Books Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson

Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson is a psychological thriller centered on Mary B. Addison, a girl convicted at age nine for the death of a white baby under her mother's care. The story explores whether Mary actually killed the baby, as she refuses to speak about the incident. After spending six years in juvenile detention ("baby jail"), she is placed in a group home and grapples with the harsh realities of life there.

Mary becomes pregnant while at the group home, which motivates her to fight for her future and the fate of her unborn child. However, her past and troubled relationship with her abusive and neglectful mother complicate her path. The book unfolds through Mary’s complex narration combined with documents like police interviews, newspaper clippings, and testimonies, gradually revealing deeper truths behind the crime and systemic failures.

The novel critiques the justice, social services, and mental health systems for vulnerable children, showing the injustice and neglect Mary endures. It is a gripping social commentary wrapped in a suspenseful narrative that keeps readers questioning what really happened to the baby and whether Mary is truly guilty.

Jackson delivers a powerful story about survival, trauma, and the search for truth amidst a flawed system, told with emotional intensity and psychological depth.