This December 21st, Dark Horse Comics will publish Dead Inside, a new creator-owned series from critically acclaimed writer John Arcudi and Veil artist Toni Fejzula. Dead Inside is a twisted and bloody murder mystery—in a place where there should be no mysteries: behind prison walls. The Jail Crimes Division of… Read more
Read this exclusive guest post from Paige Shelton about Charles Dickens's experience with prison and how it shaped his writing—especially A Christmas Carol—and make sure you're signed in and comment below for a chance to win a hardcover copy of The Cracked Spine and an advanced copy of Of Books… Read more
Human beings can get pretty creative when backed into a corner—or locked in a cage. While not everyone has to crawl through a river of shit to come out clean on the other side, some pretty drastic measures were taken by these 5 escape artists.
Life or Death by Michael Robotham is a standalone thriller about an honorable criminal, shrouded in mystery, that escapes from prison a day before his release. It is nominated for the Edgar Award for “Best Novel.” In Life or Death, Michael Robotham’s new standalone thriller, Audie Palmer—a man thought to… Read more
Previously, I wrote an appreciation of Malcolm Braly’s 1961 prison novel Felony Tank as part of my Lost Classics of Noir series for Criminal Element. I singled out the book for being a noteworthy and under-appreciated work of edgy crime fiction, as well as a standout tale about life behind… Read more
Lockdown on Rikers by Mary E. Buser tells the shocking stories of abuse and injustice at New York's notorious jail (available September 29, 2015). Mary Buser began her career at Rikers Island as a social work intern, brimming with ideas and eager to help incarcerated women find a better path…. Read more
As a former mental health chief at New York City’s Rikers Island, I watch TV crime dramas with special interest, especially when the action switches to Rikers. No crime series includes the notorious lockup more often than the enduring Law & Order. While this popular TV series makes for satisfying… Read more
There have been many captivating criminals who've graced the big screen, and a few writers over at Grantland have ranked the top ten movie prisoners of all time. Meghan Tifft, a self-declared introvert and debut author, recently sat down with Steph Cha to discuss her new book The Long Fire… Read more
Mr. Smith Goes to Prison is a memoir by Jeff Smith about how a senator from Missouri ended up behind bars for one year, and what it taught him about America's prison crisis (available September 1, 2015). In 2009, Smith lied to the Feds about seemingly minor campaign malfeasance and… Read more
To some people, he was known as Ed Flowers, but others knew him as Teddy. Regardless of his moniker, he was a bad man. He robbed banks, escaped prison five times, and took place in shootouts with police. In 2005, after serving a 40-year sentence, he was released from prison,… Read more
