Books
A collection of books written by, for, and about the incarcerated
Featured Books
Featured Books

Crossing the River Styx: The Memoir of a Death Row Chaplain by Russ Ford
Crossing the River Styx by Rev. Russ Ford offers a rare inside look at life on death row from a prison chaplain’s perspective. With deep compassion and moral clarity, Ford confronts the realities of capital punishment and the humanity of those society condemns. A stirring, unforgettable memoir.

The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions by Helen Prejean
"The Death of Innocents" by Sister Helen Prejean is a powerful examination of two wrongful executions. With compassion and conviction, Prejean reveals how the death penalty can destroy innocent lives—and why it must end. A deeply human, urgent read.

The Wrong Carlos: Anatomy of a Wrongful Execution by James Liebman
The Wrong Carlos by James Liebman is a chilling investigation into the likely execution of an innocent man in Texas. Combining legal analysis with gripping narrative, Liebman exposes the cracks in a system that got it tragically wrong. A sobering, essential read.

Infinite Hope: The Story of One Man's Wrongful Conviction, Solitary Confinement, and Survival on Death Row by Anthony Graves
"Infinite Hope" by Anthony Graves is a gripping memoir of wrongful conviction and survival. After 18 years in prison—12 on death row—Graves shares his journey with courage and clarity. A powerful call for justice reform.

You Might Go to Prison, Even Though You're Innocent by Justin Brooks
"You Might Go to Prison, Even Though You're Innocent" by Justin Brooks is a gripping, eye-opening look at how the justice system fails. With real cases and sharp insight, Brooks shows just how easy it is for innocent people to be convicted—and why it keeps happening. Essential reading for reform advocates.

Chasing Justice: My Story of Freeing Myself After Two Decades on Death Row for a Crime I Didn't Commit by Kerry Max Cook
Chasing Justice by Kerry Cook is a raw, powerful memoir of a man wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death in Texas. With unflinching honesty, Cook recounts decades of injustice, survival, and his fight to reclaim both freedom and dignity. A harrowing, unforgettable true story.

Let the Lord Sort Them: The Rise and Fall of the Death Penalty by Maurice Chammah
Let the Lord Sort Them by Maurice Chammah offers a gripping look at the U.S. death penalty through personal stories and legal history. Focused largely on Texas, it explores the people, politics, and shifting views behind capital punishment. A sharp, thought-provoking read.

The Change Agent: How a Former College QB Sentenced to Life in Prison Transformed His World by Damon West
He had the talent and a future in football—until a life sentence changed everything. But behind bars, he found something greater: purpose. The Change Agent tells the true story of how one man transformed his life from inside prison, becoming a leader, mentor, and force for change.

Hallelujah Anyway: Rediscovering Mercy by Anne Lamott
In this honest, funny, and soul-baring book, Anne Lamott explores mercy—not as a virtue for the worthy, but as a lifeline for all of us. Hallelujah Anyway dares us to offer grace, even when it’s hard, even when it feels undeserved.

Before They Executed Him: A Wife’s Story of Death Row by Shari Bower
Before They Executed Him is a raw, unflinching memoir from the wife of a death row inmate. Through courtrooms, prison visits, and final goodbyes, she reveals the quiet devastation of loving someone the world has condemned—and the impossible weight of surviving it.

I’ll Be Gone In The Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara
Michelle McNamara’s gripping investigation revives the hunt for the Golden State Killer, blending meticulous research with haunting storytelling. Discover how her work reshaped true crime and inspired justice.

Chase Darkness With Me: How One True-Crime Writer Started Solving Murders by Billy Jensen
Billy Jensen’s journey from true crime writer to real-life sleuth reveals the power of crowdsourced justice. Explore how his relentless pursuit helped solve cold cases and changed investigative storytelling.

Know My Name: A Memoir by Chanel Miller
Chanel Miller’s powerful memoir gives voice to survivor resilience and justice, shedding light on trauma, healing, and reclaiming identity in the face of injustice.

Forensics And Fiction: Clever, Intriguing, and Downright Odd Questions from Crime Writers by D. P. Lyle
D. P. Lyle answers quirky and complex forensic questions from crime writers, offering expert insight that sharpens both storytelling and scientific accuracy.

Savage Appetites: Four True Stories of Women, Crime, and Obsession by Rachel Monroe
Rachel Monroe unpacks the complex ways women engage with crime—as detectives, victims, defenders, and obsessed outsiders—in this sharp, unsettling cultural investigation.

The Wall Around Your Heart: How Jesus Heals You When Others Hurt You by Mary DeMuth
Mary DeMuth offers a Christ-centered path to healing after betrayal, guiding readers through forgiveness, freedom, and the rebuilding of trust in relationships.

American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century by Maureen Callahan
Maureen Callahan unravels the chilling story of a calculated killer and the relentless investigators who hunted him, exposing the darkness behind a seemingly ordinary man.

Capital Punishment: An Indictment by a Death-Row Survivor by Billy Wayne Sinclair
Billy Wayne Sinclair, once sentenced to die, delivers a searing firsthand critique of the death penalty—its failures, its politics, and its human cost.

Unmasked: My Life Solving America’s Cold Cases by Paul Holes
Paul Holes pulls back the curtain on a life spent chasing killers, blending personal reflection with the high-stakes intensity of solving America’s coldest cases.

The Body Keeps The Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk
Dr. Bessel van der Kolk reveals how trauma reshapes the body and brain—and how innovative, body-based therapies can lead to lasting healing.
Before They Executed Him is a raw, unflinching memoir from the wife of a death row inmate. Through courtrooms, prison visits, and final goodbyes, she reveals the quiet devastation of loving someone the world has condemned—and the impossible weight of surviving it.