. There’s a great deal of hubris in the presentation (he refuses to co-chair, transcribers always make mistakes) because in his opinion others can’t be trusted to do their jobs properly.
I stopped when he kept interrupting the police interview transcript to reiterate what was just said.
Narration:
I only made it as far as I did because of Patrick Lawlor’s dynamic narration. He continues to be one of my favorites.
Additional Note: I didn't read other reviews or learn of all the accusations and eventual disbarment of Martinez until after I wrote my initial review. Sadly, it's not surprising given the attitude he displayed in the book.
January 24, 2017
Nothing like a trashy real life crime drama where the bad guy goes to jail, (I am assuming this is not a spoiler, considering the title of the book is conviction.).
Half Forensic Files, half Matlock, even though the 'criminal mastermind' is a bit underwhelming in the evil genius department. Its salacious and satisfying, especially if you didn't bother to follow it in the media. If you already know the whole story, you can probably skip it.
Half Forensic Files, half Matlock, even though the 'criminal mastermind' is a bit underwhelming in the evil genius department. Its salacious and satisfying, especially if you didn't bother to follow it in the media. If you already know the whole story, you can probably skip it.
June 26, 2017
I was obsessed with this trial, and still follow the antics of Ms Arias, so,I was really looking forward to this book. Having read it, it is very well written, and although I didn't learn any new information, reading how things fell into place and the trial was pieced together was fascinating. A must read for trial followers.
February 6, 2017
For those who followed the case closely, I didn't find much additional information to be learned here. The book focuses primarily on how the prosecutor tried the case, which is exactly what the book intended to do. So on that front, it succeeded. I just didn't find it as riveting as I would have hoped.
August 24, 2023
When I saw that Juan Martinez wrote this book, I had to read it. This book was very well written and Jodi is nothing but a cruel, heartless, lying killer. She deserved what she got!
May 21, 2016
Fascinating account of all the behind-the-scenes happenings of this famous trial. That woman, the murderer is one of the worst kinds of persons I have ever heard about. Detective Martinez does a great work portraying her as the monster capable of the horrible crime she was punished for.
This is the book I read:
The book starts telling the story from the detective's viewpoint: he was called to a scene where police had made a shocking discovery: the decomposing body of a man that had been brutally murdered: stabbed multiple times in the back and chest, his throat sliced from ear to ear so deeply that the knife actually cut a little dent in the spinal bone; and finally a bullet wound to the temple. The sadistic murdered didn't want to take any chances.
Then a woman called Jodi Arias started to call police insistently, stating that she was a friend of the victim and that she wanted to help with the investigation. She was going to say that she hasn't seen him in a long time, but she didn't know that she had left behind a camera with a memory card that showed nude pictures of her, in bed, with her legs spread, exposing her genitalia and smiling to the camera; stamped with the date and time of the man's death. In the end, she had to admit that she had seen him that day, but that was all she admitted in the beginning:
The victim name was Travis Alexander, and when the cops started to interview his friends, they all coincided in saying that Jodi Arias was some type of psycho-stalker, and that their first thought would always think that she did it:
For her part, Jodi maintained her innocence, and started to portray herself as a helpless victim of a man who kept bullying her and harassing her. To make her point, she provided long text communications where he insulted her and she always played the victim and promised that she was not a violent person:
But again and again, even her own family told the police that she was some kind or 'weirdo', and that she could very well be mean and hurtful especially to her own mother:
As evidence mounted against her, she changed her story once again, now saying that she was an innocent witness of a horrible crime. That two unknown men had entered the house where she was having sex with Travis, and killed him and left.
That was an absurd story, and on top of it, there were pictures that showed the lifeless body of Alexander being dragged to the shower, and a person's foot wearing pajama pants exactly as those property of Arias, that in the end, she had to admit that she killed him. Only that she said it was self defense, because he was attacking her. It is absurd to think that a man with his throat sliced to the bone would have the strength to attack anyone; because it was scientifically proven that she slit his throat and then she shot him in the head when he was already dead.
She said that she had shot him first, and that he somehow continued attacking her until she had to slit his throat, but it is difficult to believe that anyone would be able to perform an attack with a bullet in the brain. That was her bet: that people would think that the man would attack her even with a bullet in his head, but it was proven that she shoot him when he was already death with his throat sliced, and that lie was what ultimately condemned her.
