Justice Is Never Simple, But It’s Always Worth the Fight.

Join Amy Mitchell in unraveling the mysteries of Florida’s criminal history.

Life Changing Impacts

Blending legal analysis, personal memoir, and true-crime storytelling, The Velvet Hammer offers a thought-provoking look at justice, morality, and humanity’s darker side. It is highly recommended for true-crime enthusiasts, legal professionals, and anyone interested in the complexities of justice and capital punishment.

Dozens

Of Cases

tens

Of True-Crime Narratives

several

Gruesome Crimes

One

Great Book To Tell ALL

About the author

amy mitchell

Amy Mitchell, Esq. is a Canadian-born, multi-award-winning author with an honors BA in English from the University of Toronto. She holds a JD from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and an LLB from the University of Windsor Faculty of Law. Mitchell practices family law and has received the Elite Lawyer award. She is also a Florida Supreme Court certified family mediator.

Mitchell was born to write and has been a passionate writer from the moment she could put pencil to paper. When Mitchell taught a law class at a private high school, Belvin Perry Jr. was a guest speaker. The stars aligned for them to join forces and coauthor this debut, true crime memoir, The Velvet Hammer. Mitchell currently resides with her three daughters in central Florida.

About the Co-author

Belvin Perry Jr. was the chief judge for the high-profile Casey Anthony murder trial. Perry earned a BS and MEd from Tuskegee University and holds a JD from Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Formerly a prosecutor, Perry became the first African American elected to the bench of the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Orlando, Florida without first being appointed. His efforts during his service included establishing Florida’s complex business litigation court, establishing a receiving center to assist those with mental illness and substance abuse, and protecting domestic violence victims. After achieving national prominence during the Casey Anthony trial, Perry retired in 2014. Presently, he is a personal injury attorney. Perry has been featured on several major media outlets, including the Today Show, Nancy Grace, TMZ, Dr. Oz, CNN, Inside Edition, Entertainment Tonight, The New York Post, Court TV, ABC News, CBS News, People Magazine, The Daily Mail, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and Good Morning America.

Perry lives by Sir Winston Churchill’s words: “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”

Belvin Perry Jr

About the book

What People Are Saying

“A well-written and engaging combination of memoir and true-crime collection.”

“More of a page-turner than one might think.”

“Revelatory insight about some of the most memorable, challenging, and heinous cases.”

“A sobering yet engaging exploration of justice and morality.”

“Absolutely riveting!”

“Heavy but important read.”

“A must-read for legal enthusiasts.”

“Takes true crime to another level.”

Experts in crimes and True-Crime events

Get to Know some of the Faces Behind the Stories

Judias “Judy” Buenoano

Jerry William Correll

Casey Anthony

five important keynotes from The Velvet Hammer:

Judge Belvin Perry Jr. provides a detailed exploration of the moral and emotional challenges of presiding over death penalty cases. He discusses the complexities of making life-or-death decisions and the toll these cases take on all involved, from victims’ families to the accused.

The book dives deep into cases like Casey Anthony’s controversial trial and the heinous crimes of Judias “Judy” Buenoano, known as the “Black Widow.” These cases illustrate the intricacies and pressures of the judicial system under intense public scrutiny.

Perry offers readers a behind-the-scenes view of courtroom battles, showing the strategic decision-making and the often-overlooked emotional and ethical dilemmas judges face during trials.

Growing up in the segregated South, Perry shares his journey to becoming a groundbreaking African American judge. He discusses the intersection of race and justice, providing insight into how societal biases can shape the legal landscape.

Through both personal anecdotes and case studies, Perry emphasizes that the pursuit of justice is not just about enforcing laws—it’s about understanding humanity. The book sheds light on the profound personal and societal impact of courtroom decisions.