On July 27, 1996, Richard Jewell, a security guard, discovered a suspicious bag in Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park. It contained a bomb, the largest in FBI and ATF history. His quick thinking saved countless lives when it detonated, wounding 111 and killing two. Jewell was initially hailed as a hero.

However, with the world watching, the pressure to find the bomber intensified. Within 72 hours, Jewell became the FBI’s prime suspect. This information leaked, and the intense scrutiny forever altered his life, while the real bomber remained free.

What truly occurred that night during the Olympic Games? This attack left an indelible mark on American history, yet much of what we remember is inaccurate. Former U.S. Attorney Kent Alexander and former Wall Street Journal reporter Kevin Salwen meticulously reconstruct the events before, during, and after the bombing, drawing from extensive law enforcement evidence and personal records, including Richard Jewell’s own accounts.

THE SUSPECT is a gripping narrative, the result of over five years of investigation, exploring the rise of domestic terrorism, the emergence of the 24⁄7 news cycle, and one innocent man’s battle to reclaim his reputation.