About Susan

In Susan Berardi's new nonfiction book, Stolen Sons, two mothers—one Black, one white—forge an unlikely and unbreakable bond after police kill their unarmed, innocent sons. Together, Narene Stokes and Sheila Albers embark on a years-long, gut-wrenching battle to uncover buried evidence, expose lies and cover-ups, and take on an entire justice system built to protect its own.

Stolen Sons won Book Pipeline’s 2024 National Unpublished Book Contest for Nonfiction. It began as a feature article Susan wrote for The Guardian, “Police killed their sons. Their unmovable friendship uncovered a system of lies,” which editors nominated for the 2022 International Online Journalism Awards. It also became the foundation for an Emmy-winning primetime news story, “Ryan and John Wanted Us to Meet," on NBC affiliate KSHB TV 41.

Her recent work includes articles in Washington Monthly and The African American Folklorist. She's also had essays and short stories published in The Carolina Quarterly and The Galway Review (Ireland), among others.

Susan lives in the Boston area.

Photograph by Stefanie Werths.

Praise for Stolen Sons

“If you do not want to feel that you’ve been set on fire…do not, under any circumstances, pick up this painstaking, heartbreaking, don’t-bother-me-until-I-finish-reading-this book. These two moms fighting for accountability, facts, and to clear the names of their murdered sons are inspiring, and their literally go-for-broke lawyers are, too. I thought I knew this story, and oh, was I mistaken.”
—Melinda Henneberger, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist

“Narene Stokes and Sheila Albers are not just grieving mothers, they are truth-tellers, and Susan Berardi has given their courage the urgent, unflinching account it deserves.”

—Ernest Stevens, Emmy Award-winning HBO Documentary Ernie and Joe: Crisis Cops, author of Mental Health and De-escalation: A Guide for Law Enforcement Professionals, founding member of San Antonio’s Police Department Mental Health Unit

“A haunting and deeply human exploration of friendship, privilege, injustice, and the betrayal of a flawed justice system.... With the hard objectivity of a seasoned reporter, but with the gentle heart of compassion, Susan Berardi has written an important and powerful book.”

—Chris Abani, award-winning author of The Secret History of Las Vegas and Board of Trustees Professor of English, Northwestern University

“Beautifully written, deeply researched book.”

—Tom Jackman, former crime and justice reporter for The Washington Post

“Patient, granular, and unflinching.... a carefully reported, deeply human account.”

—Seth Stoughton, University of South Carolina Mitchell Willoughby Professor of Advocacy and Public Justice, and coauthor of Evaluating Police Uses of Force

“An intimate portrayal of two mothers united in their quest for justice… Through the lens of Narene and Sheila’s unlikely friendship, Susan Berardi’s gripping and personal account reminds us that…achieving accountability is still possible. Their story and their work will inspire and ultimately save lives.”

—Samantha Trepel, former US Department of Justice civil rights prosecutor

“Stolen Sons is a must-read testament to the power of two mothers’ love and their fierce commitment to address police brutality in our communities.… Sheila Albers and Narene Stokes are warriors for justice. We can learn from their journeys, their quest for truth, and their tireless efforts to advance meaningful change in America.”
—Andrew M. Stroth, civil rights attorney and founder, Truth Hope and Justice Initiative