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“A heartbreaking deep-dive into a case gone horribly wrong…You’ll never read another crime story quite like it.”
— Robert Kolker, New York Times bestselling author
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“A riveting true-crime story.
— O, The Oprah Magazine
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In prose that rivals that of a suspense novel, two Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists describe the tragic effects skepticism can have on victims of sexual assault
— Ms. magazine
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Chilling…A False Report will fascinate readers interested in the finer points of police procedure.
— Seattle Times
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“An important piece of journalism…Reminds us there is no standard response to trauma.”
— Associated Press
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“A False Report is framed as a police procedural but illuminates the agonizing realities of rape culture as well as the fractures in our criminal justice system…Rich in forensic detail, deftly written and paced, A False Report is an instant true-crime classic, taking its rightful place beside Vincent Bugliosi’s Helter Skelter and Dave Cullen’s Columbine.”
— Minneapolis Star Tribune
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“Narrator Hillary Huber does a great job with this audiobook. Its story is sensational enough that it doesn’t need much of a dramatic boost. Huber’s tone is matter-of-fact but not boring. Listeners will supply their own outrage at the incompetence of some police, admiration for others, sympathy for the victims, and dismay at the perpetrator. Huber’s understated performance is top-notch.”
— AudioFile
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This is a deep, disturbing, compelling, important book. A False Report digs into timeless issues—crime, victimhood, honesty, sexism—which have never been more timely. It is also a fascinating, sharply written story that will twist and surprise you.
— Susan Orlean, author of The Orchid Thief and Rin Tin Tin
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America has never adequately addressed sexual violence, a tragedy made worse by many who employ their own hierarchy of victimization, leaving many women and vulnerable people unaided. This meticulously researched, powerful exposé eliminates ignorance as a defense. This is a devastating but necessary read, composed by masters of investigative journalism.
— Bryan Stevenson, author of Just Mercy
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Miller and Armstrong excavate a disturbing strain of misogyny in American culture in this account of the mistreatment of victims of sexual assault in the criminal justice system…[A False Report] shines a critical light on an urgent and timely subject.
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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The authors describe how [several] cases come together in a highly suspenseful (chapters often end in cliffhangers) and thorough manner that still considers the victims and avoids gratuity… This timely, well-researched, highly readable account will appeal to readers interested in true crime and social justice issues.
— Booklist (starred review)
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Chilling…The authors display meticulous investigative reporting skills... A riveting and disturbing true-crime story that reflects the enduring atrocity of rape in America.
— Kirkus Reviews
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"With the #MeToo movement maintaining momentum, the timing could not be better for A False Report.
— Bustle
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If you're a fan of true crime, this book should definitely be on your reading list.
— Bitch Media
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More vivid and urgent than any Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode... veteran reporters Miller and Armstrong vividly portray the characters in this serpentine drama and emphatically detail how the investigation of sex crimes and the treatment of victims have evolved. The result is a chilling true-crime story that is also a powerful critique of a flawed system.
— National Book Review
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A revelation—taut, nuanced, and expertly reported.
— New York Post
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This astonishing piece of journalism reveals the disturbing truth about how sexual assault is investigated and the long history of skepticism toward rape victims.
— Book Riot
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A False Report is a reporting triumph: a heartbreaking deep dive into a case gone horribly wrong; a bone-chilling portrait of a monstrous criminal; and a forceful cri de coeur on behalf of those victims whose claims fall on deaf ears. You'll never read another crime story quite like it.
— Robert Kolker, author of Lost Girls
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A False Report is a gripping and often devastating tale. By bringing their characters alive, Miller and Armstrong do not judge so much as illuminate the deep sexism that continues to pervade our society's treatment of rape. Better still, the women in this book are strong protagonists as much as victims.
— Anne-Marie Slaughter, president and CEO of New America; author of Unfinished Business
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“Far too many women and girls who are sexually assaulted never report it—often out of fear they won’t be believed. A False Report reveals the true cost of doubting women’s accounts of rape. This fascinating, deeply troubling book has the power to spark a national conversation about how our criminal justice system fails victims, and how it can be reformed.
— Peggy Orenstein, author of Girls & Sex
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This is a grim, important, meticulously reported book that denounces breakdowns in the system of investigating crimes against women. The revelations are tragic, unthinkable, almost Kafkaesque. But the authors don’t stop at outrage. They do a public service by explaining practical reforms that can make a profound difference. And they tell their story with unrelenting clarity and compassion. A False Report has all the detail, drama, and humanity that make the finest nonfiction as compelling as a novel.
— Sebastian Rotella, author of Rip Crew