---
title: 'BOOKS: "The Inferno: A Southern Morality Tale"'
description: 'A new book, “The Inferno: A Southern Morality Tale,” by Joseph Ingle, chronicles the compelling story of Philip Workman, who was executed in Tennessee in…'
canonical: 'https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/books-the-inferno-a-southern-morality-tale'
section: news
date: '2012-03-29T17:56:34-04:00'
updated: '2025-03-14T14:32:00-04:00'
source: 'Death Penalty Information Center'
---

! A new book, "***The Inferno: A Southern Morality Tale***," by Joseph Ingle, chronicles the compelling story of **Philip Workman**, who was executed in **Tennessee** in 2007. The author, a minister of the United Church of Christ who has spent decades working with those on death row, served as Mr. Workman's pastor and tells the story from his own viewpoint, as well as those of others familiar with the case. Sister Helen Prejean, author of *Dead Man Walking*, called *The Inferno "*the most detailed, intimate and complete look at a death row prisoner that I have encountered." Workman's case gained attention because of serious doubts about his guilt. His conviction was based largely on the testimony of a single eyewitness, who later admitted he was not present at the scene of the crime. Sr. Prejean said, "This is a remarkable book . . . that will leave your soul transformed." The book will be released April 2 and is available for pre-order through Amazon.com.

(J. Ingle, "[The Inferno](http://www.publishedbywestview.com/IngleJ.html): A Southern Morality Tale," Westview Publishing, Inc., 2012; posted Mar. 29, 2012.) See [**Innocence**](/innocence-and-death-penalty?did=412&scid=6). Find more [**Books**](https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/resources/publications-and-testimony/books) on the death penalty.