-
“An amazing and heartwarming story, it restores our faith in the inherent goodness of humanity.”
— Archbishop Desmond Tutu, New York Times bestselling author
-
“A riveting account of the multiple outrages of the criminal justice system of Alabama…[and of] the nearly biblical capacity of the author to endure, to forgive, and finally to triumph…His book is a harrowing masterpiece.”
— Guardian (London)
-
“A wonderful memoir…a story of forgiveness and struggle and a story of friendship and imagination.”
— Observer (London)
-
“A memoir of spectacular grace…as moving and inspiring as memoirs get.”
— Garden & Gun magazine
-
“This incredibly moving chronicle…is one staggering revelation after another but also a lovely portrait of kindness, warmth, and how faith is its own reward.”
— Independent (London)
-
“A testament to the power of faith and the strength of hope…[and] the long overdue need for criminal justice reform in America.”
— Bustle
-
“Hinton’s ability to speak about the injustices he faces with such poise and composure is his greatest gift.”
— Harvard Crimson
-
“In this intense memoir, Hinton…provides a convincing description of continued segregation and injustice in the deep South that cages the underclass as effectively as prison walls…Hinton’s life is one of inspiration, which he wonderfully relays here in bitingly honest prose.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
-
“An urgent, emotional memoir…A heart-wrenching yet ultimately hopeful story about truth, justice, and the need for criminal justice reform.”
— Kirkus Reviews
-
“Kevin R. Free brings so much emotion to this beautifully written and heartbreaking memoir—rage, hopelessness, fear, humor, despair, hope, love. Everything comes through in his voice, making the book that much more powerful."
— BookRiot (audio review)
-
“Anthony Ray Hinton’s story is not for the faint of heart…His lawyer, Bryan Stevenson, reads his own foreword, which whets our appetite. The incredible details of Hinton’s trial and eventual release are narrated in an honest, easy style by Kevin R. Free…[who] gives us the sense we are hearing from a young Hinton. He captures the Southern rhythms of Hinton’s speech with a natural cadence that brings us closer to his pain—when he calls out for Mama and prays for a miracle, we are right there in his cell.”
— AudioFile
-
“If there is ever a story that needs to be told, it is this one. Anthony Ray Hinton is extraordinary, an example to us all of the power of the human spirit to rise above complete injustice.”
— Sir Richard Branson, English businessman and philanthropist
-
"In this intense memoir, Hinton recounts his three-decade nightmare: awaiting execution for crimes he didn't commit...Hinton's life is one of inspiration, which he wonderfully relays here in bitingly honest prose." (Publishers Weekly)
—
-
Highly recommended, especially for personal and public library audiobook collections.
— Midwest Book Review
-
"The actor Kevin R. Free performs this work with flashes of anger cast over a deep humility, and captures the sense of humor that Hinton was, incredibly, able to hold on to during his long years in solitary confinement — his affability could get even prison guards to smile. This is a story that enrages and inspires.
— New York Times