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The Innocence Game
From Michael Harvey, Chicago’s best-known crime writer and author of the popular Michael Kelly series, comes something a leap forward into a dark world where the lines between innocence and guilt disappear altogether.
They’re young, brilliant, beautiful . . . and naïve enough to believe they can make a difference. For three graduate students, the exclusive innocence seminar at the nation’s most esteemed journalism school is supposed to teach them how to free the falsely accused from prison. Little do they know the most important lesson they’ll learn is how to stay alive.
The first day of class for Ian Joyce and Sarah Gold starts like any other, until a fellow student, Jake Havens, pulls a wrinkled envelope from his backpack. Inside is a bloodstained scrap of shirt from a boy murdered fourteen years ago and an anonymous note taking credit for the killing. The only problem is the alleged murderer is already dead.
Suddenly, the class has a new find the real killer. As the case unfolds, the bodies and questions begin to pile up.
Why are innocent men being framed?
Who’s been getting away with murder?
Drawn into a web of deceit and corruption, the students realize they, too, are being hunted. Ian, Sarah, and Jake are smart . . . but are they smart enough to stay alive?
From Northwestern’s idyllic campus, to the grittiest corners of Chicago, to the frigid depths of Lake Michigan, The Innocence Game is irresistible, harrowing suspense from a writer at the top of his form.
They’re young, brilliant, beautiful . . . and naïve enough to believe they can make a difference. For three graduate students, the exclusive innocence seminar at the nation’s most esteemed journalism school is supposed to teach them how to free the falsely accused from prison. Little do they know the most important lesson they’ll learn is how to stay alive.
The first day of class for Ian Joyce and Sarah Gold starts like any other, until a fellow student, Jake Havens, pulls a wrinkled envelope from his backpack. Inside is a bloodstained scrap of shirt from a boy murdered fourteen years ago and an anonymous note taking credit for the killing. The only problem is the alleged murderer is already dead.
Suddenly, the class has a new find the real killer. As the case unfolds, the bodies and questions begin to pile up.
Why are innocent men being framed?
Who’s been getting away with murder?
Drawn into a web of deceit and corruption, the students realize they, too, are being hunted. Ian, Sarah, and Jake are smart . . . but are they smart enough to stay alive?
From Northwestern’s idyllic campus, to the grittiest corners of Chicago, to the frigid depths of Lake Michigan, The Innocence Game is irresistible, harrowing suspense from a writer at the top of his form.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
75 people are currently reading
1011 people want to read
About the author
Michael Harvey
9 books393 followersMichael is the best-selling author of seven crime novels, The Chicago Way, The Fifth Floor, The Third Rail, We All Fall Down, The Innocence Game, The Governor’s Wife and Brighton, scheduled for release in June of 2016. Film rights to Brighton, a stand-alone thriller set in Michael’s hometown of Boston, were recently optioned by Graham King, producer of The Departed and The Town.
Michael is also an investigative reporter, documentary producer and co-creator, producer and executive producer of A&E’s groundbreaking forensic series, Cold Case Files.
Michael’s investigative journalism and documentary work has won multiple news Emmys and CableACE awards, numerous national and international film festival awards, a CINE Golden Eagle, two Prime-Time Emmy nominations, as well as an Academy Award nomination. Michael was also selected by the Chicago Tribune as Chicagoan of the Year in Literature for 2011.
Michael holds a bachelors degree, magna cum laude with honors, in classical languages from Holy Cross College, a law degree with honors from Duke University and a masters degree in journalism from Northwestern University. Michael is currently an adjunct professor at Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism.
Michael was born in Boston and lives in Chicago.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
May 31, 2013
I like Michael Harvey for the Chicago setting. The Innocence Game is a quick, entertaining read without the violence of his others. There are some leaps made in the plot that I didn't quite follow, still highly recommended.
January 9, 2022
Students at an elite university, looking into a cold case that is slowly showing links to a new murder. As the group of students dig deeper, they uncover conspiracy, corruption and enemies closer than they could ever think. Who can they trust...can they even trust each other?
I liked this book more than I thought I would. It has an air of mystery about it, the back doesn't give much a way, and the story unfolds as you read it. A really good twist at the end, and some dangerous detective work that has you rooting for characters and in shock at others!
I liked this book more than I thought I would. It has an air of mystery about it, the back doesn't give much a way, and the story unfolds as you read it. A really good twist at the end, and some dangerous detective work that has you rooting for characters and in shock at others!
