The former United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York recounts captivating tales of true crime from his years atop the most storied prosecutor's office in the country -- inside stories of terrorists threatening America, mob hit men, billion-dollar fraudsters, corrupt politicians, and even a "cannibal cop". Bharara entertains us, but also inspires us to aim high, laying out a path for how to think and act to reach fair and morally correct judgments.

Includes index.

Part I. Inquiry -- The truth is elusive: The boys -- Things are not what they seem: "Urbane cowboys" -- Gold-standard investigators: The ethic of the mob buster Kenny McCabe -- The problem of confirmation bias: Latent fingerprint 17 -- The need for rigor: A death in Soundview -- Curiosity and query: Asking basic questions -- The principles of interrogation: "Barbarism is not necessary" -- Snitches: The moral quicksand of cooperating witnesses -- Continuity and change: Justice through innovation -- Part II. Accusation -- The grinding machinery -- God forbid -- Walking away -- Culture -- Bollywood -- Part III. Judgment -- Day in court -- The judge -- The trial -- Three men in a room -- The verdict -- Part IV. Punishment -- Baby Carlina -- Lord of the flies -- Beyond justice.