1. What first made you interested in reading this book? Have you ever heard of similar cases where a person who seemed to be totally innocent of a crime had to prove their innocence? Was there something in particular that made you want to keep reading?

2. Think about the trust Mary and Steve had for each other? If you were in Mary or Steve’s shoes, when might you have been tempted to quit trusting the other?

• Do you have a person you can trust completely?
• How does that trust allow you to do things with that person that you couldn’t do without it?

3. Presumption of innocence is a major theme in this book.  In the 1760s, William Blackstone said, “It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer.” This became an important part of the British legal system and later, the American legal system. Benjamin Franklin later changed the statement to read like this: “It is better one hundred guilty persons should escape than one innocent person should suffer.”

• How does Mary’s story illustrate this principle?

4a. Let’s say you are a juror listening to evidence in an important case. You hear evidence from a variety of people and you have to decide whose word to trust. Who would you be most likely to believe?

• A grieving mother of a baby who died
• A doctor who wants to stamp out child abuse
• A woman who has been arrested for murder and was the last one with a baby shortly before it died

4b. Let’s say you see news on TV about a murder case. What are your first thoughts about the person on trial?

• Do you ever think that, since the police have arrested him, he must have done something wrong?
• What does this say about the importance of the presumption of innocence?
• Does reading Mary’s story change how you think about this?

5. Lawyers often have their clients practice court testimony ahead of time so they will do their best on the witness stand. Steve didn’t do that with Mary because he didn’t want Mary’s testimony to feel practiced. Steve says Mary’s testimony never changed because she always told the simple truth.

• What do you think is the best defense when your character has been maligned?
• How does consistency of character play into what people think of you when you are falsely accused and can’t prove your innocence?

6.  While Mary was waiting for the third trial, Frank Santiago, reporter for The Des Moines Register, asked Mary, “Who do you think caused Melissa’s death?” Mary answered,” I have to remind myself that I don’t know what happened to Melissa. I was falsely accused, and I’m not going to accuse somebody else when nobody knows.”

• What does Mary’s answer tell you about her?
• Presumption of innocence is a legal principal. Do you think it’s necessary to use that same principal in personal conversations about people? Why or why not? 

7. Throughout the book, Mary had to keep fighting to prove her innocence when the prosecution was making a strong case for her guilt.

• What kept Mary’s hopes alive when she and Steve seemed to be losing the battle?
• What do you think gave her the resilience to keep working to clear her name against overwhelming odds?

8. (Spoiler alert: this question reveals a major part of the plot. You’ll want to read the book before you read this question.)

In chapter 20, at the end of trial 2, the deputy snaps handcuffs on Mary to take her away. Steve thinks, I failed. Mary goes to prison. How fair is that? Lawyers often get a bad rap. We often think of lawyers as people who make a lot of money getting guilty people off easy. Steve had become a lawyer to represent people who might be guilty, but needed someone to represent them to get fair sentences for them. He wanted to be that lawyer who helped people when they needed him most. Representing an innocent person who is convicted and sent to prison for life was his worst nightmare. The fact that Mary was a friend of his only made it worse.

• Has reading this book helped you see lawyers in a new way? How has your viewpoint changed?
• What kind of respect do you think lawyers deserve for the job they do?
• Is failure harder when your failure hurts yourself or when it hurts someone else? 

9. Mary had a support group who walked in a parade in the pouring rain to keep interest in her case alive. They wrote letters, planned fundraisers, and helped encourage her family.

• How did Mary’s supporters make a difference in the outcome of the case?
• How did their support affect her life and her family?
• How could you give hope or help to a friend in a tragic situation like Mary’s?

10. In Chapter 28, Steve has an epiphany. Steve says, “Until today God appeared to observe the tragedy with his hands in his pockets. Today one ruling changed everything … Today I can finally see the fingerprints of God.”

• What do you think Steve meant when he said this? What truth does Steve suddenly realize?
• How is this thought important to people who live their lives according to principles from the Bible?
• When your life seems to be falling apart and you are losing hope that your life will ever   come right again, who do you turn to for hope?

11.In Chapter 36, during the third trial, while Mary is having lunch with friends, one asks her why God would allow a nice person like her to be convicted of a crime she didn’t commit. Mary says, “God paints beautiful sunsets and unleashes wild tornados. I don’t like tornados, but I know I can trust the God who controls them. I’m just glad he’s in control and I’m not.”

• Can you imagine being God of the universe for one day? What would that be like?
• What does this quote tell you about Mary’s trust in God?
• When your life seems to be falling apart, do wish you could control what happens to you?
• What can you control?

12. The author of this book and main characters all come from a worldview that is based on God and the Bible.

• How would the book be different if God’s place in Mary’s story was left completely out?
• Did the book feel preachy because it said so much about God?
• Did you feel the author was fair when presenting people who might not have been people of faith?
• How do you think the author could have found a better balance?

13. At the end of the book there is a page that answers the question, “How accurate is this story?” This shares the high standards that the authors held themselves to as they wrote this book. What are some of the ethical or moral issues in the book? How does the book challenge or support your values and beliefs?

14. Of all the legal issues that come up in the book, what things do you think need to be changed in our legal system? Why?

15. Out of all the scenes in the book, is there one that stood out as memorable to you?

• What was it and why did it move you?

16. Did you find something in the book that is a take-away for you?

• What is it?
• Why is that important to you?