The Guardians

By: John Grisham

Narrated by: Michael Beck

He was framed for murder.

Now he needs someone on the outside to save him.

For 22 years Quincy Miller has sat on Death Row without friends, family or legal representation. He was accused of killing Keith Russo, a lawyer in a small Florida town. But there were no witnesses and no motive. Just the fact that Quincy was black in an all-white town and that a blood-splattered torch was found in the boot of his car. A torch he swore was planted. A torch that conveniently disappeared from evidence just before his trial.

It made no difference. The police photographs of the torch were enough. In the eyes of the law Quincy is guilty and, no matter how often he protests his innocence, his punishment will be death.

Finally, after 22 years, an innocence lawyer and minister, Cullen Post, takes on his case. Post has exonerated eight men in the last ten years. He intends Quincy will become number nine.

But there were powerful and ruthless people behind Russo's murder. They prefer that an innocent man goes to his death than one of them. They killed one lawyer 22 years ago, and they'll kill another one without a second thought.

©2019 John Grisham (P)2019 Penguin Random House LLC

Riveting story

Loved it. Could not stop listening. Great plot and characters. Did not know that it was based on a true story.

Great Story Great Narrator

John Grisham's latest legal thriller, "The Guardians," traces the steps of Cullen Post and the other lawyers and investigators of a nonprofit organization dedicated to proving the innocence of incarcerated persons who were wrongfully convicted. The Guardian Ministry has a track record of having secured the release of 8 persons. This case concerns Quincy Miller, who has been on death row for 22 years. The evidence against Miller, accused of murdering his divorce lawyer, seems so sketchy, but once a jury found him guilty, it is exceedingly difficult to undo the damage. As Post investigates, he realizes he is up against an elaborate conspiracy featuring well-connected players with deep pockets who will go to any lengths not to have Miller exonerated. Post's efforts are complicated by shortcomings of the initial investigation, planted and missing evidence, the perjury of witnesses, crooked local officials, prison gangs, and drug cartels. True to his typical writing style, Grisham provides a straightforward, fast-moving pace, with intricate details and subplots that will make a reader wonder if it is too late (or too dangerous) for the Guardians to uncover the real culprits so that Quincy Miller can be set free. According to the author's note, this book was inspired by separate true events.

Michael Beck was outstanding with the delivery of the story