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Fire on the Levee: The Murder of Henry Glover and the Search for Justice after Hurricane Katrina
“A riveting tale told with care and expertise.” —David Simon, creator of The Wire
The former federal prosecutor and founder of Justice Innovation Lab tells the story of his struggle to unravel the cover-up of a police shooting, and subsequent incineration of the shooting victim, in Hurricane Katrina–era New Orleans.
In 2009, Jared Fishman was a young prosecutor working on low-level civil rights cases in the Justice Department when a file landed on his desk. That folder contained two a story from The Nation magazine examining a mysterious death in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, and an autopsy report for a man named Henry Glover, whose charred remains were found in a burned-out car two weeks after the storm. The autopsy report, bafflingly, listed no cause of death. But according to The Nation story, a gravely wounded Glover had last been seen in a car driven by a New Orleans police officer.
Intrigued despite the lack of evidence, Fishman set out to learn what happened to Glover. He flew to New Orleans and teamed up with a rookie FBI agent, and together they started to track down anyone with information about what had happened to Glover on that day.
Fire on the Levee tells the story of a young idealistic prosecutor determined to bring the truth to light. The case would lead to major reforms in the New Orleans Police Department and ultimately change our understanding of race, policing and justice in post-Katrina New Orleans and beyond.
The former federal prosecutor and founder of Justice Innovation Lab tells the story of his struggle to unravel the cover-up of a police shooting, and subsequent incineration of the shooting victim, in Hurricane Katrina–era New Orleans.
In 2009, Jared Fishman was a young prosecutor working on low-level civil rights cases in the Justice Department when a file landed on his desk. That folder contained two a story from The Nation magazine examining a mysterious death in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, and an autopsy report for a man named Henry Glover, whose charred remains were found in a burned-out car two weeks after the storm. The autopsy report, bafflingly, listed no cause of death. But according to The Nation story, a gravely wounded Glover had last been seen in a car driven by a New Orleans police officer.
Intrigued despite the lack of evidence, Fishman set out to learn what happened to Glover. He flew to New Orleans and teamed up with a rookie FBI agent, and together they started to track down anyone with information about what had happened to Glover on that day.
Fire on the Levee tells the story of a young idealistic prosecutor determined to bring the truth to light. The case would lead to major reforms in the New Orleans Police Department and ultimately change our understanding of race, policing and justice in post-Katrina New Orleans and beyond.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published April 25, 2023
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597 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
August 28, 2023
Riveting. Well written and structured.
May 9, 2023
I work for one of the defense lawyers in this case and was in the courtroom for some of scenes described. It was interesting to read about it from the other side of the room and to see how the investigation progressed during the time before we got involved. I read it for the main story and it was strong there, but toward the end Mr. Fishman brings in several other cases (primarily from New Orleans but also from other places) involving shootings of African-American men and perhaps because it was late at night, perhaps because I I had gotten what I read the book for, I thought it gave the book a weaker ending.
October 21, 2023
Fire on the levee was a very good book. The book told the story of how Henry Gould was shot and killed by the police and the car set on fire to cover up the crime. Jared fishman and a group of investigators were given the task of investigating and finding out who killed this man.
May 4, 2023
Ya'll - this book is SO GOOD!
It is not my usual book at all. I don't do true crime or legal dramas, so I was a little nervous that this book would be slow for me. But it was so interesting, so exciting. It really was a page-turner.
In 2009, while a young lawyer working for the DOJ, a file came across Jared's desk about a body burned in a car in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina. The body was ID'd as Henry Glover, last seen in police custody.
So Jared opened up an investigation against the NOPD. This book outlines the research, the witnesses, the evidence, the trial. But it's so much more than that. I learned a lot about the police system, the legal system and just how frustrating they can be. There was a moment in this book where I yelled out loud "Hell yeah!" and there were times reading this book that I felt defeated. But all of it was captivating. And Jared is such a hopeful person who believes the future of this country can be better than the present. It is inspiring and has made me start thinking of different ways I can make a positive impact in the world. I've already convinced 4 of my neighbors to read this book and I think you should all read it too.
It is not my usual book at all. I don't do true crime or legal dramas, so I was a little nervous that this book would be slow for me. But it was so interesting, so exciting. It really was a page-turner.
In 2009, while a young lawyer working for the DOJ, a file came across Jared's desk about a body burned in a car in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina. The body was ID'd as Henry Glover, last seen in police custody.
