Chained Birds: A Crimemoir
It started with a single snowball in a Pennsylvania prison yard, but the fallout followed Kevin “Chico” Sanders across the federal system. From the systemic corruption of the Lewisburg SMU to an Aryan Brotherhood attempt on his life in Florence, Colorado, Chained Birds uncovers the high-stakes chess match of staying alive when the system itself is the enemy.
The Story
Chained Birds is a gritty, investigative journey that sits at the intersection of Shot Caller and Just Mercy. This “Crimemoir” tracks a decade-long battle against institutional betrayal, revealing how negligence and corruption thrive within the federal prison system.
Follow the intersecting lives of Kevin “Chico” Sanders, a former gang member caught in a deadly fight orchestrated by prison officials and the Aryan Brotherhood; Scott Powell, a burned-out public defender; and journalist Carla Conti, as they uncover a web of missing video evidence and impossible choices. This “Crimemoir” pulls back the curtain on the Bureau of Prisons, exploring the kill-or-be-killed code of survival and the haunting legacy of trauma inside America’s federal system.
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Awards & Critical Acclaim
2025 Award-Winning “Crimemoir”
Chained Birds has been honored with multiple 2025 literary awards for its rigorous research, emotional depth, and contribution to the fields of True Crime and Social Justice, including:
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- 1st Place, Nellie Bly Award for Investigative Journalism (Chanticleer International Book Awards)
- 1st Place, True Crime (Next Generation Indie Book Awards)
- Winner, True Crime (Indie Reader Discovery Awards)
- Silver Medalist, True Crime (IPPY – Independent Publisher Book Awards)
- Finalist, True Crime (National Indie Excellence Awards)
- Winner, Best Crimemoir for the author-narrated Audiobook (AudioBookReviewer.com)
See the full list of Chained Birds‘ literary awards here.
What the Critics Say
“Chained Birds will generate emotions from frustration to sadness and even awe at the events that transpired. Carla Conti has penned a book DESTINED TO BE A FUTURE TRUE CRIME CLASSIC.”
—Manhattan Book Review
“Abuse, cover-ups, revenge, paranoia … Chained Birds presents … a riveting series of events that reads with the drama of fiction, DELIVERED WITH THE ONE-TWO PUNCH OF REALITY.”
—Midwest Book Review
“RAW AND UNFLINCHING … a deep dive into systemic corruption, gang dynamics, and the arduous journey toward justice … this impactful read lingers long after the final page.”
—Indie Reader (awarded 2025 True Crime Winner)
“An eye-opening exposé … SHE PRESENTED THE NARRATIVE IN A CAPTIVATING STYLE … The dialogue was rich and authentic, allowing the listener to become fully immersed … ”
—AudioBookReviewer.com on the author-narrated audiobook (awarded 2025 Best Crimemoir)
“ONE OF THE YEAR’S BEST THRILLERS … An emotional, eye-popping and personal exposé of the American prison system that begins with an orchestrated stabbing and ends with a realistic exploration of second chances.”
—BestThrillers.com
Read all of Chained Birds‘ editorial reviews here.
Chained Birds Videos and Shorts
Explore prison surveillance footage, rec cage fight videos, the official Chained Birds book trailer, and more at Carla’s YouTube channel.
Official Book Trailer
Prison Surveillance & Shorts
Chained Birds Deep-Dive Resources
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- Book Club Discussion Guide: Dive into the themes of reform and survival.
- Media Interviews & Podcast Appearances: Interviews and deep-dives into True Crime and the Lewisburg and Florence investigations.
- Chained Birds Glossary of Acronyms and Prison Lingo
- Beyond the Blog Stories and Extras (Carla’s free Crimemoir Confidential Substack newsletter): Exclusive behind-the-scenes reporting, research, and indie publishing confessions. Friends of the Flock subscribers are the first to hear Carla’s book news, plus they can read the opening chapters of Chained Birds and the first two chapters of Carla’s work-in-progress, The Jacklighter, for free.
Book Details (For Librarians & Researchers)
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- Genre: True Crime / Memoir (Crimemoir) / Psychological Thriller
- Themes: Institutional Betrayal, Systemic Corruption, Redemption, Survival.
- Narrative Crossroads: Just Mercy meets Shot Caller.
- Page Count: 448 pages
- ISBNs by format:
ebook: 979-8-9994601-0-3
Retail Audiobook: 979-8-9994601-1-0
Audiobook for Libraries: 979-8-9994601-6-5
Hardcover with Dust Jacket: 979-8-9994601-5-8
Hardcover: 979-8-9994601-2-7
Trade Paperback: 979-8-9994601-3-4 - Publisher: Crimemoir Press
Carla Conti is a journalist and the award-winning author of Chained Birds: A Crimemoir. Her next true crime book, The Jacklighter, is set for release in 2026. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, who supports her true crime habit.