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The Man No One Believed: The Untold Story of the Georgia Church Murders
“Only very rarely does one of our stories—one of us—change the course of human events. Joshua Sharpe asked the right questions, refusing easy answers.” —Anna Quindlen, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and best-selling author
The riveting story of a 1985 double murder, a long-overdue investigation, and the fight to exonerate an innocent man.
In 1985, a white man walked into a South Georgia church and brutally murdered Harold and Thelma Swain, two pillars of the area’s Black community. The killer vanished into the night. For fifteen years, the case remained unsolved. Then authorities zeroed in on Dennis Perry, a carpenter who grew up nearby. Convicted with devastatingly flawed evidence, Perry received a double life sentence.
When award-winning journalist and South Georgia native Joshua Sharpe retraces the case, he discovers a winding path of corruption, devastating missteps, and secrets. Driven by the pursuit of the truth, Sharpe’s investigation takes him through dusty courthouse archives, down winding dirt roads, and into intense interviews. But he keeps knocking on doors—even after they’re slammed in his face. Sharpe uncovers explosive evidence that helps prove Dennis Perry’s innocence. And he confronts a long-ignored suspect: an alleged white supremacist who had bragged about committing the murders.
But the fight for the truth is not easily won. When a key figure in the investigation turns up dead under suspicious circumstances, Sharpe’s sources and editors insist that he could be in danger. And even as evidence mounts of Perry’s innocence, local officials work to keep him in prison—until Sharpe’s reporting forces the state to launch a new investigation—thirty-five years after the Swains’ murders. Driven by Sharpe’s tireless reporting, The Man No One Believed tells the unbelievable story of one of the most confounding cases in Georgia history, the extraordinary fight to free an innocent man, and how state officials worked against the odds to deliver justice for the Swains after all.
Both a riveting true crime story and a searing indictment of American injustice, The Man No One Believed is a gripping work of literary journalism—a moving examination of how we reckon with the sins of our past.
The riveting story of a 1985 double murder, a long-overdue investigation, and the fight to exonerate an innocent man.
In 1985, a white man walked into a South Georgia church and brutally murdered Harold and Thelma Swain, two pillars of the area’s Black community. The killer vanished into the night. For fifteen years, the case remained unsolved. Then authorities zeroed in on Dennis Perry, a carpenter who grew up nearby. Convicted with devastatingly flawed evidence, Perry received a double life sentence.
When award-winning journalist and South Georgia native Joshua Sharpe retraces the case, he discovers a winding path of corruption, devastating missteps, and secrets. Driven by the pursuit of the truth, Sharpe’s investigation takes him through dusty courthouse archives, down winding dirt roads, and into intense interviews. But he keeps knocking on doors—even after they’re slammed in his face. Sharpe uncovers explosive evidence that helps prove Dennis Perry’s innocence. And he confronts a long-ignored suspect: an alleged white supremacist who had bragged about committing the murders.
But the fight for the truth is not easily won. When a key figure in the investigation turns up dead under suspicious circumstances, Sharpe’s sources and editors insist that he could be in danger. And even as evidence mounts of Perry’s innocence, local officials work to keep him in prison—until Sharpe’s reporting forces the state to launch a new investigation—thirty-five years after the Swains’ murders. Driven by Sharpe’s tireless reporting, The Man No One Believed tells the unbelievable story of one of the most confounding cases in Georgia history, the extraordinary fight to free an innocent man, and how state officials worked against the odds to deliver justice for the Swains after all.
Both a riveting true crime story and a searing indictment of American injustice, The Man No One Believed is a gripping work of literary journalism—a moving examination of how we reckon with the sins of our past.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published August 5, 2025
745 people are currently reading
12830 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 364 reviews
July 15, 2025
This book is based on an advance copy.
While the story told here is important, I feel that Sharpe didn't really do it justice. The book doesn't really hit its stride until Part 3, when Sharpe describes his own investigation into the murders, and even then he sometimes falls into the trap of making it too much about him instead of his subject.
The first part of the book was difficult to get through. At times it was repetitive, but it also lacked depth and explanations that would have greatly added to the narrative. For example, Sharpe says the Kinesic technique pointed toward Barrentine's guilt and said it sounded like psychic stuff, but never actually explained what it was. He alludes to cases but doesn't give any information about them.
I also feel that the WHY behind it all was never adequately answered or investigated. I realize Sharpe is limited in what he can uncover based on who will talk to him, but it felt like a bit of a letdown.
And for my pet peeve on how everything is an "untold story"...true, I had never heard of this, but 1) I was not alive when the murders took place and 2) I have always lived geographically distant from where this occurred. However, it sounds like this wasn't really an untold story, and it sounds like plenty of people did believe "the man no one believed". I realize this is editors just hyping things up but maybe something more like "Corruption in a Small Town: The Georgia Church Murders" would have been more fitting while staying true to the clickbait-style titles favored these days.
Overall, a short and somewhat interesting look into the murder of Harold and Thelma Swain that fell just a bit shy of my expectations.
While the story told here is important, I feel that Sharpe didn't really do it justice. The book doesn't really hit its stride until Part 3, when Sharpe describes his own investigation into the murders, and even then he sometimes falls into the trap of making it too much about him instead of his subject.
The first part of the book was difficult to get through. At times it was repetitive, but it also lacked depth and explanations that would have greatly added to the narrative. For example, Sharpe says the Kinesic technique pointed toward Barrentine's guilt and said it sounded like psychic stuff, but never actually explained what it was. He alludes to cases but doesn't give any information about them.
I also feel that the WHY behind it all was never adequately answered or investigated. I realize Sharpe is limited in what he can uncover based on who will talk to him, but it felt like a bit of a letdown.
And for my pet peeve on how everything is an "untold story"...true, I had never heard of this, but 1) I was not alive when the murders took place and 2) I have always lived geographically distant from where this occurred. However, it sounds like this wasn't really an untold story, and it sounds like plenty of people did believe "the man no one believed". I realize this is editors just hyping things up but maybe something more like "Corruption in a Small Town: The Georgia Church Murders" would have been more fitting while staying true to the clickbait-style titles favored these days.
Overall, a short and somewhat interesting look into the murder of Harold and Thelma Swain that fell just a bit shy of my expectations.
July 1, 2025
The Man No One Believed: The Untold Story of the Georgia Church Murders – A Masterclass in Investigative Journalism and Moral Reckoning
Rating: 5/5
Joshua Sharpe’s The Man No One Believed is a tour de force of literary journalism that transcends true crime tropes to deliver a searing examination of systemic injustice, journalistic tenacity, and the glacial pace of redemption. As someone who devours both crime narratives and critiques of the carceral system, this book left me emotionally gutted yet galvanized—a rare feat for a genre often mired in voyeurism.
Why This Book Is Exceptional
Sharpe’s narrative operates on three planes: a forensic dissection of investigative failures (flawed eyewitness testimony, prosecutorial tunnel vision), a taut thriller about his own perilous pursuit of truth, and a poignant meditation on the human cost of wrongful convictions. The prose crackles with urgency, particularly in scenes where Sharpe confronts law enforcement’s obstinacy or interviews Perry’s family, their grief still raw decades later. The structural choice to parallel Perry’s ordeal with the Swains’ unsolved legacy—two tragedies intertwined by negligence—elevates this beyond true crime into moral archaeology.
Emotional Impact & Revelations
Reading this book felt like witnessing an exhumation. Sharpe’s depiction of Perry’s mother, who prayed her son’s name into the void for 20 years, brought me to tears. The chilling account of the white supremacist suspect—his bragging left unchecked due to racial bias—ignited fury, while the eventual exoneration (achieved against bureaucratic inertia) offered catharsis. Most haunting were the quiet moments: Perry’s prison sketches of freedom, or Sharpe’s admission of fear when threats materialized. This isn’t just a story about a case; it’s about the weight of bearing witness.
Constructive Criticism
While Sharpe’s first-person perspective lends intimacy, occasional detours into his personal connection to South Georgia could have been deepened to explore regional complicity. The epilogue’s focus on Perry’s post-prison life feels abbreviated—a fuller exploration of reparation’s limits would have underscored the book’s critique of “justice delayed.”
Final Verdict
A landmark work that belongs alongside Just Mercy and The Executioner’s Song. Sharpe doesn’t just solve a cold case; he indicts the systems that thrive on indifference. This book will haunt you—and it should.
Thank you to Edelweiss and W. W. Norton for the gifted copy. Sharpe’s work is a testament to journalism’s power to bend the arc of history.
Pair with: Ghettoside for another exploration of race and impunity, or The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist for parallels in forensic injustice.
For fans of: Michelle Alexander’s systemic critiques, Robert Kolker’s narrative depth, and Truman Capote’s emotional precision.
