Karla Faye Tucker first became known to the world when she was convicted of the brutal pickax murder of two people in 1984. A brief rundown of her childhood history reveals how Karla found herself on such a violent path, which led her to Death Row and no hope or future. But her story doesn't die there...it is only the beginning. The Karla who was executed on February 3, 1998 was in no way the same woman who entered Death Row 14 years before. She was transformed by God's Spirit shortly after entering prison. This is her story of redemption, hope, faith, grace, and the power of God in a life wholly yielded to Him. I actually found myself jealous of this pickax murderer on Death Row because of the consuming peace, joy, and hope, which filled her life. She even renamed her unit from Death Row to Life Row.

The author Linda Strom was Karla Faye Tucker's spiritual advisor and dear friend. Linda tells not only Karla's story, but she also tells her own story and the testimonies of many of Karla's fellow Life Row Mates. These testimonies overwhelmed me and revealed that without question, the Spirit of God is able to bring sheer joy out of any person yielded to Him, no matter what their circumstance. It portrays the power of forgiveness...not just the forgiveness of others who have sinned against us, but perhaps even more difficult for some, forgiving ourselves of our own sins and accepting God's forgiveness as well. And these testimonies show vividly that there is nowhere we can go where God is not able to use us. If we are willing, God can and will use us powerfully to change lives and encourage our fellow believers. This is an incredibly joyful, life-changing book, which every believer should read!

Linda Strom's book convicted my spirit as a believer and reiterated the message of forgiveness in a way I never thought of before. This book is not about the Death Penalty but a message of hope to all people. God wants us to be set free from the bondage of unforgiveness so that we can be right with Him and to experience true peace and joy. Karla Faye's life was an excellent example of that. Regardless of where you have come from, this book will be a blessing to anyone!

Linda Strom tells the story of Karla Faye Tucker in an uplifting, life affirming way. While you cannot avoid the tears while reading her story, you also cannot avoid the joy which fills your heart. This book so clearly affirms the life changing force of Christ's forgiveness.

I am shaking as I write this. I have never read something so biased and so upsetting in my life. I am more convinced than ever after reading this book that Karla Faye Tucker got exactly what she deserved. This book portrays her as some sort of wonderful, mislead, genuine person who made a mistake. I am stunned beyond belief at this portrayal of a murderer. It sounds to me after reading this book, that Karla Faye did not make any genuine changes, she just simply learned how to play the game, and in this case ultimately and fortunatley did not win.

As one of the people who is intimately involved in the case that this literary piece is supposed to be realistically portraying, I am surprised that anyone could believe that any of this actually happened the way the author portrays it. The convicted murderer is shown as being a wonderful person. I have not met too many "wonderful" people who are capable of swinging a pick axe into two different people more than 60 different times and enjoying it so much that they told several people that they had a sexual orgasm with each swing. That is sick. This was not an isolated incident; within a day after the first two murders, this individual was planning several more murders which would have been carried out if she had not been apprehended. She had no religion and no remorse until AFTER she was in jail. The reason I know all this? Tucker murdered my wife, Deborah Ruth Thornton. Don't waste your money on this trash.

"Compassion" seems to be in short supply when it comes to Karla Faye Tucker --- starting with then-Gov. Bush's smirk on the occasion of her execution and continuing in these reader comments. This she-got-what-she-deserved feeling stems, I think, from the view that People Don't Change. What grim philosophy! Change --- the hope of it, the longing for it --- is, in fact, what drives most evangelical religions. Given that, you'd think Karla Faye Tucker would be the Poster Child for Christian conversion. She never denied the terrible crimes she committed, she prostrated herself before her Lord, and, if you believe her, Jesus bathed herin His love. That is the subject of the book Beverly Lowry has written --- a book powered by a head-splitting irony: The murderesss gives comfort to the professional writer (a mother whose son was killed in an unsolved highway accident). My advice: Just read the book. Decide for yourself.