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Framed: John Grisham's Astonishing True Crime Stories of Wrongful Convictions
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Nonfiction (2024)A fundamental principle of the American legal system is a presumption of innocence, but once someone has been found guilty there is very little room to prove doubt.
Framed shares ten true stories of men who were innocent but found guilty and forced to sacrifice friends, families, wives, 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 the corrupt court system that can make them so hard to reverse.
Told with page-turning suspense as only John Grisham can deliver, Framed is the story of overcoming adversity when the battle already seems lost, and the deck is stacked against you.
Framed shares ten true stories of men who were innocent but found guilty and forced to sacrifice friends, families, wives, 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 the corrupt court system that can make them so hard to reverse.
Told with page-turning suspense as only John Grisham can deliver, Framed is the story of overcoming adversity when the battle already seems lost, and the deck is stacked against you.
377 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2024
12576 people are currently reading
93871 people want to read
About the author
John Grisham
509 books91.4k followersJohn Grisham is the author of more than fifty consecutive #1 bestsellers, which have been translated into nearly fifty languages. His recent books include Framed, Camino Ghosts and The Exchange: After the Firm.
Grisham is a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction.
When he's not writing, Grisham serves on the board of directors of the Innocence Project and of Centurion Ministries, two national organizations dedicated to exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted. Much of his fiction explores deep-seated problems in our criminal justice system.
John lives on a farm in central Virginia.
Grisham is a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction.
When he's not writing, Grisham serves on the board of directors of the Innocence Project and of Centurion Ministries, two national organizations dedicated to exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted. Much of his fiction explores deep-seated problems in our criminal justice system.
John lives on a farm in central Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,450 reviews
March 21, 2024
Since I published The Innocent Man in 2006, I have wanted to write more true stories about wrongful convictions. From a pure storytelling perspective, they are incredible because the drama has so many layers: Suffering, corruption, waste, faith, perseverance, and, hopefully, redemption - it’s all there in every case. From a moral perspective, it is imperative for a society to face and correct injustice. Jim McCloskey, the founder of Centurion Ministries, has lived that example by laboring for 45 years to free the innocent, and knows these heartbreaking tales better than anyone. We decided to write about and focus on the ten most astonishing cases, and publish them as FRAMED. There are hundreds of others.
October 22, 2024
This was a hard read. The reality is so real. John ventures into the world of non fiction, and let me tell you, this book in itself is not only an eye opener but another mark of proof of John's fantastic writing skills.
July 31, 2024
I am a huge John Grishman fan. Nonfiction is my favorite genre, so his book The Innocent Man, as well as the documentary movie by the same name, intrigued me. Now Grisham has partnered with Jim McCloskey, founder of Centurion Ministries, to share the stories of ten innocent people wrongfully convicted.
These powerful, tragic, horrific stories call into question all aspects of our justice system: police, investigators, attorneys, judges, jailhouse snitches, witnesses, and "experts." Many of those who were wrongfully incarcerated continued to maintain their innocence despite agonizingly long years waiting for a response to their appeals.
DNA has helped overturn some wrong convictions, but the large majority of the change needs to occur before a trial even begins.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Highly recommend!
These powerful, tragic, horrific stories call into question all aspects of our justice system: police, investigators, attorneys, judges, jailhouse snitches, witnesses, and "experts." Many of those who were wrongfully incarcerated continued to maintain their innocence despite agonizingly long years waiting for a response to their appeals.
DNA has helped overturn some wrong convictions, but the large majority of the change needs to occur before a trial even begins.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Highly recommend!
May 29, 2025
“It is of paramount importance that the reader has full confidence in the accuracy of each case narrative. I have done my best to write in such a way as to not betray or violate that trust.” – Jim McCloskey
This book is co-written with Jim McCloskey. Jim McCloskey is the founder of the Centurion Ministries, an organization devoted to freeing the wrongly convicted.
I requested the book from my local library on October 30, 2024, and received it on March 13, 2025. Being a fan of John Grisham, I was interested to read another non-fiction version of writings from him. Especially since I had appreciated his first non-fiction book, “An Innocent Man” which I recently re-visited. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The authors present 10 wrongly convicted murder cases and ‘a note on sources’ section at the end of the book that provides research background for the stories. As well as some photographs. Each author wrote about 5 cases, some of which may be well-known to the criminal law community, and, others that have not attracted the same attention.
Most notable throughout was how the authors portrayed the human cost of mistaken convictions. It would soon be clear to readers as they read each case, how each conviction affected the wrongly accused individual(s) and their loved ones, what they would miss when removed from the “outside” world; and, the indignities suffered from incarceration. The authors also provided an excellent view of those inspiring fighters who worked so hard to overturn these convictions and how that impacted their lives, too.
As readers dive into the cases through the author’s point of view, they will most likely find themselves with many questions and emotions. Such as…
What caused the convictions in the first place? What role did police, witnesses, prosecutors, jurors and judges play?
And, what happens when there are unprincipled, conscienceless individuals involved in the cases? Or, politics taking center stage above truth?
“They…fled the scene, and, typical for politicians, immediately began denying they were involved or blaming other people.”
And, what are the ‘unfair laws, practices and procedures’ that Grisham alludes to here? Does he provide solutions or resolutions for improvement in the justice system? And, why is it so difficult to admit to one’s mistakes for the wrongly accused and convicted, once innocence is determined?
“Over the years, observers…have often asked why the …authorities insisted on prosecuting…when the real killers surfaced before the trial and offered confessions that comported with the facts of the crime. There could be several reasons. One is that it would have been embarrassing, even humiliating, to admit to the wrongful indictment …, an indictment that was the result of work done by the entire law enforcement community… Another reason may have been the authorities’ fear that if they had gone after…the real killer, their past leniency with him, despite his violent history, would come to light. …The repercussions of such a revelation could have been devastating to the careers of …elected officials.”
Each author writes with their own stylistic flair.
Grisham writes as if we are in one of his novels, by creating an ambiance and undertone that sometimes feels over-dramatic. But most the time feels heart-felt, tethered with anger and dismay in the system – and the people who are supposed to provide fair and unbiased justice.
McCloskey comes in formulating a fact-based presentation, setting the tone for what is to come. There is a compassionate feeling to his words, where readers want to understand what occurred, especially since he and his organization played a part in representing those falsely convicted. Grisham also does an honorable job of shining the light and attention to McCloskey’s work. But would this book have gotten the same attention if McCloskey was the singular author for it?
