Customer Reviews

Caged Innocence

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One day in Mississippi, 17 y/o Larry Henderson is arrested and wrongfully accused of murder of a white man. Mississippi was known to be one of the states that believed in racial inequality and a black man being accused of anything could get him convicted or hung. White men were being murdered one after another, but when one well known white klansman is murdered all evidence suddenly turns to Larry. Nomatter if Larry is guilty or innocent or if there is actual evidence against him, Larry must go down for the crime. The person closest to him makes sure he's convicted and that person is his father Officer Perry Henderson, the only black officer in that county. How can a father be adamant that his son must be convicted and do the time, why is this so important to him, why is one journalist ready to save Larry from his fate? This book holds these answers.

Caged Innocence is one tear-jerking book. It sets the scene in the deep south, the injustice, the racism, a father and son torn apart. This book is a masterpiece ready to be put on the big screen. Caged Innocence also goes deeper by reminding us what it means to be human and wrongfully accused. Mr. Richard I have to say this is by far one of the best books I have read and an EXCELLENT job well done. Can't wait to see this on the big screen. Kudos and u deserve more than 5 stars.

Is the color of your skin really a sin? It was during the early 60's in the deep South. Larry Henderson has no idea what is going on. All he knows is that besides his dad, his favorite person in the whole world is murdered, and that the motive for the murder is his skin color. Not really understanding race as a little boy, it took for Larry to be accused of a murder that he didn't commit for him to grow up and really understand racism.

Larry's father has been the only black man on the police force for years and understands how everything works. Trying to convince Larry to take the charge and go to jail for murder spirals out of control, and all sorts of things you can't imagine happen in his life. Going to jail at age 17 for a murder he knew nothing about, Larry tries his best to fight it. Realizing that the one person he thought had his back isn't actually any better then the people persecuting him, Larry begins to gives up hope. Then an older man in jail helps Larry build his self-esteem up again and get the fight back in him. This helps him to eventually be released from prison some 20 something years later. But he finally uncovers the truth on the murder and the reason behind his father's actions.

A. P. Ri'chard tells a tale of deceit, murder and a whole lot of betrayal in Caged Innocence. Even though the whole 60's racism theme caught me by surprise, the author told the story in a way that it kept you engaged in the story. You wanted to know what would happen and why his father would do such a horrible thing to his own son. Mr. Ri'chard did answer all the questions I had in reading the story. He showed why certain things happened, and in the end, how it all unfolded. Caged Innocence is certainly not the typical casual read that I'm accustom to, but it is proof that Ri'chard can definitely tell a story.

Reviewed by Angie
for Urban Reviews

"CAGED INNOCENCE IS A SPELLBOUNDING,CAPTIVATING BOOK THAT DRAWS YOU IN FROM PAGE ONE AND DOESN'T RELEASE YOU UNTIL THE END.THE BOOK TELLS ABOUT A YOUNG BOY BEING FALSELY ACCUSED OF MURDER.THE YOUNG MAN IS ULTIMATELY SENT TO JAIL WHERE HE ENCOUNTERS THE ATROCITIES OF A RACIST PRISON SYSTEM.WHILE SERVING HIS TIME HE BEFRIENDS AN ELDERLY GENTLEMAN WHO BECOMES INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING THE YOUNG MAN COPE WITH HIS MUNDANE SITUATION,AND ALSO SHOWS HIM THAT THE SYSTEM CAN ONLY LOCK AWAY HIS BODY,BUT NOT HIS MIND

This is a book about a very descent person. He is fun to be around and talk to. It is amazing how easy-going he is after all of the crap he has been through for no reason.

The book is well written although the names have been changed to protect the guilty.

This is a real story about a Black Man in America. I wish I could say the setting was so far a away that it was unbelievable but it is so not true. This is still happening today. I really enjoyed this book. I was able to experience all emotions from cheering to a deep down cry over and over!! To all the Larry Henderson's out there keep you head up cause I love you and don't give up hope.

I wanted to take this opportunity to say that I really, really enjoyed this book from the beginning to the end. It was the first book that I have picked up in over 5 years, that I did not have to force myself to read..

From the beginning I found myself engrossed and wanting more. I loved it and will definitely tell everyone that I know, that it would be to their advantage to invest in such a prize winning novel.

Job well done A.P. Ri'Chard and I wish you continued success in your endeavors.

In closing, I just ask that you please let me know when your next best seller hits the market, as I will be awaiting it anxiously. Thanks....

Sincerely,

Rene' Viser
Monroe, NC

When he was five years old Larry Henderson idolized his father, Officer Perry Henderson and his older cousin Terrell. Perry was the first African American police officer in their small southern town and Terrell, although thirteen years older than Larry, always made him feel special. But something happened that shaped a destructive future for Larry. Terrell was brutally killed by Klansmen and an embittered Perry lost himself in the bottle.

Now, some twelve years later, Klansmen are being murdered and the police are baffled. When the head of the White Knights becomes the latest victim, Perry thinks he may be a suspect. Because of Perry's years of drinking and his abusive nature towards his wife, there is a volatile rift between him and his son. Perry is afraid of Larry's repeated promises for vengeance, and he also fears he is being set up by the police. In confusing desperation, Perry aims the evidence at his own son. To the casual observer, the evidence against Larry is overwhelming, but a big mystery is the fact that Perry convinces Larry to plead guilty, promising he will find the real killer. Larry is convicted and sentenced to twenty-five years, and from that point Ri'Chard does a great job telling Larry's plight. He brings in a plethora of characters and each person's story seemingly interfaces with Larry's life. Although Klansmen continue to be murdered while Larry sits in prison, and although Larry has gained support, his situation remains bleak.

Ri'Chard's past to present style of writing gives readers a feel for the characters. The storyline, although fiction, was delivered with a realness that taps into your emotional psyche, and reveals how overt pressure and the intimidation of negative forces can alter an individual's value system. Readers will welcome how CAGED INNOCENCE displays a faith-filled supportive family and how it showcases the empowering power of forgiveness. The ending was sadly real, and I applaud Ri'Chard for making readers feel this story.

Reviewed by aNN
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

Cagged Innocence started out as good read from the moment you read page one.

I can not believe this is based on a true story. Why one person has endured so much strife and heartache unneccessarily is mindboggling, especially from the hands of one's father.

I was definitely going through an array of emotions throughout my journey with Cagged Innoncence from sadness to downright anger, Wow what at story!!

What a way to premier as a 1st time author AP Ri'Chard (( - :

As an avid reader, I took great pleasure in the storyline AND in the writing style. I was very impressed with A.P.'s ability to tie in past events with "current" happenings with the use of flashbacks. However, it was not one of those writings that has so much of it that it is hard to follow. The message of the forgiveness, faith, and fortitude that the main character attained through the whole ordeal of being falsely accused and imprissoned for a crime he did not commit was right up there with other recent readings. "Sermon on the Mount" and "The Shack" are two other books I have read recently, and Caged Innocence matched both by touching my heart and spurring the neccesity of reliance of a loving God. A secondary, but important, message was one of the destructiveness of racism. I cannot say enough about the quality message and quality of writing that any reader would enjoy and benefit from!

I was impressed with the writing style of this great book. It reads like fiction but this story is true. I felt every possible emotion as I read this book. The family was disfunctional but there are wonderful faith filled moments that show how God works through even the worst situation. I think everyone who reads this book can find something they can identify with in the emotions of the characters. Forgiveness is throughout the entire story. God Bless A.P Ri'chard. He truly wrote a book that will glorify God and will be talked about at dinner tables for generations to come.