34 Years in Hell: My Time Inside America's Toughest Prisons

by Jamie Morgan Kane

In July 1983, James Morgan Kane returned home in the evening to find a corpse in his living room.Fearing that he would be held responsible, and sensing that his wife was somehow involved, he wanted to do all he could to protect his young family.

Jamie worked through the night to dispose of the body, all the while disbelieving the situation he found himself in. But his luck ran out days later, as he was arrested and sentenced to thirteen years in prison.

Jamie entered the American prison system and was to stay there for 34 years with stints in San Quentin, Folsom State Prison and the notorious Deuel Vocational Institution (DVI) in California. He would rub shoulders with some of the world's most infamous serial killers such as Charles Manson, Edmund Kemper, Charles Tex Watson and Herbie Mullin, as well as gangs such as the Aryan Brotherhood and Mexican cartels.

This book tells of his time locked up with no hope of release, living the brutality of the tough and unforgiving American penitentiary system, and finding his new purpose in life. As well as tales of his many run-ins with some of the world's most dangerous inmates.

For the first time ever, he tells his story. The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, no matter how incredible it may sound.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Audiobook, Autobiography, Memoir, Crime, Ebooks

235 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 27, 2019

Reviews

[Natalie Liddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down.
What interested me most was that it seems to be a very calm, factual explanation of events. Considering what happened I did expect animosity and anger.
Having read some other reviews I do intend to research this a bit more but this book offers a great insight into life in the prison system.
I found it hard to believe someone would have such strength and calm having faced the situation described in this book.
It certainly got me thinking and I am very glad I read it and would like to thank Net Galley and Mirror Books for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review.

[Smjohns78 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure how much of it is true, but I found it entertaining. For some reason I am a sucker for a good prison story.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story, but the writing style just didn't capture my attention. Took me a while to finish but was an interesting look at the American prison system.

[CS · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an insane story and even more insane how calmly Kane told his story after all the pain and injustice he suffered. Stellar narration.

[Micky Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is sad that Mr kane spent 34 Years in the American prison system and some of his book is true but I feel most of it is exaggerated to make the book for example every prison he went to there was a fight and a murder right in front of him as he was booked in or getting of the bus. Come on really. And also how he managed to win every fight he had Evan when against 3 men with knifes? And taking on the ayran brotherhood and winning? Then he is the hero helping the weaker prisoners in every prison sorting out all their problems. And all the infamous prisoners he met and had interaction with I find a bit untrue ie Charlie's Manson, tex Watson having a go at Manson he probably never ever saw them my opinion a wasted read

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an incredible life story, thoroughly enjoyed this, my main criticism being that the last few chapters are very rushed and so much is crammed in to them that should have been covered in more detail.

[Gonzaga Escauriaza · Rating 1 out of 5]

No me ha gustado nada.
Primeramente el crimen por el que le condenan, que el dice no haber cometido, no está nada claro y muy mal descrito. Todo muy oscuro. No da razones convincentes de su no culpabilidad.
Después, las narraciones de su estancia en las cárceles, son simples peleas que además no explica los orígenes y no tienen ningún interés.
Ni siquiera nos cuenta relaciones humanas que se pueden vivir en confinamientos como las cárceles y que a veces pueden ser muy entrañables.

[Kristen Bauerle]

I don’t rate autobiographies but this was a good one!

[Ruthy lavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really well written and informative account of one mans long spell in the American jail system.
A fascinating story worthy of reading, it has similarities to Papillon and would make a great film adaptation.
4 stars.

[Robert Hatton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sounded too good to be true and a bit of research showed that the story is questionable. Still an interesting read.

[Helen Corton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jamie Morgan Kane was born into unfortunate circumstances on the Isle of Man. His father is absent and his mother forever on the move as she couldn’t afford rent, at around age four they take off for Arizona where he lives illegally in America for many more years, under a new name. As his mother takes off and leaves him with random people more frequently, there is a lack of stability and you can feel the real vulnerability of this child and the potential future available to him. He eventually gets brought into a violent family and begins school a few years too late. He performs well and after joins up to the US Air Force where he saw action in Vietnam, then marries and quickly divorces after having a son. He marries again, has another son, and runs a motorbike repair garage. One night he gets home to discover a dead body, which his wife says happened accidentally. Jamie is asked to remove the body, which he leaves outside in an easily found place with his phone number in his pocket.
The story really starts when, despite all the evidence being against him, Jamie pleads guilty in order to support his wife and children, and begins his 34 years in the American prison system. Wanting to keep his head down and work through his time, he explains how the different institutions are run, how prisoners sort out their pecking order and how he survived going through such horrendous conditions for so many years and meeting some notorious inmates.
The story is told well, factually rather than emotionally, and gives first hand insight into American justice and their penal system. Despite his poor start to life, PTSD and many other sad events that befall him, this story is essentially uplifting to finish and I couldn’t help warming to him and wanting the best for him, he strikes me as a good person that had a difficult deal from life, that deserves to tell his story under his proper name. It’s also great to hear about the valuable relationship of pen pals and how hard charities will fight with little resources to try and make a difference.
This book was a quick read for me that gave me lots of new insight into a subject I thought I knew well from television. I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in life in prisons and how the justice system works, or doesn’t.

