The Volunteer

Gianna Toboni is a front-line journalist who has covered news stories in some of the most dangerous areas in the world. However, her debut book, The Volunteer: The Failure of the Death Penalty in America and One Inmate’s Quest to Die with Dignity, delves into a gruesome reality far closer to home.

Scott Dozier was sent to Death Row in Ely, Nevada, in 2007, after a long career of drug use led to two grisly murders. Dozier never claimed he was innocent, and he accepted the court’s sentence. In fact, for an extrovert like Scott, being in solitary confinement was a far worse punishment than death. So much so, in fact, that Dozier petitioned to have his execution date pushed up. But after years of advocating and letter writing, Dozier was still in jail, and with a new warden in place, his incarceration was taking a physical and mental toll on his health. Gianna reached out to him, and after years of conversations with Scott and his family and friends, she realized that the United States justice system is failing Death Row inmates in every way—and she chose to write about it.

Toboni admits from the get-go that she is anti-death penalty. However, if she did not say this in her own words, you would not be able to identify her stance based on the writing. The Volunteer is not designed to sway people one way or the other or to alter their opinions. Whether you believe in the death penalty or you don’t, The Volunteer provides a hard look into the treatment of Death Row inmates (at least in Ely, Nevada) and the failure of the government on every level to follow through with their promises.

The Volunteer features alternating chapters—ones that talk about Dozier’s history, his crimes, and how Toboni’s professional relationship with him developed, while other chapters discuss the history of the death penalty, how it came about, what barriers current lawmakers face, and all of the controversy before and since. It is a fascinating examination of the political system, its influence on the justice system, and the very real people the decisions are affecting.

It was fascinating reading about Dozier and his personal history that led to the crimes he committed. Toboni manages to portray Dozier as the son, brother, father, and ultimately, the human that he is, through his own words and those of others who love him. Although I wasn’t exactly sympathetic for an alleged two-time murderer, Dozier was the perfect candidate for this book as he was charming, empathic, and, most of all, willing to die.

There are some intriguing components of the death penalty law that I had no idea about. Issues involving obtaining the drugs for the “killer cocktail” and all of the challenges the government faced were truly jaw-dropping. Whatever your opinion on the death penalty is, Toboni’s well-researched book will provide in-depth information that is as educational as it is engaging.

The Volunteer is a recommended read for fans of true crime and political history. It is obvious that Toboni is a skilled writer, as she balances the tricky tightrope of a very divisive and controversial topic, and her unique thesis combined with human characters make The Volunteer a thrilling read.