May 12, 2014
this is well beyond 5 stars, I have to thank Mark Soone for recommending it to me. The name is perfect and it is about a course for undergrads that take a course of unsolved crimes and whether you can find evidence to see if the person is really guilty or not.
With 3 individuals and very different who took the course for a different reason I have to say that Michael Harvey had me on my feet guessing who was causing the horrific scenes that kept on bringing the cops to the scene.
Who do you really trust? Can you call them a friend or even reliable. this is the first book I have read by Michael Harvey and certainly not the last. I look forward to more recommendations by everyone.
With 3 individuals and very different who took the course for a different reason I have to say that Michael Harvey had me on my feet guessing who was causing the horrific scenes that kept on bringing the cops to the scene.
Who do you really trust? Can you call them a friend or even reliable. this is the first book I have read by Michael Harvey and certainly not the last. I look forward to more recommendations by everyone.
March 6, 2018
A terrific mystery/thriller. 3 undergraduate students on a journalism course - Jake Havens, Ian Joyce and Sarah Gold - join forces to investigate a possible wrongful conviction in a child murder case . But their inquiries soon uncover corruption at the highest level and a secret squad within Chicago's police force is determined to stop their investigation by any means necessary.
Now and then, there's a chilling chapter which describes the actions of a child killer who has returned to Chicago to renew his murderous ways.
Meanwhile, Jake, Ian and Sarah are discovering another obstacle - who to trust. This applies not only to their course lecturer Judy Zombrowski, a Pulitzer winner, with secrets of her own, but to themselves.
How Michael Harvey manages to packs so much action into just 256 pages defies belief and the twists towards the end of this tale are breathtaking. This is a great crime novel dealing with real life issues of political and police corruption which affect us all.
Now and then, there's a chilling chapter which describes the actions of a child killer who has returned to Chicago to renew his murderous ways.
Meanwhile, Jake, Ian and Sarah are discovering another obstacle - who to trust. This applies not only to their course lecturer Judy Zombrowski, a Pulitzer winner, with secrets of her own, but to themselves.
How Michael Harvey manages to packs so much action into just 256 pages defies belief and the twists towards the end of this tale are breathtaking. This is a great crime novel dealing with real life issues of political and police corruption which affect us all.
October 30, 2014
Prefacing my review with the fact that I was expecting to read a different book.
Perhaps I should have started with the author acknowledgment that said that the events of this book are nothing like what happens in Medill's exoneration investigations. The book starts somewhat on this track and while things take a turn for the dramatic fairly quickly at some point the whole thing goes off the rails with a serious of rapid plot twists & big reveals.
POSSIBLE SPOILER?
I thought it was also in poor taste to have a character get brutally raped as a way of advancing the plot, ratcheting up the stakes of the story, and short term writing the character out of the action.
Perhaps I should have started with the author acknowledgment that said that the events of this book are nothing like what happens in Medill's exoneration investigations. The book starts somewhat on this track and while things take a turn for the dramatic fairly quickly at some point the whole thing goes off the rails with a serious of rapid plot twists & big reveals.
POSSIBLE SPOILER?
I thought it was also in poor taste to have a character get brutally raped as a way of advancing the plot, ratcheting up the stakes of the story, and short term writing the character out of the action.
July 28, 2016
This was an enjoyable if not spectacular mystery/thriller, and my first Michael Harvey novel.
It opens with three bright students at Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism joining an innocence seminar designed to uncover cases of wrongful conviction. Normally, the students would dig through old case files and choose one, but in this case, one of the students, former law student Jake Havens, shows up with a case of his own -- a mysterious message in an envelope that also contained a swatch of blood-coated cloth. The message points him toward a boy killed many years before, and even though a suspect was arrested and died in prison, Jake and his compatriots think it looks like a frame job.
The other two students are Ian Joyce, considered the brightest student in the journalism school, who has a troubled past, and Sarah Gold, a sunny, beautiful woman whom Ian and Jake of course feel rivalry over. The class is headed by Judy Zombrowski, a Pulitzer winner who is wary of their cold case but decides to let them proceed.
Both Jake and Ian have lost brothers to drowning, and that will become a factor in the case as it unfolds. When the threesome goes into the woods to look at the site where their young victim died years before, they stumble onto a cave where another dead young boy is lying inside. Not wanting to be discovered, they slip away before the cops arrive.
Is the killer still out there, or is this a copycat? Why did the cops arrest men in old cases who seemed to be framed? Why does someone break into Ian's house, and why do two cops stop him and take some old case files away with them?