Rating: 5/5
Joshua Sharpe’s The Man No One Believed is a tour de force of literary journalism that transcends true crime tropes to deliver a searing examination of systemic injustice, journalistic tenacity, and the glacial pace of redemption. As someone who devours both crime narratives and critiques of the carceral system, this book left me emotionally gutted yet galvanized—a rare feat for a genre often mired in voyeurism.
Why This Book Is Exceptional
Sharpe’s narrative operates on three planes: a forensic dissection of investigative failures (flawed eyewitness testimony, prosecutorial tunnel vision), a taut thriller about his own perilous pursuit of truth, and a poignant meditation on the human cost of wrongful convictions. The prose crackles with urgency, particularly in scenes where Sharpe confronts law enforcement’s obstinacy or interviews Perry’s family, their grief still raw decades later. The structural choice to parallel Perry’s ordeal with the Swains’ unsolved legacy—two tragedies intertwined by negligence—elevates this beyond true crime into moral archaeology.
Emotional Impact & Revelations
Reading this book felt like witnessing an exhumation. Sharpe’s depiction of Perry’s mother, who prayed her son’s name into the void for 20 years, brought me to tears. The chilling account of the white supremacist suspect—his bragging left unchecked due to racial bias—ignited fury, while the eventual exoneration (achieved against bureaucratic inertia) offered catharsis. Most haunting were the quiet moments: Perry’s prison sketches of freedom, or Sharpe’s admission of fear when threats materialized. This isn’t just a story about a case; it’s about the weight of bearing witness.
Constructive Criticism
While Sharpe’s first-person perspective lends intimacy, occasional detours into his personal connection to South Georgia could have been deepened to explore regional complicity. The epilogue’s focus on Perry’s post-prison life feels abbreviated—a fuller exploration of reparation’s limits would have underscored the book’s critique of “justice delayed.”
Final Verdict
A landmark work that belongs alongside Just Mercy and The Executioner’s Song. Sharpe doesn’t just solve a cold case; he indicts the systems that thrive on indifference. This book will haunt you—and it should.
Thank you to Edelweiss and W. W. Norton for the gifted copy. Sharpe’s work is a testament to journalism’s power to bend the arc of history.
Pair with: Ghettoside for another exploration of race and impunity, or The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist for parallels in forensic injustice.
For fans of: Michelle Alexander’s systemic critiques, Robert Kolker’s narrative depth, and Truman Capote’s emotional precision.
August 7, 2025
Pretty good coverage of the exoneration of one man, sentenced to life without parole for the murder of beloved community members. The book would’ve been MUCH more compelling IF the publisher had included photos. It would’ve been easier to tell apart the stories and the law enforcement officials, as the case has spanned 4 decades and the “players” have come and go with the times. I was annoyed at having to look up photos of the victims, the sheriff, the deputies, the olive chief, etc, as I was reading about their contributions to the case. I’m hoping the “no pictures” thing isn’t becoming a trend with the true crime genre. Time will tell
June 15, 2025
A riveting story about how the justice system is often corrupt, especially dealing with racial divides in the South. I am glad to see that a man who was wrongly convicted was released from prison and that the true murderer was eventually tried and sent to prison.
I feel incredibly sorry for the family and friends that lost their loved ones to murder and for the family and friends of the wrongly convicted man. It had to be a heartbreaking journey, over more than 4 decades, that they all had to go on.
I feel incredibly sorry for the family and friends that lost their loved ones to murder and for the family and friends of the wrongly convicted man. It had to be a heartbreaking journey, over more than 4 decades, that they all had to go on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2025
Rating: ⭐⭐
The Man No One Believed tells the harrowing story of the 1985 church murders of Harold and Thelma Swain, the wrongful conviction of Dennis Perry, and the long-overdue investigation into the real suspect. On paper, this is an incredibly compelling story. A brutal double murder in a sacred place, the conviction of an innocent man, and one journalist’s relentless search for the truth.
But while the case itself drew me in, the telling of it lost me. For a book that isn’t very long, it took me quite a while to finish. The main struggle for me was that the writing didn’t provide enough detail to keep the story flowing smoothly. With so many people involved in the case, it became difficult to keep track of who was who, and at times I felt like key context was missing.
