Amazon.ca:Customer reviews: If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer

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enlightening

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on January 23, 2022

It's too bad this killer didn't get the reward he deserves. I believed he was guilty at the time of the murders and this book reinforces my belief.

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Tree 374

Interesting read.

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on October 15, 2018

The book arrived in new, clean, and excellent condition. I finished the book in 2 days. He lies and lies, but that's OJ for you. The only relevant content to the title is the confession chapter.

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From Canada

Terry

Great book

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on October 9, 2016

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WorldTravelr

Not what I expected

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 23, 2012

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As someone who was growing up during the events that unfolded during this book, I felt this circumstance was probably my first real look as an adult into the world of celebrity crime, etc. Like a real life CSI show, it was not hard at the time to remain fascinated by the details of the case and the celebrity aspect. However, I take a different view now after reading so many books on the subject and feel sorry for the families of the victoms who had to watch an egomaniac get away with murder and flaunt it openly to them despite a mountain of evidence that a small portion of would have convicted almost anyone else with.

One of my favorite books about the trial is Mark Fuhrman's 'Murder in Brentwood'. It lays out an almost textbook/classroom lecture about the forensic mistakes and the policework while also laying out a blue print of what went wrong in the trial. This book, 'I Did It' confuses me a bit and falls short of what I was hoping for. There was really only one chapter, which also happened to be the shortest chapter of the book that deals with the actual events of the murders and much of it deals with a blackout and an obviously made up accomplice.

The chapter on the murders almost seems to be written different than every other part of the book, which sounds like OJ Simpson is basically sitting down with a bottle of liquor and talking to someone about how evil, terrible, insane, etc. his ex-wife Nichole was and how he tried so hard to make everything work despite her craziness. I think if this book sheds light on anything regarding the murders, it is that OJ Simpson has a sociopathic narcissistic personality where everything is about him, he is never wrong, people do him wrong and he is entitled to anything he wants. Ad naseum.

This book contains page after page ... chapter after chapter ... or intimate details about (OJ's side) of the volitile relationship with Nichole and himself. One would probably classify this as rambling because it just goes on and on with every little detail about every light fight and interaction Nichole and OJ had over their 17 years together and all ends up with OJ being the one trying to hold everything together and a crazy, violent, drug addicted Nichole ruining it at every turn.

Spoiler alert ...

Finally, I got to the chapter of the actual murder and it seemed to go by amazingly fast. It really didn't tell much about the murders. All of a sudden this 'Charlie' accomplice character pops up. It is clear that this was designed to throw a monkey wrench into the forensics of the situation and probably could be used as a scapegoat of Simpson to say, 'See ... I am innocent. There is no way the evidence backs up an accomplice.' AFTER he had taken in the money from the book, or so he thought. It is clear that Charlie is the voice in Simpson's head. OJ takes us through the events leading up to the murders outside Nichole's condo. He is in a rage. His descriptions to the reader are that of a violent person in a rage ... whereas 'Charlie' is begging him not to do it. Charlie is aghast at the outcome while OJ is clearheaded and calling the shots about how to dispose of the clothing and not get caught. I think this 'conversation' was going on in OJ's head ... the panic and horror vs. the satisfaction and cool headedness.

I agree with other comments. The fact that OJ had a knife under the seat and a knit cap and gloves in the Bronco (in California) was unbelievable. He made it seem like 'Charlie' had come by to tell OJ Nichole was involved in an orgy and that set OJ into a rage where he jumped into the Bronco to go 'take care of this woman'. The only believable part of this account was when he spoke of Ron Goldman. Basically, OJ was taunting Ron Goldman ... believing he slept with Nichole. He says Ron nervously tries to diffuse the situation saying he is just a waiter coming by to drop off glasses and nervously saying that he wasn't sleeping with Nichole. OJ says that once Ron senses that OJ is about to hit him, he gets into a Karate pose and that enrages OJ who says, "Lets see how tough you really are mf" and that is the end of Ron Goldman. The the blackout comes, the horror, the nervousness about getting caught.

The next chapter basically is just a word for word transcript of the interrogation. Which is a complete sham. I can't believe that they didn't get OJ to talk about his feelings towards the police. Or how surprised he was that even though he 'blew' several answers and couldn't explain things, etc. the police let him off the hook. Furmahn has a great chapter in his book that also gives a transcript of the interrogation but also provides Furmahn outlining why the officers blew the interrogation and what they should have been asking/saying.