As the story unfolds, the plot twists and short chapters keep everything moving along briskly. At the same time, some of the plot elements seemed more than a little preposterous to me, and the love triangle, as in many procedurals, always felt a little like window dressing.
It opens with three bright students at Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism joining an innocence seminar designed to uncover cases of wrongful conviction. Normally, the students would dig through old case files and choose one, but in this case, one of the students, former law student Jake Havens, shows up with a case of his own -- a mysterious message in an envelope that also contained a swatch of blood-coated cloth. The message points him toward a boy killed many years before, and even though a suspect was arrested and died in prison, Jake and his compatriots think it looks like a frame job.
The other two students are Ian Joyce, considered the brightest student in the journalism school, who has a troubled past, and Sarah Gold, a sunny, beautiful woman whom Ian and Jake of course feel rivalry over. The class is headed by Judy Zombrowski, a Pulitzer winner who is wary of their cold case but decides to let them proceed.
Both Jake and Ian have lost brothers to drowning, and that will become a factor in the case as it unfolds. When the threesome goes into the woods to look at the site where their young victim died years before, they stumble onto a cave where another dead young boy is lying inside. Not wanting to be discovered, they slip away before the cops arrive.
Is the killer still out there, or is this a copycat? Why did the cops arrest men in old cases who seemed to be framed? Why does someone break into Ian's house, and why do two cops stop him and take some old case files away with them?
As the story unfolds, the plot twists and short chapters keep everything moving along briskly. At the same time, some of the plot elements seemed more than a little preposterous to me, and the love triangle, as in many procedurals, always felt a little like window dressing.
April 3, 2013
This is my first introduction to Chicago author, Michael Harvey. And I am thoroughly impressed! Harvey nails the setting and gives both Chicago and Evanston an authentic edge. And it adds a thrill to this Chicagoan to see places like Tommy Nevin’s, Mustard’s Last Stand and The Spice House make cameo appearances (characters Michael Kelly and Vince Rodriguez from Harvey’s Michael Kelly series also make appearances, though this is a standalone novel). It also adds a certain eeriness to have places so close to home appear in the pages of this dark and quite exciting novel. Expertly plotted, this novel is almost impossible to put down! Its fast pacing compliments the way the plot unfolds in genuinely unexpected ways. And all with its meticulously drawn Chicago and Evanston backdrop. I can’t wait to read more books by this talented author!
The characters, three Medill (Northwestern’s prestigious graduate school of Journalism) students, each have realistic - and sympathetic - qualities. They are intriguing and complete characters - and I hope that Harvey includes them in future books! Though the novel has a relatively short page count (under 250), the complexity and tightness of the plot gives weight to each carefully worded sentence. Harvey is such a talented writer and I am so excited to read his Michael Kelly series next! It is always a treat to discover a new writer that already has books lined up for you to enjoy! I can’t wait! I am even more thankful that he has chosen to capture Chicago - it really adds to the fun!
The characters, three Medill (Northwestern’s prestigious graduate school of Journalism) students, each have realistic - and sympathetic - qualities. They are intriguing and complete characters - and I hope that Harvey includes them in future books! Though the novel has a relatively short page count (under 250), the complexity and tightness of the plot gives weight to each carefully worded sentence. Harvey is such a talented writer and I am so excited to read his Michael Kelly series next! It is always a treat to discover a new writer that already has books lined up for you to enjoy! I can’t wait! I am even more thankful that he has chosen to capture Chicago - it really adds to the fun!
April 28, 2013
I thought “The Chicago Way” was tough and taut, ample echoes of Raymond Chandler and James M. Cain. Five stars. I happen to like clipped, terse dialogue. I liked private investigator Michael Kelly, the former cop. The story was swift and punchy. I didn’t quite slip into “The Innocence Game” as easily. The basic set-up is terrific. “The Innocence Game” follows an erstwhile group of journalists assembled to look into cases where the justice system might not have done its job. The setting is Chicago. The three students—two guys, one girl—are enrolled in Northwestern’s well-regarded Medill School of Journalism and they are led by an enigmatic professor. The evil forces they are about to take on are pure evil (you have to admire Michael Harvey’s development of the back story). I wanted our narrator, Ian Joyce, to take more control. There are too many scenes over coffee and food, which felt like a chance to feature Chicago hotspots and watering holes. I didn’t care for the anonymous brief snippets from the “bad guy’s” point of view. I missed the tougher world of Michael Kelly, where the mood was more overtly, wonderfully noir.
