Wrongful convictions in the US account for an estimated 4-6 percent of cases. This book examined 10 such cases. The impact on the defendants and family is so staggering. Some in prison for over 30 years then released on parole and in 1 of these stories the defendant is executed after being on death row for 12 years. It's so terrifying to me to think that this can happen especially as some of these cases had such flagrant misconduct by the police and prosecutors. There needs to be many more eyes on things like this so that we can bring those percentages down in the near future.

You know, I have lived my entire life knowing that sometimes a person could be wrongfully convicted of a crime that that person had not committed, but I NEVER realized how damned hard it can be to correct that wrongful conviction even when all parties know that it was wrong.
This book highlights several cases of justice gone wrong and in the process shows us how corrupt police, judges, experts, prosecuting attorneys and inept police work or witness statements that are part of a bargain can contribute to a wrongful conviction despite the evidence.
This book also demonstrates the difficulty of overturning these convictions. Can you imagine spending 30 years in prison for a crime you did not commit?
This is an abs9lute must read for everyone. While I am sure there are many more cases that are just in the convictions that acquired, this book
Shows just how much police work and the whole prosecution process needs to be scrutinized for accuracy and honesty. It bring questions to mind such as Should we continue to allow cell mate confessions to be part of a trial? And perhaps we could examine the defense lawyer capabilities. They are often understaffed, underfunded, and overworked…things you really don’t want in your lawyer.
I could go on and on. Just read it. It is terrific in its scope of cases, terrifying in the loses that have occurred because of mistakes, errors and downright failures of the justice system.
I highly recommend. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me this ARC.

John Grisham gives us a taste of the brilliance he exhibited in The Innocent Man in this nonfiction read about the real stories of men wrongly convicted of crimes and how they got there. Co-author Jim McCloskey adds some color commentary, made credible by his involvement with the innocence movement. It shows in stark relief how our justice system can go awry with rogue police with something to prove, local hysteria, and real conspiracies. It also shows disparities of race, class and geography and how they play into wrongful convictions. I was expecting my usual October Grisham thriller, but this one did not disappoint.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Framed: Astonishing, True Stories of Wrongful Convictions
By John Christian and Jim McCloskey
Publisher: Doubleday
Pub Date: 10/15/24
I can’t come up with any other way to describe this book other than it is sad. John Grisham and Jim McCloskey did an excellent job telling the stories of these cases and the harm that was done not only to the person who was wrongfully convicted, but to the families and people around them. This book is full of real life scenarios where the police tried to make the evidence fit the crime instead of the other way around. Hopefully more of these insane stories come out to continue to put a spotlight on wrongful convictions.

It took me a while to finish this book but finish it I did because that is one thing that I really do not like to do, start a book and not finish it no matter how long it takes. I don’t know if it was because it was a combination of different cases and two different authors or what it was that didn’t really hold my attention. The topic and the cases are interesting.

This book was well written kept the reader interested.. at times it felt like it dragged a little but definitely an eye opening book showcasing stories of innocent people wrongly jailed or on death row. Another Grisham best seller

This collection of 10 stories of innocent people who were convicted of terrible crimes was difficult to read. Though these incidents mostly happened decades ago and often involved the presence of bodily fluid that couldn’t be tested against suspects due to DNA testing not existing back then, I wouldn’t be surprised to know that these kind of injustices still happen now. After the first 4-5 stories, though, they became a little repetitive. I don’t want to diminish what these people have been through—and some are still going through—but I considered stopping partway through when I could too easily anticipate how the rest of the stories would go.

Another reason I struggled to read the book was due to the matter-of-fact and graphic nature in which some of the terrible acts were described, particularly multiple sexual crimes, one of a child. So let that be a warning to anyone who is interested in the book but wouldn’t want to read about those kinds of things. I applaud both McCloskey and Grisham, though, for desiring to bring these terrible facts to light and appreciate that people like McCloskey work tirelessly to bring the truth to light. Most fans of true crime will likely enjoy this book, especially if they’re interested in organizations like the Innocence Project or Centurion Ministries (which was founded by McCloskey).

Framed is the work of John Grisham and Jim McCloskey of ten individuual stories of injustice by the police officers, investigators, prosecutors, judges, so called experts, and even the always present jail house snitches. Each story really has almost the same basic starting point. A crime has been committed. Too close to another crime with the same set of circumstances. Emotions run high so critical thinking skills are basically thrown out the window as the pressure is on to 'catch the bad guy' at any cost. Literally any cost. Commen sense thrown out. I have seen more and more of this as time has gone on, as amazing organizations like the Innocence Project and even Jim McCloskey's own Centurion Ministries, and those who fight in the trenches to right the wrongs of the incompetence of mishandled evidence and trials just to close out a case. There were a few instances touched on that I always wondered about. Why don't we have more proescutors held accountable for the gross injustice they've done? What about the individuals that were innocent and yet still executed for crimes that they didn't do? While I do believe in the justice system, I have seen and heard of too many instances, as the authors here even highlight ten specific stories...how many more are there? Absolutely fascinating and yet so very heartbreaking to the individuals who lived this out, and those that still do to this day. Thank you for your honesty, hard work, and morality of tellhing these difficult stories so that we as a people know and are aware of these instances. Highly recommend.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Framed Astonishing: True Stories of Wrongful Convictions by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey

