Framed by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey is a compelling and eye-opening exploration of the grave injustices within the criminal justice system. It’s actually infuriating and downright scary that people could be locked up for decades or even executed, despite there being clear evidence that they are innocent.

As a lover of true crime, I was shocked to discover how easily people could be wrongfully imprisoned. The book vividly illustrates the shocking reality of corruption, including prosecutors lying, hiding exculpatory evidence, and building cases on flimsy hunches rather than solid proof. It also reveals law enforcement misconduct, such as subornation of perjury, secret deals with criminals, coercing witnesses into false testimony, and relying on discredited forensic analysts. Misogyny and racial biases further taint the process, which demonstrate how these injustices can occur across racial lines and highlight the pervasive nature of prosecutorial misconduct in the pursuit of convictions.

The book delves into the practice of using jailhouse snitches and false confessions, which have plagued the American criminal system. The book tells us that in nearly 25 percent of DNA exonerations to date, false confessions were coerced, often exacerbated by police deception during interrogations. The book also describes how people, eager to prove their innocence, often mistakenly trust the police, agreeing to polygraph tests that can be manipulated by law enforcement (Seriously, don’t agree to one! Ask for a lawyer).

Among the twenty-one defendants caught in the web of ten wrongful convictions, four landed on death row, two came within days of execution, and tragically, one was executed. The racial makeup of these twenty-one is evenly split, with ten white and eleven Black individuals, highlighting that such injustices can occur across racial lines.

The book reveals that, in some cases, the actual perpetrators were right under the police's noses from the beginning and, in some instances, even became key witnesses for the prosecution. It also covers egregious misconduct, such as reliance on junk science and violation of proper forensic standards. As you read each case, you can tell how pervasive the corruption and blatant disregard for facts or DNA evidence is. The evidence cleared the individuals but those involved in the case chose to ignore it and made excuses to justify why it wasn’t relevant or why it was wrong.

Framed also details the vital work of Centurion Ministries, which have dedicated efforts to uncovering wrongful convictions and securing justice for those wrongfully imprisoned. These organizations, alongside the impactful storytelling in Framed, bring crucial attention to the flaws in the justice system and the real human cost of these injustices. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in justice, human rights, and the sobering realities of the legal system

Thank you to the publisher Double Day Books
for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley

Framed by John Grisham; Jim McCloskey

Summary:
In John Grisham’s first work of nonfiction since The Innocent Man, “the master of the legal thriller” (Associated Press) teams up with Jim McCloskey, “the godfather of the innocence movement” (Texas Monthly), to share ten harrowing true stories of wrongful convictions.

John Grisham is known worldwide for his bestselling novels, but it’s his real-life passion for justice that led to his work with Jim McCloskey of Centurion Ministries, the first organization dedicated to exonerating innocent people who have been wrongly convicted. Together they offer an inside look at the many injustices in our criminal justice system.

A fundamental principle of our legal system is a presumption of innocence, but once someone has been found guilty, there is very little room to prove doubt. These ten true stories shed light on Americans who were innocent but found guilty and forced to sacrifice friends, families, and decades of their lives to prison while the guilty parties remained free. In each of the stories, John Grisham and Jim McCloskey recount the dramatic hard-fought battles for exoneration. They take a close look at what leads to wrongful convictions in the first place and the racism, misconduct, flawed testimony, and corruption in the court system that can make them so hard to reverse.

Impeccably researched and told with page-turning suspense as only John Grisham can deliver, Framed is the story of winning freedom when the battle already seems lost and the deck is stacked against you.

Review: 5-star
I don’t give out many 5-star review the book has to be a page turner where I don’t like putting it down. I’ve always been a fan of John Grisham, so it was his name that got me to read the summary of the book to see if it was something I was interested in reading and when I read that I knew Yes, this was then next book I’d read and review. I’ve heard a few stories of people wrongfully convicted and I never understood how it could happen, but John and Jim to such a wonderful job of telling these stories it opened my eyes to this problem we have. Each story was written with dignity to the person or persons involved. They stories were written in such away they engage the reader and draw them in where they don’t want to stop reading. You feel all the emotions and it breaks your heart that there have been way too many people wrongfully convicted and the amount of money and time it takes to free them is something nobody will ever fully understand.