The cases will no doubt affect readers. They are many times heart-breaking and heart-wrenching. Especially knowing that systematic racial bias played a part in many of the cases. Which makes the re-telling of these stories both gripping, infuriating and engaging reading.
4.5 stars
This book is co-written with Jim McCloskey. Jim McCloskey is the founder of the Centurion Ministries, an organization devoted to freeing the wrongly convicted.
I requested the book from my local library on October 30, 2024, and received it on March 13, 2025. Being a fan of John Grisham, I was interested to read another non-fiction version of writings from him. Especially since I had appreciated his first non-fiction book, “An Innocent Man” which I recently re-visited. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The authors present 10 wrongly convicted murder cases and ‘a note on sources’ section at the end of the book that provides research background for the stories. As well as some photographs. Each author wrote about 5 cases, some of which may be well-known to the criminal law community, and, others that have not attracted the same attention.
Most notable throughout was how the authors portrayed the human cost of mistaken convictions. It would soon be clear to readers as they read each case, how each conviction affected the wrongly accused individual(s) and their loved ones, what they would miss when removed from the “outside” world; and, the indignities suffered from incarceration. The authors also provided an excellent view of those inspiring fighters who worked so hard to overturn these convictions and how that impacted their lives, too.
As readers dive into the cases through the author’s point of view, they will most likely find themselves with many questions and emotions. Such as…
What caused the convictions in the first place? What role did police, witnesses, prosecutors, jurors and judges play?
And, what happens when there are unprincipled, conscienceless individuals involved in the cases? Or, politics taking center stage above truth?
“They…fled the scene, and, typical for politicians, immediately began denying they were involved or blaming other people.”
And, what are the ‘unfair laws, practices and procedures’ that Grisham alludes to here? Does he provide solutions or resolutions for improvement in the justice system? And, why is it so difficult to admit to one’s mistakes for the wrongly accused and convicted, once innocence is determined?
“Over the years, observers…have often asked why the …authorities insisted on prosecuting…when the real killers surfaced before the trial and offered confessions that comported with the facts of the crime. There could be several reasons. One is that it would have been embarrassing, even humiliating, to admit to the wrongful indictment …, an indictment that was the result of work done by the entire law enforcement community… Another reason may have been the authorities’ fear that if they had gone after…the real killer, their past leniency with him, despite his violent history, would come to light. …The repercussions of such a revelation could have been devastating to the careers of …elected officials.”
Each author writes with their own stylistic flair.
Grisham writes as if we are in one of his novels, by creating an ambiance and undertone that sometimes feels over-dramatic. But most the time feels heart-felt, tethered with anger and dismay in the system – and the people who are supposed to provide fair and unbiased justice.
McCloskey comes in formulating a fact-based presentation, setting the tone for what is to come. There is a compassionate feeling to his words, where readers want to understand what occurred, especially since he and his organization played a part in representing those falsely convicted. Grisham also does an honorable job of shining the light and attention to McCloskey’s work. But would this book have gotten the same attention if McCloskey was the singular author for it?
The cases will no doubt affect readers. They are many times heart-breaking and heart-wrenching. Especially knowing that systematic racial bias played a part in many of the cases. Which makes the re-telling of these stories both gripping, infuriating and engaging reading.
4.5 stars
April 15, 2025
4.0 stars— One of my all time favorite John Grisham books was “The Innocent Man”. He did an outstanding job in that book of covering one of the most egregious examples of wrongful prosecution that I’ve ever read. Therefore, I was excited to read Grisham’s collaboration with Jim McCloskey of Centurion Ministries (an organization much like The Innocence Project) in which they detail ten more cases of wrongful prosecutions. Unlike some collaborative efforts, the two authors wrote separately—5 stories each. Both authors did an outstanding job of detailing the facts of some unbelievable examples of prosecutors engaged in highly unethical conduct, all in the name of winning a case rather than the pursuit of justice. These cases are primarily older cases which involve innocent people serving most of their lives in prison before finally being exonerated. They truly offer a heartbreaking account of the misuse of power that led to devastating consequences. Truthfully, I enjoyed McCloskey’s stories better than Grisham’s. McCloskey’s stories are not written in anger or emotion but just straight up retelling of the cases he was involved in and what it took to get justice in each situation. Grisham (who McCloskey described in the acknowledgements as compassionate and empathetic but also outraged) wrote with way too much emotion for non-fiction accounts of criminal proceedings. He assumes a lot of evil intent and knowledge by police and prosecutors without ever hearing their side of the story. He may be correct in his assumptions about their evilness —or he might not be. Either way, much like when I watch news programs on network television, I prefer facts over opinions in these situations. Although, he is just as thorough as McCloskey was in his stories, Grisham’s passion and outrage made me question some of the details and made me feel like I was reading a closing argument rather than a truthful detailed account of the facts. However, the book was still very interesting and I strongly recommend it as an examination of how bad things can be when power corrupts those who are put into positions of great trust.
December 13, 2024
Astonishing is right! The dumbfoundingly ridiculous police suppositions. The lazy and sloppy police and attorney work. It's sad and scary to see how quickly an innocent person's life can change, sometimes even when they are just trying to be a good citizen and help the police.
I did find this a touch long, it is a dismaying subject and I think it became wearying after a while with more of the same head-shaking stories. It could have been half as long with an introduction and closing thoughts and gotten its point across just fine.
Lessons learned:
When asked to come down to the police station to answer a few questions, never go without your lawyer.
We're all at the mercy of others' prejudices and shortcomings.
I did find this a touch long, it is a dismaying subject and I think it became wearying after a while with more of the same head-shaking stories. It could have been half as long with an introduction and closing thoughts and gotten its point across just fine.
Lessons learned:
When asked to come down to the police station to answer a few questions, never go without your lawyer.
We're all at the mercy of others' prejudices and shortcomings.
March 30, 2025
Terrific read. Recommend for true crime readers.
September 18, 2024
If there ever was required reading on true crime, this would top the list. In alternating chapters, Grisham and McCloskey present cases of justice miscarried resulting in the unwarranted incarceration of ten innocent people, many of which were railroaded into confessions after being beaten down in "interrogation" nightmares. Anyone who thinks that tv and literature depictions of police procedure is an accurate depiction should read this. What enraged me the most was the blind eye cast by authorities who would overlook exonerating material, sure that they "had their man." Hence the rush to judgment. It took me a while to read as I had to put it down occasionally since it was so strong and disturbing, but don't let that stop anyone from what is a well written, involving page turner.
