I was haunted by Grisham’s other non-fiction book, The Innocent Man. So it was a no-brainer for me to read this one as well. I was not disappointed. The authors each shared 5 stories of exoneration from their years of being around, and working with Centurion Ministeries. Many of the cases were new to me, and one even gave me a different look at a case I’d see on ID and believed the guy was guilty.

This is a book I was invited to review. This is probably a book that should be some type of required reading, or at least put on the radar of the general public so people can become aware of the hundreds of people that this book applies to, and then learn about how our judicial system does, and doesn't work. This is not a book I would have picked up on my own to read, because the underlying theme of being framed with such serious consequences is truly terrifying. However, this book is well-researched and sheds light on all the ways our judicial system needs change.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Book for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Let's be honest. I read the book because John Grisham was one of the authors. It is a sad commentary that our legal system is so broken. I have been on jury duty twice that stick in my mind. The judge blocked testimony in both cases that would have made the outcome easier to see. In both cases the judge came to the jury room after the cases were over and told us what was withheld. In both cases we had made the right call but how did we know? In the 10 cases in this book there are details withheld and the outcome was bad. Innocent people pulled into cases with no real knowledge of why. Innocent people go to jail and yet they are victims. The stories made me sad. I just don't understand why we have not made changes to our legal system. I think everyone should read this book. If enough of us get irate maybe we can push for change, stop voting in decision makers that have flashy commercials and pay more attention to voting in better choices.

I give the authors credit for taking the time to write the cases in the book. More books like this one need our attention. Excellent reading!

Must read shocking and informative true stories with valuable lessons for each of us and our families and friends. Highly recommend this book! I cannot stress enough how important this book is and should be utilized as a cautionary tale. Our legal system needs some serious scrutiny and the laws modified to protect the innocent. Fantastic book. Thankful to both authors and everyone shining a light on the gross injustices that have and continue to be allowed, Definitely worth the read.

This is a well written, and deeply disturbing, summary of 10 wrongful conviction cases. The authors have carefully documented these cases, along with contributing factors to the wrongful convictions.

I was both horrified and nauseated while reading these accounts. I am completely appalled at how we continue to get it so wrong and, once errors are identified, that the judicial system "doubles down" on maintaining its prior determinations rather than doing the right thing.

This book is a call to change. When so many obvious errors are made, they need to be easier to correct. Our justice and law enforcement need to be trained better. Race, medical quakery, and "gut" logic need to be removed from investigations.

I hope and pray that we can do better.

“Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.”

John Grisham and Jim McCloskey have teamed up to raise awareness of wrongful convictions to hopefully prevent more of them from happening.

There are 10 cases presented that follow 21 defendants (10 white and 11 black) from charges to convictions to (all but one) freedom. Of these 21, 4 made it as far as death row before their convictions were overturned. In most cases, the incarceration was decades long before science and exhaustive investigation led to their release. The toll was staggering; not only to the system but to the innocent individuals, the victims, and their families.

Of the ten cases overturned, three continue to stay with me; the bite mark case of the zippy coroner, the black janitor case, and the innocent man who was executed.

The writing duo pointed out that most wrongful convictions involve more than one contributing cause, so I took notes while I read.

I noted:
✔️Professional misconduct (procedural issues, witness intimidation, withholding evidence etc.)
✔️Jailhouse informant testimony (jailhouse snitch)
✔️Tunnel vision (misguided hunches leading to tunnel vision)
✔️Systemic discrimination (race, gender bias, etc.)
✔️Errors in forensic science (changing nature of science)
✔️False confessions (strongarmed, offered as a way out of torturous questioning)
✔️Eyewitness error (perjured testimony)

In all cases, I was aware that those who suffered a miscarriage of injustice wanted someone to take responsibility. Each of the ten cases was a rollercoaster ride of emotions and I’ll admit to sighing relief reading about one disbarred DA and a prosecutor who made history by wrongfully sending someone to prison and was forced to serve time himself.

This account of the very real nightmare faced by some innocent Americans who’ve been wrongfully convicted of crimes is a compelling read from cover to cover. It’s a sobering read that will drive you to Google details for yourself.

I was gifted this copy by Doubleday Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.