Almost Innocent

This is a well written important book for our country at this time.  The author weaves together the story of her personal and professional life in a unique way.  As an attorney, she has the experience to make valid statements and offer some solutions to the sorry state of our criminal system.  Geat job!

Such a well-written book exploring the criminal justice system. With the timing of it’s release, it’s bound to be a hit. I would love a podcast from the author about her stories.

I thought this book was fantastic. Shanti's writing is honestly a pleasure to read. It's clean, polished and highly articulate, but not in a way that will leave the reader feeling intellectually inadequate - quite the opposite. Shanti's words are empowering.

This book took me through a range of emotions, from anger, frustration and heartache, to acceptance and a feeling of hope.

I think what I enjoyed most about Shanti's story was the overwhelming feeling that she is unashamedly - human. She is openly honest, passionate, unrelentingly hard-working and courageous. She is also well aware of her short comings and mistakes. It was so refreshing.

I feel like this story has made me a better person. A more compassionate, more forgiving and hopefully more courageous person. We should always stand up for what is right, no matter the odds or how hard.

"I remain convinced that telling people the human story behind the label “criminal” has the power to change the world." - Shanti Brien

Almost Innocent by Shanti Brien is a fast-packed, well-written book about the criminal justice system.  Brien is a practicing attorney who is married to an NFL player.  One would think that navigating the criminal justice system would not be an issue for Brien; she would be adept at doing so professionally and would never need to defend herself or her husband personally.  That turns out not to be the case when she finds out that the Department of Justice is conducting a criminal investigation into her husband's real estate investment company.  So, this book is Brien's personal story as well as her professional one.  She talks about nine of her own clients, ranging from the innocent to the guilty, and in one of those cases, talking about a serious mistake she made as an attorney and what it cost her client.  It is a peek behind the scenes at the criminal justice system and what Brien shows us is not always pretty and makes you wonder whether it is possible to get a fair trial. This was a good book and I recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book prior to publication in exchange for my review.  This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon and Barnes and Noble upon the book's publication.

This is Shanti Brien’s experience in the criminal justice system that she experienced beginning first as a law student, on through becoming more experienced as she became a full-fledged practicing attorney. She was also the wife of an NFL player and businessman, and eventually a mother to three children. The book recounts some of her more fascinating cases and how she dealt with them while juggling being a wife and mother, and many relocations. I found the criminal justice aspects really riveting as she kept getting such awful cases and worked so hard to try and help them somehow. These are horror stories of young people being sentenced to one or more life sentences, either wrongly, or for seemingly minor offenses. There’s just something off about each one that really requires looking into. I really enjoyed her book, sharing about her career, family, and insights. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Shanti Brien, and the publisher.

Almost Innocent candidly describes how each of Brien’s clients journeyed through the messy and tragic criminal system and touched Brien’s life, saving her from stupid mistakes, strengthening a football-ravaged marriage, and teaching her about humility, redemption, and humanity.

This book is absolutely fascinating, the author has lived through so much, seen so much and been through so much that the one book just does not seem enough. I have a huge interest in criminal law and for anyone else like-minded - this is the book for you. 

The book was a breeze to read, the stories are gripping and at some times very emotional. As someone who lives in the UK where the death sentence and "life sentences" don't happen, it is mind-blowing to read about people receiving more than one. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and would love a hard copy. 

The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Wow, this book I just could not put it down. I loved the mix between personal and the cases she actually worked on. The fact it was all based on true events is even better in my opinion. 

This book was so transparent, it gave you all the struggles Shanti and her family faced, it was raw. The beauty of the book was that when they overcome the hard times it was even more endearing because it was real life. 

I would highly recommend this book to anyone! It is one I’d happily pick up and read again, no doubt.

A peek into the dark side of the criminal justice system by an attorney who has witnessed it first hand. Brien pulls back the curtain and shows how much the courts are stacked against the poor or the minorities. Possibly by outright racism, a lack of funding and time, an uncaring profession, or a combination of all, the author makes a strong case that the system is broken.
Good and engaging writing makes for an enjoyable, yet disturbing read.

This is a well-written book about many of the author's experiences representing clients through the process of appeals. She is candid about the facts and her feelings stemming from the court cases and her journey as a daughter, wife, mother, and professional career woman. This fast-paced narrative was engaging and held my interest so much I couldn't seem to find a good stopping point to put it down so I could sleep. The author's narrative flows well and is told in chronological order. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in reading about the nuances of the criminal justice system and the process of appeals at some of the highest levels in the court system just shy of the Supreme Court. 

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book to read and review. The opinions expressed here are my own honest opinions written voluntarily.

I found Almost Innocent by Shanti Brien to a very well-written book.  The book weaves into a mix of her own personal experience with the criminal justice system, and that of her clients, as Shanti is an attorney and married to an NFL player who owns a real estate investment company that comes under investigation by the Department of Justice.  The book discusses nine of her clients who are both innocent and guilty.  I found this book to be interesting, and I would recommend it. 

I would like to thank you to NetGalley, Shanti Brien, and Amplify publishing for allowing me to preview this book prior to publication in exchange for my honest review.