Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
I had so many thoughts reading Leo's story. From anger at the foster care system to anger at Leo to anger at the justice system. Then Chapter 26 came along and I was so glad that the clinical psychologist stated all the same issues I had noticed. (I have a degree in psychology so I was kind of analyzing Leo as I read his story.)
Leo was definitely let down by a lot of people who were supposed to care for him. The five solutions that make up Chapter 32 make a ton of sense but it's definitely an uphill battle to get those implemented.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this ebook. I think this book has an interesting premise but just needed some tighter editing. Some sentences were repetitive, and certain idioms used were said incorrectly. I noticed different spellings of the main character’s middle name. The second half of the book was much more propulsive than the first half. 2.5⭐️

This was a good book based on Leo with a different and troubled upbringing a sad story how things went wrong and how many lives were destroyed I found the court documents and proceedings interesting I enjoyed the true story of this book

Very interesting...Not what I thought it was going to be but it kept my interest throughout. Definitely would recommend giving it a read.

Content Warning: Child Sexual, Emotional and Physical Abuse, Graphic description of homicide, Emotional and physical neglect

Irene Sullivan's Born and Raised to Murder is a poignant and unsettling examination of Leo Boatman’s tragic journey from a neglected childhood in foster care to a condemned prisoner on death row. This book offers an invaluable perspective on the critical shortcomings of our juvenile justice and foster care systems.

Sullivan provides an unflinching look at how repeated failures in these systems led to Boatman’s heinous crime. The book covers numerous adverse childhood experiences, including various forms of abuse and neglect, and includes graphic descriptions of homicide based on real events and court documents.

What I found particularly compelling was Sullivan’s focus not just on the problems but on potential solutions. She discusses how improvements in foster care and juvenile detention can reduce the likelihood of repeat offences and prevent career criminals. The book also highlights the severe consequences of not addressing childhood sexual assault seriously.

While I appreciated the depth and detail of the narrative, there was a small inaccuracy regarding the term "veterinarian technician," which should be "veterinary technician."

Overall, Born and Raised to Murder is an essential read for those interested in juvenile justice and child welfare, offering crucial insights and a call to action for much-needed reforms.

Terrible things happen to people everyday that don't deserve it, doesn't need we need a book for all of them. The people in charge of this book had no business writing it and the fake out intro was insanely annoying.