Here is an excerpt of the opening arguments of the prosecutor (the author of the book):
And here is something of what the defense said (basically that Jodi was a little tiny helpless thing and that Alexander was attacking her and that somehow he ended up dead, but not because she wanted to kill him, but because she was defending herself)
There was also a very damaging piece of evidence:an interview that Arias gave to some media, where she smirked and very confidently stated "No jury will convict me; you can mark my words". She was so full of herself, just as any psychopath would:
Here are some photos of the house where the dead man was found: he was only thirty years old, and he already owned a very beautiful, big and luxurious house. He was probably very successful financially, and he had a bright future in front of him. His end was such a sad tragedy!
Here is a picture of the criminal. Note her look of confidence. She was certain that she had gotten away with the perfect murder. In the opposite page, there are pictures of the officers who helped crack this horrifying case open.
Here is part of the testimony that the murderer offered in the trial. Full of tears because she was being caught. Not because of what she did. She was very much proud of what she did to the victim (what a disgusting woman!).
Finally, here is the sentencing part: Prison for the rest of her natural life. I hope she lives till pass her 100's, so she has long time to think about what she did. Hopefully they decorate her cell with pictures of the slit throat of her victim, so she can never forget why is she spending all her time behind bars.
I hoped you liked this entry. If you feel like viewing more of the books I read, you are welcome to (and comment!) on my blog:
http://lunairereadings.blogspot.com
This is the book I read:
The book starts telling the story from the detective's viewpoint: he was called to a scene where police had made a shocking discovery: the decomposing body of a man that had been brutally murdered: stabbed multiple times in the back and chest, his throat sliced from ear to ear so deeply that the knife actually cut a little dent in the spinal bone; and finally a bullet wound to the temple. The sadistic murdered didn't want to take any chances.
Then a woman called Jodi Arias started to call police insistently, stating that she was a friend of the victim and that she wanted to help with the investigation. She was going to say that she hasn't seen him in a long time, but she didn't know that she had left behind a camera with a memory card that showed nude pictures of her, in bed, with her legs spread, exposing her genitalia and smiling to the camera; stamped with the date and time of the man's death. In the end, she had to admit that she had seen him that day, but that was all she admitted in the beginning:
The victim name was Travis Alexander, and when the cops started to interview his friends, they all coincided in saying that Jodi Arias was some type of psycho-stalker, and that their first thought would always think that she did it:
For her part, Jodi maintained her innocence, and started to portray herself as a helpless victim of a man who kept bullying her and harassing her. To make her point, she provided long text communications where he insulted her and she always played the victim and promised that she was not a violent person:
But again and again, even her own family told the police that she was some kind or 'weirdo', and that she could very well be mean and hurtful especially to her own mother:
As evidence mounted against her, she changed her story once again, now saying that she was an innocent witness of a horrible crime. That two unknown men had entered the house where she was having sex with Travis, and killed him and left.
That was an absurd story, and on top of it, there were pictures that showed the lifeless body of Alexander being dragged to the shower, and a person's foot wearing pajama pants exactly as those property of Arias, that in the end, she had to admit that she killed him. Only that she said it was self defense, because he was attacking her. It is absurd to think that a man with his throat sliced to the bone would have the strength to attack anyone; because it was scientifically proven that she slit his throat and then she shot him in the head when he was already dead.
She said that she had shot him first, and that he somehow continued attacking her until she had to slit his throat, but it is difficult to believe that anyone would be able to perform an attack with a bullet in the brain. That was her bet: that people would think that the man would attack her even with a bullet in his head, but it was proven that she shoot him when he was already death with his throat sliced, and that lie was what ultimately condemned her.
Here is an excerpt of the opening arguments of the prosecutor (the author of the book):
And here is something of what the defense said (basically that Jodi was a little tiny helpless thing and that Alexander was attacking her and that somehow he ended up dead, but not because she wanted to kill him, but because she was defending herself)
There was also a very damaging piece of evidence:an interview that Arias gave to some media, where she smirked and very confidently stated "No jury will convict me; you can mark my words". She was so full of herself, just as any psychopath would:
Here are some photos of the house where the dead man was found: he was only thirty years old, and he already owned a very beautiful, big and luxurious house. He was probably very successful financially, and he had a bright future in front of him. His end was such a sad tragedy!