I couldn’t help but agree with another reviewer who suggested this story might have worked better as an article. The journalism is solid, and the subject matter is undeniably important, but as a book, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
The Man No One Believed tells the harrowing story of the 1985 church murders of Harold and Thelma Swain, the wrongful conviction of Dennis Perry, and the long-overdue investigation into the real suspect. On paper, this is an incredibly compelling story. A brutal double murder in a sacred place, the conviction of an innocent man, and one journalist’s relentless search for the truth.
But while the case itself drew me in, the telling of it lost me. For a book that isn’t very long, it took me quite a while to finish. The main struggle for me was that the writing didn’t provide enough detail to keep the story flowing smoothly. With so many people involved in the case, it became difficult to keep track of who was who, and at times I felt like key context was missing.
I couldn’t help but agree with another reviewer who suggested this story might have worked better as an article. The journalism is solid, and the subject matter is undeniably important, but as a book, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
August 10, 2025
I have deep respect and empathy for the real people in this story. Their experiences are important and deserve to be heard.
That said, I don’t believe the author did this story justice. The writing felt choppy and disjointed, making it difficult to stay engaged. Despite its short length, the book dragged and felt much longer than it was. In the end, it just didn’t offer much in terms of insight, emotion, or storytelling impact. I truly wish this powerful story had been told in a stronger, more compelling way.
That said, I don’t believe the author did this story justice. The writing felt choppy and disjointed, making it difficult to stay engaged. Despite its short length, the book dragged and felt much longer than it was. In the end, it just didn’t offer much in terms of insight, emotion, or storytelling impact. I truly wish this powerful story had been told in a stronger, more compelling way.
August 8, 2025
Joshua Sharpe’s work here should’ve earned him a Pulitzer. It’s a shining example of the power of investigative journalism. It’s clear that his reporting into the murders of the Swains led to not only the exoneration of Dennis Perry, but also to the arrest of a suspect so many investigators had overlooked. This is an incredibly well-written and deeply reported narrative that perhaps only someone like Sharpe, a dogged reporter with South Georgia roots, could have produced. Bravo.
May 24, 2025
I received a copy to review. All opinions are my own.
This was a very well written book that covered every aspect of the crime and subsequent conviction and everything afterwards. I definitely was shocked by this case and how it was handled and it’s so important for writers and journalists to cover things like this to keep the public informed and educated. I also enjoyed the authors ties to the area and how he handled gathering the information for this book.
This was a very well written book that covered every aspect of the crime and subsequent conviction and everything afterwards. I definitely was shocked by this case and how it was handled and it’s so important for writers and journalists to cover things like this to keep the public informed and educated. I also enjoyed the authors ties to the area and how he handled gathering the information for this book.
August 9, 2025
Meh. Interesting and important subject matter, but told in a boring way. The book was already short, but it felt too long. It was advertised as reading “like a thriller”, but dragged on for me. Found myself feeling like, “Ok, get to the point…” This would have been more enjoyable as an article.
June 18, 2025
To be published August 5th, 2025
This is a well researched and well written account of the Georgia Church Murders. I hadn't heard of this case before reading this book, but it did an excellent job with recounting that night and retelling all of the suspected events and theories that were floating around. I'm also glad that this wasn't only a rehashing of those events, but also included a broader discussion of the racism and hate bound up in this crime. I'm sad that it took so long for Perry to get justice and to have his conviction overturned, but I'm glad it came before it was too late for him to enjoy his life. However, it's awful that there was a bigger push to free Perry than to pour the resources needed into finding the Swain's real killer. The DA's office was so frustrating, and the reluctance to free Perry and prosecute Sparre was infuriating. I'm glad that there's still some hope for the Swain family, and that there were a few people pushing for justice even when everyone else was content to let Perry take the fall and move on.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
This is a well researched and well written account of the Georgia Church Murders. I hadn't heard of this case before reading this book, but it did an excellent job with recounting that night and retelling all of the suspected events and theories that were floating around. I'm also glad that this wasn't only a rehashing of those events, but also included a broader discussion of the racism and hate bound up in this crime. I'm sad that it took so long for Perry to get justice and to have his conviction overturned, but I'm glad it came before it was too late for him to enjoy his life. However, it's awful that there was a bigger push to free Perry than to pour the resources needed into finding the Swain's real killer. The DA's office was so frustrating, and the reluctance to free Perry and prosecute Sparre was infuriating. I'm glad that there's still some hope for the Swain family, and that there were a few people pushing for justice even when everyone else was content to let Perry take the fall and move on.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2025
This is a well researched and decently detailed account of a double homicide that had been “solved” until recent evidence determined the real killer was still in the loose. I think what I appreciated the most is that the “what” of the case is very detailed — from the event itself up to the recent updates during the COVID pandemic nearly forty years later. I also appreciated the note that Sharpe would use italics for remembered quotes and quotation marks for those he could explicitly verify in text or on recording. That showed a level of care that other nonfiction doesn’t always demonstrate.