Conclusion:
Would I recommend this book to others YES
Would I buy this book as a gift for someone YES
Would I read other books written by the Authors YES

Framed is a book of true stories by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey about people who were wrongly convicted and either are on Death Row or have already been executed. The cases are haunting in nature. Prosecutors and even judges seem intent on destroying lives when they could make things right. The question keeps coming up in my mind, why would those who are sworn to protect us rather see a murderer free and the wrong person incarcerated? It turns out there are many reasons, not least of which is pressure for a conviction. A few things like skin color and cronyism also appear to be reasons people are or are not convicted.

In more than one of the cases in the book, prosecutors took great pains to not see what any one of us would have known as the guilty party, going so far as to refute DNA evidence rather than admit they were wrong. Evidence is kept from juries and defenses. Jailhouse career criminals testify falsely and are offered deals. Then under oath deny they are getting a deal. Courts turn down a second, third or even fourth opportunity to look at the evidence when all they need to do is look at a brief to see there is a travesty of justice happening. Or when the wrongly incarcerated person is able to get a court to take another look, the same false information is used to again cause a guilty verdict.

The stories are riveting but frustrating to read knowing the people are most likely or definitely not guilty but have suffered so much. Innocent until proven guilty is an important concept and putting aside stereotypes in law is also so important. This book is as well so important to help people see that law enforcement sometimes lie or keep questioning people to force a confession. Once the confession comes, it is hard to continue looking even though the “guilty” person has likely been traumatized by events and essentially being tortured for hours. Many times they just want or NEED it to stop.

I got the opportunity to read this ARC thanks to Netgalley. It was very informative and gave you a lot of information. It kept me interested in what happened next. I was blown away by the amount of wrongfully convicted cases there were, and I'm sure there are even more. That says a lot about our judicial system.

John Grisham, best selling author and Jim McCloskey, founder of Centurian Ministries, recount 10 heartbreaking and frightening stories of people wrongfully convicted of crimes and the battles for their exonerations.

Well written and engrossing, this non fiction book is absolutely chilling with the stories of innocent people who have been condemned, have their lives ruined, and, in some cases, put to death because police, prosecutors, so called medical or mental health professionals get it in their minds that a persn or persons are guilty and have tunnel vision trying to prove it. They depend on lies, deceit, bribing criminals to lie, developing convoluted and impossible theories just to prove they are right. But, they are so very wrong.

One case involved a woman who was doing her laundry ran out briefly to a convenience store where someone had been murdered. When she tries to do her civic duty and calls to be helpful and share what she knows, she ends up being incarcerated and her life ruined. A warning to all. If you are ever called in as a witness or for any other reason involving a crime, ask for an attorney. Don’t worry that it may make you seem guilty. If the authorities have it in their minds that you are, you don’t have a chance. Tell them you have read Framed and don’t want to proceed until your rights are protected.

Thank you, John Grisham and Jim McCloskey for sharing these horrifying and eye opening accounts.

This collection of true stories is as infuriating as it is heartbreaking. It is hard to believe how blatantly our legal system has failed so many innocent people. The fact that it was literally impossible for most of these innocent people to commit the crimes they were imprisoned for committing meant nothing to the prosecutors, investigators and detectives. It will make me second guess even reporting a crime if I ever witness one because apparently that can get you life in prison depending on which detectives and prosecutors are assigned to the case.

Okay, what the heck? Seriously, that's what kept running through my mind the whole time I was reading this book. Learning this information is absolutely appalling. It is seriously scary how lae enforcement, prosecutors and judges can act to make their original story work. Stories of profound corruption. And, why? The fact that someone can continue to push for a guilty verdict on someone who is clearly innocent is unconscionable. It really makes you wonder how many innocent people that are in jail, or even death row. This book is going to stick with me for awhile.