December 18, 2024
چند سال پیش بود که بیوقفه پادکستهای جنایی گوش میدادم و کاملاً اتفاقی به
In the Dark
رسیدم. پادکستی دربارهی پروندهی عجیب «کرتیس فلاورز»، مردی که شش بار در ایالت میسیسیپی محاکمه شده بود اما بیگناه بود. کرتیس در اون زمان حدود بیست سال بود که پشت میلههای زندان بود. اپیزود به اپیزود از سست بودن شواهد بر علیه این مرد سیاهپوست بیشتر متعجب میشدم و نژادپرستی سیستمی و اصرار برای اشتباه نکردن توسط دادستان برای حفظ آبرو بیشتر نمایان میشد
سر و صدای زیاد و توجه رسانهای که این پادکست ایجاد کرد، کاتالیزور تلاشهای بیوقفه تیم وکلا شد و در نهایت در سال ۲۰۲۰ دادگاه عالی آمریکا اتهامات کرتیس فلاورز رو رد کرد. یادم نمیره کل اون روز رو منتظر نتیجهی دادگاه بودم وقتی به صدای جاستیس کاوانا گوش میدادم که رأی رو برگردوند، فقط به این فکر میکردم که این مرد چرا بیست و سه سال رو در زندان گذروند؟ و از اون بدتر اگر اعدام میشد چی؟
بعد از این پادکست، ماجرای افراد بیگناه در سیستمهای قضایی سراسر دنیا برام پر رنگشد و پادکست و مستندهای بیشتری در موردش گوش دادم و دیدم. اما کتاب قویای در این زمینه نبود تا این کتاب که توسط یک نویسنده و یک وکیل/فعال حقوقی نوشته شده. کتاب شامل ده داستان در مورد افرادیه که به اشتباه سالهای طولانیای رو در زندان گذراندند و زندگی ازشون گرفته شد، به معنای استعاری و به معنای حقیقی
جداً فکر میکردم بعد از حجمی که در ده سال گذشته از جرم و جنایت خواندم و ش��یدم و دیدم پوست کلفتتر از این حرفها شده باشم، که البته شدم. بیشتر وقتها به راحتی میتونم روی جنبهای از این پروندهها تمرکز کنم که برام مهمن: روانشناسی جرم، علوم قانونی و جنبهی حقوقی. اما داستانهای این کتاب انگار توی سینم دست میانداختند و قلبم رو تا حد انفجار فشار میدادند
مردی که کنار زن بیمارش در خانهی کناریِ وقوع جرم خواب بود؛
زنی که نیمه شب به رختشویخانه رفته بود تا در آرامش لباسهاش رو بشوره اما چند مرد مشکوک دیده بود و خودش به پلیس زنگ زده بود؛
مردی که بچههاش در خونهش کنار خودش در آتش سوختند و هرچقدر سعی کرد نتونست نجاتشون بده؛
و هر سه با دلایل بیپایه و اساس مجرم شناخته شدند
باید بگم که خواندن این کتاب به چند دلیل اصلا آسان نیست. اگر در این زمینه کم تجربهاید، جزئیات جنایات میتونه خیلی اذیتکننده باشه. اگر اون نباشه، داستان بدبختی بیانتهای این افراد حتماً قلبتون رو تیره میکنه. در ضمن جزئیات دادگاهی و حقوقی بسیار زیاده که برای موضوع این کتاب صد در صد لازمه. اما کتاب بسیار مهمیه و کار گریشام و مکلاسکی بسیار ارزشمنده. توضیح این پروندههای پیچیدهی بیست-سی ساله و قابل فهم کردنشون اصلا کار آسانی نیست
این کتاب گواه بر ناکاملی سیستم قضاییه و نشان میده که حضور مکانیزمهای اصلاحکننده چقدر مهمه. اینکه فرصت اصلاح اشتباه وجود داشته باشه و اصلیترین مانع در این مسیر مجازات قصاصه. قصاص به دلایل بسیار زیادی غلطه. اما یکی از دلایل مهمش اینه همیشه باید فکر کنیم اگر فرد اشتباهی رو بکشیم چی؟ از سال ۱۹۷۳ فقط در آمریکا دویست نفر که محکوم به مرگ شده بودند بیگناه شناخته شدند و تبرئه شدند. این یعنی امکان مرگ دویست بیگناه با دستان قانون و جامعه. با این حساب وضعیت در کشورهایی مثل ایران که حتی در سیستم قضاییشون مکانیزمهای اصلاحکنندهی درستی هم ندارند چگونهست؟
کتاب و صوتیش رو میتونید از اینجا دانلود کنید
Maede's Books
۱۴۰۳/۹/۲۸
In the Dark
رسیدم. پادکستی دربارهی پروندهی عجیب «کرتیس فلاورز»، مردی که شش بار در ایالت میسیسیپی محاکمه شده بود اما بیگناه بود. کرتیس در اون زمان حدود بیست سال بود که پشت میلههای زندان بود. اپیزود به اپیزود از سست بودن شواهد بر علیه این مرد سیاهپوست بیشتر متعجب میشدم و نژادپرستی سیستمی و اصرار برای اشتباه نکردن توسط دادستان برای حفظ آبرو بیشتر نمایان میشد
سر و صدای زیاد و توجه رسانهای که این پادکست ایجاد کرد، کاتالیزور تلاشهای بیوقفه تیم وکلا شد و در نهایت در سال ۲۰۲۰ دادگاه عالی آمریکا اتهامات کرتیس فلاورز رو رد کرد. یادم نمیره کل اون روز رو منتظر نتیجهی دادگاه بودم وقتی به صدای جاستیس کاوانا گوش میدادم که رأی رو برگردوند، فقط به این فکر میکردم که این مرد چرا بیست و سه سال رو در زندان گذروند؟ و از اون بدتر اگر اعدام میشد چی؟
بعد از این پادکست، ماجرای افراد بیگناه در سیستمهای قضایی سراسر دنیا برام پر رنگشد و پادکست و مستندهای بیشتری در موردش گوش دادم و دیدم. اما کتاب قویای در این زمینه نبود تا این کتاب که توسط یک نویسنده و یک وکیل/فعال حقوقی نوشته شده. کتاب شامل ده داستان در مورد افرادیه که به اشتباه سالهای طولانیای رو در زندان گذراندند و زندگی ازشون گرفته شد، به معنای استعاری و به معنای حقیقی
جداً فکر میکردم بعد از حجمی که در ده سال گذشته از جرم و جنایت خواندم و ش��یدم و دیدم پوست کلفتتر از این حرفها شده باشم، که البته شدم. بیشتر وقتها به راحتی میتونم روی جنبهای از این پروندهها تمرکز کنم که برام مهمن: روانشناسی جرم، علوم قانونی و جنبهی حقوقی. اما داستانهای این کتاب انگار توی سینم دست میانداختند و قلبم رو تا حد انفجار فشار میدادند
مردی که کنار زن بیمارش در خانهی کناریِ وقوع جرم خواب بود؛
زنی که نیمه شب به رختشویخانه رفته بود تا در آرامش لباسهاش رو بشوره اما چند مرد مشکوک دیده بود و خودش به پلیس زنگ زده بود؛
مردی که بچههاش در خونهش کنار خودش در آتش سوختند و هرچقدر سعی کرد نتونست نجاتشون بده؛
و هر سه با دلایل بیپایه و اساس مجرم شناخته شدند
