A Dream in the Dark

A Wrongful Conviction #2

by Robert Justice

With striking prose and inspired by real wrongful conviction cases, this layered takedown of the criminal justice system follows one woman’s quest for answers as the fate of an innocent man hangs in the balance, perfect for fans of S. A. Cosby.

Denver, 1992. Claudette Cooper and Moses King have been failed by the justice system. Claudette was sexually assaulted and brutally attacked—blinded by the perpetrator, she’s not able to identify him until she has a dream about the attack where she sees the face of Moses King. When Claudette testifies that she’s identified her attacker from her dream, Moses is wrongfully convicted and sent to prison for the crime.

Lawyer Liza Brown has seen firsthand the failings and shortcomings of the justice system—her father also suffered the injustice of a wrongful conviction. As she’s working at a nonprofit to free those who have been wrongfully imprisoned, Moses reaches out to her. Liza sees the obvious cracks in the evidence against Moses, and when he confesses that he knew her father, she’s determined to help. Recruiting her old friend Eli Stone to assist, Liza sets out to prove Moses’s innocence. But Eli is dealing with demons of his own: corrupt cops are targeting Black residents of Denver, and when his nephew is beaten by the police, Eli doubles down on his efforts to expose them.

Frustrated, Liza turns to Moses’s accuser, Claudette, for help. But Claudette is hiding a dark secret, and as tensions in Denver rise, the city erupts in protests and riots. This rich, impactful novel paints a portrait not only of injustice and desperation—but of hope.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, African American, Crime

336 pages, Hardcover

Published July 23, 2024

About the author

Novelist by night...Justice does not sleep!

"Intelligent crime novels inspired by Black history, literature & music."

Wrongful Conviction Novels 1 & 2—Set in the heart of Denver's Black community.

THEY CAN'T TAKE YOUR NAME—Available now!
A DREAM IN THE DARK—Available now!

Host of the Crime Writers of Color podcast.

Twitter/IG/Bluesky/TikTok: Robert4Justice

Reviews

[Keila (speedreadstagram) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Crooked Lane Books @CrookedLaneBooks and Netgalley @Netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own.




Liza has firsthand knowledge of how the justice system has failed, it’s why she became a lawyer. Now she works at a nonprofit to free those who have been wrongfully imprisoned. When Moses King reaches out to her, Liza goes to work to prove his innocence. She recruits Eli to help, but Eli is dealing with some demons and not able to fully commit to the case.

Frustrated, Liza turns to Moses’s accuser, who was never able to identify him clearly. But she is hiding some dark secrets, and not keen on them being exposed. Can Liza clear Moses’s name when the deck is stacked against him?




Books that are based on, even loosely, fact, just hit me a little harder than pure fiction, and this was one of those books. I did struggle to get into this one and almost DNF’d it a few times, but I ended up being glad I didn’t. Things picked up towards the middle of the book, and by then I was too invested to put it down. I just needed to know how things resolved, and the struggle ended up being worth it. I enjoyed learning about Liz, and while I didn’t always like her, I respected her and loved reading about her choices.

This book would be great for a book club because it opens the door to great social issue discussion. I could imagine having some great discussion after reading this one. I also loved hearing that the author gives a portion of all his proceeds to subgroups of the Innocence Project. That alone makes me a reader for life as I love hearing and learning about ways people give back.

[Lit_Vibrations · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special thanks to the author & @crookedlanebooks for my gifted copy‼️

This is book 2 in A Wrongful Conviction series which both can be read as a standalone. Absolutely loved this one will definitely go back and read the first book. It was literally like watching a movie while reading think Just Mercy or the movie Marshall.

Inspired by true wrongful conviction cases Liza Brown works for a free nonprofit organization that helps free those wrongfully imprisoned for crimes they didn’t commit. Liza’s fight for justice transpired after her father was wrongfully convicted and she couldn’t save him before he was sentenced to death.

When she receives a letter from Moses King a man convicted of a brutal crime he has proof of his innocence. Liza was skeptical on helping since he wasn’t sentenced to life or death in prison like other clients. When she learned he knew her father her feelings changed and she wanted to help Moses any way she could.

