For fans of Just Mercy, Dan Slepian, an investigative reporter for Dateline, documents his investigation into the Palladium murders on Thanksgiving 1990 and the wrongful conviction and imprisonment of two men believed to be involved, despite not even knowing each other. During this investigation, he is begged to investigate another wrongful conviction of JJ Velazquez. While helping JJ seek justice, Slepian is astonished to learn just how many innocent men and women are wrongfully imprisoned and how hard it is to get them to freedom.

Oh my goodness, this is the best nonfiction audiobook!! It plays like a podcast and it's soo interesting, heartbreaking, hopeful and informative. I gasped and I cried, multiple times. It was even better than Just Mercy, the writing was absolutely captivating! I highly recommend the audiobook and put it on your TBR NOW! SOO GOOD!

audio-ARC from NetGalley.

4.75

Equally fascinating and devastating, The Sing Sing Files draws attention to those wrongly incarcerated for crimes they didn't commit.

From a detective from the Bronx whose quest for justice ruined his career to a young father taken from his newborn for a crime he knew nothing about to a man who had 13 witnesses willing to testify he was 17 hours away, the corruption of the justice system is on full display. And, in the middle of it all, the ongoing story of the man who helped exonerate his fellow prisoners while behind bars for a crime he, too, had not committed.

This was a devastating exploration of injustice and a vibrant call to action. It was an important reminder that, while mistakes can and will be made by our judicial system, it is the refusal to acknowledge and rectify those mistakes that is the true miscarriage of justice.

This audiobook was made more powerful by the occasional narration of those people whose experiences we followed. I just wish we'd gotten a little more of that own voice narration. (And maybe not included the detail about the man who shook a baby to death, as that one mention really dragged me down for the rest of the book and is going to linger in my mind for longer than I want it to, even though he was not a focus of the investigation.)

Prison reform needs to occur. Resources for police, guards, advocates, prisoners, et al need to be more readily available. Integrity needs to be more than just a word.

A powerful read that I won't soon forget.

Order yourself a copy, put a hold in at the library, do whatever it takes to get your hands on this book. It’s along the same lines as Just Mercy (which I haven’t read) but written by a Dateline producer. The author Dan Slepian happened to get connected with one wrongfully imprisoned man, and he became obsessed with finding the truth. Slepian weaves statistics and research into the tales of six men who were wrongfully imprisoned for crimes they did not commit. I could not put this book down because I need to know what happened to Jon Adrian Velazquez. This is one of my top books of the year.

This book is a MUST read. It will change your perspective on the American Justice system, or at the least make you question what you thought you knew about it. If this book doesn't make your blood boil, you are not alive.

The audiobook is mostly read by the author. There are several letters read by the people who wrote them and audio clips of interviews and events. Hearing the men read their letters in their own voices was very powerful.

Absolute must read! I couldn’t stop listening and devoured it. The loved the author/narrator, the way he told the story, and bonus for the audiobook - real recordings were used to enhance parts of the book.

It was just like a podcast without the ads or having to wait for all the episodes to be released.

Ultimately, the story is devastating and enraging but I would highly recommend. The reader follows the path of a Dateline producer who investigates stories of incarcerated men, who he ultimately finds out are innocent, in his free time.

Thank you to #netgalley and the author for providing an audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book infuriated me. Slepian writes about his time working on Dateline, but the focus of the book are the wrongfully incarcerated he has come across during his career. The malfeasance of police and prosecutors in New York City is unfathomable. We all carry the notion that the criminal justice system is fair and that injustices are remedied. This is so far from the truth.

Men who were falsely identified or not identified at all are convicted of crimes. The police abuse suspects and bully witnesses into making identifications that are not true. The DAs prosecuting the case are uninterested in learning there's a miscarriage of justice and even take active steps to withhold information that tends to exonerate people. Judges don't see the need to believe new witnesses and are interested in upholding convictions. This system has cost the U.S. more than $2 billion dollars paid out in settlements to exonerated people. It's disgusting. And changes needs to come.