After that comes a chapter about Nichole's funeral and a really brief chapter about the Bronco chase, which doesn't go into too much detail at all about what was going on except a couple sentences about how OJ was thinking about killing himself with the gun he brought into the Bronco. It is in this chapter that for the first time in the whole book OJ talks about how sad he is that the situation between him and Nichole ended the way it did and that he is a human capable of emotions other than placing the blame on Nichole. However, most of the sadness in this chapter seems to come from the fact he knows that he is likely to go away to jail and miss his kids.

The main focus on the book is a 'love story' about him and Nichole and anyone expecting a huge outline of the case, the trial, the murder or the interrogation will be dissapointed. I really do believe after reading this that it is not a confession as much as it is a slick way for OJ Simpson to make money on the situation. It reminds me very much of when Joran Vandersloot offered to tell the Holloways where Natalie's body was for $250,000. Obviously, Joran had killed Natalie or at least covered up the truth about her death but for some reason, he took the money but made up a completely fictitious story about where the body was. This seems like the same exact thing happening in this book only OJ had the benefit that he had been aquitted of the crime and could no longer be tried for it and had a very good legal team who could help him around the pitfalls of basically extorting to the public in this way through book sales vs. a flat out demand of $250,000 as in the Vandersloot case.

The ghostwriter's forward is probably one of the best chapters in the book and really sets the tone and works well before reading the actual Simpson part. The end part where the lawyer talks about how the book came to be makes you almost as mad at lawyers as you are at a killer like Simpson. You can see how just as in the trial where justice was twisted in OJ's favor by unscrupulous lawyers ... again the lawyers had to twist things while trying to get this book published or not. There is an interesting part in the book that talks about the first time the book deal was stopped and a high powered judge offered to read the surviving manuscript of the book in the living room of the ghost writer. At the very least, we get to read what many people could only imagine about a few years ago. It really didn't provide me with too many insights into the case. It was weird to go into the twisted mind of OJ Simpson for a bit but I prefer Fuhrman's 'Murder in Brentwood' and OJ's attorney's book 'How I helped OJ Get Away With Murder' which was more of a tabloid read but had some interesting insights into the case.

One thing about this book ... it was a quick read. Two days.

24 people found this helpful

Ally Prefontaine

Total Denial with one exception

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 1, 2014

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First I want to say, I completely understand why the Goldman's did what they did with this book. Someone had to hold him responsible somehow, and back when this was published, it was their only way.

To read the first part of the actual book written by the killer, you would think he were an angel. He completely blamed all the issues on others, mainly Nicole. She was the one with the temper, She was the one who was violent, She was the one with obsession issues, She was the one with problems.

And, oh yes, he did admit to 'handling her roughly once' but it was in defense and to move her out of his room. Nah, doesn't read as real, you could tell it was all bs to make himself appear an abused husband, to defend his actions later on.

Now, to be fair, I do get that there are women out there who are abusive verbally, physically etc, but with this book, you have the feeling (and can tell) that he was doing nothing but trying to make himself appear an innocent victim. And that was exactly what was being told...and that was the way it read, he was the victim. And you could also tell it was total BS. Too many contradictions.

I feel he didn't like to be alone, he began seeing Nicole while he was still married, he began seeing others as soon as they split up. But because of his relationship with Nicole, it caused issues with others and that's where the obsession came from. He couldn't have her, and he couldn't have others (for anything more than sex) with her in the picture either. Therefore, by all rights and purposes, she was the problem. He couldn't let go and couldn't move on as long as she was around.

The only truthful part, in my humble opinion, was when he got to the murders. The words were less defensive, it flowed well and was honest, it was like a light were shining on that part of the book. You could tell, that was the only truly accurate part in this thing. You could also tell it happened 'just that fast'. I really don't think it was initially his intention, as he stated he was going there to scare the hell out of her, but he snapped and lost it... and in an instant, they were both dead. Ron was a victim of circumstance, he was at the wrong place at the wrong time and his presence was what pushed the killer over the edge.