The reason for Moses conviction was WILD asf‼️ A woman by the name of Claudette Cooper accused Moses of being her attacker solely based off a dream she had. She was raped and beaten so badly that she wasn’t able to identify who did this to her. The fact the court allowed her statement to be enough to prosecute was absolutely disgusting. I get she wanted justice and so did they but the judicial system failed to give her that and imprisoned a man who didn’t deserve the treatment he was given. Imagine losing years of your life because of a DREAM . . . .

Overall, read the book ya’ll this was really good. The pacing in the beginning is a tad slow but I beg that you push through. Oh and the ending was NOT what I expected because Moses didn’t actually get the justice he deserved. If you’ve ever seen the show Reasonable Doubt Moses situation was kind of similar to the first episode.

[Kim’s Kindle Reads. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't have words right now but.. wow.
This deserves ALL the stars.

I mean, even the Author's Note was amazing. I had no idea some parts of this were based on true events. My heart hurts for Moses, he still deserved better. His heart was so pure & genuine. Also, I love Eli and his beautifully flawed self.

One of my favorite quotes from the book— “All we need is the perfect name. I was thinking we could call it the New Underground Railroad, because you are our Harriet Tubman.”

I immediately BALLED because YES 👏🏽

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this 2nd book in the series about wrongful convictions. The author doesn’t just write a good story with complex characters and ethical dilemmas, but brings an interesting historical and cultural perspective that enriches the reading experience. My idea of a good book is one where I learn some interesting history, feel an emotional connection to the characters and think about long after it’s finished. Mr. Justice delivered on all counts. I hear a new book in the series is in the works. Do yourself a favor and start on the first book, They Can’t Take Your Name, and meet Eli and Liza. You will be hooked!

[Rudrashree Makwana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liza Brown is young black Lawyer and she is working at Project Joseph based in Denver. It has been initiated to get people justice. Liza lost her father Langston Brown, he was falsely convicted and sentence to death. She tried every possible thing but she couldn’t clear his name because of corrupted legal system. He is not the only one, people are getting wrongly convicted of crimes. She gave up singing to become a lawyer, now she receives a letter from a man who was wrongfully convicted on the basis of a dream and the only evidence is their neighbour’s testimony. While Dexter was convicted of murder but no one represented him before Liza. She did justice with his case but she is still fighting for Moses King.

Some characters were real as it has been mentioned in the Author’s note while some were fictional. I deeply felt for each of them. Eli is such a heartwarming person, I was kind of hoping a different ending. But reading about Liza’s father and Antoinette brought tears in my eyes. The author did a great job by writing this book. This is a must read.

Thanks you Netgalley, Author & Publisher

[Robert Justice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello Readers!

I hope you enjoy A DREAM IN THE DARK, the sequel to my debut novel THEY CAN'T TAKE YOUR NAME.

A DREAM IN THE DARK is a crime novel about Moses King, an innocent man convicted because the victim, Claudette Cooper, had a dream that he was the perpetrator—her dream is now his nightmare.
Their fate is in the hands of Liza Brown, a woman determined to rescue others from a justice system that failed her father, and Eli Stone, an angry, grieving man.

In my first novel I explored what happens to our dreams deferred. In A DREAM IN THE DARK, we explore what happens when those dreams become our nightmares.

My Wrongful Conviction Series is set in Denver and inspired Black history & literature and the the desire to right wrongful convictions

I believe that together we can right wrongful convictions which is why I started the Read a Book, Right a Wrong campaign. The majority my advance goes to support local innocence projects so if you've read either of my books then YOU'VE ALREADY MADE A DIFFERENCE!

Robert Justice
https://robertjusticebooks.com/
X & IG: @Robert4Justice

[Amy J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved that I was rooting for these characters even as I questioned their choices. The author’s note at the end really put everything into perspective.

Thanks to the publisher for an advance reader copy.

[Ahaaha4 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Justice writes, to right wrongful convictions. He is a man and author that I would love to meet. I was introduced to Justice when I read You Can’t Take My Name. This book was so powerful that I began following the author so that I wouldn’t miss his next book.

I received his second book in the series, A Dream In The Dark. It will be out July 23, 2024. I suggest you read the first book in the series first, that way you will appreciate this one way more.

My favorite character in the book was Moses King . He was actually convicted on a dream that Claudette Cooper had. She was the victim of a perpetrator that blinded her. “Ever since that day, her dream has been my nightmare.” Moses King wrote these words in a letter hoping the innocence project would take his case and help free him since he did not commit the crime. His story is real. This actually happened. Being convicted of a crime you didn’t commit, especially due to police corruption has to be one of the most horrific things a person can live through. To hear the words guilty, when your not is terrifying.

