Category: books and reading

Title: Framed

Authors: John Grisham and John McCloskey

Genre: NF

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

As much as I loved this book, it was also a gutpunch due to it being completely true. The ten stories in this book are all about people (mostly men) who are convicted of crimes they did not commit. All of them murders, some involving rape or arson, but which results in death as well.

Each short story is written by either Grisham or McCloskey, who both did their research. I have read The Innocent Man and was impressed, so I knew this one would be as well. Similar themes run through each of these stories, as well. Most of the falsely convicted are people of color, or have a low IQ, or are of low income, or a combination of these. None of them asked for a lawyer. The book stated that up to 90% of innocent people don’t ask for an attorney because they know they are innocent and have nothing to hide.

This book should be required reading, honestly, about how police and district attorneys can railroad people to close the case and have a successful conviction on their records. I have no doubt these stories are but a handful in our prejudicial justice system.

Title: Indian Burial Ground

Author: Nick Medina

Genre: horror

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

The indigenous community is one of the most underrepresented in literature, so it’s always great to find a writer who spotlights this group. The writer’s first book, Sisters of a Lost Nation, is also about indigenous people. This one follows a tribe in Louisiana and has both past and present storylines.

Today, Noemi’s boyfriend lunges in front of a Jeep, which kills him. She doesn’t believe it is suicide, though. Her story takes place in the 16 hours following his death. Interspersed is her uncle Louie’s story of the summer he was 16, and tragedy strikes multiple times.

Louie’s story helps unravel the mystery of what is happening on this reservation. He’s a good guy just trying to figure out why these weird things are happening. I enjoyed this book, but it is slow-paced. The characters and plot are great, but it just moved too slowly for my preference. That said, I still recommend this one because it is excellently written.