September 14, 2019
Sometimes, I try something new. I’ll pick up an author I haven’t read before, without recommendations from trusted friends, on the strength of the synopsis and a scan of reviews from total strangers. It’s worth the gamble of my precious reading time, because I’ve occasionally found new authors and their whole back catalogs and future work to enjoy. This time, the gamble did not pay off. The characters were all too annoying, the suspension of disbelief required to accept some of these characters and events too great, and the mystery not compelling enough to keep me reading. DNF at 36%.
Audiobook, borrowed from my public library via Overdrive.
I attempted to read this book for the Booklikes Halloween Bingo 2019, for the square Amateur Sleuth: This mystery will have a main character who is not a member of law enforcement. I have another audiobook in mind as a substitute for this square.
Audiobook, borrowed from my public library via Overdrive.
I attempted to read this book for the Booklikes Halloween Bingo 2019, for the square Amateur Sleuth: This mystery will have a main character who is not a member of law enforcement. I have another audiobook in mind as a substitute for this square.
July 19, 2025
Wonderful
June 6, 2021
Goed boek, voor mij niet echt heel pakkend
July 8, 2013
For those readers who are used to the “Michael Kelly” series that this author is famous for, this new stand-alone novel is a definite change of pace.
Featuring three students attending Medill School of Journalism/Northwestern University - readers find themselves engrossed with the trio of highly intelligent graduate students who are attending a summer course there. The course is more than interesting as it focuses on cold cases (the deaths of young people), that were put into filing cabinets and basically forgotten about.
Ian is a very smart, very edgy boy who asks many questions that really don’t make a lot of sense…at first. Jake graduated from the University of Chicago Law School at the top of his class, but has no desire to be a lawyer. He’s a tough guy who throws away parking tickets, fights people far bigger than he is, and comes across as a definite outlaw. Last, but definitely not least, is Sarah - extremely attractive, she earned an almost perfect score on her LSAT’s.
This riveting group comes together to study and investigate an old crime that had a victim and a killer; but the killer, according to Jake, was absolutely innocent. As this case expands, bodies and questions start piling up. There may be a secret buried in the justice system - a secret involving many innocent people who are being framed by an authoritative group in Chicago that’s been getting away with murder.
As the three student’s continue to seek the truth, they soon realize that they’ve become targets on someone’s hit list. From the calm campus of Northwestern U. to the mean streets of Chicago to the bottom of Lake Michigan - this thriller has it all.
Michael Harvey remains a fascinating writer. Having him move away from his popular series to offer this unforgettable plot is truly a ‘fresh’ thrill for fans everywhere.
Featuring three students attending Medill School of Journalism/Northwestern University - readers find themselves engrossed with the trio of highly intelligent graduate students who are attending a summer course there. The course is more than interesting as it focuses on cold cases (the deaths of young people), that were put into filing cabinets and basically forgotten about.
Ian is a very smart, very edgy boy who asks many questions that really don’t make a lot of sense…at first. Jake graduated from the University of Chicago Law School at the top of his class, but has no desire to be a lawyer. He’s a tough guy who throws away parking tickets, fights people far bigger than he is, and comes across as a definite outlaw. Last, but definitely not least, is Sarah - extremely attractive, she earned an almost perfect score on her LSAT’s.
This riveting group comes together to study and investigate an old crime that had a victim and a killer; but the killer, according to Jake, was absolutely innocent. As this case expands, bodies and questions start piling up. There may be a secret buried in the justice system - a secret involving many innocent people who are being framed by an authoritative group in Chicago that’s been getting away with murder.
As the three student’s continue to seek the truth, they soon realize that they’ve become targets on someone’s hit list. From the calm campus of Northwestern U. to the mean streets of Chicago to the bottom of Lake Michigan - this thriller has it all.
Michael Harvey remains a fascinating writer. Having him move away from his popular series to offer this unforgettable plot is truly a ‘fresh’ thrill for fans everywhere.
April 15, 2019
הכתיבה והעלילה לא היו רעים, והייתי מעניקה לספר ניקוד גבוה יותר, לולא היה כל כך מיזוגני ודוחה.
כבר בתחילת הספר כמה מהתיאורים נשמעו לי שוביניסטים למדי, אך בהמשך הספר התרחשו אירועים שונים שמעידים על התייחסות מעוותת ומסוכנת ממש כלפי נשים.
אני לא אוהבת מניפולציות מכוערות בספרים אותם אני קוראת. קראתי באחת הביקורות שמדובר בסגנונו הקבוע של הסופר, אך מכיוון שזה ספרו היחיד שקראתי עד כה (ואין לי כוונה לקרוא נוספים), איני יודעת האם זו אמת.