However, my biggest problems are that this wasn’t in the true crime format I’m used to in other media and it never really tackles the “why”. The second is more straightforward — there was a lot of descriptive elements of what happened, but the motivations were only ever discussed briefly or in passing. This is crucial though because it’s how motive is determined, not just for the crime itself but for each of the individuals involved. Regarding format, there was no intrigue (as everything was given away well before any evidence for distrust in the investigation), it felt like there was very little original engagement by Sharpe (that is, until you finally get to the very end and see his notes pages), and there’s no room for engagement by the readers.
However, my biggest problems are that this wasn’t in the true crime format I’m used to in other media and it never really tackles the “why”. The second is more straightforward — there was a lot of descriptive elements of what happened, but the motivations were only ever discussed briefly or in passing. This is crucial though because it’s how motive is determined, not just for the crime itself but for each of the individuals involved. Regarding format, there was no intrigue (as everything was given away well before any evidence for distrust in the investigation), it felt like there was very little original engagement by Sharpe (that is, until you finally get to the very end and see his notes pages), and there’s no room for engagement by the readers.
August 5, 2025
The Man No One Believed is a fascinating look at the justice system dealing with a double homicide in Georgia in 1985. This was a long overdue story that needed to be told. Joshua Sharpe did that with Harold and Thelma Swain’s story. He highlighted issues of corruption and racial disparities in the Southern United States. It details the case of a wrongfully convicted individual, Dennis Perry, who was ultimately released from prison, while the actual perpetrator was later identified, tried, and incarcerated. Additionally, it moves beyond a mere recounting of the crime, addressing broader themes such as racism and prejudice associated with the case. The narrative acknowledges the profound impact on both the victims’ families and those connected to the wrongfully convicted man, emphasizing the lengthy and difficult process spanning over four decades.
I really enjoyed this book, as I was not aware of this crime. It was a fascinating read, and I would recommend it to all of my true-crime readers.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher, N.N. Norton & Company for the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader's copy of The Man No One Believed.
I really enjoyed this book, as I was not aware of this crime. It was a fascinating read, and I would recommend it to all of my true-crime readers.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher, N.N. Norton & Company for the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader's copy of The Man No One Believed.
August 27, 2025
DNF!!!!!!
September 8, 2025
This was my BOTM selection for August and I cannot explain to you just how excited I was to see a NONFICTION BOOK in the options! Like happy birthday to me!!!!!!!
The Man No One Believed by Joshua Sharpe tells the story of a dual homicide at the Rising Daughter Baptist Church in southern Georgia. Thelma and Harold Swain were shot in cold blood in the middle of Bible study one night by a white man who entered their church with what appears to be no other reason than to simply execute a beloved black couple for no other reason than their skin color and popularity.
Sharpe is not the first person in the last 40 years to chronicle the story of what happened that night, but thanks to his persistence in the investigation, the man who was accused of the murders was exonerated and the real criminal was put behind bars. The injustice of the imprisonment of Dennis Perry was infuriating. The way some crooked cops were able to completely derail an innocent man's life is INSANE and I'm aware of the shortcomings of our judicial system, but I'm also aware that when it's used in the PROPER way, it generally works. This is a story of pure misconduct. It was heartening to see Perry receive clemency after serving over a decade in jail for a crime he did not commit, but the way he ended up in that situation is disgraceful to the men who put him there.
I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in true crime (which weirdly seems to be a lot of people?? read a history book!!!! LOL) but be prepared to feel some righteous anger as you go. This is a very quick read, but as another reviewer mentioned, I wish the publisher had included some pictures and other items to really immerse the reader in the event they're learning about!
The Man No One Believed by Joshua Sharpe tells the story of a dual homicide at the Rising Daughter Baptist Church in southern Georgia. Thelma and Harold Swain were shot in cold blood in the middle of Bible study one night by a white man who entered their church with what appears to be no other reason than to simply execute a beloved black couple for no other reason than their skin color and popularity.