[Zahava (pallor17reads on YouTube) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, let me first preface this review by saying that I'm a sucker for a memoir of this nature, and personal accounts of survival against the odds in particular. So this review may be a little biased as this book falls well within a genre of preference for me. So I went into it expecting to be moved.

And boy, was I not disappointed.

I think this book should be retitled "Murphy's Law" because it applies to this story in spades. I can't believe the amount of resilience and trials that were witnessed while reading/listening to this story. How can one person endure so much? It really puts things into perspective. The amount of times my jaw hit the ground just listening to this honest account of someone so unjustly treated not only by society but by fate itself. It's incredible. Prison sounds awful. And the justice system gives anything but justice. How much bad luck can one person have? I man, you just can't make this shit up. I won't say more because I don't want to ruin the story for anyone but suffice it to say that I am moved to contact the author and tell him just how much my heart goes out to him for what he has endured. Babies are innocent creatures and this man, cheated by everyone who was supposed to love and support him SINCE BIRTH, has risen above adversity in such a way as to be commended. Fantastic story.

The best way I know how to support him is to praise this work and tell everyone to read it. You won't regret it. I promise.

[Effy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been fascinated by prisons and people’s stories of their time inside for as long as I can remember + LOVE reading a good prison memoir. This one was mind blowing.. and just incredible. I read this in one sitting yesterday— I just could not put it down!

This autobiography spans 63 years, from details of Kane’s childhood in 1954, being sentenced and sent to prison in 84 and to being released in 2017. Kane’s childhood completely broke my heart. No child deserves what happened to him, and yet one thing that stood out to me throughout the whole book, is that despite the insane hardships he went through, he always remained respectful, hard working + honest.

The main part of the book outlines his journey whilst in prison, and explores the issues with the US judicial system (of which there are MANY). I am still absolutely mind blown that he actually served three decades for a crime that he did 👏🏽 not 👏🏽 commit, when there was overwhelming evidence against the guilty parties and NONE against him.

The stories Kane shares are heart breaking and emotionally heavy but absolutely fascinating too. I haven’t highlighted a book so much in a long time + I don’t have the caption space to say everything I’d like to! BUT, I’d highly, HIGHLY recommend this read if you’re interested in prisons + are looking for an honest, profound and super interesting memoir.

𝑬𝒇𝒇𝒚 @𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍🦇

[Melanie Trenchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book says it’s a true account of his life story and I think the writing style reflects that he’s probably written the majority of it himself. At times strangely dispassionate he misses huge amounts of what must have been the most terrible experiences to have lived through. It’s quite incredible that he seems to be able to reflect calmly on this with very little emotion. He has endured so many wrongs and bad luck in his life it’s amazing how he has come out of it positive. I couldn’t stop reading jt, I was aghast at the strategies he had to use to avoid or mitigate trouble and while reading it I reflected on the injustices and inhumanity of the American prison system. I imagine life must have been desperately boring and routine interspersed with terrible acts of violence and fear, for this reason I suspect the chapters pass by quickly, covering great swathes of time leaving the reader to guess how many years have passed. I hope Jamie is living a better life now and that he enjoys reading these reviews so that he can rest knowing that his story is being heard, over and over again. A very brave man indeed.

[Natalie Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy reading non-fiction, especially when it is a biography/autobiography or true crime. This combined the two, telling the story of Jamie Morgan Kane and the horrific misjudgement that resulted in him spending 34 years in a number of pretty awful US prisons.

The story describes Jamie’s life before the incident which ended up with him being convicted of the crime that saw him imprisoned. His early life could have been a novel in itself – a truly awful story that makes you wonder how Jamie turned out to be the seemingly caring and hardworking guy he seems to have become.

