Each of the following bestsellers reflect some aspect of Danger Road:
Helter Skelter
By Vincent Bugliosi
Billed as “the #1 true crime bestseller of all time” by its publisher, Helter Skelter undoubtedly set the bar for true crime works. Helter Skelter is similar to Danger Road in that it provides the context for and description of the scene before, during and after the heinous murders. These details, which are described by those who saw and/or heard some aspect of the crimes, set the scene for an unforgettable account. In the same way, Danger Roadfeatures the results of extensive interviews, which were conducted with trial participants ― including the defendant. The resulting details are incorporated throughout Danger Road, lending it historical accuracy and providing the readers with a fascinating read.
Karla Faye Tucker Set Free: Life and Faith on Death Row
By Linda Strom
Karla Faye Tucker’s story captured the nation’s attention ― and created a focal point for the debate about whether it’s possible for a convicted murderer not only to change but to be an inspiration to others.
In Danger Road, defendant Gil Fernandez experiences the same conversion that made Karla Faye Tucker’s story so compelling and uplifting. Except in the case of Fernandez, he became a Christian before he was arrested, leaving less doubt about the sincerity of his transformation. His story picks up where Karla’s left off, giving society another chance to examine how and why transformation is possible and why forgiveness can be justified.
The Firm
By John Grisham
Although Grisham’s works are fiction, in real life he shares a similar background to John Contini: Both are criminal defense attorneys.
In The Firm, Grisham gives an inside glimpse into the life of the story’s protagonist, attorney Mitch McDeere. In the same way, Danger Road gives the readers a view into John Contini’s life at the time of the Gil Fernandez trial. And much the same as McDeere discovered there was a dark underbelly to the legal profession; John found malfeasance was rampant in many aspects of the headline-grabbing Fernandez trial.
Skinny Dip
By Carl Hiaasen
Although another work of fiction, Hiaasen’s Skinny Dip has parallels with Danger Road. As a columnist for The Miami Herald, Hiaasen uses South Florida — and its political infrastructure and players — as a backdrop forSkinny Dip. John Contini also gives the readers a tour of South Florida, from the restaurants where he drank and strategized the trial; to the colorful and sometimes strange locals who figure prominently in the story; to Broward County courtroom 970, where the main action in the book takes place.
