The Autobiography of an Execution

The Autobiography of an Execution is a gripping true crime narrative that takes readers inside the complicated minds of judges, prisons, execution-administration chambers, and the lives of death row inmates.

With a unique perspective as the litigation director of the Texas Defender Service and a professor at the University of Houston Law Center, David Dow sheds light on the emotional toll of working on these gnarled and difficult cases, and makes palpable the suspense that clings to every word and action when human lives hang in the balance.

Through his personal experiences, Dow challenges the notion of attorney-client privilege while acknowledging executions are not about the attorneys, but about the victims of murder and sometimes their killers.

This thought-provoking book will leave readers with a newfound appreciation for the complexities of capital punishment and the emotional toll it takes on all parties involved.