I am old enough to remember the love affair that Americans once had with O.J. Simpson. A gifted athlete, charming and affable, he seemed to have everything going for him as he lived the American dream. We were awed by his talent on the football field and later followed his careers as broadcaster and actor. I chuckled watching him run through airports in the Hertz commercials and loved his goofy role as Nordberg in The Naked Gun movies.
Fast forward to 1994, when we were glued to our televisions watching the Bronco chase unfold before our eyes. This was nothing compared to the “Trial of the Century” the following year, where he stood trial for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole and Ronald Goldman. I was working the night shift at the time and was riveted to my television for the many months of the trial. Regardless of the verdict, I believe the trial was instrumental in bringing the fledgling science of DNA evidence to the forefront. These days, DNA evidence is a universally accepted tool in criminal proceedings and is more reliable than fingerprints.
After the trial, most of us probably thought (and perhaps hoped) that this would be the last we ever heard of “The Juice”. Unfortunately this was not to be the case. One of the most polarizing figures in recent history, O.J. was accused of armed robbery in Las Vegas in 2007.
Room 1203 is the detailed account of this event, including the initial response by the police and the subsequent investigation and trial. It is told through the observations of Detective Andy Caldwell, the lead investigator in the case. What should have been a simple case was complicated by the fact that one of the accused was O.J. Simpson. Detective Caldwell’s meticulous investigation of this case offers the listener information and insight that only he could provide. His expertise and attention to detail really shines in this story. Anything that you ever wanted to know about this case, including some actual transcripts and recordings, can be found here.
Beyond the facts of the case, we are offered a rare glimpse into actual police procedure and the inner workings of how cases are prepared. From arrest warrants, search warrants, investigative techniques, to the use of Miranda, we are made privy to the intricacies of the profession. There are so many technical aspects to police work that I wasn’t aware of and the author went the extra mile by explaining them in detail. I also appreciated the occasional humor that he provided – the smelly feet come to mind.
One of the aspects of this audiobook that really annoyed me was the role of the media. It’s one thing for a suspect to try to downplay or even justify his actions but how could the media buy into this even when the facts were staring them in the face? I really sympathized with the detective. When I told my boyfriend that I was listening to an audiobook about O.J.’s Las Vegas trial, I had exactly the same experience as another reviewer. He said “Oh, you mean the one where he took his stuff back?” Yep, another brainwashing victim. *sigh*
If I was not aware that the audiobook was actually narrated by Mark Kamish, I would have thought it was the voice of the author. It sounded so authentic that I often envisioned Detective Caldwell telling his own story. This was truly great narration. I really enjoyed Room 1203 and would highly recommend it.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. This review is my honest opinion.