בכל מקרה: ממליצה להחרים מנימוקים מוסריים וחברתיים.
משחק התמימות/מייקל הרווי
כבר בתחילת הספר כמה מהתיאורים נשמעו לי שוביניסטים למדי, אך בהמשך הספר התרחשו אירועים שונים שמעידים על התייחסות מעוותת ומסוכנת ממש כלפי נשים.
אני לא אוהבת מניפולציות מכוערות בספרים אותם אני קוראת. קראתי באחת הביקורות שמדובר בסגנונו הקבוע של הסופר, אך מכיוון שזה ספרו היחיד שקראתי עד כה (ואין לי כוונה לקרוא נוספים), איני יודעת האם זו אמת.
בכל מקרה: ממליצה להחרים מנימוקים מוסריים וחברתיים.
משחק התמימות/מייקל הרווי
October 8, 2013
Michael Harvey keeps improving with every book he writes. This was a thriller that twisted and turned, and I never aniticipated the ending! Of course I also love that his books are set in Chicago, the greatest city! Highly recommended.
June 27, 2015
An intriguing premise betrayed by disparate scenes, unrealistic characters doing things nobody in their right mind would do based on the information presented, and after a while I didn't care anymore what the answer was.
May 20, 2013
Another great one from local author, Michael Harvey. At first I was a bit disappointed that it isn't a Michael Kelly story, but the surprises! Had trouble putting this one down.
June 8, 2013
Some of the plot was a bit convoluted but the premise was interesting.
December 8, 2015
I got bored with this, nothing was happening, didn't like characters, due back at the library so didn't finish.
May 7, 2018
The Innocence Project was founded at Yeshiva University in 1992. Its success in exonerating falsely convicted individuals sparked the creation of similar efforts covering all fifty states as well as the UK, Canada, and Australia. Many are members of the Innocence Network. A separate, unaffiliated Innocence Project (later renamed the Justice Project) was established in the Medill School of Journalism at Chicago's Northwestern University. Author Michael Harvey is a member of the Medill faculty. Although he insists that the program he describes in his novel, The Innocence Game, bears no resemblance to the real-world Justice Project, he was clearly inspired by its work.
In The Innocence Game, Harvey displays a firm command of the techniques of mystery and suspense fiction. His writing is fluid, and he steadily builds suspense to a surprising, if not shocking, conclusion. Unfortunately, like so many of his predecessors in the genre, he relies far too much on implausible coincidences to make his story work. It's simply not believable.
The Chicago Police play a central role in The Innocence Game, but only one of the officers portrayed as an individual character proves to be honest and effective. The author clearly has a low opinion of the department. Shortly after the first appearance of police officers in the story, a Medill professor advises the student who is the novel's protagonist: "Don't screw with a Chicago cop. They can be ruthless, extremely violent, and largely devoid of conscience. If you threaten them, they'll do whatever they have to in order to protect themselves or whatever else they feel needs protecting. They carry a badge. They carry a gun. And some of them don't think twice before using either." Harvey's story highlights a long-running vein of corruption in the Chicago Police Department. It's pivotal in the novel.
In The Innocence Game, Harvey displays a firm command of the techniques of mystery and suspense fiction. His writing is fluid, and he steadily builds suspense to a surprising, if not shocking, conclusion. Unfortunately, like so many of his predecessors in the genre, he relies far too much on implausible coincidences to make his story work. It's simply not believable.
The Chicago Police play a central role in The Innocence Game, but only one of the officers portrayed as an individual character proves to be honest and effective. The author clearly has a low opinion of the department. Shortly after the first appearance of police officers in the story, a Medill professor advises the student who is the novel's protagonist: "Don't screw with a Chicago cop. They can be ruthless, extremely violent, and largely devoid of conscience. If you threaten them, they'll do whatever they have to in order to protect themselves or whatever else they feel needs protecting. They carry a badge. They carry a gun. And some of them don't think twice before using either." Harvey's story highlights a long-running vein of corruption in the Chicago Police Department. It's pivotal in the novel.
January 24, 2020
I liked this one but it has got some shortcomings.
I enjoyed Harvey's writing style and character-building; however, I felt like I was thrown into the story quickly and with little context. The first 100 hundred or so pages were a bit tedious and confusing, but after this mark, the story became binge-worthy. The concept of 'college students trying to investigate and resolve an old murder case' is attractive, and overall, Harvey does this quite well.
The downfall for me was the ending. It felt convenient and far-fetched more so than 'surprising'- which I assume the intent was. I felt similarly about the romance too.
