A“mesmerizing“(TheNewYorkTimesBookReview)truestoryaboutashockingcrimeandamysteriousillnessthatwillforeverchangeyournotionsofhowwepunishandhowweheal--anexpansionononeofthemostpopularThisAmericanLifeepisodesofalltime,nowwithanewpostscript“Aremarkablemedicaldetectivestory-cum-memoir,grippinglytold...Iwasdrawninbyeverypartofit.“--AtulGawande,#1NewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorofBeingMortalFreshoutofmedicalresidency,Dr.BenjaminGilmerjoinedaruralNorthCarolinacliniconlytofindthatitspreviousdoctorsharedhislastname.Dr.VinceGilmerwaslovedandrespectedbythecommunity--rightupuntilhestrangledhisailingfatherandthenreturnedtotheclinicforaregularweekofwork.Vince’seventualarrestformurdershockedhispatients.Howcouldtheirbeloveddoctorbecapableofsuchviolence?ThedeeperBenjaminlookedintoVince’scase,themorehebecameobsessedwithdiscoveringwhatpushedagoodmantowarddarkness.WhenBenjaminvisitedVinceinprison,hemetamanwhoappearedtobefightinghisownmind,constantlytwitchingandveeringintononsensicaltangents.Sentencedtolifeinprison,Vincehadbeenbrandedacold-bloodedkilleranda“malingerer“--apersonwhofakesanillness.ButitwasobvioustoBenjaminthatVinceneededhelp.AlongsideThisAmericanLifejournalistSarahKoenig,Benjaminresolvedtounderstandwhathadhappenedtohispredecessor.Timeandagain,thepaircameupagainstaprisonsystemthatcaredlittleaboutthementalhealthofitsinmates--despitemorethanathirdofthemsufferingfrommentalillness.TheOtherDr.Gilmertakesreadersonarivetingandheart-wrenchingjourneythroughoursharedhumanfallibility,madeworsebyaprisonsystemthatisfailingourmostvulnerablecitizens.Withdeepcompassionandanevendeepersenseofjustice,Dr.BenjaminGilmerdelvesintothemysteryofwhatcouldmakeacaringdoctorcommitabrutalmurder.Andintheprocess,hispowerfulstoryasksustoansweraprofoundquestion:Inacountrywiththehighestincarcerationratesintheworld,whatwoulditlooklikeifweprioritizedhealingratherthanpunishment?
