On Death Row: Chilling Stories of Men and Women Sentenced to Die by Mike James is a haunting true-crime collection that explores the final chapters of twenty individuals condemned to execution. Blending detailed criminal accounts with emotional insight, the book moves beyond just the crimes to examine the mental toll of awaiting death—the endless appeals, last meals, and final words. Some stories feature notorious names; others are lesser known, but all are humanized in stark, unsettling ways.

James doesn’t sensationalize—he writes with clear-eyed intensity, offering a raw look at justice, punishment, and the thin line between guilt, remorse, and fate. It’s not just about killers—it's about the prison system, the weight of finality, and the eerie calm of those who’ve run out of time. For fans of gritty, psychological true crime, this book lingers long after the last page.