The descriptions of prison life – the other inmates, the guards, the routine and the torturous conditions is truly terrifying. I don’t believe prison should be an easy ride but as Jamie was wrongly convicted (or so it seems), it makes what he went through so much worse.

An interesting read which I would recommend to all lovers of true crime and biographical stories. Jamie’s story is well written about his full, frustrating and sad life.

https://thespooniemummy.com/2019/10/0...

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the fastest books I’ve read in ages! I zoomed through it staying up all night two nights in a row to keep reading! I’ve read a lot of books written by prisoners over the years and this is well written by comparison and not too repetitive. I was especially interested because I’m British but have always had a fascination with the American justice system. It certainly highlighted things I always knew went on there. It also highlighted the reasons I’m currently trying to leave work within the justice system because here or America both systems are so bent and floored it bothers me too much to remain a part of them. I’m too moral and honest to stick it any longer!
Definitely a great book and I take my hat off to jamie for having the spirit to not be broken! Being raised with bikes in my blood I would have to say it’s the biker blood that got him through in the end 🙏💕😊😉

[Dawn Davies · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author admits to a murder even though he didn't commit it to save his wife from prison. While in prison he met the notorious prisioners; Charlie Manson, Charles 'Tex' Watson and Edmund Kemper. Throughout the book he reitterates time and again that he just wants to keep his head low and do his time and that somehow situations just kept happening to him. However the behaviour he describes is anything but. He is very standoffish, easily goaded and quick to fly into a temper.

A very easy wish washy read but nothing of any major substance. There are also questions around whether all the murders/stabbings that happened right in front of him actually happened as it seems to be quite a common occurance. However as I haven't been inside a prison as an inmate or worked in one either I cannot say for certain.

[BB Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I would like to say Thankyou to Netgallay and the publishers for allowing me a copy of his book to read in exchange for my honest review.

This memoir of Jamie’s life is fascinating, one can only begin to imagine the immense strength someone must have to go through prison in some of America’s toughest prisons alongside notorious inmates.

I loved that despite all the challenges and wrong doings Jamie has been presented with over the years, Throughout he is very calm and recalls every little detail no matter how harrowing, it’s refreshing to see he is almost taking it in his stride and isn’t filled with anger and resentment that one would expect.

Thankyou for being completely honest and raw with your emotion and recounts of events.

[Between The Pages (Gemma M) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a non-fiction, real life story. It starts off more a biography of his life before the arrest and prison. He hasn't had an easy childhood at all. Then we move on to the arrest and prison side to the story. If you've been following my blog a while you will know prison interests me so I love to read them and the stories within them. They're intriguing to me.
Throughout reading this I really felt sorry for Jamie. What a brave, strong and determined man. He was moved between so many prisons in the 34 years and denied bail so many times, but he never gave up and I applaud him for that. He experienced many fights and battles along the way. It all paid off in the end. The ending we all wanted and needed. A story to tell. He hasnt let it effect his freedom now, instead after his release in 2018 he decided to share his story with us all.
I think America has a huge problem with their prison system that needs to be looked into further. An eye-opening, real read! Well deserverd four stars from me. Highly recommend. What a man. What a story.

[Kirse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Congratulations on Your Freedom, Mr. Kane

I read this book because I wanted to read a firsthand account of time spent in prison. I expected to hear a story of fear and--I don't really know. Now I wonder if Mr. Kane was an anomaly in his strength, courage, and desire to just be left alone. The calm narration, in the way that his writing appeared to take each day as it came, as just a part of life, made prison seem tough, unfair, but doable if you stay in shape, fight when necessary, but stay away from gangs and have a "You-do-your-thing-I'll-do-mine" attitude. Okay, doing all of that doesn't sound so easy, actually. And after all, the title is, "34 Years In Hell"... (And this doesn't even bring into account the man's tragic, traumatic childhood!) Wow.

[Matt Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book in 4 days and im a very slow reader, thoroughly enjoyed it! However, upon reflection, a few things that need improvement:

Every chapter is him just moving to another prison, seeing fights, and him winning fights of 1 against many.

The whole plot twist about his adopted father using him to cover up another disappeared boy only came up on the last page and caused a lot more confusion. I would have liked to have had more clarity on the somewhat confusing family situation.

There wasn't really anything about if he ever spoke to his wife again or what he knows about her.

I would have liked to have found out more about his 18 months since release and also if he kept in touch with his pen pal.

