Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite

Chained Birds by Carla Conti is a haunting and compelling true crime memoir that delves deep into the dark, often unseen corners of the American criminal justice system. Conti, a former journalist, takes readers on an intense, decade-long journey that begins innocuously enough with a favor for a high school friend but quickly spirals into a harrowing fight for justice and survival. The memoir is structured around Conti’s involvement in the defense of Kevin Sanders, a federal inmate entangled in a brutal prison stabbing case. What begins as a simple request from her lawyer friend, Scott Powell, rapidly draws Conti into the terrifying world of federal prison gangs, corruption, and systemic abuse.

Carla Conti’s writing is evocative, painting vivid pictures of the people and places she encounters. She captures the fear and tension permeating every aspect of her life once she becomes involved in Sanders’ case. The narrative is gripping, often reading like a thriller, but the fact that it’s rooted in real events makes it all the more chilling. It’s an edge-of-the-seat nailbiter that’s so well-written that readers will cheer and jeer with every page turn. Chained Birds is also an honest critique of the failings of the U.S. criminal justice system, and Conti doesn’t sugarcoat the realities of prison. A glossary of prison terms and slang is included at the back of the book. Conti has penned a powerful reminder of the often invisible victims of penal abuse and the need for reform. This is an essential read for anyone interested in true crime, social justice, or the complexities of the criminal justice system. I highly recommend Chained Birds.