So Jared opened up an investigation against the NOPD. This book outlines the research, the witnesses, the evidence, the trial. But it's so much more than that. I learned a lot about the police system, the legal system and just how frustrating they can be. There was a moment in this book where I yelled out loud "Hell yeah!" and there were times reading this book that I felt defeated. But all of it was captivating. And Jared is such a hopeful person who believes the future of this country can be better than the present. It is inspiring and has made me start thinking of different ways I can make a positive impact in the world. I've already convinced 4 of my neighbors to read this book and I think you should all read it too.
May 10, 2023
Such an important book. It tells a gripping story. I read the entire thing in a single sitting. It left me deeply unsettled as I don’t feel that justice was achieved in this instance. The author’s hopeful tone and message offset that somewhat, but it’s not an easy read. I would go into it blind with no knowledge of the outcome of the verdict if you would like the full suspense.
It can be a bit of a dense read, especially as they go over the court proceedings, but it is absolutely worth it to gain a more nuanced understanding of American justice.
It can be a bit of a dense read, especially as they go over the court proceedings, but it is absolutely worth it to gain a more nuanced understanding of American justice.
May 18, 2023
This was such a wonderful book. The topic is incredibly disheartening and disturbing but the way in which it is written is respectful, resonating, eloquent. I genuinely enjoyed this book and the ways in which it educated me.
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April 1, 2023Discrimination & Race Relations, Murder
November 19, 2024
Fishman was the federal prosecutor assigned to the case of Henry Glover, whose body was burned on the Mississippi River batture after having been murdered by New Orleans Police while the city was still in dissaray after Katrina. Fishman recounts the process of investigating the case while a corrupt local law enforcement apparatus circled the wagons. The initial convictions obtained in the case would give way to reduced sentences or outright reversals on appeal for various reasons too lengthy to go into. Fishman obviously still has pride in the work he did attempting to bring these cops to justice. But, in reality, it's hard to say that's what was done here.
November 21, 2023
A mostly one-sided account of a terrible situation in New Orleans post-Katrina, it serves as another strong example of the misunderstanding in America of how we treat one another and our collective consideration of the worth of our fellow man. The writing is really strong and the story is more than sad. It’s a great book for anyone who is capable of reading with an open mind.
June 29, 2023
Absolutely riveting. Written with all the hallmarks of a great crime novel, but heartbreakingly, infuriatingly not fictional.
May 15, 2023
Good book on a heinous crime (s) committed by New Orleans police in the days after Hurricane Katrina. Whites abuse of Blacks and the determination of courageous people seeking truth and justice
Clear and thoughtful about our nation’s problems
Clear and thoughtful about our nation’s problems
July 30, 2023
Mr. Fishman helped to shine a light on my naivety regarding the social injustices which occurred following hurricane Katrina and continue to plague the US today. While reading Fire On The Levee there were times that I had to remind myself that this was not a post apocalyptic dystopian tale but an actual account of true happenings. I truely believe that if there were more Jared Fishman's out there; people who are willing to speak out and speak up and fight for the voiceless no matter the odds stacked against them, that the world we live in today would be a little less daunting and discriminatory. While most take baby steps to better the world, Mr. Fishman, Special Agent Ashley Johnson and the rest of their team are the giants that walk amongst us.
April 28, 2023
Five stars. A true crime page turner that you can’t put down. In the morass of post Katrina New Orleans a horrible crime was committed. Told with courage and conviction it shows a rare glimpse into the Justice system - the best and the worst of it. You will be changed by this important story.
June 28, 2023
A riveting story start to finish with excellent writing.
August 1, 2023
I highly recommend reading this book. I could not put this book down! I learned so much while also being captivated by the story!
June 21, 2023
My brother lived in New Orleans during Katrina. I have since pushed the awfulness of that time out of my mind, but this book brought it back and introduced me to some things I didn't know about previously. If you were in New Orleans after the storm, you may want to skip this book.
That said, it is not gory or even terribly depressing because the authors tell the story in a positive way. The agents who worked on this case were very new to their career, and that likely made them more optimistic than more seasoned agents would be, and that came out in the book.
This book was recommended to me because I liked The Fishermen and the Dragon: Fear, Greed, and a Fight for Justice on the Gulf Coast so much. The latter is a much richer tale where the author delves into the life and culture of fisherman on the Gulf. This book is focused solely on the investigation and trial, which makes sense because the author is a prosecutor who tried the case, but it definitely has more of a procedural feel to it.
The book does not end in complete victory. It realistically plays out what happens in many court cases in the US. But I really appreciated the update on NOPD policing. Although all is not rosy by any means, the cautious steps towards reform really HAVE made a difference, as can be seen by the numbers and fewer cases thrown out for being totally ridiculous. I have a relative who is an Assistant District Attorney, and this book, especially the parts at the end, reminded me of discussions with her about police misconduct and sloppiness messing up so many of her cases. By working on these problems, not only will the public be better served and less likely to be victimized by the police, it will help to put the focus on actual dangerous criminals.
