Why?: A Courtroom Drama of Self-Discovery by R.H. King Jr. introduces us to Dan Jackson, a professor at Dartmouth who could not resist the impulse to take two guns from his briefcase and open fire on his students. The question that Dan now asks himself every day is why did he kill 15 people? Why did he kill 15 students with barely a second thought at the time. Dan may want to know why he did it, but the man who is defending his life, trying to save him from the death penalty, does not care. He simply wants to use an insanity defense. Will Dan get the answer? Will it matter why he did it?

This was an intense and dramatic read that unfolds in the court room. As a reader, my first thought was I don’t care why you did it, man, you killed 15 people! Yet as I read more and followed Dan and his struggle and trial, I could see why he wanted to know. Killers aren’t all necessarily how we think they should be, cruel and cold hearted with no thought. The story is well written and dramatic with a style that will keep you turning the pages, moment after moment. You can tell that author R.H. King Jr. has put a great deal of thought and care into the writing of this book. It flows well and you want to know what is going to happen next. If you are a fan of drama and intense stories, I would recommend this book.

Why? by R.H. King, Jr. is one of the best courtroom dramas you’ll ever read. Professor Daniel Jackson is a typical university professor when suddenly his entire life changes. He steps into his lecture hall, planning to give his students their midterm exam, when suddenly he finds himself the gun-wielder in a school shooting. Daniel is immediately subjected to a long trial process through which he attempts to discover why he ever did such a terrible thing in the first place. Now he’s determined to take the punishment he deserves, but only if he can discover the why behind his terribly violent outburst. The truth seems to be lost somewhere in his subconscious mind and, until he knows why, he simply can’t relax.

Daniel's character is easy to identify with. He’s a confused individual who has always lived life according to a set of very average rules. But when disaster occurs in his life and he’s the cause of it, he attempts to figure out what’s happened. It’s very easy to be absorbed by this story and the way that Daniel, his lawyer, and the entire court system work their way through the process of trial and discovery. I would definitely love to read more like this book and I know that all of my friends who love courtroom dramas and realistic fiction will absolutely love it. Why? is a book that will keep you guessing and one you won’t be able to put down until it’s done.