Book Critique Brining Adam Home Maria Colon Jones Criminal Justice 500 Liberty University Abstract Brining Adam Home is a national bestseller, written by novelist Les Standiford and retired Detective Sergeant Joe Matthews of the Miami Police Department. The author uses Sergeant Matthews’s firsthand experience and personal knowledge to give an account of the kidnapping and horrific death investigation of six year old Adam Walsh in the hands of notorious serial killer, Ottis Poole in 1981. This book is not only heartbreaking, and thrilling it can cause an emotional roller-coaster between anger, sorrow, and relief. Adam’s family was exposed to poor, mediocre police work and unprofessionalism by the lead Detective Jack Hoffman, who was so pig-headed that he failed to realize that sufficient evidence existed to make an arrest in Adam’s death. It took the dedication and persistence of Sergeant Joe Matthews to finally bring closer to a case that languished for 27 long years. The impact of this tragedy and the determination of Adam’s parents, John and Reve Walsh placed …show more content…
Standiford provides a professional resume of Sergeant Matthews’s accomplishments from a patrol officer, a skillful interrogator, and becoming the chief polygraph examiner in Miami in 1976. This was essential to demonstrate that Sergeant Matthews was a well-rounded and experienced investigator. Detective Jack Hoffman, the lead investigator of Adam’s case is also introduced in chapter 2. It is noted that when both Detectives meet there is a clash of personalities. Hoffman who is described by Standiford as a “guy who looks like he disagrees with everything in general” shows displeasure with the assistance of Matthews. Sergeant Matthews remains professional and focuses on the job that he was required to do although he encountered many obstacles as he tried to assist in solving Adam’s