Overview

Acts of Darkness exposes the many faces of crime, and the many faces of injustice. Some acts of darkness are brutal and unmistakable: murder, drug wars, and violence behind prison walls. Others are more calculated: fraud, betrayal, corruption, and abuse of power. And some unfold quietly, in courtrooms, in boardrooms, or deep inside Canada's justice system, where wrongful convictions, systemic neglect, and indifference can be just as devastating. From the chilling crimes of Paul Bernardo and the unrepentant violence of Michael McGray, to the calculated schemes of Edwin Alonzo Boyd, Helmuth Buxbaum, and Gilbert Galvan, this collection unravels the lives of some of Canada's most notorious offenders. With unflinching detail, Acts of Darkness exposes the cracks in our legal and correctional systems, forcing readers to confront unsettling questions about justice, morality, and the true cost of punishment. A must-read for true crime enthusiasts seeking chilling insights into justice and morality.

Full Product Details

9781990735752

Table of Contents

Reviews

Hill has practiced and taught criminal and correctional law for forty years, and the book is divided into some of his standout cases - the bulk of them from the 1990s, which include stories of notorious criminals, wrongful convictions, and oft precedent-setting decisions. Hill is a measured, straightforward writer who includes a lot of legal details and mentions of paperwork, perhaps an honest reflection of the bulk of a real attorney's job (versus the network TV version). -- Eve Thomas, Montreal Review of Books

""Thoughtful and provocative. John Hill lifts the veil on the world inside the walls of Canada's Prison and Justice systems based on his knowledge and personal experience. As a journalist who covered this area for almost 20 years, I can says that this book paints an accurate picture of the brutality of life on the inside. It also shows the legal and systemic barriers many prisoners face in trying to ""do their time"" and return to society. An important read for Canadians who pay billions of dollars for a system that often lacks true accountability."" --Maureen Brosnahan Senior National Correspondent CBC News ""Hill has practiced and taught criminal and correctional law for forty years, and the book is divided into some of his standout cases - the bulk of them from the 1990s, which include stories of notorious criminals, wrongful convictions, and oft precedent-setting decisions."" Hill is a measured, straightforward writer who includes a lot of legal details and mentions of paperwork, perhaps an honest reflection of the bulk of a rel attorney's job (versus the network TV version)."" --Eve Thomas, Montreal Review of Books

Author Information

John L. Hill is a retired Canadian lawyer known for his work in criminal and prison law, focusing on representing penitentiary inmates and individuals involved in some of Canada's most complex cases. He is a triple graduate of Queen's University with degrees in political science and law, and he also holds an LL.M. in Constitutional Law from Osgoode Hall. Throughout his career, Hill has handled high-profile cases, including those involving solitary confinement and wrongful convictions. He has written extensively, including the book Pine Box Parole, where he examines how the prison system can exacerbate criminal behaviour. He continues to write about crime and imprisonment and is nominated for a 2025 Crime Writers of Canada award. John L. Hill lives in Cobourg, Ontario. Foreword writer, Sal Caramanna, is a leading criminal defence lawyer in Toronto. His distinguished career has focused on defending complex, high-stakes cases. A graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School, he has represented clients in major trials, including wrongful conviction cases. From 2008 to 2013, he chaired the International Review Committee for AIDWYC (now Innocence Canada), reviewing numerous cases and assisting wrongly convicted defendants in the United States. He continues to work on wrongful conviction cases. His background in science with an Honours B.Sc. in nutritional sciences, a pre-medical school program, has been valuable in cases involving forensic evidence.

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