I love books that explore injustice and "unfairness" in our society, particularly within the realm of the law. Raphael's own story is one of struggle to clear his name after being wrongfully accused. However, he takes a back seat in this book to share the stories of others who have shared his fate in order to amplify their voices and provide insight into how the system can break down across cultures and nations. Overall this book is informative and gripping, though with the multiple interviews and recorded perspectives it felt more like a podcast than an audiobook. I did feel a little taken out of the stories from time to time, as the author often interjects between segments of interviews to add additional commentary. However, more often than not, this commentary ends up being a summary of what we've just heard and doesn't add much -- it felt a little "hand-holdy." In general, I do enjoy this book and would recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Good solid non fic. You Are Accused is a book by Raphael Rowe, a journalist and presenter who was falsely convicted for a murder he did not commit. The book is an investigative journalism project that explores the frightening world of accusations in the modern world. The book features stories of people who have been accused of various crimes, such as murder, rape, fraud, and terrorism, and how their lives have been affected by the accusations.

Raphael Rowe has done a good job in bringing together a diverse range if individuals who’ve suffered as a result of being accused of a crime they didn’t commit. At times, it felt rather like sliding into a dystopian world where the rule book has been thrown out and people are incarcerated in a foreign country with little or no support. I can’t begin to imagine how that must affect someone, not only at the time, but for the rest of their life.

Some cases, Amanda Knox, the Post Office scandal, for example, I knew about but there are many more and some of particular concern. It demonstrates how easy it is for a situation to spiral out of control and the power of the state over the individual. I’ve tackled the book in small sessions over a few weeks. I’m not keen on the audio quality or delivery which is podcast like. I’m not sure if it’s intended to add authenticity or if it’s poor quality, but it detracts from the content, which is enthralling.

I really wanted to like this book, but after listening for an hour, I just couldn't keep going. I didn't find the delivery that smooth, and the writing felt a bit clunky. I'm sorry, but not one for me.

This was such an intense and harrowing collection of stories. I enjoyed the format of multiple situation spanning from a range of charges, countries, and circumstances. I was most interested in this book because I immediately thought of Amanda Knox, and her story is included as I expected. However, I was not expecting such resiliency displayed in her life after the event or her candor regarding what she will tell her child regarding the situation.

As a law abiding citizen, I reevaluated how I feel when I hear of an accusation. I used to tend to assume there was at least some truth or evidence to accusations or arrests on charges like embezzlement, or murder. However, this was a compelling argument for prudence.

I enjoyed that this was specifically a book about accusation. Usual crime books focus on trails, convictions, and sentences. I found the concept of a deep-dive into the feelings and ramifications of accusation to be unique and compelling in a genre like true crime which is often unoriginal due to over saturation.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book!

Fascinating and frightening. This is gripping. Enjoyed the breakdown of each situation, and found the format engaging. The interviews are candid, informed, and build their own kind of narrative suspense. It's genuinely shocking to think such things can happen to everyday folks. The narrator and interviewer as a person with experience in the subject matter adds veracity. Captivating stuff.

Very interesting book, feels more like listening to a podcast than a book. Very informative but the listening experience was ruined at times but muffled recording.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for a review.

I have really enjoyed this audio book. It was very much narrated as a documentary with lots of interviews. Accused is raw and scarily real- it demonstrated how easily someone's life can change from.the.post office scandal to being arrested abroad.

Compelling Exploration of Wrongful Accusations - 4.5 Stars

"You Are Accused" by Raphael Rowe is an immersive audiobook that takes listeners into the lives of individuals who have faced the turmoil of false accusations. As a newcomer to the book's premise, I was intrigued by the prospect of delving into the aftermath of these unjust experiences.

Structured in an interview format reminiscent of a podcast, the audiobook establishes an engaging and personal rapport with its audience. While certain interviews suffer from minor sound quality issues, these concerns do little to dampen the overall impact of the content.

The audiobook artfully divides into succinct segments, each spotlighting individuals accused of offenses ranging from murder to fraud. These segments provide invaluable insights into the nature of the accusations, the legal outcomes, and the path to recovery. Expert interviews featuring professionals like detectives and lawyers are thoughtfully incorporated, offering a well-rounded perspective. This inclusion is especially significant given the author's own experience with wrongful accusations, ensuring a balanced representation of viewpoints and highlighting the inadequacies within the legal system.