Here is a picture of the criminal. Note her look of confidence. She was certain that she had gotten away with the perfect murder. In the opposite page, there are pictures of the officers who helped crack this horrifying case open.
Here is part of the testimony that the murderer offered in the trial. Full of tears because she was being caught. Not because of what she did. She was very much proud of what she did to the victim (what a disgusting woman!).
Finally, here is the sentencing part: Prison for the rest of her natural life. I hope she lives till pass her 100's, so she has long time to think about what she did. Hopefully they decorate her cell with pictures of the slit throat of her victim, so she can never forget why is she spending all her time behind bars.
I hoped you liked this entry. If you feel like viewing more of the books I read, you are welcome to (and comment!) on my blog:
http://lunairereadings.blogspot.com
March 29, 2018
“At 1:48 P.M. the clerk of the court stood up with the verdict in hand. And, as the electric tension in the courtroom climbed to an even higher pitch, the clerk announced that the jury had found Jodi Ann Arias guilty of premeditated first-degree murder.”
I have watched most of the trials so I already knew that Arias was convicted of first-degree murder. What I didn't know was what Arias did after she killed Travis, I also didn't watch her interrogation video because it was so long. And reading it here, I realised why, she love hearing herself talk, you ask her a question and she goes on about what she did yesterday or whatever, not giving direct answers. And add that to the fact she has problems telling the truth.
“Detective,” she wailed with a hurt look. “I am not a murderer.”
Yeah right Arias.
After telling all the lies, Jodi finally admitted to killing Travis because he attacked her and it was self-defense.
First of all if a person was being attacked and the victim eventually got away, the first thing that sane victim would do was to call for help and Jodi didn't. Instead she drove to see her “potential possible maybe person that you might start dating.” and had sex with him.
And I really can't with the brutality of how she killed him. 29 stab wounds, one gun shot to the temple and a 3-4 inches deep slit to the throat from ear to ear.
I remember Detective Flores warning Arias that the prosecutor is really good at what he does, and he really is. One of the most moving scene for me was the one where Juan Martinez ask Jodi if she can imagine how much must it have hurt Mr. Alexander when she stuck that knife into his chest. But it wasn't as impactful reading it here than watching it, so I would like all of you who read this and haven't watch the trial to view this particular scene to see the expression on his face. He really fought for Travis.
I have watched most of the trials so I already knew that Arias was convicted of first-degree murder. What I didn't know was what Arias did after she killed Travis, I also didn't watch her interrogation video because it was so long. And reading it here, I realised why, she love hearing herself talk, you ask her a question and she goes on about what she did yesterday or whatever, not giving direct answers. And add that to the fact she has problems telling the truth.
“Detective,” she wailed with a hurt look. “I am not a murderer.”
Yeah right Arias.
After telling all the lies, Jodi finally admitted to killing Travis because he attacked her and it was self-defense.
First of all if a person was being attacked and the victim eventually got away, the first thing that sane victim would do was to call for help and Jodi didn't. Instead she drove to see her “potential possible maybe person that you might start dating.” and had sex with him.
And I really can't with the brutality of how she killed him. 29 stab wounds, one gun shot to the temple and a 3-4 inches deep slit to the throat from ear to ear.
I remember Detective Flores warning Arias that the prosecutor is really good at what he does, and he really is. One of the most moving scene for me was the one where Juan Martinez ask Jodi if she can imagine how much must it have hurt Mr. Alexander when she stuck that knife into his chest. But it wasn't as impactful reading it here than watching it, so I would like all of you who read this and haven't watch the trial to view this particular scene to see the expression on his face. He really fought for Travis.
June 21, 2017
When this story was in the news I could never figure out just why people were so fascinated by this woman. Having now finished the book I still do not see why she captivated so much publicity.
One of the drawbacks of reading a book written by the prosecuting attorney in a case is that you really only get one side of the story. Unlike with writers such as Rule, Phelps, and Olsen with books written by the attorney you cannot expect to get outsider perspective. This fact alone usually makes a book less attractive to me.
