Based on the wildly popular podcast, Pulitzer Prize—winning author Gilbert King tells a true story about grace and forgiveness, even in the midst of the most shocking injustice.
In 1987, Leo Schofield was arrested and charged with the murder of his wife, Michelle. Always insistent on his innocence, he was poorly served by his legal defense and sentenced to life in prison.
Over thirty years later, Pulitzer Prize—winning journalist Gilbert King is tipped off to Leo's case and is astonished by what he finds: layers of corruption, flawed evidence, and deep-seated errors. He can't shake the story and, with the help of his tenacious assistant Kelsey, begins to unravel the layers around Leo to learn the truth. What they find is astonishing: they're able to link Michelle to Jeremy Scott, a Florida inmate with a criminal past. This connection will prove crucial for Leo as he fights for his freedom with grace in his heart.
A masterful piece of investigative journalism, a chilling portrait of the criminal justice system, and a uniquely powerful story of grace and redemption, Bone Valley is a modern classic of narrative nonfiction.
"You won't read any thriller this year as spellbinding as Bone Valley. It's captivating, enraging, and all too true"
and its astounding conclusion will leave you in tears"
"With depth, humility, and an open, timid understanding of its inadequacy within the legal system, this orientation of King's reporting grants human gravitas to the mind-blowing frustrations of procedural technicalities. Both infuriating and hopeful, a story about the ultimate integrity of truth."
Kirkus
"Bone Valley is a work of rare moral clarity and deep compassion. Gilbert King's investigation reveals not only a grievous injustice, but the grace that can emerge when truth is pursued with empathy and integrity. In the spirit of Just Mercy and Dead Man Walking, this story reminds us that true justice requires more than facts"