Read this book. It is one of the most important books about the criminal justice system you can read.

I am a huge fan of podcasts (true crime in particular), so a book written and narrated by journalist and podcaster Dan Slepian seemed like a great way to branch into nonfiction audiobooks.

The criminal justice system is clearly a topic about which Dan is passionate and extremely knowledgeable. The story flows well and is easy to follow, despite following multiple cases and their related subjects. I was completely hooked by Dan’s writing and narration style and the importance of this story.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the criminal justice system and/or read and enjoyed Just Mercy. A quote from the introduction really stuck out to me and was a sobering message on which to begin this book - “The system isn’t built to get people out. It’s built to keep people in - when there is clear evidence that they don’t belong there.”

This is a story that I can tell will stick with me long after I’ve finished it. It’s an important story that is approachable even for those with little to no knowledge of our justice system.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC. All thoughts are my own.

The Sing Sing Files is the author’s personal account of 20 years of a broken criminal justice system. Dan took on the broken system and helped 6 people who were incarcerated for things they never did get out of prison.

I received an ARC of the audiobook version. The author is also the narrator of this audiobook, which I liked. I thought he did a great job narrating.

After listening to this audiobook, I NEED a physical copy. I found myself wanting to annotate and highlight things while listening.

This book is perfect for fans of the book Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. The Sing Sing File further illustrates how broken America’s criminal justice system really is and how it needs reformed. If you are a true crime fan, into criminal justice, societal issues, etc. this is a must read.

“The system, as I’ve discovered, isn’t built to get people out. It’s built to keep them in. Even when, as I will illustrate, that there is clear evidence that they don’t belong there.”

Wow! What a captivating read about the injustices experienced by multiple people in the US justice system. What makes it more shocking is that these crimes took place in states we would assume are less biased, but the outcome of these cases remain the same. Slepian’s research and storytelling keep you on the edge of your seat throughout. The audiobook was done so well, with clips from interviews.

Highly suggest this read if you’re into true from, criminal justice reform, or social sciences.

This is the account of NBC Dateline producer Dan Slepian’s life changing decision to investigate a tip that two men were serving a 25 year to life sentence in prison for a murder they hadn’t committed.

Read by Dan Slepian himself it is no surprise that this book, although about a disturbing upsetting subject matter, is an easy engaging lesson.

His account details how he eventually helped free the two men and investigate the cases of four other men possibly wrongly convicted and his discoveries about the realities of the justice system and the long lasting friendships he made with the men in the process.


For fans of true crime, police procedurals, crime and mystery novels.

The Sing Sing Files is the story of 6 wrongfully convicted men told by Dan Slepian, a invesitgative reporter from Deadline, NBC. I first heard about this story via podcast, Letters to Sing Sing. Listening to that podcast a few years ago, and now listening to Slepian tell the story, was mind blowing. As a social worker, I work with people in the criminal justice system. Slepian's account of how the police work, the reporting, the time in the courtrooms. This is a heartbreaking story of lives of families lost to wrongful convictions. This is a must listen. 5/5 Thanks to NetGalley and Macmilan Audio for the chance to listen to this.

Hold on to your hearts, because this book is an emotional rollercoaster. Anger, hope, ambivalence, frustration, sorrow, despondency-- Dan Slepian takes you on a journey, covering a wide span of time and emotion within a relatively short book. Prior to picking this up, I hadn't been familiar with the author, and I've never been a fan of Dateline, as it's a bit too stodgy for my taste. However, the pacing, writing style, and Dan's performance in the audiobook are pitch-perfect. This book is informative, easy to read, but ideologically challenging. No matter where your views lie as far as the justice system, the police, the death penalty, and prison reform, the human stories in Slepian's book will force you to examine your beliefs. It is that rare piece of work which is non-confrontational, non-dogmatic, but could genuinely change people's minds. I would highly recommend this, and would encourage you to listen to the audiobook.