Thank you to Net Galley and Doubleday Publishing for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This collection of true stories is as infuriating as it is heartbreaking. It is hard to believe how blatantly our legal system has failed so many innocent people. The fact that it was literally impossible for most of these innocent people to commit the crimes they were imprisoned for committing meant nothing to the prosecutors, investigators and detectives. It will make me second guess even reporting a crime if I ever witness one because apparently that can get you life in prison depending on which detectives and prosecutors are assigned to the case. These stories were all insane. I highly recommend this for anyone that is interested in true crime (or even fictional crime because most of these stories are unbelievable even though they are true).

For a nonfiction this was quite engaging and gives readers an insight into the depths of our justice system. I really enjoyed reading this one!

For those of you that love a good suspenseful John Grisham book this may not be for you. This non fiction account of inmates wrongfully accused of crimes is interesting and frustrating at the same time, a combination of hopeful after fighting for justice and just plain bad luck for the person from the justice system for even putting them behind bars to begin with. This book will make you question how many others are behind bars truly innocent and put there from bad police work or being in the wrong place at the wrong time. This book needed to be written to shine light on what is happening to people. I would highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley, John Gresham, Jim Mcloskey, and Doubleday books for allowing me to review this ARC!

I want to caution readers that going into this book you will want to prepare your mind for the heartbreaking stories of innocent people that have suffered the injustices of wrongful incarceration. There are so many stories of corruption, incompetence and outright manipulation. It gets really hard to read story after story of these people and that any one of us could find ourselves in these same situations. Many of these stories are from decades ago and we hope that our legal system has improved on many of these mistakes that make up these stories but you just can imagine that it could happen to anyone again if you found yourself in similar circumstances. I was especially shocked about how many of these cases were in Texas and the southern states.
True Crime followers may find these stories interesting but also sometimes very hard to read. Rating this book is based upon the mountains of research gone into each story and also about the level of detail. I could picture the scene described so vividly. .

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

John Grisham's Framed isn't your typical legal thriller. Instead of a fictional courtroom drama, it delves into the chilling reality of wrongful convictions in the United States. Co-written with Jim McCloskey, a lawyer known for exonerating the wrongly accused, Framed offers a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of a broken system.

The book unfolds through ten true stories of individuals who were imprisoned for crimes they didn't commit. Grisham's masterful storytelling brings each case to life, showcasing the devastating impact on victims who lose years, even decades, of their lives. The book exposes the factors that lead to wrongful convictions, including racism, police misconduct, flawed witness testimony, and a justice system more concerned with securing convictions than uncovering the truth.

Framed isn't an easy read. The stories are heartbreaking, and the portrayal of injustice can be infuriating. However, Grisham's clear and concise writing makes the book accessible to a wide audience. It's a wake-up call, forcing readers to confront the harsh realities of the American legal system.

The fragility of innocence: The book highlights how easily lives can be shattered by a flawed investigation or a single piece of faulty evidence.

The human cost of injustice: Beyond the legal ramifications, wrongful convictions leave a lasting emotional scar on individuals and their families.
The need for reform: Framed serves as a call to action, urging readers to advocate for changes within the justice system to prevent such tragedies from occurring.

Whether you're a longtime Grisham fan or simply interested in social justice issues, Framed is a powerful and important read. It's a reminder that the fight for justice is ongoing, and that we all have a role to play in ensuring a fairer legal system.

However, it's important to note that this book is non-fiction. If you're looking for Grisham's usual fast-paced legal thrillers with fictional narratives, Framed might not be your cup of tea.

The book’s subject was interesting, but I felt it got into the weeds at times and my mind would start to wander…3⭐️
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for an advanced reader copy of the e-book.