Am I mad I read this? No.
Do I plan on reading Michael Harvey's other works? Yes.
I enjoyed Harvey's writing style and character-building; however, I felt like I was thrown into the story quickly and with little context. The first 100 hundred or so pages were a bit tedious and confusing, but after this mark, the story became binge-worthy. The concept of 'college students trying to investigate and resolve an old murder case' is attractive, and overall, Harvey does this quite well.
The downfall for me was the ending. It felt convenient and far-fetched more so than 'surprising'- which I assume the intent was. I felt similarly about the romance too.
Am I mad I read this? No.
Do I plan on reading Michael Harvey's other works? Yes.
December 28, 2020
Holy cats, this guy is good. A few days have passed since I finished The Innocence Game and I still feel icky and sad because while this is a work of fiction, there are elements throughout that could be and likely are true. Michael Harvey does an incredible job of capturing Chicago and Evanston without tedious details like other authors have done *coughs* Audrey Niffenegger and The Time Traveler's Wife. I don't want to say too much and risk even the slightest spolier, but if you've been on the fence about Chicago PD being crooked and dirty, this book leaves no doubt and if you have a friend who works on the legal side, it's disgusting the more stories you hear.
February 7, 2017
My Medill College friends should enjoy this mystery, which features three journalism students investigating old murder cases to try to find people who have been wrongfully convicted.
I loved the details about the campus (down to Mustard's Last Stand) and the Evanston area. But I didn't thiunk the ending was up to Harvey's usual level of cleverness.
I loved the details about the campus (down to Mustard's Last Stand) and the Evanston area. But I didn't thiunk the ending was up to Harvey's usual level of cleverness.
October 5, 2017
3.5.
I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did his Michael Kelly thrillers (though Kelly does make an appearance here), but the writing is so fast-paced and tersely propulsive - while still maintaining a nice hard-boiled flavor - and there is a genuinely surprising twist at the end.
I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did his Michael Kelly thrillers (though Kelly does make an appearance here), but the writing is so fast-paced and tersely propulsive - while still maintaining a nice hard-boiled flavor - and there is a genuinely surprising twist at the end.
April 18, 2023
Disturbingly interesting. This novel took a while to get rolling - to catch hold of the story or purpose. Once established, the crimes were arresting, the investigation was fast paced, the climax surprising.
I'll definitely read more by Michael Harvey.
I'll definitely read more by Michael Harvey.
October 8, 2013
Michael Harvey has portrayed the city of Chicago and its environs in past novels to wonderful effect, and in his newest novel, a standalone, he does so once again. The tale is told from the 1st person p.o.v. of Ian Joyce, one of three graduate students chosen for a highly sought-after spot in a seminar at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism (considered one of the best in the world), run by a three-time Pulitzer-winning journalist, Judy Zombrowski. (“You can call me Z.”) The seminar, which she has been teaching for more than a decade, is called The Innocence Project, apparently based on an actual program in Chicago and a similar one in New York City, whose purpose is “to work on wrongful convictions . . . [of] men who’ve been sentenced to death for crimes they didn’t commit.”
The three students chosen are Ian, Jake Havens (a brilliant law-school grad) and Sarah Gold, a beautiful girl who had gone through under-grad school with Ian. The case they choose (well, actually, it’s Jake who chooses it) is that of a man convicted of killing a ten-year-old boy in Chicago 14 years earlier who, almost parenthetically, had been killed in prison 14 months after being incarcerated. As Jake says, defending his choice, “Does the fact that he’s dead make him any less innocent?” The young men are discovered to be more complex than they first appear, with their own secrets. But the three turn out to be a great team, each bringing his or her own compulsions to the task, with intriguing results. Their search into old murders morphs into the discovery of others not nearly as old. As the 3 J-School students pursue their investigation, trouble seems to follow them, including and not limited to break-ins and arson.
The credo that Z has instilled in them is that above all, their job is to find out the truth. Along the way, they discover several other things, among them: “‘Playing a hunch’ is what journalists in the movies called it. Felt like fishing without a pole;” “In a splintered moment, we knew more about each other than we could in a million lifetimes” and, when corruption on several different levels is found, “This is Chicago we’re talking about. Cops, detectives, prosecutors. I know you’re a smart young man . . . “
Suspenseful from the start, the last third of the novel becomes much more than “just” a page-turner, when I found that I could not put the book down until the final page, with an ending this reader absolutely did not see coming. It is highly recommended.
