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Content snapshot
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Violence
Some
The shooting that triggered the trial; no graphic depiction
Language
Some
Legal and courtroom language; some adult terms
Sexual Content
A lot
A rape is the alleged motive for the killing — discussed at length in a legal context; the trial requires explicit examination of sexual assault evidence
Substance Use
Barely any
Social drinking in a small-town Michigan setting
Emotional Intensity
Some
The psychological strain on a defense attorney who must advocate for a client whose guilt is ambiguous; the nature of legal truth versus moral truth
What this book is about
Small-town Michigan attorney Paul Biegler defends Lt. Frederick Manion, who shot and killed the man he claims raped his wife. A meticulous, procedurally faithful account of a murder trial, based on a real 1952 case — exploring jury selection, the nature of legal insanity, and the gap between what can be proven and what might be true. One of the most accurate and compelling courtroom dramas ever written.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
A rape trial — the sexual assault is discussed in clinical and legal detail throughout
Legal proceedings around a premeditated killing — morally complex
Reader Verification
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