Long Way Home

A Young Man Lost in the System and the Two Women Who Found Him

By: Laura Caldwell

Narrated by: Laura Caldwell

Nineteen-year-old Jovan Mosley, a good kid from one of Chicago's very bad neighborhoods, was coerced into confessing to a crime he didn't commit. Charged with murder, he spent five years and eight months in a prison for violent criminals. Without a trial.

Jovan grew up on the rough streets of Chicago's Southeast Side. With one brother dead of HIV complications, another in jail for arson and murder, and most kids his age in gangs, Jovan struggled to be different. Until his arrest, he was. He excelled in school, dreamed of being a lawyer, and had been accepted to Ohio State. Then on August 6, 1999, Jovan witnessed a fight that would result in a man's death. Six months later, he was arrested, cruelly questioned, and forced into a confession.

Sent to a holding jail for violent criminals, he tried ceaselessly to get a trial so he could argue his case. He studied what casework he could, rigorously questioning his public defenders. But time after time his case was shoved aside. Amiable, bright, and peaceable, he struggled to stay alive in prison. As the years ground on, he'd begun to lose hope when, by chance, he met Catharine O'Daniel, a successful criminal defense lawyer. Although nearly all cases with a signed confession result in a conviction, she was so moved by him, and so convinced of his innocence, that Cathy accepted Jovan as her first pro bono client. Cathy asked Laura Caldwell to join her and together they battled for Jovan's exoneration.

Here is Laura's firsthand account of their remarkable journey.This is a harrowing true story about justice, friendship, failure, and success. A breakdown of the justice system sent a nice kid to one of the nation's nastiest jails for nearly six years without a trial. It would take a triumph of human kindness, ingenuity, and legal jousting to give Jovan even a fighting chance.

Deeply affecting, Long Way Home is a remarkable story of how change can happen even in a flawed system and of how friendship can emanate from the most unexpected places.

©2010 Story Avenue LLC (P)2011 Story Avenue LLC

Interesting, but way too long and not that good

It was very clear in the beginning how the legal system is very unfair. It is very sad what happened to Jovan Mosley, however, I feel that it could have been written in a different way to make us care more about the different characters involved.

I felt that she repeated herself several times and I found it annoying. Perhaps if it had been read by a different narrator than the author, I may have enjoyed it more. I feel that this would probably be much better viewed as a movie than read as a book.

Not a bed time book

Couldn't stop listening. Great heartfelt story. Books like this change people and systems. Well done

Wonderful non-fiction.....needs new narrator

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I think this book would be best in hardcover. Laura Caldwell wrote an amazing story and succeeds to show all of us that a little kindness goes a long way. Unfortunately, Laura Caldwell has a drone-like tone with zero inflection. I found myself drifting and having to rewind. I had to concentrate very hard to keep my focus on the story.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

None

Would you be willing to try another one of Laura Caldwell’s performances?

No

If you could give Long Way Home a new subtitle, what would it be?

"The true story of a young man's life cheated by the justice system "

Finding truth & restoring a young mans life

If you could sum up Long Way Home in three words, what would they be?

Shocking, emotional, triumphant

What was one of the most memorable moments of Long Way Home?

When the coauthors fell in love with Javon

What does Laura Caldwell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The passion and determination she had for bringing this young man home!

Chocking story about 6 lost years

Would you listen to Long Way Home again? Why?

Listening once was good enough.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The unbelievable story of how bad the judicial system works in Chicago.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

First I thought the narrator was all too unprofessional. But then I realized this was a true story and told by one of the participants. That made quite a difference and it was suddenly OK listening to the rather flat voice.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Don't believe innocence will save you!

Any additional comments?

I liked the book, but when I bought it a thought a bought a novel. I don't understand why it wasn't presented as a documentary.

Excellent, Heart wrenching true story.

What made the experience of listening to Long Way Home the most enjoyable?

This was a very hard book to listen to. Although it is a wonderful story it is hard to listen to the wrongs done to this young man. I would get so frustrated listening to the story I would almost come to tears.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Long Way Home?

The strength that Jovan was able to show throughout the story. He would get down but pull himself right back up.

Any additional comments?