باید بگم که خواندن این کتاب به چند دلیل اصلا آسان نیست. اگر در این زمینه کم تجربهاید، جزئیات جنایات میتونه خیلی اذیتکننده باشه. اگر اون نباشه، داستان بدبختی بیانتهای این افراد حتماً قلبتون رو تیره میکنه. در ضمن جزئیات دادگاهی و حقوقی بسیار زیاده که برای موضوع این کتاب صد در صد لازمه. اما کتاب بسیار مهمیه و کار گریشام و مکلاسکی بسیار ارزشمنده. توضیح این پروندههای پیچیدهی بیست-سی ساله و قابل فهم کردنشون اصلا کار آسانی نیست
این کتاب گواه بر ناکاملی سیستم قضاییه و نشان میده که حضور مکانیزمهای اصلاحکننده چقدر مهمه. اینکه فرصت اصلاح اشتباه وجود داشته باشه و اصلیترین مانع در این مسیر مجازات قصاصه. قصاص به دلایل بسیار زیادی غلطه. اما یکی از دلایل مهمش اینه همیشه باید فکر کنیم اگر فرد اشتباهی رو بکشیم چی؟ از سال ۱۹۷۳ فقط در آمریکا دویست نفر که محکوم به مرگ شده بودند بیگناه شناخته شدند و تبرئه شدند. این یعنی امکان مرگ دویست بیگناه با دستان قانون و جامعه. با این حساب وضعیت در کشورهایی مثل ایران که حتی در سیستم قضاییشون مکانیزمهای اصلاحکنندهی درستی هم ندارند چگونهست؟
کتاب و صوتیش رو میتونید از اینجا دانلود کنید
Maede's Books
۱۴۰۳/۹/۲۸
October 27, 2024
5 stars for the concept and the topic of judicial system.
3.5 stars for the writing, execution and storytelling.
What a hard read!
This is a compilation of 10 stories based on real facts. All stories were upsetting. The high level of racism, incompetence, greed and corruption was unbelievable.
I suggest reading in small doses, preferably one story per day, because they all share similarities, making the reading experience a bit tiresome. Plus, the stories are frustrating to the point of making you feel angry at the people involved. And to be honest, I wasn’t completely enthralled with this work. I enjoyed “The Innocent Man” a lot more.
Don’t expect a full account of the facts and events. To me it was more like hearsay.
I so wonder whatever happened to everyone who gave false informations and false testimonies. So many unreliable witnesses.
Anyways, here are the stories included in this book:
1. The Norfolk Four, by Grisham
This first story was quite unbelievable. It did feel overly far fetched. But the storytelling did not impress me, and the writing was very repetitive.
2. Guilty Until Proven Innocent, by McCloskey
Good story, but upsetting. The storytelling also felt rushed.
3. Autopsy Games, by Grisham
What a depressing and extremely upsetting and quite unbelievable story. The storytelling was good.
4. Last Night Out, by McCloskey
This 4th story had a better storytelling and it didn’t feel rushed or unbelievable. It was still upsetting.
5. Unknown Male #1, by Grisham
This one is very short and the writing was quite repetitive. Another unbelievable story. Sadly the innocent people are still dealing with the judicial system, while still in prison.
6. Tale of the Tapes, by McCloskey
Same as the others. Repetitive and frustrating.
7. The Absence of Motive, by Grisham
Same.
8. Through the Looking Glass, by McCloskey
Same.
9. Oh, What a Tangled Web We Weave / When First We Practice to Deceive, by McCloskey
This story was my favourite. Although gory, the storytelling was excellent, in my opinion.
10. The Fire Does Not Lie, by Grisham
This is the shortest one, but heartbreaking. I really liked the storytelling of this one.
I did start reading the ebook format but I switched to the hardcover, and I was happy to see that there was no difference in the margins, paragraphs and lining spaces (in the e-book some paragraphs were separated, as an indication that it was an observation note).
The hardcover has 30 pictures/images of the innocent people, from the time they were sent to prison and when the time they were out of the prison, years later. The pictures were in the middle of book, but in the e-book format the pictures were at the end.
Hardcover (Doubleday): the stories take 300 pages, there are 346 pages if including acknowledgements and notes on sources, not counting the preface and the author’s notes (the book has 380 pages, if counting from cover to cover)
e-book (Kobo): 368 pages (default), 114k words
3.5 stars for the writing, execution and storytelling.
What a hard read!
This is a compilation of 10 stories based on real facts. All stories were upsetting. The high level of racism, incompetence, greed and corruption was unbelievable.
I suggest reading in small doses, preferably one story per day, because they all share similarities, making the reading experience a bit tiresome. Plus, the stories are frustrating to the point of making you feel angry at the people involved. And to be honest, I wasn’t completely enthralled with this work. I enjoyed “The Innocent Man” a lot more.
Don’t expect a full account of the facts and events. To me it was more like hearsay.
I so wonder whatever happened to everyone who gave false informations and false testimonies. So many unreliable witnesses.
Anyways, here are the stories included in this book:
1. The Norfolk Four, by Grisham
This first story was quite unbelievable. It did feel overly far fetched. But the storytelling did not impress me, and the writing was very repetitive.
