Escape from Dannemora

April 1, 2017

It was a media event in the spring of 2015. Richard Matt and David Sweat, two inmates at Clinton Correctional Facility, dug a tunnel through which they escaped into the wilderness of upstate New York and remained on the loose for three weeks. Benson, the author of numerous true crime books (e.g., Evil Season), tells the story in an easy-to-read style that will draw in a wide audience of readers. We learn about the frightful early lives of both men, their crimes, and prison employee Joyce Mitchell, who was supposed to aid the men in their escape. At times, although Benson documents his sources, the facts seem too bizarre to be authentic--it is truly a case of life being stranger than fiction. In the final chapters, Benson discusses the conditions at Clinton Correctional that led to the escape, which is still under investigation. VERDICT A solid read and informative text about prison management, this book will be of interest to students and staff involved in correctional facilities and general readers of true crime.--Frances O. Sandiford, formerly with Green Haven Correctional Facility Lib., Stormville, NY

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