Just graduated from Smith College, Kerman made the mistake of getting involved with the wrong woman and agreeing to deliver a large cash payment for an international drug ring. Years later, the consequences catch up with her in the form of an indictment on conspiracy drug-smuggling and money-laundering charges. Kerman pleads guilty and is sentenced to 15 months in a federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut. Entering prison in 2004 more than 10 years after her crime Kerman finds herself submerged in the unique and sometimes overwhelming culture of prison, where kindness can come in the form of sharing toiletries, and an insult in the cafeteria can lead to an enduring enmity. Kerman quickly learns the rules asking about the length of one's prison stay is expected, but never ask about the crime that led to it and carves a niche for herself even as she witnesses the way the prison system fails those who are condemned to it, many of them nonviolent drug offenders. An absorbing, meditative look at life behind bars.--Huntley, Kristine Copyright 2010 Booklist

Kerman is now a successful and respected vice president of a communications firm based in Washington, D.C.-but she took a long and turbulent road to get there. In 1998, Kerman was indicted on drug trafficking and money laundering charges, and later served 15 months in a women's prison. In this audio edition of Kerman's memoir about her experiences in prison, Cassandra Campbell provides skillful narration, capturing the essence of the story and its protagonist. The narrator's subtle portrayal of Kerman is subtle, yet ripe with tension and raw emotion. Despite a somewhat lackluster, overly reserved performance in the audiobook's early chapters, Campbell soon turns up the heat, ultimately delivering a compulsive listening experience and a memorable turn as Kerman. A Random/Spiegel & Grau paperback. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.