As a loyal John Grisham fan I was delighted to be able to read this book prior to publication. I found it not to be a typical John Grisham book. This is more true crime in nature as it focuses on multiple cases where innocent people were found guilty of crimes they did not commit. It certainly highlights the fact that this country must do more in the judicial field to be sure innocent people are not placed in such situations. I found the book interesting, sad, and way too lengthy in certain situations. I hope reading this book may enlighten others.

I wish to thank Net Galley and Doubleday Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy f this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed this advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Very good.

In discussing with a friend, it was suggested to google "Don't Talk to the Police" (corner of YouTube has Regent University / School of Law in bottom right corner). The Fifth Amendment provides "No person ... shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.. The second part of this 46 min video provides some insight from Officer George Bruch of the Virginia Beach PD. People are inherently honest and/or they want to tell their story ... and people hate silence. In an interrogation room, the interviewee wants out of the room ... the detective has the opportunity for overtime. You are going to be interviewed by someone who is experienced, you are not. It's an unlevel playing field. (real world ... defendant next to defense attorney - strike 1; detective who is a professional witness - strike 2; confession - strike 3 ... this is a jury of your peers. You need to prove your innocence.) Keep your mouth shut.

Police can lie in interview/interrogation. This came up over and over in FRAMED (and also at the end of the YouTube). Don't write a confession, don't admit that they deceased was gorgeous, just take the fifth.

Framed reviews 10 cases where police wanted to close cases and people were framed. Snitches, sweetheart deals, profiling, "experts" who aren't experts or paid for their testimony. People who went to prison for decades and some who executed. Framed is eye-opening.

Dr. James Grigson (was a forensic psychiatrist ... and career witness) in two of the 10 cases. The press dubbed him Dr. Death and the American Psychiatric Assoc expelled him in 1995 for unethical conduct. He testified in 167 capital trials.

4 - 5 stars ... because there were so many characters and the chapters/individual stories now feel like they have all rather run together. Just so horrifying how interrogators and the "justice" system was able to frame these men.

Many thanks to Doubleday Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to review the advance read copy of Framed by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey in exchange for an honest review. 368 pages. Publication date is Oct 15, 2024. Based on the acknowledgements, the actual book will have photos ... but they were not included in the advance read copy.

Has a wealthy white male ever been wrongfully convicted of a violent crime?

I would honestly like to know.

A 2022 report found that Black people are 7 times more likely than white people to be wrongly convicted of murder.

All wrongful convictions that I’m aware of, regardless of race, have been people from marginalized communities.

FRAMED brings us 10 cases of wrongful convictions. These men spent decades of their lives incarcerated for crimes they had nothing to do with.

Perhaps the worst part, the most appalling aspect, is that in all of these cases, the facts were right there for anyone interested in finding the truth.

The overlap in the shoddy investigations and persecutions (these were not legal prosecutions) blew my mind. Different cities, different cases, same old, tired excuse for a justice system.

I personally prefer longer, in-depth books over the kind of short case summaries presented here. Still, this is an important read that I recommend.

This book was jointly written by two authors. Each innocence case was told by one author. Some of the cases were very wild and in some cases the story followed tangents that made the story difficult to follow. I work in corrections and frankly, criminal cases are very much like that, lots of rabbit holes. That said, some stories challenged my interest to connect the dots. Overall, I am always curious and sad about people that are found guilty and later proven innocent. The evidence in several of the cases involved was bizarre at best, it concerns me that this happens among the professionals we are to trust in the system. I think it is a good reminder to be a critical and objective thinker, and the human condition, how beliefs and emotions can impact the outcomes of matters of liberty.

I am drawn to stories about wrongful convictions. I work in a field that is within the criminal justice area so that isn't unexpected. Our judicial system is highly flawed and sadly once someone in incarcerated, if they are innocent it's so hard for the wrong to be righted. John Grisham and Jim McCloskey each present cases that showcase wrongful convictions. The cases that Jim McCloskey showcases are ones he's worked on with his non-profit, Centurion Ministries. Because of Jim's first hand knowledge of the cases, I found his storytelling more compelling than those provided by John Grisham. It's obvious from both that a lot of research went into all the stories due to the amount of detail provided.

The more we talk about stories of wrongful convictions, the more I hope it'll help to change things in the judicial system. Unless we are willing to deal with racism in the US; however, I find that unlikely. If you think racism doesn't play a role in incarcerate, please read this book along with other stories dealing with false incarceration, such as Just Mercy and The Sing Sing Files.

