The book I recently finished reading is Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. It is set in Sterling, New Hampshire, a small town. The story begins by portraying a typical day at the local high school, where students are attending their classes. However, during this ordinary day, there is an abrupt explosion in the parking lot as a student hurries out of class for an orthodontist appointment. The explosion turns out to be a bomb that was detonated in Matt’s car. This unexpected incident causes confusion among the students and shortly after gunshots are heard. Simultaneously, Patrick, the only detective on the Sterling police force (which appears quite impractical having just one), receives a radio alert regarding the shooting at Sterling High School.
Patrick witnesses a grim scene on the floor: a group of students bathed in blood. Among them lies a lifeless boy, his skull pierced by a fatal gunshot. Meanwhile, Josie, his girlfriend, regains consciousness but finds herself unable to recall the events leading up to this tragedy. The narrative of the book fluidly moves between past and present, shedding light on incidents both preceding and following the shooting.
In the past, we discover that Peter, the individual responsible for the violent act, shares a history of friendship with Josie. Yet, Peter’s life was marred by relentless bullying, with Josie often standing up for him. As time passed, however, their bond gradually weakened and Josie aligned herself with the popular clique.
Peter felt like an outsider both at home and with his family. He believed that his parents favored his older brother Joey, which made him feel even more alienated. However, when Joey tragically passed away in a car accident during his senior year, it widened the gap between Peter and his parents. Additionally, Peter’s sister Josie started dating a guy named Matt in her sophomore year, which caused her to completely cut ties with Peter. Matt, along with his group of jock friends, relentlessly bullied Peter and frequently taunted him with derogatory slurs like “homo”. This constant harassment led Peter to question his own sexual orientation. Furthermore, Matt proved to be a possessive and jealous boyfriend who openly admitted that he did not appreciate “sharing Josie” with others.
One day, Peter approached Josie after school to ask a question, resulting in him being beaten by Matt. The Judge is faced with a dilemma as she must preside over a major case in town while also being a mother to her grieving daughter, Josie. She is determined to balance being a good mother and a fair judge, but she cannot hear Josie’s account of what happened to prevent it from influencing her judgment. Following the arraignment, the Judge experiences a breakdown when she witnesses a mother holding a portrait of her deceased daughter, making her realize how close she came to losing Josie.
Having removed himself from the investigation, Peter becomes more supportive of Josie. It dawns on him that he has developed romantic feelings for Josie, prompting him to compose an email expressing his emotions. Unfortunately, before Josie even has a chance to read the email, a friend of hers intercepts it and disseminates its content throughout the entire school. This final betrayal is the breaking point for Peter, and a month later, the tragic shooting occurs. Following the incident, Peter is incarcerated while the trial proceeds. He voluntarily waives the probable cause hearing and confesses to having killed ten individuals and injuring nineteen others.
Peter’s defense attorney argues that his actions were justified due to his post-traumatic stress disorder and presents evidence of battered person syndrome. Nevertheless, Peter is convicted of eight counts of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder, leading to a life sentence in prison. Sadly, only one month later, Peter tragically ends his own life by strangling himself with a sock. Shockingly, during the last stage of the trial, Josie admits to accidentally shooting Matt after picking up a gun that had fallen out of Peter’s bag.
Peter later fired the fatal second shot. At the end of the book, Josie received a five-year sentence for accessory of manslaughter. Unlike my other book, Nineteen Minutes provided a compelling illustration of some laws within our legal system. The case in the book was complex as Peter caused multiple deaths and injuries. However, his attorney’s defense strategy invoking battered person syndrome resulting from post-traumatic stress disorder proved to be astute and influenced the jury’s deliberation.
Upon researching battered person syndrome and drawing parallels from the book, I have concluded that its use in a case conveys the message, “It was my sole means of self-defense and escape.” This notion resonates with me within the context of the book and has also piqued my curiosity. I perceive a precarious equilibrium between employing this defense to gain credibility and encountering skepticism and backlash for its utilization.
I found only one case where people used battered person syndrome as a defense. It involved a woman who killed her abusive husband. This particular case intrigued me greatly. It taught me a valuable lesson, which is to avoid having friends with psychological issues and abusive boyfriends, as the combination can lead to disastrous outcomes. Additionally, it made me realize that anything can happen in court. The book I read highlighted numerous ways one can defend themselves when they have done something wrong, which I found astonishing. At first, I thought the accused didn’t stand a chance, until an unexpected defense strategy caught everyone by surprise.
Finally, I discovered that one could use a sock to take one’s own life. It might be advisable to inform the prison not to give socks to inmates wearing blue paper suits, as they could potentially commit suicide with them. I must admit, I couldn’t stop reading this book. It was truly remarkable! It encompassed elements of drama, romance, friendship, heartbreak, bullying, and various relationships…everything you could ask for! Jodi Picoult never fails to incorporate the thoughts of multiple characters throughout her novels, which is a style I personally adore and find incredibly captivating. Although some individuals may not enjoy reading in this manner, I believe it helps to connect the dots in a fascinating way.
Jodi Picoult clearly conducted thorough research to ensure the accuracy of the law terminology used in the case portrayed in this book. The convincing conviction of Peter and Josie added a realistic touch that required extensive research. It is evident that the research for this book was time-consuming. I would advise against recommending this book to parents or students who have experienced a school shooting. However, those who enjoy suspense and being shocked should definitely give this book a read. As always, Jodi Picoult does an outstanding job.
