A Knock at Midnight

A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom

By: Brittany K. Barnett

Narrated by: Karen Chilton

LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE FINALIST • NAACP IMAGE AWARD NOMINEE • A “powerful and devastating” (The Washington Post) call to free those buried alive by America’s legal system, and an inspiring true story about unwavering belief in humanity—from a gifted young lawyer and important new voice in the movement to transform the system.

“An essential book for our time . . . Brittany K. Barnett is a star.”—Van Jones, CEO of REFORM Alliance, CNN Host, and New York Times bestselling author
Brittany K. Barnett was only a law student when she came across the case that would change her life forever—that of Sharanda Jones, single mother, business owner, and, like Brittany, Black daughter of the rural South. A victim of America’s devastating war on drugs, Sharanda had been torn away from her young daughter and was serving a life sentence without parole—for a first-time drug offense. In Sharanda, Brittany saw haunting echoes of her own life, as the daughter of a formerly incarcerated mother. As she studied this case, a system came into focus in which widespread racial injustice forms the core of America’s addiction to incarceration. Moved by Sharanda’s plight, Brittany set to work to gain her freedom.

This had never been the plan. Bright and ambitious, Brittany was a successful accountant on her way to a high-powered future in corporate law. But Sharanda’s case opened the door to a harrowing journey through the criminal justice system. By day she moved billion-dollar deals, and by night she worked pro bono to free clients in near hopeless legal battles. Ultimately, her path transformed her understanding of injustice in the courts, of genius languishing behind bars, and the very definition of freedom itself.

Brittany’s riveting memoir is at once a coming-of-age story and a powerful evocation of what it takes to bring hope and justice to a system built to resist them both.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY KIRKUS REVIEWS

Critic reviews

“For a young lawyer, Brittany Barnett has a lot of war stories. In A Knock at Midnight, Barnett’s engrossing memoir, most of the stories involve Black women who are casualties of the war on drugs. . . . [Barnett’s] vignettes about the lives of women in the ‘New Jim Crow’ era are powerful and devastating.”—The Washington Post

“A Knock at Midnight isn’t your ordinary memoir. It carries the force of urgent action, and it calls attention to sentencing laws that must be read to be believed. Most important, it bears the toil and triumph of freedom hard won. That’s a quality that readers will have a hard time taking for granted after reading these pages.”—Houston Chronicle

“A Knock at Midnight is a book that is just right for this smoldering moment, a memoir that offers an irresistible invitation to examine the evolution and the impact of injustice in America.”—Michele Norris, contributing columnist at The Washington Post and founding director of The Race Card Project

“With a penetrating honesty, Brittany K. Barnett masterfully unlocks the mysterious doors of the prison system, revealing a long tradition of racial injustice and inequality. In the spirit of great films like Ava DuVernay’s 13th, A Knock at Midnight is both an educational tool and a call to action that will leave readers enlightened and inspired for years to come.”—Shaka Senghor, author of Writing My Wrongs

“Brittany is a first-rate storyteller. With heartfelt clarity and conviction, she delivers a powerful story of courage and hope, along with a good dose of the messy truth about our nation’s broken criminal justice system. America desperately needs stories just like this one.”—Van Jones, CEO of REFORM Alliance, CNN Host, and New York Times bestselling author

“A riveting memoir of injustice, resilience, and hope.”—Booklist (starred review)

“A welcome new addition to . . . books about the critically flawed U.S. legal system . . . Considering her youthfulness, [Brittany] Barnett has accomplished more reform than most individuals could accomplish in two lifetimes.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“This is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the devastating effects of mandatory drug sentencing and looking for inspiration to seek change.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“An engrossing legal drama complete with wrenching reversals and redemptions, this account richly humanizes defendants while incisively analyzing deep flaws in America's justice system.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

this had me with all the feelings!

I think this woman is remarkable, thank you for telling the truth and letting others know truth. thank you . congratulations on all you've done and the things yet to come! God bless you!

Outstanding Book

The way that Brittany told her story was very authentic and heartfelt. I did not want to stop listening. Brittany is a person that comes every other generation. I have the gut feeling that there are greater successes that will come her way!

Truly Teaches and Inspires (hopefully to act)

The story is captivating. Takes a topic that could be lost in legal mumbo jumbo and presents it in is humanity form, which is how this travesty should always be spoken. It has given true life to this institutional racist system and shown a light on all the political characters involved. It has the capability of moving a reader to an active supporter of the work. My hope is that it does. Ms. Barnett is true brilliance as a lawyer and a writer!! just so inspired by her on many levels, WHAT A HUMAN BEING!!! The book is a gift and a blueprint of sorts for anyone wanting to start work such as this or other areas of social equity need. Also, the narration added to the experience, having listened to several audible books.

Wonderful book - wonderful truths

I really enjoyed this book. It was extremely educational and I am so grateful that Ms Barnett shared these stories.

Moving and inspiring

Brilliantly written, and equally brilliantly narrated, this story will inspire you, infuriate you, stir your heart, move you to tears, and hopefully move you to action.