Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism, death, and rape.

John Grisham and Jim McCloskey introduce Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions with a Preface that sets the tone for the book’s exploration of justice gone awry. Grisham begins by recounting his initial foray into nonfiction with The Innocent Man, a book that exposes the deep flaws in the justice system through the wrongful conviction of Ron Williamson. This experience, he explains, opened his eyes to the sheer number of wrongful convictions, each deserving its own narrative. Grisham highlights the emotional weight of these cases, filled with tragedy, corruption, and rare glimpses of redemption. He acknowledges the painstaking research required for nonfiction and expresses his admiration for exonerees and advocates who fight tirelessly to reveal the truth.

Grisham describes meeting McCloskey, founder of Centurion Ministries, an organization dedicated to freeing the wrongfully convicted. Their collaboration on this book emerged from a shared goal: to shed light on the injustices of the legal system and prevent future miscarriages of justice. The book features 10 real-life cases—five selected and written by each author—focusing on individuals who are unjustly convicted.