While I had a little bit of a hard time getting into this book and almost stopped 1/3 of the way in I did continue and am glad I did. The topic is very important especially in our world today with so many minority groups being treated horrendously. We must all stand up for each other.

Robert Justice thank you for opening up my eyes and continuing to write about wrongful convictions and the Innocence Projects happening across our country. Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Cheryl McGhee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Dream in the Dark picks up where They Can’t Take Your Name left off with Liza Brown’s father. Langston losing his fight after being convicted of a crime he didn’t commit and ultimately, put to death. Although Liza is devasted by this tragic outcome, she does not give up and decides to help others wrongfully committed, becoming a lawyer and working for a nonprofit organization, whose purpose is to free those wrongfully convicted.

Moses King, who happens to be a friend of Liza’s father (and whose character is REAL) is accused and wrongfully convicted of a brutal, sexual assault of a woman who claims she had a dream that revealed the identity of her attacker. Based on this DREAM, Moses King is convicted and sent to prison. And this is where the story begins.

As with They Can’t Take Your Name, I loved this book. Although a work of fiction, Mr. Justice uses REAL events, characters AND his platform to uncover corruption and unfair tactics committed against Black residents: in this case, the city of Denver, CO but obviously happening in other cities across the US by those hired to serve and protect ALL citizens. The hatred is real, the racism is real…this book is real. The author uses many characters to show that obstacles in our lives may knock us down, but with the right support, we get back up.

It's important to know that if you purchase a book in Mr. Justice’s series, you donate to the Read a Book, Right a Wrong initiative. How cool is that!

[Anissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enlightening fiction about police corruption and wrongful convictions based on true cases. Great writing and plot. Kept me turning pages. Took place in Denver’s Black community, which was interesting. My only quibble was that the relationship between Eli and Liza lacked chemistry. Supposedly they liked each other, but it didn’t really shine through.

“Decolonization is always a violent phenomenon.” P. 24. Franz Fanon

Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos Or Community MLK jr book

[André Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid book 2. I think I may have enjoyed this one better than the first. Felt the characters really got a chance to grow in this one

[Mark Wirbel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with real life references and a heartfelt story highlighting the importance of inocence pojects.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not American born and I do not live in the US at the moment and I'm always shocked to read (and see) racial prejudice pervading american society and history. I've been to Denver, and loved the city, and I was there in 94, so just a few years after some of the stories mentioned in A Dream In The Dark had happened. What also always amazes me is the capacity of the US law system to revisit the past and bring wrongdoings to light and make the correct culprits pay, that does not happen everywhere, and certainly does not happen where I live (we also have racial and other sorts of prejudice and I would never deny their existence). A Dream in the Dark fictionalizes real life and adds romance and mystery and action to several vivid moments in the city of Denver existence. It's well-written and a portrait of a time.
I thank the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

[V · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is a portrait of social discrepancies and historically deep divides between neighborhoods in Denver. I read the debut novel from Mr. Justice and was pleased to see a second. This could be read on it’s own, I thought the first was thought provoking. Texans are known for fleeing to Colorado when our summers become unbearable. As a child I spent many vacations in the Denver area and had no knowledge of the darker side, some of the history referenced and how far back it goes. The theme addresses social inequity with fictional characters Liza and Eli.
Liza became an attorney to free her father from a wrongful conviction. Although she’s good at it, it wouldn’t have been her career choice. She has an incredible voice and still sings sometimes at Eli’s jazz club, a historical old building called the Roz. Eli is the widower whose dream was to reopen the club with the love of his life. Even after years, he’s still consumed by debilitating grief and despair, unable to move forward from the loss of his wife. The plot centers on Liza’s determination to free an imprisoned man she’s certain is innocent. The legal aspects of the case are fascinating.There is darkness and grief as both Eli and Liza struggle with their past failures, current police responses and moving forward with their lives. There are many relevant social issues worth further discussion. It left me with lots to think about.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing the digital advance reader copy of “A Dream in the Dark” by Robert Justice, publishers Crooked Lane Books, expected publication 07/23/2024. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

[Nadine Keels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since I read They Can't Take Your Name two years ago, I've been anticipating this sequel.