I gave this book 4 stars regardless of the obvious bias for a number of reasons. First of all Martinez does his audience credit by assuming we are smart enough to follow the bouncing ball and walks us through the discovery of the evidence in this case. Secondly he does not try to take credit and peacock his triumph as the title suggests. He actually places the credit with every member of law enforcement and the judicial system that participated in the eventual conviction of Arias. Third the book is exceptionally well organized. Sometimes when writers go to compile the information from crime to conclusion they fail to make a cohesive narrative that allows the reader to follow the events as they happened. Then the reader spends time back tracking through the book to see if the time line that the author is drawing makes any since.
I would recommend this book to readers that enjoy true crime and legal thrillers.
One of the drawbacks of reading a book written by the prosecuting attorney in a case is that you really only get one side of the story. Unlike with writers such as Rule, Phelps, and Olsen with books written by the attorney you cannot expect to get outsider perspective. This fact alone usually makes a book less attractive to me.
I gave this book 4 stars regardless of the obvious bias for a number of reasons. First of all Martinez does his audience credit by assuming we are smart enough to follow the bouncing ball and walks us through the discovery of the evidence in this case. Secondly he does not try to take credit and peacock his triumph as the title suggests. He actually places the credit with every member of law enforcement and the judicial system that participated in the eventual conviction of Arias. Third the book is exceptionally well organized. Sometimes when writers go to compile the information from crime to conclusion they fail to make a cohesive narrative that allows the reader to follow the events as they happened. Then the reader spends time back tracking through the book to see if the time line that the author is drawing makes any since.
I would recommend this book to readers that enjoy true crime and legal thrillers.
November 12, 2016
I listened to the audiobook version of Martinez's account of the Jodie Arias case/trial. Conviction was very explicit and often repetitive. I enjoyed the first half much better than the second. In the first half Martinez detailed his quest to put together the case against Arias (which didn't seem that hard...). This entailed a thorough description of the murder, the interviews Arias gave to police and Martinez's discovery of the infamous gas cans. The second half of the book chronicled the trial where Martinez seemed to recount the trial transcript which covered the same exact stuff he detailed in the first half. As such, my interest waned significantly as the trial wore on ('cause it's not like I didn't know how it would end).
The actor for the book was alright. He did a fine job, but some of the subject matter was extremely explicit and it was almost humorous to hear him adopt a feminine affectation to indicate Jodie's portion of the conversations he was recounting.
In the end I thought this was interesting enough to hold my attention until the (drum roll please) Conviction, however, I wish there had been less repetition throughout the retelling.
The actor for the book was alright. He did a fine job, but some of the subject matter was extremely explicit and it was almost humorous to hear him adopt a feminine affectation to indicate Jodie's portion of the conversations he was recounting.
In the end I thought this was interesting enough to hold my attention until the (drum roll please) Conviction, however, I wish there had been less repetition throughout the retelling.
February 13, 2019
While this accurately describes the trial and it's proceeding, I found it overly repetitive. Countless chapters on the same topic, and general repetition of the same evidence. It was a bit mind numbing at times. The end of the book seemed rushed, and having watched the trial live as it happened I felt a lot was skimmed over in terms of the expert witness testimonies. The epilogue as well was weak, and hardly a satisfactory end. While I enjoyed Juan's insights at times, this really didn't shine any light on the case that I didn't already know. Perhaps if you weren't heavily invested in the subject when it was happening in 2013, then you'd have more to gain.
April 12, 2017
Juan Martinez comes off like he just put some criminal mastermind behind bars. Let's be realistic here, it's Jodi Arias. Any competent lawyer could've done what he did and probably wouldn't have boasted about it as much as Martinez did in this book.
I haven't followed the Arias case as much as other people have, but from what I read this book doesn't really offer anything new that would earn the title "The Untold Story..."
I think this book was primarily written for Juan Martinez, by Juan Martinez.
I haven't followed the Arias case as much as other people have, but from what I read this book doesn't really offer anything new that would earn the title "The Untold Story..."
I think this book was primarily written for Juan Martinez, by Juan Martinez.
February 13, 2023
This book is interesting, the book is pretty much transcripts from the court case and interviews. I 100% think that Jodi Arias is guilty, however, I didn't always agree with Marinez's conclusions. The book is somewhat overly repetitive, and I don't think it really adds anything to the case that you wouldn't learn from a bit of research. If you don't know much about the case, you might enjoy this a little more. Writing style was also dull..
Displaying 1 - 30 of 416 reviews