Thank you to Doubleday and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for review consideration.

Framed is a powerful and deeply moving collection of real-life stories that shine a light on the devastating impact of wrongful convictions. John Grisham and Jim McCloskey expertly present these cases with compassion, shedding light on the human toll of injustice. Each story is a reminder of the flaws within the justice system and the incredible strength of those who fought for their freedom.

The writing is sharp, engaging, and emotionally resonant, making it impossible to put down. This book is not only an engrossing read but also an important call for reform. Highly recommended for anyone interested in true crime, justice, and human resilience!

I adore everything John Grisham writes so requesting to read this was a no-brainer. I remember reading “The Innocent Man” several years ago, and “Framed” stays with the same theme of innocent men being found guilty without a fair chance to prove otherwise.

I’m an attorney and the first to acknowledge our criminal justice system has many flaws. Co-written with Jim McCloskey, “Framed” focuses on 21 different defendants, all of whom faced egregious miscarriages of justice.

I am proud that I teach at a law school that focuses on overturning wrongful convictions. This book emphasizes the importance of pointing out that justice can be blind in particular when it comes to flaws within our criminal law system

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this great read.

There’s no one else that I would trust to write stories of wrongly convicted people more than John Grisham. I found myself going down the rabbit holes with alot of the cases in this book and it’s really an eye opener to different parts of country and the justice system. Highly recommend this book. 📖

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." It took me a while to read since 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.

Thank you for this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book has several interesting cases that I found myself going down the rabbit hole with. Most of the cases were unknown to me before this book, which is always exciting. The topic of real people who were wrongly convicted is something that the True Crime literature world has yet to see...until now. Also, the authors, John Grisham, and Jim McCloskey, do a fabulous job of providing detailed evidence and making the case for innocence of the men and women highlighted in the pages of this book.
One of my letdowns was when Grisham calls someone “mentally retarded” — that is not an appropriate label for someone with a mental disability or lower IQ. The new and more appropriate label would be “intellectually disabled.” In my opinion, this piece of the book needs to be altered to reflect a more kind verbiage.
Another thing that was disappointing was that towards a the end of the book, I did feel like there was too much evidence and the book could have been a lot shorter if paragraphs were cut down.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. Well This book was about the wrongful convictions of people arrested and found guilty for crimes that they didn't commit. There are still people in prison who were found guilty but they are innocent. This was horrifying to realize this really does happen. Hopefully now with DNA they can limit the number of wrongful convictions. This was so eye opening.

John and Jim's book introduces the significant concept that justice is not always administered swiftly, fairly, or equally, a notion that has been relevant for decades and continues to be pertinent today. By incorporating real stories from across the United States, the authors provide a comprehensive view into the experiences of the accused, as well as the professionals responsible for prosecuting and defending them. The narrative also explores the effects of crime on the families of the accused, the victims, the wider community, and the nation as a whole. The research supporting these insights is thorough and presented in a manner that is both clear and accessible, allowing readers unfamiliar with legal jargon to understand the recounting of court proceedings and legal events related to each case. This examination underscores the ongoing necessity for attention to the imperfections that still plague the justice system, highlighting the critical role of storytelling in the pursuit of its reform.

Framed is an eye opening, heart breaking read about men who were framed for crimes they did not commit. The lengths that some of these police officers, DAs and judges went to convict innocent men is disturbing. I always thought I was ok with capital punishment, but not after reading these 10 stories.

Due to the heavy content, it took me longer than usual to get through this book. I could not read more that one story at a time, it was just too much.

Thank you to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Framed by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey. A lot of research and hard work and I'm sure tears brought this true story to us. What a heart-wrenching read. It took me a long time to read it through because it hurt me to learn of the dishonesty, cruelty, and even evilness of some of our court systems. From the DA, investigators, prosecutors, and even judges. I could only read one chapter at a time because it disturbed me so much. The injustice hurt me and made me angry. How could these people in power sleep at night? How can they operate their lives every day with the knowledge they advanced their careers by the lies they told and the pain they inflicted? This book is about only ten cases of injustice done by unethical despicable people in power. A story of ten cases of unjust prison sentences and even death sentence
I'm so glad they named names because even if they have retired or passed the world and families will know of their evil deeds. These were not just errors made, these are cases of manipulation and corruption not by any perpetrator but by the very law system that is supposed to be lawful. I know it's not all of course but it shows it happens not just in poor areas but all over the country. So many biased influential people, so many horrible decisions made to cover up the truth and prosecute innocent people for their own feather in their cap. Greed, laziness, and liars at the expense of human lives.
I do ask you to read this so you know the truth. Please get this book and even if it hurts your heart I hope it opens your eyes.
Thank you NetGalley and Double Day books for allowing me to read and review this book.

