Unnecessary Roughness

Inside the Trial and Final Days of Aaron Hernandez

By: Jose Baez, Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez - introduction

Narrated by: Ben Jeffrey, Shayna Small

The New York Times bestseller: a revelatory inside story of the trial and final days of New England Patriots superstar Aaron Hernandez, by his attorney and New York Times bestselling author Jose Baez.When renowned defense attorney Jose Baez received a request for representation from Aaron Hernandez, the disgraced Patriots tight-end was already serving a life sentence for murder. Defending him in a second, double-murder trial seemed like a lost cause--but Baez accepted the challenge, and their partnership culminated in a dramatic courtroom victory, a race to contest his first conviction, and ultimately a tragedy, when Aaron took his own life days after his acquittal.

This riveting, closely-observed account of Aaron's life and final year is the only book based on countless intimate conversations with Aaron, and told from the perspective of a true insider. Written with the support of Hernandez's fiancée, Unnecessary Roughness takes readers inside the high-profile trial, offering a dramatic retelling of the race to obtain key evidence that would exonerate Hernandez, and later play a critical role in appealing his first conviction.

With revelations about Aaron's personal life that weren't shared at trial, and an exploration of the Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy diagnosis revealed by his autopsy, Jose Baez's Unnecessary Roughness is a startling courtroom drama and an unexpected portrait of a fallen father, fiancé, and teammate.

Critic reviews

"In Unnecessary Roughness: Inside the Trial and Final Days of Aaron Hernandez, the attorney who got Hernandez acquitted of a 2012 double murder squashes the rumor about the jailhouse letters, sheds fascinating new details about Hernandez's trade request to Bill Belichick, and describes Hernandez's final days as an inmate and later suicide victim."
—The Boston Globe

"Jose Baez... shares his unique insight."
—Good Morning America

"[Unnecessary Roughness] features fascinating new details about Hernandez's life and final days leading up to his suicide."

—BroBible

"This new book asks a lot of questions. Questions about [Aaron's] sexuality. Questions about his friends.... [W]hat did the Patriots know about Hernandez's past, and when did they know it? There seems little question he loved the Patriots.... Aaron Hernandez-the New England kid who... paid a very high price for those football dreams of his."
—The Providence Journal

"A compelling read."
—New York Sports Day

"One of the best-known criminal-defense lawyers in America. . . The man who knows Aaron Hernandez's secrets."—Esquire

Great explanation

Many details on the back end that give some clarity on all the events that happened . Great read.

Great listen

Really allows you to see Jose, Shayanna and Aaron in a bright light ! Excellent Subject! Great flow

What a story!

I couldn’t wait to listen to this book, it is well written, I just loved the story. The narrator is amazing too. I think narrator makes all the difference. I never heard about CTE until I listened to this book. Very informative. You wouldn’t be sorry for buying it

Great Book

I loved it! Very well put! Love Jose Biaz. This is definitely a great read.

Baez Is Great

I love watching Jose Baez perform in the courtroom. This guy is the best trial lawyer in the country. He is a force.