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Presumed Guilty: The Karen Read Trial: A True Crime Story of Justice, Power, and the Woman Who Wouldn’t Back Down
A Boston police officer is dead. A woman is accused. But the real story is far more dangerous than anyone imagined.
In the early hours of January 29, 2022, beloved officer John O’Keefe was found lifeless in the snow outside a suburban home in Canton, Massachusetts. Within days, his girlfriend, Karen Read, was charged with his murder. Prosecutors called it a reckless hit-and-run. But what followed wasn’t a standard criminal case—it was a modern-day courtroom war that ignited a national firestorm.
With gripping access, courtroom dialogue, and immersive storytelling, Presumed Guilty plunges readers into the high-stakes trial that captivated the nation. Was Karen Read a killer—or a scapegoat in a system built to protect its own?
As defense attorneys clash with state prosecutors, the story twists through broken taillights, buried evidence, missing security footage, and text messages that spark outrage. From viral hashtags to secret backroom deals, the book reveals how justice can be manipulated—and how one woman refused to let the truth be buried.
Meticulously researched and emotionally charged, this is the definitive narrative of the Karen Read trial. Perfect for fans of I'll Be Gone in the Dark, Making a Murderer, and The Staircase, Presumed Guilty explores the intersection of power, loyalty, and the price of telling the truth.
In the early hours of January 29, 2022, beloved officer John O’Keefe was found lifeless in the snow outside a suburban home in Canton, Massachusetts. Within days, his girlfriend, Karen Read, was charged with his murder. Prosecutors called it a reckless hit-and-run. But what followed wasn’t a standard criminal case—it was a modern-day courtroom war that ignited a national firestorm.
With gripping access, courtroom dialogue, and immersive storytelling, Presumed Guilty plunges readers into the high-stakes trial that captivated the nation. Was Karen Read a killer—or a scapegoat in a system built to protect its own?
As defense attorneys clash with state prosecutors, the story twists through broken taillights, buried evidence, missing security footage, and text messages that spark outrage. From viral hashtags to secret backroom deals, the book reveals how justice can be manipulated—and how one woman refused to let the truth be buried.
Meticulously researched and emotionally charged, this is the definitive narrative of the Karen Read trial. Perfect for fans of I'll Be Gone in the Dark, Making a Murderer, and The Staircase, Presumed Guilty explores the intersection of power, loyalty, and the price of telling the truth.
131 pages, Paperback
Published July 18, 2025
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