I also strongly believe that the "Charlie" that was mentioned during this time (an unnamed accomplice) was for real, I don't think he could have pulled off ditching the clothes, sneaking in the back way and avoiding the limo driver and getting his vehicle parked back at his home without an accomplice. I also believe after reading this book that I have a fairly good idea of who it was, but of course its all a guess and cant be mentioned.

I feel badly that the Goldman's have to defend their decision to bring this book to light in such a manner. I get it and I support you. Hopefully now the b****** will stay behind bars for a very long time. It may not be the right kind of justice for what he did, or charged for what he did, but at least it is some kind of justice and he is no longer free to walk down your street.

13 people found this helpful

Peridot

Evidence and Proof of the Guilt of the Killer are In This Book...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 3, 2014

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When this book first came out, I promised myself that I'd never purchase or read it. When I read that it was being republished for the benefit of the family of Ron Goldman's family to satisfy the judgment against the killer, I changed my mind and purchased it immediately. I wanted to review the confession of the murderer of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson.

When the murder trial went on I watched all the testimony. The trial was so mishandled and the evidence was so botched it was right for the killer to get off but it was clear to me that he murdered those two people. It made me ill but it was true.

What the killer doesn't realize is that he condemned himself with his own words. Go to page 183 where he describes how he felt immediately after he killed his ex-wife and Ron Goldman:

'I went upstairs and it took me a very long time to get dressed. I couldn't seem to make my arms work. They felt heavy and sore, like they would if you overdid it in the gym.'

Or if you had stabbed two people to death with a knife two days prior? Ron Goldman was stabbed sixty (60) times and Nicole Brown Simpson was stabbed and slashed four (4) times with other slight knife wounds.

The killer convicted himself right there in his own words. Read it for yourself, it's right there as he complains about how he feels. It's chilling how he disconnects what he did from how he feels. This is not uncommon with people in denial about the horrific murders you committed. Simpson comes across as a narcissist in this book, longing for the days when he was the center of attention and the darling of everyone. He claims to be the perfect father and husband and never at fault, blaming Nicole for every problem in their marriage. What the killer doesn't realize is how he convicted himself with every word in this book.

We now know that the killer's sports agent, Mike Gilbert, advised him to discontinue his arthritis medication to make his hands swell so that the bloody gloves wouldn't fit. That's how the killer got away with the murders. It all hangs together now. The killer didn't give that away in this book. That would have made him look too guilty. In this book he he was accompanied during the murders by an imaginary friend, Charlie.

One can only hope that all the killer's children come to realize that their father is a dangerous man. Should he ever be released from prison, he should not be permitted to be alone with their children or anyone else. He's not trustworthy. Hopefully he will remain behind bars where he cannot never harm anyone else. He's a murderer and a person who believes his own lies. He's deadlier than a spitting cobra.

6 people found this helpful

Lauri Ridley

Inside the mind of an abuser who killed

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 23, 2016

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I love novels and being transformed into another world. Reading this book I had to catch myself and remind myself that this is the mind of a physical abuser and a murderer. I disagree with a previous comment about skipping to chapter 6 for the murder. The reason is a simple one. When OJ talks about his relationship with Nichole, his focus is to paint himself as a great human being and is not perfect. He shifts all the blame onto her stating that she was violent and abusive and he was her great friend just trying to protect himself. He says how happy he was when she (by his account) took credit for everything that was wrong in the relationship and that she finally held herself accountable. He goes onto say that when she went through counseling, that resulted in her being made more aware of her anger issues and how so very wrong she was in the relationship. Again it is all her fault. He says she stalked him and called here endlessly and finally begged to get him back. He went back because she is so charming and beautiful. Wow talk about turning the tables when other accounts have it so different. He said the pictures she had locked up were self inflicted and he is by all accounts totally innocent except for a few minor human imperfections. This story is an old one that is heard so many times. The abuser hurt her because she brought it on herself. OJ was a very charming man that snowed a lot of people. The facts weigh out fiction. I recommend reading this as doing so will give insight into how the self centered arrogant abuser actually thinks. Maybe if we are all educated we can not feed the beast and leave them alone.

62 people found this helpful

George T MORAN

OJ KILLED NICOLE & RON...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 26, 2022

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Ohh my what a great illustration of the day time & other things that happened during the marriage of OJ & NICOLE I SO ENJOYED READING IT (OJ KILLED NICOLE ) I'M SURE OF IT NOW....

