Have you ever felt disgusted by the state of the world? By poverty-stricken streets, only a short walk away from towering skyscrapers and multi-million dollar penthouses? In the era of Jeff Bezos’ ascension to billion-dollar fame, I imagine you have. But what happens when that anger turns into action, and when that action becomes criminal? Just Sky tells the story of Stephen Jackley, an Exeter-born bank robber eventually imprisoned across the Atlantic. Jackley’s sometimes playful but profoundly moving prose offers a unique insight into the life of a wannabe career criminal, straight from the horse’s mouth. Often reading like a travelogue, the text catapults the reader from the South West of England to South East Asia, alongside an account of his experiences in the infamous US prison system. The book makes for a fascinating read. Despite the temptation, I resisted googling Stephen Jackley before reading Just Sky, instead turning the first page without any detailed knowledge of his illustrious career. I was instantly gripped by the compelling account, which eases the reader into the story for all its undulations. Although preachy at times, Jackley generally masters the art of prose-writing, striking a skilled balance between introspection and plot. The dual narrative structure, split between Jackley’ life before and during his prison sentence, presents the reality of a relatively normal childhood alongside the distant unreality (at least for most of us) of serving time for weapon offences. This does not justify, but rather humanises, his controversial behaviours. Jackley is open about his struggles with alcohol and drugs, also establishing himself as the ultimate ‘travel junkie’. His travel diaries make for a colourful and dynamic account, I even found myself wanting to jot down notes for my own future exploits! His time spent in a Buddhist retreat in central France is particularly compelling, adding a romantic touch to the story. Jackley’s harrowing account of his incarceration runs in stark contrast to the delicate inflections of these meditative musings, creating a strong sense of claustrophobia (the dreaded ‘Hole’) and uncovering the violent underworld that is the American prison system. And yet, he avoids sensationalising his own history, giving full credit to those guards who treated him with respect. Jackley might have been tempted to present himself as a victim, but he takes full responsibility for his actions. The book will appeal to fans of Louis Theroux’ TV documentaries looking at America’s most brutal prisons. However, these programs tend to reaffirm our own perspective; that of the outsider looking in. For all Theroux’s famed ‘interrogatory’ techniques, those interviewed remain mysterious, their lives often appearing distant and unrelated to our own. It was therefore refreshing to read something from the prisoner’s own point of view, with the first-person perspective offering a more nuanced reflection as to how and why individuals turn towards violent crime. In this way, Just Sky made me fundamentally question the way we consume true-crime as entertainment. Would it not be better to hear these stories directly from those they were written and lived by? If Theroux provides a window into these stories, Jackley holds the door wide open and invites us in for a cup of tea. Ultimately, Jackley’s determination to make the world a better place becomes missguided, and his thoughts often read like the ravings of a madman. There are times when his ideas become, and I think this is intentional, almost comically ridiculous. And yet, even the whisper of honourable intention endears this elusive figure to the reader, commonly characterised as the ‘Robin Hood’ bank robber. Following Jackley’s later diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome, his vision of society in Just Sky is, although problematic, equally moving. His feelings of disgust towards worldwide economic divisions speak to this reality, and we cannot help but admire his steadfast commitment to the cause. Of course, Jackley is also fuelled by adolescent disillusion, a familiar feeling for many readers. What he does next, however, is quite extraordinary…. So, for those of you craving the very definition of a page-turner, bursting with action and yet surprisingly heartfelt, Just Sky might just be your next best read!