A TARGET ON MY BACK

A Prosecutor’s Terrifying Tale of Life on a Hit List

by

Erleigh Wiley

Genre: True Crime

Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing

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Date of Publication: October 3, 2017

Number of Pages: 176 with b&w photos

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Murders don’t happen in Kaufman County, Texas, a sleepy community where people raise their kids quietly and drive into Dallas for work and entertainment. In 2013, murder came to town when two professional prosecutors were slain in cold blood, simply for doing their jobs: one in broad daylight in plain view of the courthouse, and one in his home, along with his wife. Eric Williams is responsible for all the bloodshed—and he has a list of who to kill next.

A Target on My Back is the first-person true story of Erleigh Wiley, an accomplished lawyer who accepted the job as the new district attorney—after the death of her predecessors—which turned her into the next target on the killer’s hit list. This is her story of how she and her family endured the storm of the press, the array of Homeland Security agents assigned to protect them 24/7, and the weight of knowing she was someone’s prey. Though fearing for her life, she served as the prosecution’s final witness against the murderer, sealing his fate on death row. This chilling account of how she survived the hit list is a terrifying cat and mouse tale.

Praise

“A legal thriller with a twist: a crazed lawyer and his wife, believing they have been wronged, become a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde and go on a terrifying murder spree. Next on their kill list is the new DA, and her courage in confronting the killers makes this a fascinating read.” ―Dennis L. Breo, coauthor of The Crime of the Century: Richard Speck and the Murders That Shocked a Nation

“John Grisham and Scott Turow had better start looking over their shoulders. . . Wiley’s engaging, nimble style immediately draws you into the action and proves that sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction. It’s a good thing for us all that she lived to tell about it!” ―David Dean, Dallas attorney, former Texas secretary of state and chair of the North Texas Crime Commission

“When murder comes to her town, Erleigh Wiley steps into the shoes of the slain district attorney and finds herself on the killer’s hit list. In A Target on My Back, Wiley tells her personal story of overcoming fear in order to carry out her duty to hold Kaufman County, Texas, together while the killer is brought to justice. Don’t miss it!” ―Mike Farris, author of A Death in the Islands: The Unwritten Law and the Last Trial of Clarence Darrow

“A Target on my Back is a unique first-person look into the world of crime-fighting in which the tables have been turned. The author takes the reader on an all-too-real journey into what it means to stand for justice when your very life is in danger. A must-read. ―Robert Kepple, executive director of the Texas District and County Attorneys Association

I believe this book has several purposes – to educate us on an event that happened in 2013 in a nearby community (nearby to me anyway), to enlighten us on what it would be like to be pursued by a crazed killer, and to encourage us to follow our dreams and desires and to be the best that we can be in this world.

Before reading this book, I did not know about the murders that happened in Kaufman County.  I am always dumbfounded by those that commit crimes and their reasoning, which rarely makes sense to a normal person.  But to read more about Eric Williams and his wife Kim, and knowing that they had a list of people they wanted to kill just blew my mind.  I can imagine when Erleigh learned of the list and that her name was on the list, that it was a shock to know how close she might have come to death.  She admitted to being naive and thinking she was safe until she learned that bit of information.

I found this book to be enlightening because I never know how I would react if I were in Erleigh’s shoes.  I think I might have acted the same, not believing that I was on someone’s hit list.  But the strength and perseverance that she shared are beyond what I could ever imagine.

I also learned about an organization called Jack and Jill of America and the Beautillion that they put on each year for African American graduating seniors.  I admire the values that this organization is teaching these young men and believe that more organizations and parents could learn from their example.

One thing I found surprising is that even after Erleigh is appointed to the DA position, she is still called Judge.  I am sure this is a term of respect, but it just seemed odd to read it since she was not a judge at this point in her life.

We give this 3 1/2 paws.

Erleigh Norville Wiley was born and raised in Kaufman County. She is a graduate of Texas Tech University, Rawls College of Business; where she received a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree with a degree in Finance. She attended law school at Texas Law at The University of Texas in Austin receiving her Doctor of Jurisprudence.

In 1990, Judge Wiley joined the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. Her goal was to prosecute the criminals and protect innocent children and victims who have no voice. She was promoted to supervising attorney-training other new attorneys and managing fourteen different courts.

Wiley takes an active role in her community by volunteering. Some of her board work includes Chairman of the Kaufman County Juvenile Board, Trustee of Texas Health Resources- Kaufman, Kaufman County Children’s Advocacy Center and Kaufman County Children’s Shelter Board member.

Wiley has been lauded by various organizations for her work in the legal community as a Judge and as the Criminal District Attorney in Kaufman County. Some of the most notable were in 2013, from the State Bar of Texas, Outstanding Leadership-Profiles of Courage Award and Texas District & County Attorney’s Association, Lone Star Prosecutor Award; as well as the Dallas Black Police Officer’s Association with the Paved the Way Award in 2015.

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GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

FIVE READERS EACH WIN A PRINT COPY OF A TARGET ON MY BACK, PLUS A SIGNED BOOK PLATE, AND BOOKMARK!

MARCH 16-25, 2018

(US ONLY)

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