A Dream in the Dark not only illustrates how egregious victimization spreads and becomes more complex when people are accused and convicted of crimes they didn't commit. The novel also confronts the problem of bad actors in more than one branch of government contributing to corruption in the criminal justice system.

As appropriate for suspense novels, the author makes the chapters short to keep the action moving. At the same time, the story is nuanced and layered with complementary storylines. With flawed but sympathetic characters. With hard losses and raw emotion. With poignancy and flashes of hope that are compelling without resorting to quick, fairy-tale fixes.

Now, I didn't find one of the ominous twists to be surprising or fully believable. It seemed to me that the key character in question received a glaring warning far enough in advance and therefore would/should have taken some sort of precautionary action to avoid what was bound to happen.

On a technical note, sometimes the story repeats information as if those details are new. Also, there are some minor grammar errors in the narrative, such as the use of the word "passed" a couple of times when it should say "past," but those instances aren't excessive.

This novel sheds sharp light on critical social issues through story, in engrossing, haunting, and empathetic fashion. (Reading the Author's Note at the end is a must.) I strongly recommend both of the Wrongful Conviction novels, and I'm staying on the lookout for this author's next book.

Note:
• violence is integral to the plot: serious but not gratuitous
• one crude joke, and one threatening use of the N-word; no other profanity
• no explicit sexual content

[Addie Suckow · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a hard hitting book, especially knowing that it was based off true cases. It follows Liza, a young Black lawyer and single mother who works at Project Joseph, an innocence project based in Denver, CO in the 1990s. She originally got her law degree to help her father, who was on death row for a crime he didn’t commit. Now, she is working non stop to exonerate two men also wrongly convicted, one of whom was convicted solely on a dream the victim had.

The character of Liza really is an incredible person, she is passionate, smart, hardworking, and determined. There is nothing she won’t do to make sure that people who are wrongly accused of a crime are not executed or have to spend their entire life in prison.

A Dream in the Dark is such an inspiring and infuriating book about the injustice of the justice system and the deep-rooted racism within it. It made me want to throw the book at the wall at times, knowing how difficult it was for Liza and other members of the Black community to get justice. This book made me feel all the emotions and I loved it even more when I found out that for every copy sold, the author donates a portion to subgroups of the Innocence Project.

[Miranda Summerset · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 STARS! Listening to the audiobook & I was sucked in to this story from start to end. I've always been fascinated by the Innocence project and wrongful convictions in our justice system so this was right up my alley. The plot is riveting, the writing haunting & edgy, & the characters deep & emotional. This book is loosely based off of true life cases which made the story have a brutal edge to it because it goes that line of fiction & real life flawlessly. Really makes you stop & think about a lot in this world, whuch is a great thing. This book is a must read & you wont soon forget it.

[Joelle Milholm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome. I am so grateful for Robert Justice, his ability to shine a light on injustices that are often unseen and ignored, his research and ability to write about the history of police corruption and the set up of the misjustice system in a historical fiction way, and his amazing non-profit Read a Book, Right a Wrong to help people who have been wrongfully convicted access resources to try to lead to their freedom. I hope this series goes on forever.

[Monica B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author simply doesn’t disappoint ever!!!

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this! 4.5 stars!

[Starla Helmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book for the views and perspectives. In 1992, Claudette was attacked and blinded in her apartment. Moses King was charged with the crime. Now years later, he writes to Lawyer Liza Brown to convince her he never did it.

I liked this book to show how messed up the justice system is. Not just for people of color, but women and underprivileged and many other groups. It’s frustrating. I’m so thankfully at least science has come farther to prove crimes.

[Tina Plintz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very powerful novel about police corruption in the black society.
Liza a black woman who leaves her dream to pursue a future to help her dad show his innocence. Unfortunately she was not able to save her dad but has the chance to continue and help out more people who are convicted of crimes that they are wrongly accused. With the help of Eli a good friend they uncover the real truth of these convictions. And to prove that the police are corrupt and targeting the black community.
I highly recommend this to anyone who believes that the justice system is flawed. But there is some good people in the world who are willing to help show the truth and prove that people in power sometimes use this to their own advantage.

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This was a gripping, informative book focusing on injustices and corruption in the justice system and criminal acts within the police force. This led to people being wrongfully charged and imprisoned for crimes they didn't commit. It also describes a minority of police beating and arresting visible minorities and committing robberies.