Fishman grapples with the question that I often do in my city, especially now that there is a rise in crime that is frightening people from all walks of life. He, like I, thinks that police have an important role in society. Some of the most vulnerable neighborhoods are in need of more policing. However, not policing as it currently looks - policing that victimizes the neighborhoods rather than protecting them. How do we get to that latter place. I am going to have to look up his organization, Justice Innovation Lab.
Coincidentally, I finished this book on the same day that I listened to a podcast on plea bargains, minimum sentences, and the lack of trials for 97%+ of cases. The speaker had optimism that reforms are something that people on both sides of the aisle are considering more and more. Thanks to people like Fishman for working towards a better justice system.
That said, it is not gory or even terribly depressing because the authors tell the story in a positive way. The agents who worked on this case were very new to their career, and that likely made them more optimistic than more seasoned agents would be, and that came out in the book.
This book was recommended to me because I liked The Fishermen and the Dragon: Fear, Greed, and a Fight for Justice on the Gulf Coast so much. The latter is a much richer tale where the author delves into the life and culture of fisherman on the Gulf. This book is focused solely on the investigation and trial, which makes sense because the author is a prosecutor who tried the case, but it definitely has more of a procedural feel to it.
The book does not end in complete victory. It realistically plays out what happens in many court cases in the US. But I really appreciated the update on NOPD policing. Although all is not rosy by any means, the cautious steps towards reform really HAVE made a difference, as can be seen by the numbers and fewer cases thrown out for being totally ridiculous. I have a relative who is an Assistant District Attorney, and this book, especially the parts at the end, reminded me of discussions with her about police misconduct and sloppiness messing up so many of her cases. By working on these problems, not only will the public be better served and less likely to be victimized by the police, it will help to put the focus on actual dangerous criminals.
Fishman grapples with the question that I often do in my city, especially now that there is a rise in crime that is frightening people from all walks of life. He, like I, thinks that police have an important role in society. Some of the most vulnerable neighborhoods are in need of more policing. However, not policing as it currently looks - policing that victimizes the neighborhoods rather than protecting them. How do we get to that latter place. I am going to have to look up his organization, Justice Innovation Lab.
Coincidentally, I finished this book on the same day that I listened to a podcast on plea bargains, minimum sentences, and the lack of trials for 97%+ of cases. The speaker had optimism that reforms are something that people on both sides of the aisle are considering more and more. Thanks to people like Fishman for working towards a better justice system.
July 7, 2023
It's always hard and it feels a little weird rating and reviewing true crime novels and this one is no different.
I remember seeing Katrina hit on the news and watching images of the destruction and hearing horror stories about the people who stayed behind and were forgotten about and being horrified. Those memories of watching it play out on the news pale in comparison to reading about the crime that happened to Henry Glover.
The first few parts of this novel explore not only the crime, but dig into the history of the NOPD and the corruption and horror that those officers inflicted on the citizens they were supposed to be protecting. We also get some background and first hand accounts about what it was like during those initial days after Katrina made landfall.
The first part of the book was a definite 5 star rating for me.
But as the book goes on I felt that the parts about the trial dragged on and could have been covered in far fewer pages. There was so much testimony to go through and so much was covered about the prosecution and defense that for me unless you're a huge fan of legal dramas it was just a sludge to get through and it through the pacing of the whole book off so I took off 2 stars for that.
I remember seeing Katrina hit on the news and watching images of the destruction and hearing horror stories about the people who stayed behind and were forgotten about and being horrified. Those memories of watching it play out on the news pale in comparison to reading about the crime that happened to Henry Glover.
The first few parts of this novel explore not only the crime, but dig into the history of the NOPD and the corruption and horror that those officers inflicted on the citizens they were supposed to be protecting. We also get some background and first hand accounts about what it was like during those initial days after Katrina made landfall.
The first part of the book was a definite 5 star rating for me.
But as the book goes on I felt that the parts about the trial dragged on and could have been covered in far fewer pages. There was so much testimony to go through and so much was covered about the prosecution and defense that for me unless you're a huge fan of legal dramas it was just a sludge to get through and it through the pacing of the whole book off so I took off 2 stars for that.
May 19, 2024
Thank you Aunt Jackie for recommending this book. It documents the death of Henry Glover and the subsequent investigation and trial as experienced by the federal prosecutor involved in the case. The state of the police department in New Orleans and the circumstances after hurricane Katrina are major characters in this book. “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” is a phrase by British historian John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton, also known as Lord Acton(I was familiar with the quote but had no idea who had said it). The officers involved in this murder may not have had absolute power, but they felt there would be no accountability for their actions so they did as they pleased. What they lived through in the aftermath of Katrina is unimaginable, but does not forgive their actions.