The three students chosen are Ian, Jake Havens (a brilliant law-school grad) and Sarah Gold, a beautiful girl who had gone through under-grad school with Ian. The case they choose (well, actually, it’s Jake who chooses it) is that of a man convicted of killing a ten-year-old boy in Chicago 14 years earlier who, almost parenthetically, had been killed in prison 14 months after being incarcerated. As Jake says, defending his choice, “Does the fact that he’s dead make him any less innocent?” The young men are discovered to be more complex than they first appear, with their own secrets. But the three turn out to be a great team, each bringing his or her own compulsions to the task, with intriguing results. Their search into old murders morphs into the discovery of others not nearly as old. As the 3 J-School students pursue their investigation, trouble seems to follow them, including and not limited to break-ins and arson.
The credo that Z has instilled in them is that above all, their job is to find out the truth. Along the way, they discover several other things, among them: “‘Playing a hunch’ is what journalists in the movies called it. Felt like fishing without a pole;” “In a splintered moment, we knew more about each other than we could in a million lifetimes” and, when corruption on several different levels is found, “This is Chicago we’re talking about. Cops, detectives, prosecutors. I know you’re a smart young man . . . “
Suspenseful from the start, the last third of the novel becomes much more than “just” a page-turner, when I found that I could not put the book down until the final page, with an ending this reader absolutely did not see coming. It is highly recommended.
July 27, 2013
As a bookseller, I regularly recommend Michael Harvey to those needing an alternative to Michael Connelly and his ilk, as Harvey so consistently produces incredibly readable Chicago-set police procedurals. The Innocence Game is slightly different than his usual fare, straying into the legal territory of John Grisham and Mark Gimenez in this highly enjoyable stand alone.
With the interplay between the three central characters- a small group of intuitive and ambitious legal students, tasked with finding the real perpetrator of an abduction and killing of a young boy- Harvey immediately envelops the reader in their backgrounds and defining characteristics. As the book progresses, we discover their particular strengths and weaknesses, and certainly in the case of Ian, their back stories are discovered to be intrinsically bound up with their central ambitions in training to enter the legal world. As a further series of killings occur, all three protagonists are put in danger as their investigations bring them into the direct sight of a killer, and causes them to question the actions of those in whom they have a belief and trust. Harvey carefully illustrates the consequences of these actions on the psyches of Ian, Sarah and Jake, and plays with the central dynamics of the relationships between them, as they find themselves inextricably embroiled in physical danger. For my money, Sarah is perhaps the weak link in the characterisation, but only because the two male characters have a much more intriguing back story and unusual set of circumstances that have paved their way in life, but on the whole their interactions work well within the central plot. The plotting cannot be faulted as Harvey closely controls the gradual revealing of key information and there are enough twists and turns along the way to keep those pages a-turning, with one reveal in particular catching me completely offguard. An accomplished thriller from a writer who could be a great new discovery if you’ve not had the pleasure of reading him before...
With the interplay between the three central characters- a small group of intuitive and ambitious legal students, tasked with finding the real perpetrator of an abduction and killing of a young boy- Harvey immediately envelops the reader in their backgrounds and defining characteristics. As the book progresses, we discover their particular strengths and weaknesses, and certainly in the case of Ian, their back stories are discovered to be intrinsically bound up with their central ambitions in training to enter the legal world. As a further series of killings occur, all three protagonists are put in danger as their investigations bring them into the direct sight of a killer, and causes them to question the actions of those in whom they have a belief and trust. Harvey carefully illustrates the consequences of these actions on the psyches of Ian, Sarah and Jake, and plays with the central dynamics of the relationships between them, as they find themselves inextricably embroiled in physical danger. For my money, Sarah is perhaps the weak link in the characterisation, but only because the two male characters have a much more intriguing back story and unusual set of circumstances that have paved their way in life, but on the whole their interactions work well within the central plot. The plotting cannot be faulted as Harvey closely controls the gradual revealing of key information and there are enough twists and turns along the way to keep those pages a-turning, with one reveal in particular catching me completely offguard. An accomplished thriller from a writer who could be a great new discovery if you’ve not had the pleasure of reading him before...
November 18, 2013
Three graduate students, Ian, Jack and Sarah, were tasked with a class assignment of finding the real killer for a murder committed 14 years ago when an anonymous note took credit for the killing after the convicted murderer was already dead. The three of them followed up with investigations which brought them unwittingly into situations which were certainly more than what they bargained for.