The first couple chapters of the book was poorly written and took a very long time to grab my interest. But hang in there, it get better. I almost quit listening but stuck with it and so very glad I did. It is an excellent story and makes us even more aware of the wrongs done in our justice system. Corruption still exists and probably always will. A handful of very bad cops sadly reflects on all.

Excellent story & narration!

What made the experience of listening to Long Way Home the most enjoyable?

I work best when I have an excellent audio book & this one was riveting. It not only held my attention I just couldn't put it down. To my surprise Laura Caldwell did a great job with narration. Most authors just can't pull narration off Miss Caldwell nailed it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Catharine O'Daniel the author did a great job illustrating Mrs. O'Daniel's energy, talent and drive for law

Any additional comments?

SIDE note to Miss Caldwell PLEASE PLEASE write a book about Catharine O'Daniel. I need to know what makes her tick. I will order it today!

Good story, understandable performance

I am mostly writing this review to stand up for the performance of the reading and in response to the complaints I've read in previous reviews. The story itself is a somewhat common: another young black male incarcerated for a murder he has to wait years to be tried for regardless of how much reasonable doubt is present on the face of things. Being an ardent follower of the innocence project, I'm just thankful there are decent lawyers willing to take on these cases.

It's depressing that it happens. Which brings me to the reading performance. Yes, it kind of sounds like a cross between a monotonous am radio news story and a study on how to depress your audience. It SHOULD sound like those things. I didn't expect the author to sound like she's doing cartwheels on a stroll through the park. When things do get moving a little about half way through the book she does sound more expressive. Again, expected.

Overall I'm picky about my readers on audible. I've returned more than a few books because of bad or difficult to understand performances. This is not one of those. It took me less than 24 hours to finish this one because it's a very intriguing listen. I highly recommend it if you like law, court rooms and intellectual emotionalism.

Compelling and compassionate but...

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

A 51-year-old African-American parking attendant was kicked from behind, punched by several kids and ultimately beaten to death with a baseball bat. This book is the story of one of the Youths Who was there but who did not participate. Jevon Mosley was tricked and coerced into saying that he threw two punches which meant he was guilty of murder in the eyes of the law. It's an interesting story about the legal system and what can happen if you are poor, uninformed, and utterly without resources.
Throughout the book, the author repeatedly refers to the incident as a "fight". Mosley, she says was at the fight but not involved. Many teenage boys have been in the vicinity of a fight and did not get involved, she says. This is an important misperception. Four or five young men attack a single, older man in order to rob him and, proceed to beat him to death with a bat that Jevon's friend "always had with him". This is not a fight. It's a robbery and wanton murder. Calling it a fight is outrageous and diminishes the power of the book.
There's plenty of injustice to showcase without minimizing. Jevon is not guilty of murder but he's not innocent either. To do nothing while a man gets his head bashed in is something no matter what neighborhood you are from. The author argues that doing nothing was the prevailing ethic in the neighborhood. Even if that's true, most young men have not hung out with kids who rob people and beat them with bats in order to get their money.
Jevon was a part of the incident. A man lost his life. Jevon didn't call police or check to see if the man was OK. He was callous and indifferent.
The author's lack of empathy for this victim was disturbing to me. A merciless, predatory, one-sided beating is not a fight. And Jevon was not just a good kid doing the best he could.
That being said, this account is worthwhile, insightful, and ultimately personally compassionate. Definitely a worthwhile read.

a different kind of horror story

This is a compelling book in many ways: the tragedy of years lost from the life of a promising and very likeable young man, the glimpse it provides of the process from the point of arrest by police, the brutality of the prison system, the legal system in which a case can stagnate, the incompetence of many professionals, day-to-day life in prison. There appears to be little or no hope until the chance meeting which eventually sees the wronged young man released to pick up the pieces of his shattered life. The role played by the two lawyers is heartwarming, as is his mother's dedication and the support of friends who help him as he begins to put together a new life. The section dealing with research on false confessions and other related matters helps to explain what happens to individuals who are caught up in the system: the accused, those who investigate, and the lawyers who prosecute and defend.

Laura Caldwell is an excellent writer but I initially found her rather monotone delivery off-putting. But before long I felt that it suited the matter-of-fact business-like nature of her work. I agree with other commenters that the third person/first person inconsistency is confusing: it just shouldn't happen - where were the editors? However, that is my only criticism and I found the book rivetting from start to finish.