This book will open your eyes to the injustices done in the legal process in trying to obtain and prosecute a person for a crime. You will read about 10 cases where the innocent is found guilty, spent even decades in prison before being released due to dedicated individuals working tirelessly for years to prove their innocent. I have always had great respect for all levels of our law enforcement community from police up to and including our court system. But I must admit after reading this book, my faith in our judicial process has waned considerably. The lengths prosecutors go to to get a conviction is quite disturbing: tunnel vision, suborning perjury, intimidating witnesses to change their accounts on their statements, hiding or ignoring evidence, unqualified "expert" witnesses, to promote their own political or career advancements and the list could go on and on. I am not saying our entire system throughout our country is corrupt but it makes you wonder. The one thing I found most disturbing is the lack of prosecution or reprimand for the individuals in law enforcement all the way up to our judges, who actually broke the law, which was proven,

My heart goes out to the innocent who were wrongly convicted because of these practices done by law enforcement and what they had to endure. Since these practices have been going on for decades, makes you wonder how many innocent people are imprisoned. My hat goes off to the many groups and individuals, named in the book, trying to correct the injustices done by corrupt law enforcement. Follow the evidence, explore every lead and don't disregard or ignore because it doesn't support your original theory of the crime. Humiliation is worth enduring rather than sending an innocent person to death row. Admit when you make a mistake, you will garner respect from the people in showing you are not infallible but willing to correct your wrongs.

Needless to say, this is a well written book which will elicit a wide range of emotions for the reader.

I received an ARC and this is my voluntary honest review.

Soooooo fascinating! I was totally immersed in each of these stories of exoneration, and read the book in record time. Grisham and McCloskey coordinated their efforts in exposing some of the absolute horrors of the legal system, and how some innocent people end up suffering for years needlessly. This was an eye opener for me, as I am one who has always had confidence in the law, and in law enforcement, and now I'm second guessing what I have believed in. And several of these events happened in my home state of Texas, which is even more concerning.

These accounts are quite detailed and I did have trouble keeping up with names and positions in some of the stories - that is more my problem then that of these exceptional writers. But I did get a little lost from time to time. I will say that I am a changed person after reading Framed, and I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy a good legal story, with these being the best because they are true!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Framed.

Thank You, NetGalley and Doubleday Books

Publish Date: October 15th, 2024

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book recounts ten cases of wrongful convictions, presenting intriguing yet, unsettling and crazy stories. It's frustrating to realize that a person can lose their life due to another's actions. The narratives flow seamlessly, and the book is well-written.

I highly recommend it once it's out in October

These are the stories of those wrongly convicted of crimes, primarily murder. While some may believe that our criminal justice system is the best that can be found in an imperfect world and that yes, they may be right about that belief, it is disturbing to be shown so clearly that terrible injustices remain more than a rare occurrence. It is even more disturbing to be shown so clearly that some in positions of power create those injustices to further their own political and personal positions and ambitions. Framed is a book that should receive wide circulation and should be read by everyone called to jury duty.
I received an ARC for free and gave my honest opinion voluntarily.

This was such an interesting read. It was nothing short of mind blowing! Some of these stories are crazy and the corrupt people involved I don’t even have words!! It’s sad that one persons false accusations can steal your life!

I was very eager to start this book, I have read every book that John Grisham has published (I think) and was very excited to see him involved in another non-fiction.

Now let's talk about the content. The book features many stories of real-life people who have been incarcerated for a murder they did not commit. The ten stories have parts that are hard to read, not because of content or graphics but because the subjects were tried and convicted, and not one of them committed the crime.

This book is riveting. I could not put it down. I just had to know how the story would play out, hoping that the jury would find them innocent at the last second.

I am very grateful to the authors for opening my eyes to this injustice and to the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this one.

I highly recommend this book to all.

"Framed" is an extremely important book. Imagine being falsely imprisoned, sometimes for more than 20 years before someone comes to your aid. This book is maddening and heartbreaking.

Both authors, John Grisham and Jim McCloskey, have worked to free the innocent. Grisham serves on the boards of the Innocence Project and Centurion Ministries. McCloskey founded Centurion Ministries, which has rescued 70 innocent people from life or death sentences.

This book contains 10 heart-wrenching accounts of crimes where the wrong people were blamed. In several cases, corrupt police officers or prosecutors covered up exculpatory evidence. In another, a man was executed for killing his children by burning down their house. Local experts said this was a case of arson. It was not. No crime had been committed--except for the killing of an innocent man.

I recommend "Framed." The accounts are well-written and clearly describe the events surrounding the cases. Again, the book will make you furious and it will break your heart.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader's copy. This is my honest review.