The plot comes with the usual twists and turns, most of which cannot be foreseen. As a mystery and suspense thriller, it’s not too deep but definitely dark and unsettling at some parts. Almost no person could be wholly trusted, not even the judicial or police forces. The characters play their parts convincingly - but camaraderie and the romance were not satisfyingly portrayed. In fact, there doesn’t seem to be a single bright or light episode in the whole storyline; while I understand that such cheerful bits are not synonymous with books of this genre, it’s still a teeny-weeny bit depressing. Maybe that’s why “The Innocence Game” did not totally work for me. Objectively though, I agree with other reviewers that this book is very well-written, believable and keeps you guessing until the end.
The plot comes with the usual twists and turns, most of which cannot be foreseen. As a mystery and suspense thriller, it’s not too deep but definitely dark and unsettling at some parts. Almost no person could be wholly trusted, not even the judicial or police forces. The characters play their parts convincingly - but camaraderie and the romance were not satisfyingly portrayed. In fact, there doesn’t seem to be a single bright or light episode in the whole storyline; while I understand that such cheerful bits are not synonymous with books of this genre, it’s still a teeny-weeny bit depressing. Maybe that’s why “The Innocence Game” did not totally work for me. Objectively though, I agree with other reviewers that this book is very well-written, believable and keeps you guessing until the end.
March 3, 2014
Wow, what a pleasant surprise! I had never heard of this book/author prior to stumbling upon it in a search for something new/different to read.
3 students in a class that has the project of sifting through cases of death sentence convictions, looking to overturn the verdicts and save an innocent life form an intriguing team. After one of the students receives evidence of a wrongful conviction, about a convicted murderer who was killed in prison begin the task of trying to prove the deceased convicts innocence. Along the way they uncover a series of killings that seem to be related and have a common thread of wrongful convictions, where the convict is afterwards murdered leaving very little trail. Wrongful convictions, tainted DNA, corrupt cops and a far reaching conspiracy. The plot is quick developing, the characters very engaging, the mystery and danger are engulfing. The ending while not bad, unfortunately is not quite as enjoyable as the rest of the book.
I would recommend this to all crime/suspense/thriller fans! Go get a copy now, don't delay!
3 students in a class that has the project of sifting through cases of death sentence convictions, looking to overturn the verdicts and save an innocent life form an intriguing team. After one of the students receives evidence of a wrongful conviction, about a convicted murderer who was killed in prison begin the task of trying to prove the deceased convicts innocence. Along the way they uncover a series of killings that seem to be related and have a common thread of wrongful convictions, where the convict is afterwards murdered leaving very little trail. Wrongful convictions, tainted DNA, corrupt cops and a far reaching conspiracy. The plot is quick developing, the characters very engaging, the mystery and danger are engulfing. The ending while not bad, unfortunately is not quite as enjoyable as the rest of the book.
I would recommend this to all crime/suspense/thriller fans! Go get a copy now, don't delay!
April 4, 2015
Ian Joyce, Jake Havens, and Sarah Gold are the only students in a graduate level seminar at Medill School of Journalism (Northwestern University in Chicago) centered on the detailed investigation of wrongful convictions. The seminar is conducted by Judy Zombrowski, AKA "Z", a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist for her work in the same field. She has very definite ideas on where the students should focus their efforts but Jake, a brilliant (first in his law school class) but troubled young man, has a different plan. He has received a letter, along with a small piece of fabric, along with details of a child's murder that's over a decade old. The other two grad students agree that it's worth investigating. But what they find—and who they tick off—get them into very deep water, literally. Fascinating plot elements, especially the intriguing twists at the end. Gritty, semi-hard-boiled, fascinating.
June 11, 2013
This is a book I discovered while reading the Poisoned Pen's newsletter. The book follows three students in a summer class that reviews old criminal cases looking for evidence of innocence on convicted cases. I have always been fascinated with groups who try to aid people and overturn wrongful convictions.
The pace of the book was very quick and I read the book in two nights. Michael Harvey developed strong characters and depicted a engrossing story. I really felt close to the narrator of the story, Ian Joyce, one of the students in the class. He was very likable, as was Sarah Gold (one of the other students). The last student, Jake Havens, was more mysterious. The book brings you into a world of corruption and tells a tale where the truth does not always prevail.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that is interested in the law, criminal cases and serial killers.
The pace of the book was very quick and I read the book in two nights. Michael Harvey developed strong characters and depicted a engrossing story. I really felt close to the narrator of the story, Ian Joyce, one of the students in the class. He was very likable, as was Sarah Gold (one of the other students). The last student, Jake Havens, was more mysterious. The book brings you into a world of corruption and tells a tale where the truth does not always prevail.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that is interested in the law, criminal cases and serial killers.
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