August 25, 2024
The entire time I was reading this selection for our library's non-fiction book club, all I kept remembering was the series Treme' which was referenced in this narrative. I have not forgotten so many horrible news broadcasts during the storm. People on roof tops, pets being abandoned, no electricity, water, food. Flooding of epic proportions. After all these years, those news images still make me extremely sad. It always seems like the Gulf hurricanes are worse than the ones that travel our East coast, but the bad storms are just that - bad, devastating, no matter where they happen. I've been to New Orleans, pre-Katrina, and to see the destruction of the city was heartbreaking. I felt like it would never come back to life, but it did, slowly and surely. I would like to visit there again, post-Katrina, and see what it has become since then.
October 3, 2024
5 stars - I was really glad to have read this book. Despite a hefty cast of characters, I felt clear about each one, their role in the shooting and coverup (including the places where evidence was strong vs slim vs murky), and how the judicial process works. I appreciated the way that other cases were brought in throughout the story to give context regarding why else was happening in police abuse cases in the region. It gave a lot of detail throughout the trial, which I liked, since it’s something I’m looking to learn more about. This book is inspiring - I think it can spur a lot of people to action, whether in criminal justice reform, or other work/philanthropy/volunteerism to advance equity.
May 1, 2023
This was a riveting account of a Black man's murder in New Orleans, just after Hurricane Katrina exited the city. It was heartbreaking in how little this man's death meant to so many people in the police department even though it was that very police department that was covering up the murder and burning of the body by their own members. At times, the trial detail seemed overly minute but the overall book told a story of a man who deserved better than he got and that at least needed to have his story told.
February 4, 2025
I’m typically hesitant to have high expectations for books written by the major players in a crime or investigation. This one was written really well. Fishman spends the first part taking us along on the investigation, learning everything as he learned it. Then the trial coverage is actually compelling rather than just essentially transcripts. He also gives ample space to defense arguments. While he will quickly give his opinion on those arguments, he does not belittle them and gives a fair shake.
May 1, 2023
Right from the beginning, this book was a real page-turner. It brings to light many important issues within the criminal justice system and explains ways for us to do better. The story expertly takes you from an investigation into the NOPD all the way through trial, with personal stories by the author along the way. I would definitely recommend this book to any one interested in learning more about these issues, or even someone interested in a well-written true-crime read.
October 28, 2024
I so want to give this a higher review. I very much love that this story is documented and actually chose it for my neighborhood book club (a discussion I can’t wait to have on inequity, power struggles, and over-policing) but the book was a hard one to get through. The start of the investigation was riveting while the trial really drug on. It’s an important story to tell and for that reason I recommend it, but be warned the second half is a bit slow!
August 8, 2025
This hit home to me because I grew up less than a 100 miles from New orleans during Katrina. I always knew the new orleans PD were worse than the criminals. There was a saying, "You want less crime in new orleans? Hire less police." The shocking corruption of the New Orleans PD after Hurricane Katrina. This book is such a gut punch. If you want an inspirational story about justice, this book ain't it.
July 27, 2023
What a powerful book. Between the racism and the corruption within the New Orleans Police Dept I’m surprised that Fishman and his colleagues were as successful as they were - and also surprised they lived to tell the story. The book was well written and documented but I wish he’d stopped after the Gliver trials and not added what I felt was extraneous information about other cases at the end.
August 18, 2023
3.5 stars. This was a powerful book on the stark realities of our judicial system, racism and police brutality. I was equal parts fascinated and horrified throughout the entire book. I really appreciated the care, respect and kindness with which the author told these important stories and wrote the book.
January 11, 2024
While a very thorough, detailed and, by the end, sad account of justice in police-community relations, this book offers some excellent points about the difficulties of the US legal system. Keen, supported remarks about the failure of the US prison system for those who are convicted or even charged with, especially, petty crimes. REFORM NEEDED!
May 1, 2023
As prosecutor for the Department of Justice, Jared Fishman was assigned a case to investigate the murder of Henry Glover, whose body was found burned in a car by the levee. An unbelievable true story, I couldn't put this book down. I highly recommend adding this to your books to read list!
May 30, 2023
Henry Glover was shot by a cop, and the murder was covered up without any explanation or review when another group of cops took the car he was in away and burned the whole thing. Fishman investigated and has it all here. I'm not a big fan of True Crime, but this was mesmerizing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews