Jimmy Keene grew up outside of Chicago and was destined for greatness on the football field. By the time he reached his twenties, he was rubbing shoulders with famous actors, porn stars, and the children of powerful politicians. He had it all: cars, girls, and houses up and down the Gold Coast. But behind his well-connected star athlete façade was the man who paid for it all: a money-obsessed drug dealer desperate to make the big score that will get him out of the business. Soon a few costly mistakes left Keene with a ten-year prison term and no chance of parole.
At that point it seemed the only lessons he would learn would be about navigating convict society as deftly as he had the world of drugs. Instead, less than a year into his sentence, Keene was offered a chance to regain his freedom in return for going undercover in the nation's highest security prison for the criminally insane. His task was to get friendly with Larry Hall, a suspected serial rapist and murderer, obtain his confession, and find out where the body of one of his victim's was buried. If he succeeded, Keene would get an unconditional release. If he failed, he'd have no choice but to ride out his term. If he was found out, he could also be killed.
For nearly a year, Keene walked the line between the part he played and the self he hoped to redeem, all the while dodging punches from deranged inmates, currying favor with imprisoned Mafia dons, and staying beneath the radar of Larry's oddly protective psychiatrist.
Download and start listening now!
"good book about a man who goes into jail to get a confession from a serial killer. Easy reading and great info about how the FBI and local police work behind the scenes to get a confession."
— John (5 out of 5 stars)
“Reads like a fast-paced suspense novel.”
— Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune“An amazing story.”
— Chicago Sun-Times“Keene and coauthor Levin structure the book like a mystery novel, dramatizing events that Keene didn’t observe firsthand, and telling the story in the third person. It’s a clever way to narrate a true-crime tale, more involving, somehow, than a straight first-person account might have been. Recommend this fascinating, suspenseful book to readers of both true crime and crime fiction.”
— Booklist“A low-key but fascinating view of life behind bars that deserves a wide audience.”
— Kirkus Reviews" This was an AMAZING true story of somebody I have known for years! To hear all that he went through and survived is amazing!! "
— Sheri, 1/1/2014" This book was boring. Didn't think a book about going undercover to catch a real serial killer could be so boring and laborsome, but somehow, it was. "
— Shiela, 10/2/2013" I think this could have been a better book if it had been fictionalized a bit. If it were ever made into a movie, it would be a great one. As it was written the characters really didn't grab me all that much. Still an enjoyable book. "
— Shawna, 7/12/2013" I enjoyed this one, but it isn't a must read. "
— Amanda, 6/24/2013" What a hard road to redemption James Keene took. Looking forward to the movie. "
— Diane, 3/31/2013" Great book! Offers history of the BOP, discusses dynamics within the prison walls, and is just an interesting subject for all who love true crime. "
— Tessa, 3/12/2013" Interesting story about an incarcerated drug dealer who goes undercover into a mental health prison to obtain a confession from a serial killer. "
— Elyssa, 2/10/2013" A must read for fans of true crime. Still thinking about it days after finishing it. "
— Hilarie, 5/21/2012" It was mildly interesting if you like this kind of book. "
— Katie, 2/23/2012" Great book....glad James stayed out of trouble when he got out of prision "
— Kristen, 6/25/2011" Very fast paced non-fiction read. I can't wait until the movie comes out! "
— Jaclyn, 6/2/2011James Keene is the son of a former police officer who went from high school football star to major-league drug dealer. Serving a long prison sentence, he accepted an offer from the federal government to go undercover as an inmate in the nation’s toughest maximum security prison for the criminally insane in order to help solve the case of a serial killer who was incarcerated there. In exchange, he would gain his own freedom. After his release, he returned to college and earned a degree in business. He now lives in Chicago.
Robertson Dean has played leading roles on and off Broadway and at dozens of regional theaters throughout the country. He has a BA from Tufts University and an MFA from Yale. His audiobook narration has garnered ten AudioFile Earphones Awards. He now lives in Los Angeles, where he works in film and television in addition to narrating.