Wrongful convictions books
Wrongful convictions books to start from. Open one to see books like it, or tell BookSense what you loved for four picks made for you.
Start here
New to the genre? These 5 are the books to read first.
Just Mercy
Bryan StevensonA lawyer's account of his work with death-row prisoners and wrongly convicted defendants in Alabama, and a wide-reaching introduction to the genre.
The Innocent Man
John GrishamA non-fiction account of Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz, two Oklahoma men convicted of a murder that DNA evidence later undermined.
Actual Innocence
Jim DwyerWritten by the founders of the Innocence Project, it covers DNA exoneration cases and the flaws in forensic evidence and eyewitness identification.
Devil's Knot
Mara LeverittA detailed account of the West Memphis Three case, in which three teenagers were convicted of murdering children in Arkansas.
The Court of Last Resort
Erle Stanley GardnerCase studies from the work of a group Gardner helped run that reviewed claims of wrongful conviction; an early example of the genre.
Chosen and described with AI from our notes on the genre.
More wrongful convictions books
- The Central Park Five
The Central Park FiveSarah Burns - Solitary
SolitaryAlbert Woodfox - Adnan's Story
Adnan's StoryRabia Chaudry - The Sixteenth Round
The Sixteenth RoundRubin Carter - Better, Not Bitter
Better, Not BitterYusef Salaam - Know My Name
Know My NameChanel Miller2019 - Picking Cotton
Picking CottonJennifer Thompson-Cannino2009 - The Sun Does Shine
The Sun Does ShineAnthony Hinton2019 - Jailed for life for being black
Jailed for life for being blackBill Swan2015 - The Bridegroom
The BridegroomJoan Johnston1999 - Sun Does Shine
Sun Does ShineAnthony Ray Hinton2018 - The wrong man
The wrong manJames Neff2001