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The Wrong Guys: Murder, False Confessions and the Norfolk Four
"It's time for Virginia's governor to do something about the Norfolk Four....[This is] one of the most disturbing potential miscarriages of justice the commonwealth has seen in a long time."—The Washington Post, editorial, December 1, 2006
On July 8, 1997, nineteen-year-old sailor Billy Bosko returned to his home in Norfolk, Virginia, from a naval cruise to find his wife on the floor of their bedroom, raped and stabbed to death.
In this gripping story of justice gone awry, four innocent men separately confess to the heinous crime that none of them actually committed. Though the real perpetrator has since been convicted, three of the four remain in prison today, attesting to the powerful role confessions—even false ones—play in our criminal justice system, where they typically trump fact, reason, and common sense.
Writer Tom Wells and law professor Richard Leo masterfully interweave a narrative covering the unfolding of the case with an exploration of topics ranging from coercive interrogation, police perjury ("testilying"), and prosecutorial politics to the role of the death penalty in criminal law.
With a clemency campaign for the three wrongly imprisoned men still ongoing, this book presents an urgent call for justice and a convincing case for reform in the criminal justice system.
On July 8, 1997, nineteen-year-old sailor Billy Bosko returned to his home in Norfolk, Virginia, from a naval cruise to find his wife on the floor of their bedroom, raped and stabbed to death.
In this gripping story of justice gone awry, four innocent men separately confess to the heinous crime that none of them actually committed. Though the real perpetrator has since been convicted, three of the four remain in prison today, attesting to the powerful role confessions—even false ones—play in our criminal justice system, where they typically trump fact, reason, and common sense.
Writer Tom Wells and law professor Richard Leo masterfully interweave a narrative covering the unfolding of the case with an exploration of topics ranging from coercive interrogation, police perjury ("testilying"), and prosecutorial politics to the role of the death penalty in criminal law.
With a clemency campaign for the three wrongly imprisoned men still ongoing, this book presents an urgent call for justice and a convincing case for reform in the criminal justice system.
- GenresTrue CrimeNonfiction
342 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2008
2 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 13, 2025
Published prior to the eventual resolution in justice, "The Wrong Guys," takes the reader through the case in its near entirety. The book is told in timeline fashion, starting with Michelle Bosko's life and eventual murder through the present day of 2008. (A new edition could take us to current day.. see John Grisham's update in "Framed.") Much of the book is about the interrogations of each of the suspects in a near full account.
Of the accounts - within this book - and elsewhere, false confessions seem to follow a similar pattern. Relentless questioning, suggestions and providing facts to the suspect to the point that person breaks down, seeing no other way to leave the room. All because they waived their right to remain silent.
Of the accounts - within this book - and elsewhere, false confessions seem to follow a similar pattern. Relentless questioning, suggestions and providing facts to the suspect to the point that person breaks down, seeing no other way to leave the room. All because they waived their right to remain silent.
March 12, 2017
Although the actual story was interesting and a bit frightening that it could have actually happened as it did, for me the book dragged, a lot . A huge portion of the book dealt with the interrogation of the suspects. The first suspects interrogation was long and detailed in the book. Fine. However, the next three suspects were interrogated the same, by the same detectives , in the same manner , and detailed in the book in the same way. Very redundant. Not sure it couldn't have been any different , but in my opinion way too repetitive. For me it got boring after a while. Not to mention the next three suspects and the final one, the actual offender.
I was glad to finish this book , mostly because I had had enough.
I was glad to finish this book , mostly because I had had enough.
August 18, 2024
dragged a bit at the end. was given this by one of my professors to read over the summer. the justice system is absolutely fucked!
April 3, 2019
My husband purchased this book for me from Amazon to read. All opinions are my own. 🌟🌟🌟🌟The Wrong Guys by Tom Wells and Richard A. Leo. OH MY GOODNESS I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU HOW SCREWED UP THIS BOOK IS! One murder/rape victim is found by her husband in their apartment after he returns home from cruise. The neighbors, the cops, the husband, his family, no one had any clue what was going on but once Investigator Ford is handed the case 8 men will be arrested and all 8 will confess but thing is, only one of them could have done it only one DNA sample matched. So why were 5 of them convicted? Because there is no system that could have saved them. After hours of interrogation forced confessions kept 4 innocent people in prison for more than 7 years. This case is the biggest injustice of the judicial system I have ever seen. I can not believe this is impossible. Review also posted on Instagram @borenbooks, Library Thing, Goodreads/StacieBoren, Twitter @jason_stacie, Amazon, and my blog at readsbystacie.com
July 17, 2023
a compelling story of justice gone awry. The book is not well written.
May 16, 2014
I'm not sure what to make of this book. Several years ago I heard something about a group of Navy men charged with a crime they didn't commit but I didn't know about any of the details of the case. So I bought the book to find out what happened. Well, it looks like the "The Wrong Guys" is the "wrong book" because if you want to know the outcome of their ordeal you'll have to find a newer book or, do like I did and read the Wikipedia article. I guess the authors were in a hurry to get the book published before anyone else so they didn't bother waiting for a final resolution.
Although there is enough information presented to understand the failures of the justice system, the writing is sometimes confusing. Too often I had to read the same sentence 2 or 3 times to determine who said what to who, and when they said it.
I would have given it only a one star rating but the inside information on interrogation techniques was revealing enough to raise it to two.
Although there is enough information presented to understand the failures of the justice system, the writing is sometimes confusing. Too often I had to read the same sentence 2 or 3 times to determine who said what to who, and when they said it.
I would have given it only a one star rating but the inside information on interrogation techniques was revealing enough to raise it to two.
August 5, 2011
An amazing book about how our justice system and detectives get false confessions out of people through intimidation and pressure to convict innocent people. Just a thought here...even if you are innocent, when being questioned by detectives..stop asking questions and request a lawyer.
January 4, 2017
Outstanding book. True story of multiple false confessions; the police conduct here was outrageous. The only problem is that the book just ends, with no resolution. A federal court exonerated two of these guys only a few months ago.
August 9, 2016
It seems to be missing a couple of chapters at the end. Or perhaps a Post Script?
February 8, 2010
compelling; an artfully weaved story that both educates and shocks the conscience.
August 12, 2014
Well written, but I would think it may be a bit confusing/lackluster for those unfamiliar with the case. good accompany book with the PBS Frontline episode which highlights the case.
August 10, 2013
Shoddy police work. Fraudulent prosecutorial work.
September 11, 2014
This book should be read by anyone who still believes that confessions are the gold standard of evidence. Next read up on eyewitness error and be further disturbed.
November 23, 2016
A total and complete miscarriage of justice. Terrible police investigation and investigators, prosecutors and for most of the accused bad defence counsel.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews