“The narrative that emerges is of a long string of promises unfulfilled by indifferent politicians or broken by ambitious prosecutors and hostile judges. … This is a system that disserves the innocent and the guilty alike.”

—Linda Greenhouse, The New York Review of Books

“Insights gained from four decades at the coalface of US criminal justice.”

—Ed Pilkington, The Guardian

“Lays bare court system’s inequities.”

—Suzanne Van Atten, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“No lawyer is more responsible for fighting, and winning, battles against the death penalty than Stephen B. Bright.”

—Miriam Gohara, American Journal of Law and Equity

“An incisive, thoroughly researched, and ultimately devastating critique of the American criminal justice system.”

—Corey Brady, Florida Bar Journal

“A powerful and disturbing journey through the many dark woods and spiraling depths of the modern criminal justice system.”

—John Charles Boger, Hospitality

“A virtual roadmap of the mistakes we continue to make, and the remedies that are obvious once you see them on the page.”

—Marc Bookman, Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books

“A readable, far-reaching, and expertly constructed overview of the various issues plaguing the U.S. criminal law system.”

—Ian McDonagh, Democratic Left

“Sure to be a searing, no-holds-barred analysis about where we stand and how we can go forward.”

—Martha Anne Toll, NPR

“A passionate and eye-opening behind-the-scenes account of the world of criminal justice and the lives impacted by the system's injustices.”

—Cynthia Dieden, Booklist

“An invaluable resource for advocates of criminal justice reform.”

—Publishers Weekly