Come on admit it, this country loves an “Insider Trade” deal. Boy do I have one for you. Before I invite you inside my virtual office and shut the door, let me tell you why I have such a vested interest in this author and her story. I admit I am a close friend of Ms. Caroline for over thirteen years. I helped edit the book this summer. While I will have no financial gain, I sure do want this book to be a best seller. Are there other deeper and darker reasons; of course; why would I invite you over to a closed door session?

Where to begin? Begin with the inner workings of Ms. Caroline’s mind. She has always been a survivor from her hungry, neglected childhood to her reaching out for love in all the wrong places, at least with all the wrong types- she survived and achieved. She paid her own way through college and became an expert in her field to the point when I met her, she ran the whole department in our high school. Anything she touches, or attacks I should say, she does to the best of her ability and then goes back over and does it even better. Her secret writing project for the past two years is a prime example.

In order to understand how exceptional this project is, and the courage it takes to expose eyewitness information she has on the Missouri justice system and team up with, unbelievably, the Boonie Hat Bandit to write their story, is to share the fear for her life and the safety of her love, still incarcerated. Despite the danger, both agreed they had to let the outside world know what the view is from inside the courts to inside the prison walls. For this reason alone, the book is well worth reading.

Let me let you in on another dirty little secret- these two are so in “sync” with each other’s writing you can’t tell where one stops and the other starts. They are the ultimate writing team when it comes to smooth transitions and dramatic revelations. They tell a great tale of woe with such class you won’t want to put the book down. Taking turns, each shares a part of their heart and soul as you follow the Bandit’s descent into hell and Ms. Caroline’s close escape from hers.

Behind different closed doors, separated physically for years, they face a reality not many would choose to endure. They are willing to share this reality with readers across the world in hopes of making a difference, regardless of the consequences. Another little secret: every statement, every experience, every feeling is from firsthand knowledge of either the bandit or Ms. Caroline. There is no fiction in this book, no poetic license; even though it is shocking at times, there is no question it is true.

Final tip from the “Inside Trader”, this book is well written, honorably honest, intended for someone who just wants a good read, to the advocate for prison reform and for reasonable justice for those trapped inside. If you have ever been tempted to use inside information to cut a great deal, this is the time to do it. I sure am.

– Norma L. Garrett