about the author
Dewey Olson
Dewey Olson is a fourth-generation Finnish-American, from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. His deep family roots in the Copper Country inspired him to uncover and retell one of its most gripping true-crime stories.
A descendant of the real-life families central to the events in Manifest Error, Dewey brings both authenticity and empathy to his storytelling; capturing the strength, perseverance, and moral resolve of the people who lived through one of the region’s darkest chapters.
When he isn’t writing, Dewey can often be found exploring Michigan’s historic mining towns or sharing stories about life, legacy, and the endurance of truth.
Manifest Error
book trailer
Step inside the world of Manifest Error through our short film-style book video. Experience the tension, history, and human struggle behind one of Michigan’s most unsettling true stories. Watch as the events surrounding the wrongful conviction of John Lahnala come to life in a powerful visual narrative.
about the book
manifest
error
When John returns home to bury his murdered father, he is arrested for the very crime he came to mourn. Manifest Error follows a wrongful conviction that divided families, shattered lives, and tested the boundaries of justice in early-20th-century Michigan.
Based on true events, this powerful historical narrative brings to light the story of John Lahnala, a young man sentenced to life in prison amid conflicting testimonies, community bias, and a desperate fight for the truth.
With vivid detail and emotional realism, author Dewey Olson re-creates the world of his great-grandfather; a story of loyalty, courage, and the relentless search for redemption when the law itself goes astray.