2. Guilty Until Proven Innocent, by McCloskey
Good story, but upsetting. The storytelling also felt rushed.
3. Autopsy Games, by Grisham
What a depressing and extremely upsetting and quite unbelievable story. The storytelling was good.
4. Last Night Out, by McCloskey
This 4th story had a better storytelling and it didn’t feel rushed or unbelievable. It was still upsetting.
5. Unknown Male #1, by Grisham
This one is very short and the writing was quite repetitive. Another unbelievable story. Sadly the innocent people are still dealing with the judicial system, while still in prison.
6. Tale of the Tapes, by McCloskey
Same as the others. Repetitive and frustrating.
7. The Absence of Motive, by Grisham
Same.
8. Through the Looking Glass, by McCloskey
Same.
9. Oh, What a Tangled Web We Weave / When First We Practice to Deceive, by McCloskey
This story was my favourite. Although gory, the storytelling was excellent, in my opinion.
10. The Fire Does Not Lie, by Grisham
This is the shortest one, but heartbreaking. I really liked the storytelling of this one.
I did start reading the ebook format but I switched to the hardcover, and I was happy to see that there was no difference in the margins, paragraphs and lining spaces (in the e-book some paragraphs were separated, as an indication that it was an observation note).
The hardcover has 30 pictures/images of the innocent people, from the time they were sent to prison and when the time they were out of the prison, years later. The pictures were in the middle of book, but in the e-book format the pictures were at the end.
Hardcover (Doubleday): the stories take 300 pages, there are 346 pages if including acknowledgements and notes on sources, not counting the preface and the author’s notes (the book has 380 pages, if counting from cover to cover)
e-book (Kobo): 368 pages (default), 114k words
June 28, 2024
“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, four 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.
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, four 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.
June 19, 2025
Ten cases of wrongfully accused. Not everyone has a happy ending after being exonerated. Did not escape me that many of the wrongfully incarcerated took place in Houston, and all of them seemed to be things that happened in the south.
The book starts by letting us know that these instances happen all the time. I believe it. There is so much corruption in this country. We often think of only developing countries as being corrupt, but the truth is, it's just as rampant here.
Thank you to the Goodreads friend who suggested it to me in the first place (sorry I can't recall which of you it was!) I too recommend reading it to maintain your awareness at the very least.
The book starts by letting us know that these instances happen all the time. I believe it. There is so much corruption in this country. We often think of only developing countries as being corrupt, but the truth is, it's just as rampant here.
Thank you to the Goodreads friend who suggested it to me in the first place (sorry I can't recall which of you it was!) I too recommend reading it to maintain your awareness at the very least.
November 12, 2024
I’m definitely in the middle with this one. Being that Grisham is my favourite author, I thought I would love this. But was a bit disappointed.
Half the stories are by Grisham and the other half by Mccloskey, and I felt they were like night and day difference. I didn’t even have to look at who wrote which one because it was blatantly obvious. I did not like how Mccloskey told his half of the stories at all, while Grisham did add a some “Grishamy” flair to his.
Some awful stories of just how corrupt the system is, and how incompetent some of these investigations go, which I’m sure is a daily occurrence. Such a broken system.
My favourite story of the whole book was the first one. The Norfolk four was a ridiculous story of how when the police couldn’t pin a murder on 1 person, they kept naming people one after the other who they thought were responsible until a total of 7 separate people were in jail at one time. None of them right. Just wild!!
Overall I wish Grisham had written this alone.If he had, I feel like it wouldn’t have been such a slug to get through. 3 stars!
Half the stories are by Grisham and the other half by Mccloskey, and I felt they were like night and day difference. I didn’t even have to look at who wrote which one because it was blatantly obvious. I did not like how Mccloskey told his half of the stories at all, while Grisham did add a some “Grishamy” flair to his.
Some awful stories of just how corrupt the system is, and how incompetent some of these investigations go, which I’m sure is a daily occurrence. Such a broken system.
My favourite story of the whole book was the first one. The Norfolk four was a ridiculous story of how when the police couldn’t pin a murder on 1 person, they kept naming people one after the other who they thought were responsible until a total of 7 separate people were in jail at one time. None of them right. Just wild!!
Overall I wish Grisham had written this alone.If he had, I feel like it wouldn’t have been such a slug to get through. 3 stars!
November 22, 2024
In a stunning piece of non-fiction, John Grisham works alongside Centurion Ministries Founder Jim McCloskey to present some chilling stories of true crime and wrongful convictions. Fueled by a desire to shed light on how some legal authorities will do anything to convict, even when suffering from tunnel vision, the authors present ten stories to support this claim and elucidate just how ignorant some can be to close a case. This well-developed piece sheds light on many gaffes and allows the reader to see for themselves how wrongful convictions can ruin someone’s life and seeks to mute them all.
While many will know, the presumption of innocence is a central tenet of the American legal system. This applies to everyone, but as John Grisham and Jim McCluskey clearly show, this can be suspended when it suits the authorities to solve a case. The authors explore ten cases of wrongful conviction in this collection, laying the foundation of each case, the arrest of someone, and the legal circus that sought to hammer someone to the wall, even when the evidence does not support it. Wrongful convictions are not simply an “oops” moment, but actually a true abuse of the justice system to clean up a mess without having to put in the work. The authors seek to present this repeatedly, leaving the reader stunned at the numerous gaffes that are so blatantly visible.
Both authors depict the cases in their own words and provide thorough explorations of the police actions, evidence handling, and process through the courts, many times turning to a quick judgment to move along, while the accused becomes the convicted and rots away in jail, only saved when someone like Jim McCloskey is able to take up the case and poke holes in the evidence and sloppy policing.
While I have read many (all?) novels and non-fiction books by John Grisham, I always learn something new. Grisham works well to teach the reader about the subject matter and keeps things informative, rather than preachy. Working with Jim McCloskey in this book, the collaborative effort proves just as effective in a page-turning manner. Both authors delve into the ten cases, choosing one chapter for each, while offering strong biographical backgrounds of those who are accused, as well as the historical exploration of the crimes. While there is an obvious shaming flavour to the handling of crimes by the authorities, the authors support their attacks with evidence. Supporting those who were wrongfully convicted, the authors leave the reader curious and almost hints at doing additional research to explore the situation and how people dropped the ball. I could not have asked for more and did learn a great deal, which is always a plus when I discover some great non-fiction.
