Acts of Darkness

Acts of Darkness exposes the many faces of crime, and the many faces of injustice. Some acts of darkness are brutal and unmistakable: murder, drug wars, and violence behind prison walls. Others are more calculated: fraud, betrayal, corruption, and abuse of power. And some unfold quietly, in courtrooms, in boardrooms, or deep inside Canada's justice system, where wrongful convictions, systemic neglect, and indifference can be just as devastating. From the chilling crimes of Paul Bernardo and the unrepentant violence of Michael McGray, to the calculated schemes of Edwin Alonzo Boyd, Helmuth Buxbaum, and Gilbert Galvan, this collection unravels the lives of some of Canada's most notorious offenders. With unflinching detail, Acts of Darkness exposes the cracks in our legal and correctional systems, forcing readers to confront unsettling questions about justice, morality, and the true cost of punishment. A must-read for true crime enthusiasts seeking chilling insights into justice and morality.

John L. Hill is a retired Canadian lawyer known for his work in criminal and prison law, focusing on representing penitentiary inmates and individuals involved in some of Canada's most complex cases. He is a triple graduate of Queen's University with degrees in political science and law, and he also holds an LL.M. in Constitutional Law from Osgoode Hall. Throughout his career, Hill has handled high-profile cases, including those involving solitary confinement and wrongful convictions. He has written extensively, including the book Pine Box Parole, where he examines how the prison system can exacerbate criminal behaviour. He continues to write about crime and imprisonment and is nominated for a 2025 Crime Writers of Canada award. John L. Hill lives in Cobourg, Ontario.Foreword writer, Sal Caramanna, is a leading criminal defence lawyer in Toronto. His distinguished career has focused on defending complex, high-stakes cases. A graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School, he has represented clients in major trials, including wrongful conviction cases. From 2008 to 2013, he chaired the International Review Committee for AIDWYC (now Innocence Canada), reviewing numerous cases and assisting wrongly convicted defendants in the United States. He continues to work on wrongful conviction cases. His background in science with an Honours B.Sc. in nutritional sciences, a pre-medical school program, has been valuable in cases involving forensic evidence.