Sharpe is not the first person in the last 40 years to chronicle the story of what happened that night, but thanks to his persistence in the investigation, the man who was accused of the murders was exonerated and the real criminal was put behind bars. The injustice of the imprisonment of Dennis Perry was infuriating. The way some crooked cops were able to completely derail an innocent man's life is INSANE and I'm aware of the shortcomings of our judicial system, but I'm also aware that when it's used in the PROPER way, it generally works. This is a story of pure misconduct. It was heartening to see Perry receive clemency after serving over a decade in jail for a crime he did not commit, but the way he ended up in that situation is disgraceful to the men who put him there.
I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in true crime (which weirdly seems to be a lot of people?? read a history book!!!! LOL) but be prepared to feel some righteous anger as you go. This is a very quick read, but as another reviewer mentioned, I wish the publisher had included some pictures and other items to really immerse the reader in the event they're learning about!
August 15, 2025
DNF about 1/2 way through. It was too much like trying to read a newspaper from front to back and didn’t have enough substance to keep interest. I’ll google the story because I do want to know.
August 23, 2025
Look, I can read non-fiction sometimes! Though maybe it helped because the story was crazier than you could get away with in real life...
This is a book about a double murder in a church in Georgia, the man falsely imprisoned for decades, and the journalists who helped get him out and get the real murderer arrested. And if you have any scrap of faith in the justice system, you probably won't after you read about the evidence that got Dennis Perry put away for life. It was pretty bad, and I've heard about a lot of bad false convictions. Spoiler alert: the man had a verified alibi and went to prison anyway.
But the good news is that this story ends as well as something like this can: the falsely imprisoned man is free and is awarded millions, and the true culprit is awaiting his trial. And getting to that point is a testament to the good old fashioned detective work some people are willing to do and the power of a well researched podcast. True crime brings out some of the best and worst of humanity. The best often being people who are willing to dedicate thousands of hours of their time to help release a man they've never met and get justice for two people they never can meet. So I finished the book feeling slightly better, I guess.
This is a book about a double murder in a church in Georgia, the man falsely imprisoned for decades, and the journalists who helped get him out and get the real murderer arrested. And if you have any scrap of faith in the justice system, you probably won't after you read about the evidence that got Dennis Perry put away for life. It was pretty bad, and I've heard about a lot of bad false convictions. Spoiler alert: the man had a verified alibi and went to prison anyway.
But the good news is that this story ends as well as something like this can: the falsely imprisoned man is free and is awarded millions, and the true culprit is awaiting his trial. And getting to that point is a testament to the good old fashioned detective work some people are willing to do and the power of a well researched podcast. True crime brings out some of the best and worst of humanity. The best often being people who are willing to dedicate thousands of hours of their time to help release a man they've never met and get justice for two people they never can meet. So I finished the book feeling slightly better, I guess.
August 30, 2025
Unfortunately, this one was a bit lackluster for me.
I have noticed when reading true crime, or any narrative nonfiction really, that authors cannot seem to find a balance between writing something that is detailed in excess with a ridiculous amount of names, dates, locations, backgrounds to keep track of, or something that only provides the bare bones of the situation, without much depth.
Unfortunately, this was the latter.
I could have likely gone down a Wiki rabbit hole that contained more information then this book did.
I don't feel we got nearly as much information on the investigation, the wrongful conviction, etc. that we could have. I was expecting a strong piece of investigative journalism and I just kind of kind " Okay...here's an overview of what happened." and it was fairly underwhelming, which is not what you want when we are dealing with a wrongful conviction.
Honestly, I think I am spoiled now by true crime podcasts.
I have noticed when reading true crime, or any narrative nonfiction really, that authors cannot seem to find a balance between writing something that is detailed in excess with a ridiculous amount of names, dates, locations, backgrounds to keep track of, or something that only provides the bare bones of the situation, without much depth.
Unfortunately, this was the latter.
I could have likely gone down a Wiki rabbit hole that contained more information then this book did.
I don't feel we got nearly as much information on the investigation, the wrongful conviction, etc. that we could have. I was expecting a strong piece of investigative journalism and I just kind of kind " Okay...here's an overview of what happened." and it was fairly underwhelming, which is not what you want when we are dealing with a wrongful conviction.
Honestly, I think I am spoiled now by true crime podcasts.
August 18, 2025
I thought this was a very well written, captivating true crime non-fiction book. I was not familiar with this story before reading the book and I chose this as my Book of the Month.
