The death penalty has shaped legal systems, moral debates, and public opinion for centuries. In Death Penalty: Where Justice Ends and Execution Begins, author Alan Key explores the long and complex history of capital punishment and the ongoing debate over whether the state should ever have the power to take a human life. From ancient civilizations that relied on public executions to modern courtrooms wrestling with constitutional limits, this book traces how execution has evolved alongside society itself. Readers will learn how methods of execution changed over time, why certain punishments were abandoned, and how political pressure, public fear, and shifting moral standards have influenced who lives and who dies under the law. Beyond history, this book confronts the arguments on both sides of the death-penalty debate. Supporters argue that execution delivers justice for the most horrific crimes and serves as a deterrent. Opponents point to wrongful convictions, racial and economic disparities, excessive costs, and the irreversible nature of capital punishment. Through real cases, legal decisions, and documented outcomes, the book examines whether the promise of justice can truly survive the finality of execution. Written in clear, accessible language, Death Penalty: Where Justice Ends and Execution Begins does not tell readers what to think. Instead, it invites them to consider the facts, the consequences, and the ethical questions that continue to divide courts, lawmakers, and communities. Whether you are a student, a true-crime reader, or someone seeking a deeper understanding of one of society’s most controversial punishments, this book offers a balanced and informative examination of a subject where the stakes could not be higher.