The audiobook thoughtfully sheds light on lesser-known cases like Jo Hamilton's and the post office scandal, a narrative that personally resonated with me. The extent of their suffering over extended periods is nothing short of astonishing. Equally gripping are stories such as that of Jeff Harper, who endured imprisonment in China.

Listening to the audiobook left me eager to further explore these cases. Rowe's writing style, marked by clarity and precision, adeptly navigates intricate subjects while emphasizing the shortcomings within the UK's legal framework.

In essence, "You Are Accused" is a thought-provoking audiobook that immerses listeners in the lives of those wrongly accused. Its podcast-style presentation, while occasionally marred by sound hiccups, delivers an engaging experience. The comprehensive coverage of diverse cases is enriched by expert interviews that provide depth and insight. Despite minor sound concerns, this NetGalley audiobook stands as an enlightening endeavor. My heartfelt appreciation goes to NetGalley and the publisher, W.F. Howes Ltd, for granting access to this eye-opening audiobook.

Perfect for true crime reader and anyone interested in tge judical system. This uses real life people and stories to talk about being accused wronglt and its impact on you and your family in different locations and how this ipact you further on. The dact that it is narrated by a man who has spent time in hail fir a crime he fidnt commit before being freed really brings it home all the stories feature the people concerned whoch made it a really compelling listen. It was hard listen in places. Sime chapters seems too long and others too short and then sadly it was over.
The fact that this exists sadly shows there is much the world needs to sort out. I really enjoyed this and would recommend it as a solid 4 star listen.
Thanks to net gallery and tge publisher for my arc.

You Are Accused is a fascinating yet harrowing look at the long history of miscarriages of justice in the criminal justice system and the terrifying impact this can have on a person's life and the lives of their loved ones. I can't imagine it being easy to live with a black cloud of mistrust over one's head despite knowing you never perpetrated the crime you are often publicly being lambasted for. Looking at a multitude of cases, the author, who was himself incarcerated for years for a crime he did not commit and was later acquitted of, illustrates just how often the wrong person or people are accused of heinous crimes and the devastating impact it has on their ability to live any semblance of a normal life from that day forward. Rowe served time in prison for murder and aggravated robbery after his conviction at the Old Bailey in 1990 alongside two other individuals who were together dubbed the "M25 Three" by the press before justice was restored in arguably one of the worst miscarriages of justice the UK has ever seen, and what he went through is still, and always will, affect his way of life. We hear about how it affected his life then and now.

It looks at those from right across the spectrum: the most hard done by are those who were convicted of a crime they did not commit right through to those who were "merely" suspected of being the culprit - both of which disrupt life immeasurably and cause extreme hardship and adversity, and that's before we even mention those who committed suicide because they couldn't handle the snide remarks, public sniping and media bias that often occurs long before a case is settled in court. The media often act as judge, jury and executioner. Having studied for a law degree, this is an area that I find very interesting; in fact, it's enough to make you wish anonymity was a stipulation until or unless the accused is convicted of said crime. Too often these days people have an intense need to avenge a past incident and this certainly opens up the use of false accusations as a method of revenge to "get back" at someone for something with the main outcome being to besmirch their reputation. People's names should not be defiled without proof. A compelling, well-researched piece of investigative journalism from start to finish, replete with cases from around the globe both infamous and little-known, and a must-read for those with an interest in the criminal justice system.

PLEASE NOTE: Someone has copied WORD FOR WORD the first part of my review (the bookseller person). This is plagiarism, pure and simple. My review must have been submitted earlier than theirs was. The order of the reviews on the book page has changed because I keep updating it with these notes. I am, quite frankly, astonished.

For lovers of True Crime and those who have an interest in the Criminal Justice system I would highly suggest giving this a listen.

You Are Accused follows several different stories and it truly is fascinating to hear from those who have experienced this firsthand, learning how their lives have been deeply changed by what happened to them and about what these miscarriages of justice may do to their future.

It only makes it more compelling a read that Raphael Rowe has his own experience with false accusation/imprisonment.