A real eye opener on the type of people who live among law abiding citizens.
This proves that sometimes the justice system does not always work fairly and thankfully there are people and organizations that don’t give up no matter how long it takes to uncover the facts.
(It might have been enhanced by including photos.)
A real eye opener on the type of people who live among law abiding citizens.
This proves that sometimes the justice system does not always work fairly and thankfully there are people and organizations that don’t give up no matter how long it takes to uncover the facts.
(It might have been enhanced by including photos.)
August 5, 2025
Quick read, true crime story.
August 7, 2025
4.5 stars, a well researched true crime story with good racial commentary in the deep South. I never want to live in a town where sheriff is a lineage position.
Read
August 13, 2025Not rating due to the fact this is based on a real crime & real story. However, I feel as though the amount of details was a lot, spanning over 40+ years in only 200 pages. I think this story is extremely important to bring awareness too, but I also felt like the information could have been rearranged better or made into a documentary instead. I pray for peace for this family who lost these loved ones.
August 30, 2025
I realized after reading this that I’d rather just watch documentaries about true crimes rather than read them 🤷♀️
August 3, 2025
I couldn’t put this book down! A fascinating read but terrifying and heartbreaking how many lives are destroyed by racism, corruption, greed, and political agendas.
August 22, 2025
2.5 stars, Book of the month pick- audio book
This book was interesting, but it read more like a textbook than anything else. The second half of the book was definitely better than the first half!! I just got really bored of this really quick, I was dragging my feet to get through it. Too many names to keep up with.
This book was interesting, but it read more like a textbook than anything else. The second half of the book was definitely better than the first half!! I just got really bored of this really quick, I was dragging my feet to get through it. Too many names to keep up with.
August 14, 2025
While I appreciated the obvious dedication the author had seeking true justice for this horrific crime, this book just didn't resonate with me in a way that made me feel like this case was walked through in a compelling way. I felt the pacing was a bit off and it would become hard to follow with so many names being brought in and out of the story. I wish more time was spent really diving into the case itself, maybe even down to a true timeline of events. Overall, I enjoyed learning about a semi-local case that was new to me and am glad that justice in the end did prevail.
August 18, 2025
I didn’t even pull out a book mark for this one. Strong recommend
August 30, 2025
I never DNF a book but I couldn’t get more than halfway through this one 😖 I prefer murder documentaries in the form of podcasts or unsolved mysteries
August 6, 2025
Fantastic book keeps you reading like you are actually in the place!! All research is amazing!!!
That’s my nephew! Great read !! Buy it !
Thanks Josie
That’s my nephew! Great read !! Buy it !
Thanks Josie
August 6, 2025
read in one sitting this tautly and beautifully written account of an ugly, horrific murder, a devastating and corrupt miscarriage of justice, and an arduous fight for the truth
⚖️
“In an unimaginable act of violence, a beloved couple was murdered, and Rising Daughter (Baptist Church) would be transformed from safe haven to crime scene. The cruel tide of history would return to Camden County, plunging Spring Bluff into seemingly endless investigation fraught with lies, missteps, and tragedy. For over forty years, the investigation has been passed like a grim baton from the hands of investigators, one after another, each searching for the truth and justice. But the full story of the murders has never been told because too much mystery remained. Now the story can be told.”
⚖️
“In an unimaginable act of violence, a beloved couple was murdered, and Rising Daughter (Baptist Church) would be transformed from safe haven to crime scene. The cruel tide of history would return to Camden County, plunging Spring Bluff into seemingly endless investigation fraught with lies, missteps, and tragedy. For over forty years, the investigation has been passed like a grim baton from the hands of investigators, one after another, each searching for the truth and justice. But the full story of the murders has never been told because too much mystery remained. Now the story can be told.”
September 4, 2025
I haven’t read much true crime, but something about this story caught my attention. The murders happened a year before I was born, so I’d never heard of them, but the combination of unsolved crimes and wrongful conviction hooked me. Maybe I’ve just watched too many crime shows, but I’ve always had this irrational fear of being imprisoned for a crime I didn’t commit because of shoddy police work, planted evidence, or even a lie detector test gone wrong. This book played right into those fears.
Harold and Thelma Swain were killed on March 11, 1985, in the vestibule of their church. Harold was a deacon, Thelma the secretary of the mission group. Several women were there that night for Bible study and saw a white man with longish hair, glasses, and dark clothes come in asking to speak to Harold. No one knows what was said, but an argument broke out, Thelma went to intervene, and suddenly shots were fired. Both Harold and Thelma died.