This is a personal account of dateline producer, Dan Slepian’s, two decade long account of investigating the broken criminal justice system and the freeing of six wrongfully accused innocent men. This is both a heartbreaking and hopeful story. While the true facts speak for themselves, the story telling is fantastic. I was planning on listening to a single chapter, and ended up listening to the whole book. Highly recommend.

I love true crime. I love watching Law & Order, especially SVU. So, let's just say how quickly this book piqued my interest and I wanted to read it.

The Sing Sing Files follows the journey of six innocent men who were wrongfully committed of crimes. Dan Slepian, the author and a TV producer, uncovers each of these mens' truths when he started a project by following a NYPD Bronx detective. This book is a record of the twenty five years it took to gather evidence, interview, enlist legal action and go through court proceedings to free the few men out of possible thousands who are innocent. Dan Slepian talks about how the police and justice system that was stereotypically made to protect the people, specifically in New York City, can simply be corrupt. As someone who lives in the state near the metro area and loves to follow true crime, these stories did not leave me surprised. It left me feeling sad for the years of lives wasted in prison instead of being able to live their lives with family and friends. It left me hopeful for others wrongfully convicted of crimes. But it also reminded me that the legal system is not always what it's cracked up to be. I cried a few tears at hearing the release of the six men and how their wrongful imprisonment affected their families. I would recommend this book, audio or paper, to be read by all. 5 stars.

Thank you Netgalley, Macmillian Audio, and the author for this opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

I will be posting on Instagram, Goodreads, and Storygraph.

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillon Audio, and Celadon Books for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook for an honest review.

I knew instantly that this audiobook was going to be incredible. I started it on a long drive for work, and it was incredible how quickly I became engrossed in the storytelling and horrific true events Slepian discusses here.

I am a complete newbie to all of his prolific work, so I didn't come into this with knowledge of his Dateline specials or any particular interest in these cases beyond the description of the contents of this book. I also haven't listened to any podcasts, although that is now on my radar for the future.

I share that because even with limited knowledge of these cases and the incredible work done to help innocent men, I was enthralled and could easily follow the line from crime, charge, conviction, and fight for justice. This is a good primer into these men's stories, and I imagine a great starting point for a deeper dive if wanted.

The most harrowing parts are describing how helpless these men were, even with lots of people from the outside trying to help them. The justice system is scary and obtuse, and I think there are moments in this story where that theme definitely shines.

When JJ read his letters...my heart wrenched. When Slepian was describing conversations he had with the last man introduced in the book and how prison had made him rageful and angry, I felt a surge of rage in my own heart for him and others like him. To hear how JJ continues to support inmates and how the inmates valued someone just listening to them, I was moved.

This story touched on people who were guilty and how people like JJ help them to recover dignity and give back to their community. That was possibly my very favorite part. I believe in rehabilitation, and I also believe that we fail at that as a system overall. I support the efforts of these individuals who are fighting for dignity, even for individuals who have made terrible mistakes.

I would say that this story is worth your time, and I thought listening to it added an extra element, particularly when JJ and other inmates would voice their letters/songs themselves.

This was a very well written book, narrated by the author. The six lives were relatable and so were their struggles. Love how the backstory works into the meat of the book. The material is presented very unbiased and honest. One of the best parts was hearing the men narrate/read their own letters. It was very well done with information from all sides. You can tell alot of time and effort went into it and that it meant something to the author. It was a wake up call to society and an eye opener. Very well done.

THE SING SING FILES is a work of “investigative journalism lite” designed to appeal to the broadest masses. It’s not the most memorable work I’ve ever read, but will be interesting to those looking to venture into reading investigative journalism pieces.

Slepian’s lack of firm stance on what he’s reporting about means it has broad appeal but may lack in longer-term influence and change. He begins with a summary of how he came to work at NBC, followed by a lot of passages proudly proclaiming his support for and admiration of police officers. This was a bit cringe to read, knowing what we know now, but my guess is that this is Slepian’s attempt to make sure he doesn’t alienate his potential “Blue Lives Matter” audience. Hence the “written for mass appeal” angle.

