Name: A False Report
ISBN: 9781524759933

Ken Armstrong

T. Christian Miller

"This is an expanded version of 'An unbelievable story of rape' ... originally published on ProPublica (propublica.org) and co-published with the Marshall Project on December 15, 2015"--Title page verso.

A True Story of Rape in America

A False Report

It was an easy case to close until two detectives cracked it back open... 'I pretty much read A False Reportin one sitting. It is deeply disturbing but brilliant. I hope it helps with the seismic shift needed in attitudes to women who are brave enough to come forward when they have been assaulted.' Sandi Toksvig One of Stylist Magazine's 20 Must-Read Books of 2018 On 11 August 2008, eighteen-year-old Marie reported that a masked man had broken into her home and raped her. Within days, police - and even those closest to Marie - became suspicious of her story- details of the crime just didn't seem plausible. Confronted with the seeming inconsistencies, Marie broke down and said her story was a fabrication - a bid for attention. The police convicted her of making a false report. She was vilified as a liar. More than two years later, some 1,600 kilometres away, detective Stacy Galbraith was assigned to a case of sexual assault. It bore an eerie resemblance to a rape that had taken place months earlier in a nearby town. Galbraith contacted the detective on that case, Edna Hendershot, and they joined forces. Galbraith and Hendershot soon realised they were dealing with a serial rapist- a man who took calculated steps to erase all physical evidence, who photographed each of his victims, threatening to release the images online if the women went to the police. After weeks of meticulous investigation, they had a name. But they also had yet another victim - a young woman whose identity was a mystery, a possible missing link. It was imperative they find her. Based on investigative files and extensive interviews with those involved, A False Reportis a serpentine tale of doubt, lies and a hunt for justice. It unveils the disturbing reality of how sexual assault is investigated and the long history of scepticism towards its victims. But it is also the story of two women whose determined resolve and detective brilliance finally brought the truth to light.

The Chilling True Story of the Woman Nobody Believed

Wynter

Magic Square Challenge 2018 - #6 - True or Fictional Crime

A False Report is an excellent example of how rape survivors are treated by law representatives and even loved ones. While it takes one true case of a serial rapist Marc O'Leary to showcase the amount of mistreatment, suspicion, and downright dismissiveness women have to go through to get justice, it is unfortunately far from the only such case out there. With everything going on with show business industry and corporate offices nowadays, books like these are true eye-openers.

Cath

TRIGGER WARNING: rape and sexual assault

I love that the book explores more than just the central idea of rape. The book touches heavily upon the people who are involved – mainly the detectives and investigators who specialises in sexual assault and rape investigations. The audience is made aware of not just the surface of a rape case, but also what these detectives have to go through and their dedication and passion towards improving the criminal justice system.

I was just intrigued the whole time. The book also touches upon the psychology behind trauma, fear and the mindset of rapists. Moreover, we follow female detectives throughout the whole book, and I am all for that. These women prove that gender is irrelevant when it comes to having the mental and physical strength of handling crimes. We follow their story of self-empowerment and how they made their way to the top of the criminal justice system. The book is completely immersive from the start. There are times where I would jump from the slightest sound, which would make me double check if my doors are all locked 😮

On a lighter note, I dog-eared and annotated the heck out of this beauty, and I cannot wait to go back to all my favorite quotes and empowering scenes in the future. I’ve never been so curious about the criminal justice system before, but reading this brought out the fascination I never thought I had for the criminal justice department. After reading this, I think being a criminalist would be the coolest thing to ever happen to anyone! I admire the determination that goes into being one, because it’s definitely not an easy job and not just anyone can become one, especially when you’re female – what with all the prejudice that might be thrown at you while you’re in the workforce.

Overall I highly recommend this book! Very interesting and fast-paced. You’ll learn so, so much reading this.

Thank you so much to Crown Publishing for sending over a free copy in exchange for an honest review! #PRHPartner

A False Report A True Story of Rape in America

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