From there, the investigation unraveled in a way that feels almost unthinkable now. With limited technology in 1985, no DNA testing in use yet, and conflicting eyewitness accounts, the case quickly grew messy. Still, suspects were questioned, alibis checked, and the case eventually went cold. Years later, when investigator Dale Bundy revived it, key evidence had mysteriously disappeared. Despite having been cleared early on, Dennis Perry became Bundy’s focus. He was arrested in 2000 and convicted in 2003, spending nearly two decades in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.
Sharpe steps into the story when the Innocence Project reaches out to him in 2019. Having grown up in Georgia himself and with a family member wrongfully convicted, the case resonated with him. His reporting helped connect the dots back to an early suspect who’d been brushed aside—someone with a history of violence, ties to white supremacist groups, and even alleged confessions. In 2020, new evidence proved Perry’s innocence and he was finally released.
I thought Joshua Sharpe did a great job presenting the details with the right balance of thoroughness and emotion. It always felt respectful, both to the victims and to Perry. The amount of detail sometimes slowed me down, but that‘s down to there simply being so many to cover. By the third part of the book, when he shifts to first-hand experience, I found myself even more engaged, watching how his own involvement helped shift the course of the case.
The heaviness of the story made it slow going at first, but the further I got, the faster I read. It made me angry at corrupt police, at white supremacists, at the thought of an innocent man sitting in prison while the real killer lived freely, abusing his wife and bragging about the crime. It also left me uneasy, realizing how easy it is for a case to be mishandled. I can’t help but imagine myself in Perry’s shoes and how terrifying that would be.
What made it a bit more engaging is, this isn’t just a recap of a case. Sharpe’s writing, especially the way he ties in the Georgia landscape at the start of each section, gives the book a kind of rhythm that works with the story. It’s definitely heavy at times, but it’s also short, well-written, and kept me interested. I’d recommend it not just as a true crime book, but as a reminder of why groups like the Innocence Project are so important and how much the justice system still gets wrong.
Harold and Thelma Swain were killed on March 11, 1985, in the vestibule of their church. Harold was a deacon, Thelma the secretary of the mission group. Several women were there that night for Bible study and saw a white man with longish hair, glasses, and dark clothes come in asking to speak to Harold. No one knows what was said, but an argument broke out, Thelma went to intervene, and suddenly shots were fired. Both Harold and Thelma died.
From there, the investigation unraveled in a way that feels almost unthinkable now. With limited technology in 1985, no DNA testing in use yet, and conflicting eyewitness accounts, the case quickly grew messy. Still, suspects were questioned, alibis checked, and the case eventually went cold. Years later, when investigator Dale Bundy revived it, key evidence had mysteriously disappeared. Despite having been cleared early on, Dennis Perry became Bundy’s focus. He was arrested in 2000 and convicted in 2003, spending nearly two decades in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.
Sharpe steps into the story when the Innocence Project reaches out to him in 2019. Having grown up in Georgia himself and with a family member wrongfully convicted, the case resonated with him. His reporting helped connect the dots back to an early suspect who’d been brushed aside—someone with a history of violence, ties to white supremacist groups, and even alleged confessions. In 2020, new evidence proved Perry’s innocence and he was finally released.
I thought Joshua Sharpe did a great job presenting the details with the right balance of thoroughness and emotion. It always felt respectful, both to the victims and to Perry. The amount of detail sometimes slowed me down, but that‘s down to there simply being so many to cover. By the third part of the book, when he shifts to first-hand experience, I found myself even more engaged, watching how his own involvement helped shift the course of the case.
The heaviness of the story made it slow going at first, but the further I got, the faster I read. It made me angry at corrupt police, at white supremacists, at the thought of an innocent man sitting in prison while the real killer lived freely, abusing his wife and bragging about the crime. It also left me uneasy, realizing how easy it is for a case to be mishandled. I can’t help but imagine myself in Perry’s shoes and how terrifying that would be.
What made it a bit more engaging is, this isn’t just a recap of a case. Sharpe’s writing, especially the way he ties in the Georgia landscape at the start of each section, gives the book a kind of rhythm that works with the story. It’s definitely heavy at times, but it’s also short, well-written, and kept me interested. I’d recommend it not just as a true crime book, but as a reminder of why groups like the Innocence Project are so important and how much the justice system still gets wrong.
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