Synopses & Reviews
In this introspective exploration of former boxer Joey Torrey's life, his past, his murder conviction, and his more than 30-year incarceration in a California state prison are each fine-tooth combed. Nearly five years after his original memoir, this new edition is re-written as a biography and delves deeper into circumstances surrounding Torreys alleged murder of his boxing coach, the lengthy prison sentence handed down, his undercover collaboration with the FBI on Operation Matchbook” in support of John McCains proposed Professional Boxing Amendments Act, and the inner workings of the prison system in general. From his days as a Compton gang leader and an Olympic boxing hopeful to being tried as an adult rather than a 17-year-old minor, this compelling narrative reflects on his life as a parable as well as examining the strategies used in his conviction, such as establishing the motive as robbery despite a lack of evidence linking the opening of safe to the murderer. And after more than three decades as a model prisonerand saving the life of a prison guardTorrey has prolifically written hundreds of letters to Joe Biel, who finds himself in the unlikely situation to share this story.
Review
“Has the makings of a best selling book.” —Xerography Debt
Review
“A fascinating story of Joey Torrey, a former boxer heading to the Olympics who cut a deal with the FBI in order to supposedly shorten his 25 to life in prison sentence. The story of murder, redemption, deceit, and many years behind bars, sees the light of day. I was hooked.” —Profane Existence on the previous edition
Review
"A fountain of bathos and pathos, sybaritism and solipsism, vice and violence and sport and sex, and Biel draws up the cup and offers up a cold, clear sip." —B. David Zarley, verbicidemagazine.com
Review
“Complemented with primary source material and press clippings to compare and contrast with Torreys version, this is a great read and a good package.” —Roctober on previous edition
About the Author
Joey Torrey was convicted for the murder of his boxing manager and is currently in the Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, California. Joe Biel is the author of Beyond the Music and Make a Zine. He lives in Portland, Oregon.