Kudos, Messrs. Grisham and McCloskey, for this eye-opening piece.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
While many will know, the presumption of innocence is a central tenet of the American legal system. This applies to everyone, but as John Grisham and Jim McCluskey clearly show, this can be suspended when it suits the authorities to solve a case. The authors explore ten cases of wrongful conviction in this collection, laying the foundation of each case, the arrest of someone, and the legal circus that sought to hammer someone to the wall, even when the evidence does not support it. Wrongful convictions are not simply an “oops” moment, but actually a true abuse of the justice system to clean up a mess without having to put in the work. The authors seek to present this repeatedly, leaving the reader stunned at the numerous gaffes that are so blatantly visible.
Both authors depict the cases in their own words and provide thorough explorations of the police actions, evidence handling, and process through the courts, many times turning to a quick judgment to move along, while the accused becomes the convicted and rots away in jail, only saved when someone like Jim McCloskey is able to take up the case and poke holes in the evidence and sloppy policing.
While I have read many (all?) novels and non-fiction books by John Grisham, I always learn something new. Grisham works well to teach the reader about the subject matter and keeps things informative, rather than preachy. Working with Jim McCloskey in this book, the collaborative effort proves just as effective in a page-turning manner. Both authors delve into the ten cases, choosing one chapter for each, while offering strong biographical backgrounds of those who are accused, as well as the historical exploration of the crimes. While there is an obvious shaming flavour to the handling of crimes by the authorities, the authors support their attacks with evidence. Supporting those who were wrongfully convicted, the authors leave the reader curious and almost hints at doing additional research to explore the situation and how people dropped the ball. I could not have asked for more and did learn a great deal, which is always a plus when I discover some great non-fiction.
Kudos, Messrs. Grisham and McCloskey, for this eye-opening piece.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
February 27, 2025
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 25|52:45a
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 25|52:45a
November 26, 2024
One of Grisham’s better works. Ten stories of wrongfully convicted criminals told by John Grisham & Jim McCloskey, a legal rights advocate. Have to admit, the stories that were told by Grisham were by far more readable… I didn’t realize how frequently corrupted our country’s legal system is until I read this book. Because of the existence of the death penalty in several American states, many innocent people are wrongfully put to death… The book have opened my eyes & somewhat educated me.
November 6, 2024
Ya know, finishing this on Election Day was poetic. Just like our freaking 47th President and the half of America that voted for him, this book was rampant with corruption, cruelty, and injustice.
I used to be super into true crime and especially interested in false confessions. I just could not believe how someone could confess to something they didn’t do. But obviously over the years as I learned more (and as this book covers) I realized it’s far more complex than that. Sometimes, corrupt police and prosecutors will do literally anything to not look bad and get who they want behind bars, scientific evidence be damned. This was a good, well written book that I’m glad I picked up, especially since 9/10 of these stories had “happy” endings where those innocently convicted were exonerated. There are thousands of others that haven’t been. I also haven’t been reading as much non-fiction this year as I usually do, so this was a nice change of pace.
It’s kinda cool that John Grisham is so passionate about freeing these people, and this was a really good read. But it was also frustrating af and made me want to pull my hair out lol. I definitely recommend it though if you like true crime or just want to learn more about how innocent people end up in prison all the time. Thankfully a lot of these took place decades ago, but it’s only now that some of these people are being freed. It’s insane. And now that Trump is president again this book will probably be banned for saying that sometimes the government is corrupt lol (sorry I’m in a bad mood today can you tell)
Anyway, my only critique from an actual book standpoint is that since there are 10 stories in here and there are so many people involved in each one, sometimes it was a little tricky to keep everyone straight. But I also listened to the audiobook so some of that is probably on me.
Anywaayyyy, good book, depressing subject and depressing country we live in! Whoopee.
I used to be super into true crime and especially interested in false confessions. I just could not believe how someone could confess to something they didn’t do. But obviously over the years as I learned more (and as this book covers) I realized it’s far more complex than that. Sometimes, corrupt police and prosecutors will do literally anything to not look bad and get who they want behind bars, scientific evidence be damned. This was a good, well written book that I’m glad I picked up, especially since 9/10 of these stories had “happy” endings where those innocently convicted were exonerated. There are thousands of others that haven’t been. I also haven’t been reading as much non-fiction this year as I usually do, so this was a nice change of pace.
It’s kinda cool that John Grisham is so passionate about freeing these people, and this was a really good read. But it was also frustrating af and made me want to pull my hair out lol. I definitely recommend it though if you like true crime or just want to learn more about how innocent people end up in prison all the time. Thankfully a lot of these took place decades ago, but it’s only now that some of these people are being freed. It’s insane. And now that Trump is president again this book will probably be banned for saying that sometimes the government is corrupt lol (sorry I’m in a bad mood today can you tell)
Anyway, my only critique from an actual book standpoint is that since there are 10 stories in here and there are so many people involved in each one, sometimes it was a little tricky to keep everyone straight. But I also listened to the audiobook so some of that is probably on me.
Anywaayyyy, good book, depressing subject and depressing country we live in! Whoopee.
January 28, 2026
Grisham and McCloskey present ten true crimes, all murders where innocent people were convicted. Each case is a shocking gross miscarriage of justice. they often tell us early in their account who gets convicted and who they think really did it. Still, these are skillfully written and keep you engaged. They don’t spare us the gruesome details when relevant. I’ve read similar accounts in other books such as Brian Stevenson’s excellent Just Mercy but this one has a different feel. Police, DAs and judges conspire to convict who they want ignoring the truth. The situations, places and people are all different. You can’t write the problem off as isolated incidents. The justice system is broken.
Racism plays a significant part in many of the cases, but whites get railroaded too. Even detectives that start out looking for the real killer jump to conclusions early in the investigation and then only focus on that suspect. They ignore exculpatory evidence because they already “know” who did it. Once they charge a suspect, there is no turning back. They use every method they can to manipulate the outcome. Often the suspect they choose is picked precisely because he is weak and vulnerable and easy to break down. Police badger, intimidate, lie and grind their suspect into mental oblivion to get a confession. They challenge witnesses to get them confused and ultimately say what the police want. Prosecutors relentlessly tell witnesses their version until the witnesses doubt themselves and adopt it. They make deals with criminals to lower pending charges against them, or they reduce the prison time of jailhouse snitches for false testimony. After that prosecutors must win their case to protect themselves from scrutiny and revealing what they have done. Prosecutors make up far-fetched scenarios to explain their “facts”. They hide exculpatory evidence, any deals they have made with witnesses and that the witnesses changed their “memories.” The judges often are actively colluding with the prosecutor. They severely restrict what the defense can present while allowing the prosecutor to present anything.