Wrongful convictions inspired a Dream in the Dark. Liza Brown, a black woman, was a singer, but when her father was unjustly imprisoned and sentenced to death, she became a lawyer. She volunteered at Project Joseph, an organization aiming to exonerate those wrongfully imprisoned for crimes they didn't commit. Liza was unable to overturn his conviction, and her father was executed, leading to a sense of hopelessness and failure. The small number of staff at Project Joseph can only select a few cases of innocents languishing in prison.

Liza is assigned to the case of a young man, Dexter, who was forced to give a false confession to murder at the age of fourteen. When interviewed, she finds him vile and rude, resulting in his anger and hopelessness for his years among hardened convicts. Liza has another case prominently on her mind, that of Moses King. He is midway through a life sentence and writes to her that he was a friend of her beloved father, who suggested he contact her in an attempt to gain his freedom.

Another man has confessed to the murder for which Moses was charged. A woman was found viciously beaten and blinded from the attack. She said it was initially too dark to identify the person who beat her, and then he blinded her. She told of a dream about Moses being her assailant, and the police stopped looking for the actual criminal once Moses was charged.

Liza gets a lot of support from Eli, a man renovating the jazz club where she sang. They have close friendship, respect, and unacknowledged romantic feelings. He has been depressed for five years since the death of his wife. Eli's nephew, Tyrone, a sax player in the club, is savagely beaten by members of the police. Eli disguises himself as a homeless man. He lives in the streets, hoping to catch the criminal element in the police force and bring them to justice. He lost interest in his jazz club, where he hoped to draw Black clients from the suburbs to the area that many once called home. A new club owned by a White man is catering to rap and hip-hop fans and is drawing Eli's customers away.

A parade during Martin Luther King Day, amid racial tensions, erupts into danger and destructiveness. Peaceful Black protesters and those clamouring for active change are confronted by the KKK and skinheads representing White power. The police stand idly by.

Liza needs evidence from her two cases and DNA samples to prove her clients innocent, but finds most of the samples have been thrown out. Can her investigations free her two innocent clients from prison? Will Eli be able to prove there is a criminal gang within the police force stealing and brutally beating Black people for the deranged thrill of it? Will justice be served?
Dexter and Moses were based on actual prisoners, as were the police criminal acts, the parade, and other historical events. The story is heart-wrenching and compelling.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an early electronic copy of this book, which was much appreciated. It will be published on July 23.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liza Brown takes on two separate and heartbreaking cases in this second instalment of this intriguing and well-crafted series.

Liza is assigned a case involving Dexter Diaz, who was wrongfully convicted of murder when he was fourteen years old after his brutally long interrogation by police.

LizA then receives a letter from an incarcerated man, Moses King, who says he was convicted on the word of a woman who had been left blind by an attack. Claudette Cooper could not identify her attacker, until she saw him in a dream. She identified her attacker as Moses, her neighbour. Moses was then arrested and wrongfully convicted.

Moses contacted Liza because he knew her father. Liza knew Moses' case didn't fall under the purview of the non-profit organization she works for, but she still brings the information to Eli Stone.

Eli, meanwhile, is spiralling ever downwards, agonizing over his feelings for Antoinette, his deceased wife, struggling to manage the Roz nightclub, and keep hold of his fraying sanity. He is, however, continuing with his desire to expose corrupt cops threatening Denver’s black residents, and watches cops robbing and committing thefts. Eli becomes only more driven after his nephew is beaten by cops.

Liza and Eli are fascinating characters, and both have a strong sense of justice. I was horrified by the abuses perpetrated by the Denver police force during this period in the narrative, and only more horrified to learn that this was based on real life officers’ conduct. In fact, each of the cases in this compelling novel are based on real cases, which only drives home the dangers of unexamined power structures and the people in them, and how problems are exacerbated when bigotry is a factor.

I was on the edge of my seat, figuratively, wondering how each situation would resolve. The wrap up of this book was wonderful; there is a sense of hope and light, particularly with the way the two main characters find new purpose, and the way Eli begins opening his heart up again. I loved the way The Roz was redeployed as a beacon of hope, love, justice and great music and community.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

[journalofjaida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Denver, Colorado in 1992.
A tragic time of unrest with a rise in police brutality against minorities. A truly unforgivable anecdote inspired by real-life cases. I was left in awe at how pure this story was. While this book is the second of a series, this can absolutely be read as a stand-alone.

