My mom has said for years that I should have been an attorney, and while I don't totally disagree there are reasons I didn't pursue this line of work. With that said I am totally fascinated by any book concerning the law and crime. I also have been practicing (or trying to practice) the Buddhist faith for over 18 years now so this book appealed to me on all levels.

I was not familiar with Jarvis Masters and his case, but after reading this book I had many different emotions. To know that a man has been convicted of a crime and received a harsher sentence than those that actually committed it (even if you do believe he was involved, which I don't) is heart wrenching. Has he made mistakes? Absolutely. Does he accept accountability for them? He sure does. But even more than the travesty of his case and the battle that he and his legal team have faced, I was captured by his spirit and what Buddhism has brought to his life.

I admit, I am a lacking Buddhist. I try hard but each day it almost seems like I am starting fresh. To hear what he has gone through and continues to go through and how he approaches each day is inspiring. He helps people even though he probably needs it more than most of us. And that is the true measure of the man he is.

I highly recommend this read, whether you believe him to be guilty or innocent. To find out how a man in these circumstances has risen above is worth it.

This is excellent! And ultimately uplifting. Sheff does a good job of providing relevant info and also presenting it at the right time. There are all sorts of additional detail or tangential directions he could have taken the reader. But he kept it "tight" and focused which helped keep my interest. It was also quite moving at times. You'll learn some Buddhism along the way too. Recommended.

Thanks very much for the ARC for review.