LadyEve

Articulate and chilling

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 26, 2017

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When I first purchased this book, I was under the impression that it's entire contents was the confession. It is not, however I still liked how the book was put together. The "confession" is actually a short story at the very end, within the book, the rest are chapters from other individuals involved with the case. One of the things that I found impressive were the chapters by the Goldman's, which I suspect were written by Fred Goldman, who is incredibly intelligent and articulate. He really captures your attention. I must be honest and say that as I began the chapter containing OJ's confession in his own words, it was the very first and only time ever that chills came over my body from reading a book. While some don't believe there was a "Charlie" (an accompanying individual who did not commit, but witnessed the entire murder), I whole-heartedly believe that person was A.C. Cowlings. Every comment that this supposed "Charlie" said sounds exactly like the things A.C. was saying to O.J. during the chase/suicide fiasco. "Please O.J., don't do it. Stop. Put it away." In fact, the chase sounds like Part 2 to the O.J. confession. I wonder if anyone knows A.C.'s whereabouts the night of the murder and whether or not anyone has thought to ask.

37 people found this helpful

Tara G

OJ provides his version of what his relationship was like with Nicole

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 11, 2017

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This is a thorough look at the murders of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson, both from the aftermath of what the Goldmans went through to enforce the civil judgment they won against OJ Simpson and the fantastical story OJ tells his ghostwriter in an effort to make a quick buck and almost justify the killings IF he was the guilty party. The book exposes a lot of what went on that was not in the media or was falsely reported, as well as many behind-the-scenes antics which occurred pre-and-post murders. OJ provides his version of what his relationship was like with Nicole, which comes across as if he's trying to sway the public to see that IF he killed her that he was somehow justified in doing so. OJ does talk about the night of the murders, but he does so without every owning his role in them. He was acquitted, so I'm not quite sure why he dances around the admission so much, but he provides significant detail about any event he shouldn't know anything about. It's interesting, and I recommend anyone who watched the OJ trial or has since watched the OJ tv shows to check this out.

2 people found this helpful

T. Shrader

Little talk of the murder...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 28, 2007

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I bought this for my husband and ended up reading it myself in one day. It was hard to put down. I give it 4 stars for that reason alone - just that it kept my attention and would have made for a good FICTION novel (if you're into trash). OJ is despicable and the way he portrays Nicole is disgusting - whether true or not!

By the way, if you are looking for a confession.. This book is almost entirely about the ups and downs in his relationship with Nicole (from his twisted perspective) - and is laced with braggadocios comments about the many finer things in life that he enjoyed. There are fewer than 20 pages that are actually about the night Nicole and Ron were murdered.

I'm am disgusted that the Goldmans would release this book. There is little mention of Ron, but nearly 200 pages slandering Nicole. I understand that they were punishing OJ by taking his book away, but I believe they are punishing the Browns and Nicole's children even more by releasing this junk. (Which I, admittedly, devoured in less than 24 hours!) I did read somewhere though that if the Goldmans didn't publish the book within a certain amount of time, that the rights went back to OJ and he would make the profits. So, if that's true, it appears the book would be published no matter what. And, at least now the Goldman Foundation is getting some funds from it.

8 people found this helpful

Jill

Interesting read

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 4, 2016

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I just got done reading this book. It was only 1.99 for the kindle edition so it wouldn't have been a big deal if it really sucked. I thought the book was very interesting but why Simpson's intention was for this to be a "hypothetical" is dumb. How he described his relationship with Nicole and everything was her fault was just one big "guilty". He made her seem like she was needy with her begging to get back with OJ and how she would seek his advice about men she dated. He never got angry or jealous. And she had an affair and assaulted his maid. And why did he refer to Kris Jenner as Chrystie? She was Bruce's first wife. And to say that when Nicole went with Bruce and Kris to Mexico that one of them called him to inform him that Nicole met a man. BS, he had her followed. And the murder scene chapter....he didn't remember any of it...only that he was suddenly covered in blood with a knife in his hand.He had the knife in his Bronco to protect himself from the "crazies". And he states that the Bronco driven in the chase was AC's, not his. There was nothing hypothetical about this.

20 people found this helpful

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5 star		56%
4 star		19%
3 star		15%
2 star		5%
1 star		5%

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