[Annette Poro · Rating 2 out of 5]

Moderately interesting. Gives an insight into the tough life in American jails.

Written as a sequential, factual and dispassionate account of this mans experiences, I found it a bit tedious in parts. (This happened..then this happened...then this.. ). He describes horrific events but there is no emotion, and I felt that much was omitted.

The backstory he discovers behind his move to the US as a child, his parents, his adoption and the events around the crime for which he was jailed don't get enough exploration. I was left unclear and confused on that. If what he claims is true, it represents a massive miscarriage of justice. Yet he does not express outrage or even anger at such an injustice or talk about clearing his name.


The Audible narrator was clear but a bit monotone.

[Jim affleck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prison memoirs

Fairly written, factual account of a lifer's time inside an American prison. Did feel, as the account progressed, the more bravado, and excess of self ego began to creep in. This may however be justified, considering the amount of time Jamie spent, alone, within an extremely hostile prison environment. Although very plausible in context, reality says that those pre-disposed to criminal wrong doing can be masterful when it comes to fabricating amenable stories. This book is what it is, gave five stars, simply because it may not be the strongest, but certainly continues this ground breaking genre.

[Hugh Sheehy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairly simple and straightforward account of a miscarriage of justice that resulted in a man spending 34 years behind bars in various different prisons in the US. The book was slow to get going and I had read 3-4 chapters recounting his past wondering what it was all about and considering putting the book down. But just as i was considering that, the author got to the nub of the story and it improved dramatically from there. I still dont know why he was convicted. I didnt quite understand why but I just accepted that fact as the main point of the story was his recounting of the events thereafter. All in all, a good read.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was pretty much riveting beginning to end. He talks about celebrity prisoners he met while doing time, and the dangers he tried and couldn’t avoid. It shows the flaws in the system, and how ridiculous they can be.

Learnings: Tough times don’t last (although they can go on for many years), tough people do. We do not have to be a product of our environment, it is possible to rise above. Religion is not required to do good, to serve, to be good. Patriotism can be a cult like religion, and it’s not a bad thing to question both and look at them with a bit of skepticism. Family and ancestry, both true and adopted, is part of who we are, and there’s a desire to know and understand it.

[Nessa Wesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing life story. I feel terrible for Mr. Kane because of everything he had to endure. Whether he is innocent or not, I still feel sorry for him because his life has been more down than up. particularly the section about the cat. Even though he is a tough guy and wouldn't have cried in public, it must have been devastating. The fact that so many jails treat inmates like filthy animals and then expect them to return to normal life after years of living in actual hell disgusts me. I am glad that he found the strength to write this book. It was very insightful and I truly felt it. Thank you, Mr Kane.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started out quite slow and gave us an insight into his early life, I wanted the juicy prison story! This guy suffered a lot in his prison time, moved a lot and was subject to so much violence. He must be a pretty nice guy to only retaliate when he had no choice. It's a tough book to read, what he went through must have been horrible - but I don't get why he went through with his choices...? Madness! It's interesting to read about something I am certain I will never experience and once it got going, I really enjoyed this. Well worth picking up ❤

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and sympathetic look at the American justice system through the eyes of a British national. Following a difficult and turbulent childhood, Kane was sentenced for various serious charges to decades in the Californian prison system. Although the circumstances of his conviction was dubious at best, Kane made the best out of his situation at the time. Some years are glossed over with brief mentions of infamous inmates he crossed paths with.

This is a unique prison memoir and a worthwhile read for those interested in the genre.

[Jerome Washington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was...tough.
Left me speechless.
Left me thinking about how I would even handle a situation like that.
The constant pain and agony of rejection.
The constant turmoil of doing my best to "hold my mud" even when it seems bleak.

I appreciate everything this book offered to me given the circumstances Jamie had to go through.

This book also shows just how flawed, unjust and borderline unconstitutional the US justice system can be.

Everyone should read this book! I thank Jamie for sharing his story.

[Renate Natalie N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow start, but it's needed for the story!
Insane. This man, I can't help but respect.
WOW! You do engange yourself, and the jail system in the USA is just scary. To be honest. Jamie Morgan Kane is a smart man and keeps his head out of trouble if he can.
Some well-known names appear in this book, too.
I didn't know about this man before this read, and now I wanna check out if there is a documentary or anything.
I really and truly hope he has a wonderful life back in the UK as a free man. Finally.

Really captivated me with his story, and I recommend it. True. No fiction. Just wow.