No Human Involved by Cheryl L. Neely is a powerful and heartbreaking examination of violence against Black women, and the ways in which their lives and deaths have been neglected by the criminal justice system, police particularly. Neely approaches this subject both academically and empathically, giving voice to victims who have too often been dismissed,ignored, and forgotten. 

What makes this book especially compelling is how it blends statistics, case studies, and interviews to paint a devastating portrait of systemic failures. Neely never sensationalizes (my biggest problem with true crime), instead, she humanizes. She shows the humanity behind the headlines and reminds us that these women were daughters, sisters, and mothers whose stories matter.

This is not an easy read, but it is an essential one. Neely demands that we confront uncomfortable truths and reflect on the structural inequalities that make some lives seem less worthy of justice.