John Grisham bring his talent for writing thrillers to five stories of wrongful convictions. He gives blow by blow accounts of each crime and arrest of Americans who were innocent but found guilty. Jim McCloskey, founder of Centurion Ministries - an organization dedicated to freeing the wrongfully convicted - tackles five more stories. All the chapters evoke the true crime shows so prevalent on Friday night TV. If you are a fan of 20/20 or Dateline, you will enjoy Framed. This book highlights serious problems in our criminal justice system. It may not be easy, but is important to read.

DEFINITE recommend
4.0 stars

This is a non-fiction book by John Grishman, legal thriller author, and Jim McCloskey, founder of Centurion Ministries. This book is a set of ten stories of wrongly accused individuals who were framed, railroaded, and finally exonerated for crimes that they did not commit. It was horrific and sad as these individuals spent so much time in prison for crimes that they did not commit. The time the legal, judicial, and law enforcement agencies spent creating these false narratives was astounding. Not surprisingly, most of these stories occurred in the South.

I had to read this a little at a time. It was dark, graphic, and horrible. The minute details were included which I felt were a bit overwhelming to read. Additionally, there were so many names and individuals involved in each case so it was easy to get confused about the individuals involved.

I greatly admire the authors for writing this book and bringing the darkness to light regarding these wrongful incarcerations.

This review will be published:
• Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6701429877
• Books by Dorothea - https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2024/09/review-framed-ebook.html
Both reviews will be published on 9/9/2024

While this wasn't your typical John Grisham book, it was provided thought-provoking information about wrongful convictions that have taken place in the US. The book tells about ten real-like cases where innocent individuals were wrongly accused and imprisioned. Framed is a sobering read, but it also offers a glimmer of hope - showcasing the efforts of lawyers, investigators, and advocates who work tirelessly to exonerate the innocent.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Framed is a book that I had to take my time with. It's easy enough to read - both Grisham and McCloskey write in a familiar, conversational tone. The problem is the subject matter. It's infuriating. Several times while reading the stories contained in this book I wanted to throw my Kindle across the room. The level of corruption and incompetence displayed in the cases presented are almost too much to be believed. I found I had to read the book in pieces - a chapter here, a chapter there, with lighter books on less serious topics in between to keep my sanity.

For all that it is difficult and frustrating to read, Framed is an important book as well. I believe anyone who reads it will come away certain that our criminal justice system is in desperate need of reform.

This book was very well written and very engaging. I have to admit that it took me a long time to finish it, not because it was boring, but because it would irritate me so much to the point that I felt I had to put it away for a bit. The amount of incompetence was astounding! I cannot believe people like this exist in the judicial system. It is a very scary thing to think about because this can literally happen to any of us.

For some, they just happened to be at the wrong place and wrong time. For others, they were suspects just because they were trying to be good Samaritans and help with the investigations. These "detectives" along with the judges, need to be held accountable. No amount of money could ever give these people all the years they lost with their loved ones. Having to lose the opportunity to have a family and a career and spend time with their family and friends because of someone else's ineptitude, is mind boggling and quite frankly, heartbreaking.

Overall, a very articulate book with timelines that were easy to follow. I wish the outcomes were different in these true stories, but sadly, it is not the case. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

WOW. I had to digest this a chapter or two at a time because at times it was so heavy and dark that it was hard to stomach. Everyone needs to read this. Each chapter is a new story on a true case of those wrongfully convicted, with one even going so far as an execution. Grisham is such a dynamic powerhouse of a story-teller. You could just feel his hatred for these flawed prosecutors, judges and witnesses dripping off of his stories. There were times in his chapters that he described practices so ridiculous that if it wasn’t real life, I would’ve almost laughed and the sheer idiocy of it all. And then McCloskey as a co-author adds important perspective with his passionate work with Centurion, spending years working to free these innocent people who have had their lives destroyed by the legal system.

This is an absolutely impactful and important book. Can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on this in October.