The defendants in these cases can’t afford good lawyers or if they get one can’t afford the investigative work the lawyers need to make a proper defense. Those that eventually get out of jail after years of appeals often owe their freedom to organizations like the Innocence Project or Centurion Ministries that can get good pro bono lawyers and finance their expenses to investigate the case. The courts that hear these appeals take their time. It can be many years before they reach a decision, in one case it was eight. Meanwhile the convicted man has been in jail usually since he was charged. And in the unlikely event that they win the appeal it usually means a new trial in the same or similar community, and they must repeat the whole process while the courts take their time. The amount of time it takes for the entire appeal and retrial process to play out is an injustice.
Following are brief descriptions of the ten cases. I’ll treat them as spoilers even though they are not presented as mysteries, but descriptions of justice gone wrong.
Racism plays a significant part in many of the cases, but whites get railroaded too. Even detectives that start out looking for the real killer jump to conclusions early in the investigation and then only focus on that suspect. They ignore exculpatory evidence because they already “know” who did it. Once they charge a suspect, there is no turning back. They use every method they can to manipulate the outcome. Often the suspect they choose is picked precisely because he is weak and vulnerable and easy to break down. Police badger, intimidate, lie and grind their suspect into mental oblivion to get a confession. They challenge witnesses to get them confused and ultimately say what the police want. Prosecutors relentlessly tell witnesses their version until the witnesses doubt themselves and adopt it. They make deals with criminals to lower pending charges against them, or they reduce the prison time of jailhouse snitches for false testimony. After that prosecutors must win their case to protect themselves from scrutiny and revealing what they have done. Prosecutors make up far-fetched scenarios to explain their “facts”. They hide exculpatory evidence, any deals they have made with witnesses and that the witnesses changed their “memories.” The judges often are actively colluding with the prosecutor. They severely restrict what the defense can present while allowing the prosecutor to present anything.
The defendants in these cases can’t afford good lawyers or if they get one can’t afford the investigative work the lawyers need to make a proper defense. Those that eventually get out of jail after years of appeals often owe their freedom to organizations like the Innocence Project or Centurion Ministries that can get good pro bono lawyers and finance their expenses to investigate the case. The courts that hear these appeals take their time. It can be many years before they reach a decision, in one case it was eight. Meanwhile the convicted man has been in jail usually since he was charged. And in the unlikely event that they win the appeal it usually means a new trial in the same or similar community, and they must repeat the whole process while the courts take their time. The amount of time it takes for the entire appeal and retrial process to play out is an injustice.
Following are brief descriptions of the ten cases. I’ll treat them as spoilers even though they are not presented as mysteries, but descriptions of justice gone wrong.
September 18, 2024
Talk about man's inhumanity to man!
Framed is not an easy book to read. In fact, after reading the first story I was unsure if I would be able to read any more. These are stories of corruption and outright manipulation by the systems that are supposed to protect us. As I read the tragic occurrences of innocent people being convicted (and their lives destroyed) I found the stories to be equal parts horrifying and heartwrenching.
It's not a book I will soon forget.
My thanks to both #DoubledayBooks and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Framed. This book has an expected publication date of October 15, 2024.
#JohnGrisham #JimMcCloskey #Nonfiction #WrongfulConvictions
Framed is not an easy book to read. In fact, after reading the first story I was unsure if I would be able to read any more. These are stories of corruption and outright manipulation by the systems that are supposed to protect us. As I read the tragic occurrences of innocent people being convicted (and their lives destroyed) I found the stories to be equal parts horrifying and heartwrenching.
It's not a book I will soon forget.
My thanks to both #DoubledayBooks and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Framed. This book has an expected publication date of October 15, 2024.
#JohnGrisham #JimMcCloskey #Nonfiction #WrongfulConvictions
May 26, 2025
The goal of this non-fiction book is to raise awareness of wrongful convictions, and in so doing help prevent more of them in the future. It contains many examples of wrongful convictions and in the Preface the authors indicate that their first challenge was to limit their selection to only ten cases, and to limit their descriptions to about 10,000 words each in order have a book of reasonable length.
Each story is a tragedy of justice, and they’re especially difficult to read because the reader knows that each story actually happened. The stories told by this book “bring to light systemic flaws in the justice system’s infrastructure that cause untold tens of thousands of innocent souls to interminably languish in prison.”
The following excerpt from the Preface provides a good overview summary of the stories contained in this book.
Each story is a tragedy of justice, and they’re especially difficult to read because the reader knows that each story actually happened. The stories told by this book “bring to light systemic flaws in the justice system’s infrastructure that cause untold tens of thousands of innocent souls to interminably languish in prison.”
The following excerpt from the Preface provides a good overview summary of the stories contained in this book.
The twenty-three defendants caught in the web of these ten wrongful convictions needlessly spent decades in prison until the truth of their innocence finally emerged and set them free. Four landed on death row, two of whom came within days of execution, while one was tragically executed. … Often, the real killers were under the nose of the police from the outset of the crime and in two cases they were the star witnesses for the prosecution. ... Perjury by police and civilian witnesses was pervasive in these stories. These convictions were not caused by unintentional mistakes by local law enforcement or misidentification by well-meaning eyewitnesses or honest but erroneous forensic analysis.One can only hope that books such as this will contribute to a future with improved behavior and adherence to professional ethics on the part law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges.
No, they were rooted in law enforcement misconduct and chicanery, men and women hell-bent on clearing cases or gaining a conviction through a wide variety of illicit means—subordination of perjury, secret deals with criminals in exchange for their fabricated testimony, coercing witnesses into false testimony or suspects to falsely confess,
use of discredited or inept forensic analysts, suppression of exculpatory evidence from the defense, or other acts that obstructed justice ... .
January 28, 2025
5 Stars = It made a significant impact.
If you've ever wondered how many innocent people are sitting in jail, the answer is "Lots!". This book covers 10 cases, but they are the tip of the iceberg. It is absolutely frightening how easily you can be plucked from your day-to-day life, and dropped into hell on earth. Some folks were just coming forward to let the police know what they had seen .. you know, being a good citizen, and all that .. and end up accused of the crime. Unreal.
Even though this covers cases in the USA, never fear, this crap happens everywhere around the globe.
If you've ever wondered how many innocent people are sitting in jail, the answer is "Lots!". This book covers 10 cases, but they are the tip of the iceberg. It is absolutely frightening how easily you can be plucked from your day-to-day life, and dropped into hell on earth. Some folks were just coming forward to let the police know what they had seen .. you know, being a good citizen, and all that .. and end up accused of the crime. Unreal.
Even though this covers cases in the USA, never fear, this crap happens everywhere around the globe.
July 21, 2024
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.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for an advanced reader copy of the e-book.
October 30, 2024
3.5 stars. Heartbroken and angry is the only way to feel while reading each of the 10 stories in this book. I wish each story was its own book. There were so many details and characters in each, that I sometimes found it hard to keep up with everything.
October 25, 2024
I am a huge Grisham fan, and his first non fiction book The Innocent Man is still one of my favourite books and I think about it regularly.
This was truly astonishing.
I spent the entire book with my mouth agape and my head shaking in disbelief.
These stories are unbelievable, until you tell yourself the events really happened.
The story of the Norfolk Four is one of those stories that will linger with you, there needs to be a Netflix documentary about it. It would be laughable if it weren't real people's lives. And the worst part is knowing Grisham and his coauthor would have had so many more stories just like these ones.
This book will anger you, shock you, and sadden you so deeply for the people who were wrongly convicted.
Highly recommended.
This was truly astonishing.
I spent the entire book with my mouth agape and my head shaking in disbelief.
These stories are unbelievable, until you tell yourself the events really happened.
The story of the Norfolk Four is one of those stories that will linger with you, there needs to be a Netflix documentary about it. It would be laughable if it weren't real people's lives. And the worst part is knowing Grisham and his coauthor would have had so many more stories just like these ones.
This book will anger you, shock you, and sadden you so deeply for the people who were wrongly convicted.
Highly recommended.
November 18, 2024
I want to state that I DID NOT read all of this book for a few reasons. First, the material was really hard/sad to read. Crooked police, suspects who seemed to be unintelligent, racism, good ole boy mentality, etc. Secondly, the stories were told in a very matter of fact manner. This happened, and then this happened, and then this. I never felt like I could feel for the suspects being framed. Their characters as people were never developed. I would have found the book much more interesting if the suspects had been shown as real people. Do I believe that this really happens in our country? Unfortunately it is all too real. Depressing.
October 31, 2024
5 Stars
Powerful book of the long convictions of innocent men.
Stories from mostly Texas tell the story of prosecutors and law enforcement who cared more about their reputations than lives.
Pinning murders on innocent people with hardly any evidence just to make the case go away.
Hard to read at times story of people wrongly accused and spending more than 30 years in jail.
Great writing and accounts from John Grisham and Jim Mcklusky.
Powerful book of the long convictions of innocent men.
Stories from mostly Texas tell the story of prosecutors and law enforcement who cared more about their reputations than lives.
Pinning murders on innocent people with hardly any evidence just to make the case go away.
Hard to read at times story of people wrongly accused and spending more than 30 years in jail.
Great writing and accounts from John Grisham and Jim Mcklusky.
February 7, 2025
Initially the stories in this book were absolutely gripping, not because they were amazing but because they were appalling. About halfway through I recognized the repetition, which made the stories all the more frightening. A crime is committed [insert specifics]. The police decide on their story and/or their perpetrator and they build their case to make it work. They disregard evidence that doesn’t fit their story. Prosecutors suppress evidence and curry favor with jailhouse snitches to get convictions. Once a person is convicted and put in prison, bureaucracy and politics make exoneration close to impossible.
Human beings, by nature, make mistakes but the level of negligence and unwillingness of the authorities to right their wrongs is astounding. Liberty and, sometimes, life is at stake. I realize these stories are the minority, but considering we still put people to death in this country for their crimes, it doesn’t really matter. Moral of the story: get yourself a lawyer, guilt or innocence be damned.
Human beings, by nature, make mistakes but the level of negligence and unwillingness of the authorities to right their wrongs is astounding. Liberty and, sometimes, life is at stake. I realize these stories are the minority, but considering we still put people to death in this country for their crimes, it doesn’t really matter. Moral of the story: get yourself a lawyer, guilt or innocence be damned.
June 21, 2025
Wrongful convictions are painful in a society of laws. Completely fair when the guilty are punished and the opposite when the innocent are railroaded under the color of law.
August 4, 2025
Grishman is known for his legal thrillers and I've read and loved them all! I was excited to see he was writing a nonfiction book and Grishman/McCloskey make a great team!!
I've dealt with a corrupt and often flawed legal system in my own family, so I knew this one was going to hit close to home and boy did it ever!!
The book explores ten true stories of wrongful convictions, spotlighting cases where innocent individuals were falsely accused, convicted, and imprisoned for crimes they didn’t commit.
As with any of Grishman's book, there is a lot of research involved with the story, even in his legal thrillers, that's why I love them so much.
Grisham and McCloskey have a talent for breaking down complex legal concepts into clear, accessible language, all while keeping the stories gripping and full of suspense. Their focus leans more toward the human side—the emotional journeys and personal struggles behind each case.
If you're interested in true crime, legal drama, or social justice, this book is definitely worth reading.
I've dealt with a corrupt and often flawed legal system in my own family, so I knew this one was going to hit close to home and boy did it ever!!
The book explores ten true stories of wrongful convictions, spotlighting cases where innocent individuals were falsely accused, convicted, and imprisoned for crimes they didn’t commit.
As with any of Grishman's book, there is a lot of research involved with the story, even in his legal thrillers, that's why I love them so much.
Grisham and McCloskey have a talent for breaking down complex legal concepts into clear, accessible language, all while keeping the stories gripping and full of suspense. Their focus leans more toward the human side—the emotional journeys and personal struggles behind each case.
If you're interested in true crime, legal drama, or social justice, this book is definitely worth reading.
February 16, 2025
Framed was an insightful read that produces anger towards the incompetent and/or dishonest individuals that are incarcerating and occasionally sentencing victims to death. I’d love to read a rebuttal as I know this book is one-sided, but some common practices seem to lead to shotty prosecutorial work.
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