Ten stories about wrongful convictions, five told by Grisham who admittedly read about his chosen victims, and five told by McCloskey who helped with the victim’s (potential) exonerations. Most, if not all, the stories were from the 70’s. Each story was both interesting and terrifying. Based on the details given by the authors, the police, detectives, judges, prosecutors were narrow minded and vengeful and the jurors were easily influenced (aside from two who saved the life of two of the victims, but paid the price in their own lives.)

I fully back the police and would fear a world without justice. But these stories were terrifying, how easily these victims were arrested and convicted with essentially no proof or connection to the crimes at all. It was a bit hard to read story after story of wrongdoing by those who are there to do right.

This book was well-written and told in a respectful and mindful manner. Although what knocked a star off was at times it felt like they gave too much information while also not giving enough information. Maybe, they just weren’t giving me the right information.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this title for review.

Almost heartbreaking to read about the injustices here. No system is perfect, but the corruption and ineptitude is truly tragic.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for the book in return for my honest opinion.

Ever since watching the Kalief Browder story, the 16-year-old boy who was held for over 1100 days at Riker's Island without a trial, I've become obsessed with cases of wrongful conviction.

The stories in this collection will leave you angry, speechless, and absolutely questioning the idea of justice. It was just mind-boggling to see how these people were treated and how many years they lost to a system that will leave them all irrevocably changed. It was difficult at times to keep reading because of the sheer injustice and outrageousness of these true stories, but they need an audience. These stories need to be told.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

As much as I loved this book, it was also a gutpunch due to it being completely true. The ten stories in this book are all about people (mostly men) who are convicted of crimes they did not commit. All of them murders, some involving rape or arson, but which results in death as well.

Each short story is written by either Grisham or McCloskey, who both did their research. I have read The Innocent Man and was impressed, so I knew this one would be as well. Similar themes run through each of these stories, as well. Most of the falsely convicted are people of color, or have a low IQ, or are of low income, or a combination of these. None of them asked for a lawyer. The book stated that up to 90% of innocent people don’t ask for an attorney because they know they are innocent and have nothing to hide.

This book should be required reading, honestly, about how police and district attorneys can railroad people to close the case and have a successful conviction on their records. I have no doubt these stories are but a handful in our prejudicial justice system.

Really well researched but important to note this is two white men who still have a lot of biases to work through.

This is a book I will recommend to all and reread more than once. It highlights the ineptitude of our justice system and brings to light the horrors that are often swept under the rug. Ten innocent people who were wrongfully convicted are spotlighted through this nonfiction novel that feels like it should be the stuff of fiction in the 21st century. This is a difficult read, but worth the endeavor. These are the true crime stories that need to be amplified. Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy.

The subject matter of these stories is very grave and sobering. It seemed at times, that Grisham's writing was a bit flippant and arrogant, like we're lucky he's giving his opinion. I didn't get that impression from Jim McCloskey's writing. He feels more reserved and more respectful of the subject.
Thank you to Doubleday Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a depressing book for me. Sad and scary that these are true stories. I think the telling of the stories has a purpose and is important but not entertaining.

It wasn't written with the character development or authors flare. Very boring like reading a case file or financial papers.

I received this galley from NetGalley.

Outrageous. Nauseating. Should be required reading by all those public servants who wield the power discussed in these convictions. And those who vote for such laws.

Seriously upsetting, and a very difficult read. The message is clear and needs to be accepted - those to whom we afford the power of life and death need more oversight than they are given. Kudos to Centurion Ministries, Innocence Project, Innocence Network and other organizations who advocate on behalf of those who are wrongfully convinced. Kudos to all who don't accept what we now have in place and continue to strive for a criminal legal system that is just, and to impose accountability on those whose work rests the questionable power of granting life or death.

We need a better system, and in this book is found a loud call to arms x 10. Thank you to Authors Grisham and McCloskey for their raised voices, flags and call to action. All the stars for awareness and changed minds.

*A sincere thank you to John Grisham and Jim McCloskey, Doubleday Books, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #Framed #NetGalley

This was definitely not an easy read. I took my time with this book and read usually a story a day. There was just so much information in each of the stories that I needed time to reflect about each case. I think that the authors really missed the mark on making the people m0re human to the reader. It was all very disconnected to me and read like the notes as opposed to reflecting the person that experienced them. I was more interested in reading things from Jim McCloskey as this is his realm and do not really get why Grisham is doing all these co-authored things that have nothing to do with him. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

This book was very informative. I could not believe how many lives were destroyed by our justice system. I to think of how many more we don't know about is unbelievable.

Disturbing. It's a very good read but disturbing! You're never prepared for such stories. It was a hard read and at times wanted to believe it's fictional.