A Dream in the Dark

By: Robert Justice

Narrated by: JD Jackson

With striking prose and inspired by real wrongful conviction cases, this layered takedown of the criminal justice system follows one woman’s quest for answers as the fate of two innocent men hangs in the balance.

Denver, 1992. Claudette Cooper, Moses King, and Dexter Diaz have been failed by the justice system. Claudette was sexually assaulted. Blinded by her perpetrator, she’s not able to identify him until she has a dream. As a result of that dream, Moses is wrongfully convicted. Dexter gave a false confession to murder after a grueling and unethical interrogation. Now, he faces a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.

Musician turned lawyer Liza Brown has seen firsthand the failings and shortcomings of the justice system. Her father, Langston Brown, also suffered the injustice of a wrongful conviction. As she's working at a nonprofit to free those who have been wrongfully imprisoned and helping Dexter’s case, Moses reaches out to her. Liza sees the cracks in the evidence against Moses, and when he confesses that he knew her father, she’s determined to help even though his case doesn't qualify for the young innocence project.

Recruiting her old friend Eli Stone to both men’s causes, Liza sets out to prove their innocence. But Eli is dealing with demons of his own. Corrupt cops are targeting the black residents of Denver, and when his nephew is beaten by the cops, Eli doubles down on his efforts to expose them.

Frustrated, Liza turns to Moses’s accuser, Claudette, for help. But Claudette is hiding a dark secret, and as political tensions in Five Points rise, the city of Denver erupts in protests and riots. In the aftermath of injustice, destruction, and desperation, will hope persevere?

©2024 Robert Justice (P)2024 Spotify Audiobooks

Lessons learned

Loved this book but I had to pause and process often while reading. I could literally feel the weight of the characters’ emotions from Eli’s depression,the frustrations of the community and Liza when faced with so much injustice. I live in Denver but grew up in Colorado Springs. Hearing familiar landmarks helped ground me during the harder parts. Grateful for the lessons learned in this audiobook particularly the end notes.