The primary arc of THE SING SING FILES follows the case of JJ, a well-spoken man who insists that he was wrongfully imprisoned for the killing of a club bodyguard. But while JJ’s own requests for a retrial keep being turned down, he establishes a relationship with Slepian and directs him toward 5 other men, all with similar assertions that they were wrongfully convicted.

Slepian’s investigation into each of the men’s cases follows the same arc, featuring prosecutors suppressing evidence, witness leads not being followed up, and detectives violating interrogation regulations by biasing witnesses to give them the answers they were looking for. Many of these cases, Slepian notes, occurred during a period of time when NYC was facing public pressure to catch criminals following gruesome killings, but it doesn’t really excuse the fact that the DA’s office handled the arrests poorly.

Rather than focus his efforts on uncovering and commenting on systemic policy violations of the New York justice system, however, Slepian chooses to use the cliches of exceptionalism to garner his readers’ sympathy for the wrongfully convicted men. Many of JJ’s letters to Slepian, for example, are read by JJ himself, to showcase his above-average eloquence. One former Sing Sing convict whose wrongful conviction was overturned went on to perform his own songs at Carnegie Hall.

There’s a particularly cringe-worthy section near the end of the book where Slepian literally comforts a juror who felt remorse over her role in convicting JJ on inconclusive evidence by telling her that, had JJ not been imprisoned for over 20 years, he would have never had the opportunity to visit the White House and been offered the directorial position of a nonprofit. Um, HUH?! I’ll let you sit on that one yourself.

So THE SING SING FILES made for a quick read, but the repetitiveness and relative tameness of its structure and conclusions (beyond mentioning that the DA’s office refused to comment for his book, Slepian also briefly mentions the many times in the past 20 years that they’d refused to work with him) means that it’s kind of a one-and-done read for me.

This book is gripping story about two decades of investigative journalism to clear the names of 6 wrongly accused individuals of crimes they did not commit. I was instantly captivated by Dan's attention to detail and story telling ability, to put together a non-fiction work that truly highlighted the years of research and hard work to free those wrongly accused. This story highlights the injustice, the prejudice, the corruption and the broken system used for correction.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and netgalley for the ALC.

Thank you to Celadon and MacMillan Audio for "The Sing Sing Files." I highly recommend this book, especially the audiobook version. Slepian, a reporter, narrates it himself, and his delivery effectively brings his writing and this justice-themed real-life story to life.

I appreciated the strong writing and thorough research that laid the foundation for this story about wrongful conviction. Slepian honors the story and the readers by allowing the facts to speak for themselves, without directing the reader on what to think or feel. What’s particularly impressive is that Slepian doesn’t just tell one story about wrongful conviction; he delves into a broader exploration of the systems, biases, and systemic challenges that lead to these injustices. He lets the stories of multiple wrongfully convicted individuals stand out, positioning himself as a powerful listener and advocate who uses his platform to pursue justice.

<b>One of 2024's Must Reads</b>

No matter what I write, it won't do this book justice. It's all of the heart-'s: heartbreaking, heartwarming, heart wrenching.

It came as no surprise that the audiobook was extremely well done, I couldn't expect anything less from Dan Slepian. The inclusion of real audio was a great touch; hearing the pleading cries and powerful letters read first hand lends something to this story that isn't possible with a print copy. I'd highly recommend the audiobook vs the print version, but either way reading this is a must.

Now bear with me on this one... As I was finishing up this book, I happened to pick up Bad Lawyer: A Memoir of Law and Disorder by Anna Dorn and start reading. The overlap in content is *chef's kiss*. Anna's writing isn't for everyone (is this the understatement of the century?) and some of the book <i>is</i> more about Anna than the justice system. But the transparency and veracity is unlike any other book I've read on the subject. For my litfic girlies, it was a great bridge between the two genres and a palate cleanser when I needed a laugh (this book is HEAVY (which feels stupid to say because what's heavier than actually being the person wrongfully convicted? wah, poor me is sad just reading about it)).

I'll be thinking about this book and the people in it for a long, long time. Hopefully forever.

{Thank you bunches to NetGalley, Dan Slepian and publisher for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!}