Liza Brown put her dreams to rest to become a lawyer in order to save her father from execution for a crime that he did not commit. She uses her newfound talent to work with a nonprofit organization that specifically handles the cases of the wrongfully imprisoned. One day, she receives a letter from a man named Moses King. While his case does not fit the organization’s criteria, Moses explains that he knew Liza’s father and that he desperately needs her help. Moses was convicted of the brutal sexual assault and attack that left Claudette Cooper internally scarred and externally blind. He is insistent that he didn’t do it and he also has concrete proof. He wrote to Liza after receiving his own letter from an old friend who pens a complete confession to the crime. Can Liza prove that Moses is innocent before it’s too late??? And at what cost to Claudette Cooper? Hasn’t she already been through enough???

This book was relentless and written beautifully. There are multiple stories occurring at once but they all come together in a tale of overcoming grief and believing in love and hope after loss. Justice also gives us a front-row seat to a pain rooted deeply in injustice and corruption. This story was equally heartwarming and heartbreaking and I really hope that there is more to this story in the future.

[Heidi | Paper Safari Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liza has joined an innocence project and is only allowed to take cases that are urgent, where someone is facing death or is in immediate danger. She is tasked with helping a young hispanic male who is accused of killing his teacher, but she also stumbles across a request from someone who knew her father and was told she could help.  Torn between what she is supposed to do and what she feels driven to do leaves her struggling between two cases. 

Eli through his drunken haze has said he would help but he has disappeared on his own mission to discover what's going on in the neighborhood. People are being robbed, beaten and harassed and word on the street is that it's the police. 

This is the 2nd book in the series. The first focuses on Liza trying to help save her father who was innocent from being put to death but her time is running out. 

I love these books for the characters, the history, and the wisdom imparted in each volume. It also doesn't hurt that the author actually donates a portion of the proceeds to help different innocence projects around the US. The stories are well told and exciting with a lot going on and a sense of urgency. The budding love story between Eli and Liza is great and I love that he shows that grief isn't something so easily gotten over and that it takes time. 

A cross between a legal thriller and a mystery this is a fantastic book that is really enlightening.  In fact the two cases that Liza works on in the book really did happen.  I'm looking forward to the next one.

[Coffee&Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it twice bc there were a couple of scenes I just needed to take in, especially after hearing the author give background on a few of the backstories. I'm hoping this is a series because I would be ALL. IN. Robert is a skilled author and I have to say I haven't read a legal thriller series focused on wrongful convictions so I am hopeful for more books along this plot line.
This is well-written, emotional, also hopeful. We don't always get the happy ending we want but we. get an ending we can make work. I listened to the audio format of this book and have to say I think this book would be more served with a bold, strong action voice. Something about JD Jackson's voice has waned my affection over the years. It was fine, but in the back of my mind I was wishing for like...a. Ron Butler timbre. Anyway, well done Robert!

[Imani Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been sitting with this book since I finished it. There were many times I had to pause and take in the things that were happening. This book is important and the message truly impactful. We’ve come so far and yet it feels sometimes like we haven’t moved at all. To think this book was set in the 90’s and almost everything they’re experiencing we’re still experiencing today. The moment at the MLK parade felt so poignant and relevant, the scene made me so angry. Knowing that everything was based on true stories and experiences also broke my heart. I’m not surprised at all by this. I think that there’s many people who would benefit from picking up this book and sitting with the injustices revealed. I enjoyed this series and I am looking forward to more from this author.

[Vicky]

I really wanted to like this book but it will be a DNF. I just can't make myself read it. I have read many similar books, but this one sound like someone schooling you, or preaching, and the writing style is not for me. I do not like poetry and writing that want to sound like it, I just want a good story.
It might be a good book for someone else but not right for me. It is another story about police brutality, wrongful conviction and tension between races, I get it, it all happened, read it a 100 times before but calling white people the Children of Europe and African american people Children of Africa is a bit too much for me. It might resonate better with the right audience.

[Gregory Van Den Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Justice has hit the bullseye a second time. What an eye opener for any reader. The book only verifies the injustice in America. One wonders how a young boy was able to be sent to prison on such flimsy evidence and Gestapo like methods when questioned. The other character was sent to prison for forty eight based on someone's dream. After reading Mr. Justice's book, one's outrage regarding the American injustice system can only rise. Mr. Justice please continue writing about our horrific justice and penal system. Let us never forget our judicial is based on revenge and rehabilitation.