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Adnan's Story: The Search for Truth and Justice After Serial
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Nonfiction (2016)Serial told Only Part of the Story…
In early 2000, Adnan Syed was convicted and sentenced to life plus thirty years for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee, a high school senior in Baltimore, Maryland. Syed has maintained his innocence, and Rabia Chaudry, a family friend, has always believed him. By 2013, after almost all appeals had been exhausted, Rabia contacted Sarah Koenig, a producer at This American Life, in hopes of finding a journalist who could shed light on Adnan’s story. In 2014, Koenig's investigation turned into Serial, a Peabody Award-winning podcast with more than 500 million international listeners
But Serial did not tell the whole story. In this compelling narrative, Rabia Chaudry presents new key evidence that she maintains dismantles the State's case: a potential new suspect, forensics indicating Hae was killed and kept somewhere for almost half a day, and documentation withheld by the State that destroys the cell phone evidence -- among many other points -- and she shows how fans of Serial joined a crowd-sourced investigation into a case riddled with errors and strange twists. Adnan's Story also shares Adnan’s life in prison, and weaves in his personal reflections, including never-before-seen letters. Chaudry, who is committed to exonerating Adnan, makes it clear that justice is yet to be achieved in this much examined case.
In early 2000, Adnan Syed was convicted and sentenced to life plus thirty years for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee, a high school senior in Baltimore, Maryland. Syed has maintained his innocence, and Rabia Chaudry, a family friend, has always believed him. By 2013, after almost all appeals had been exhausted, Rabia contacted Sarah Koenig, a producer at This American Life, in hopes of finding a journalist who could shed light on Adnan’s story. In 2014, Koenig's investigation turned into Serial, a Peabody Award-winning podcast with more than 500 million international listeners
But Serial did not tell the whole story. In this compelling narrative, Rabia Chaudry presents new key evidence that she maintains dismantles the State's case: a potential new suspect, forensics indicating Hae was killed and kept somewhere for almost half a day, and documentation withheld by the State that destroys the cell phone evidence -- among many other points -- and she shows how fans of Serial joined a crowd-sourced investigation into a case riddled with errors and strange twists. Adnan's Story also shares Adnan’s life in prison, and weaves in his personal reflections, including never-before-seen letters. Chaudry, who is committed to exonerating Adnan, makes it clear that justice is yet to be achieved in this much examined case.
410 pages, Hardcover
First published June 7, 2016
749 people are currently reading
17446 people want to read
About the author
Rabia Chaudry
7 books304 followersQ&A with The Innocence Project (Innocence Blog): August 2016
In 2014, attorney and writer Rabia Chaudry contacted producer Sarah Koenig at This American Life to pitch a story about the 1999 murder case of Maryland teenager Hae Min Lee. The result was Serial, one of the most successful podcast ever produced. The series—downloaded 100 million times—put Adnan Syed, the young man convicted of the 1999 murder, in the spotlight, and highlighted aspects of the investigation that Syed’s supporters, including Chaudry, say reveal his innocence.
But Chaudry says that Serial didn’t tell the whole story. In response, she’s released Adnan’s Story: The Search for Truth and Justice After Serial, her new book which delves into important case details not covered in Serial. The book also includes written recollections and insights from Syed himself.
Earlier this week, Chaudry spoke with the Innocence Blog about her reasons for writing the book and how Serial got some of the story wrong.
Innocence Blog: You have been an incredible champion for Adnan. Did you ever think, back in 2000 when he was convicted, that you would eventually play such an important role in his case?
Rabia Chaudry: Absolutely not. I was in law school [when the case started]. I had no experience in criminal law—not then, not even now really. The thing that I hoped to do, after the conviction especially, was help the family select good attorneys.
I really had a lot of confidence in the system—that there had been a tremendous mistake. Especially after Cristina Gutierrez (Adnan’s trial attorney) was disbarred and became ill. I thought: “The Maryland judiciary system knows—everybody knows—what she went through and how that must have affected her clients.” There was a part of me that thought, “How could those cases that she had in her last couple of years not be given a little more attention to see what really went wrong?”
But I never imagined that it would be like this. And I didn’t want it to be like this. I wanted the system to work. It’s ridiculous that it would take this long. And it’s crazy that it would take so much media and so many resources and investigators to correct something like this.
IB: Knowing all of the information that was out there—with Serial, with your podcast Undisclosed and your blog—what then spurred the book?
RC: Actually, it started before the Undisclosed podcast even began. When Serial was airing I was blogging every week in response to it. And I had been writing for many years for different outlets and across a spectrum of issues—a lot of political issues and issues around bigotry and civil rights. There was a literary agent who read my blog and had seen my other writing and said, “You should consider writing a book.” And I said, “Oh, that would be great. I’d love to write a book. I’ve always wanted to write a novel.” And she said, “No, I mean about Adnan’s case.”
I had never considered it. It was overwhelming. I didn’t know the case as well as I needed to, even at that point. The case documents—I hadn’t seen them in many, many years. They had gone from Adnan’s home to Sarah Koenig. And she had given me an electronic copy once, but for me to have my daily full-time job, plus my family, plus a blog—I didn’t have the time to go through the documents.
So when the agent contacted me, I said, “Absolutely not. I can’t do it. And, it would feel a little exploitive. I’m not comfortable with that.” But then she raised an excellent point.
She told me that somebody was eventually going to write the book. It could be me—someone who knows Adnan, knows the lawyers, knows Sarah Koenig, knows more about the story than anyone could know, and who also is very concerned about protecting Adnan’s interest. Or, it could be another journalist. “It’s your choice,” she said. So, I talked to Adnan about it and told him that she made a good argument. He told me that if I wanted to do it, I had his permission.
I ended up writing 800
In 2014, attorney and writer Rabia Chaudry contacted producer Sarah Koenig at This American Life to pitch a story about the 1999 murder case of Maryland teenager Hae Min Lee. The result was Serial, one of the most successful podcast ever produced. The series—downloaded 100 million times—put Adnan Syed, the young man convicted of the 1999 murder, in the spotlight, and highlighted aspects of the investigation that Syed’s supporters, including Chaudry, say reveal his innocence.
But Chaudry says that Serial didn’t tell the whole story. In response, she’s released Adnan’s Story: The Search for Truth and Justice After Serial, her new book which delves into important case details not covered in Serial. The book also includes written recollections and insights from Syed himself.
Earlier this week, Chaudry spoke with the Innocence Blog about her reasons for writing the book and how Serial got some of the story wrong.
Innocence Blog: You have been an incredible champion for Adnan. Did you ever think, back in 2000 when he was convicted, that you would eventually play such an important role in his case?
Rabia Chaudry: Absolutely not. I was in law school [when the case started]. I had no experience in criminal law—not then, not even now really. The thing that I hoped to do, after the conviction especially, was help the family select good attorneys.
I really had a lot of confidence in the system—that there had been a tremendous mistake. Especially after Cristina Gutierrez (Adnan’s trial attorney) was disbarred and became ill. I thought: “The Maryland judiciary system knows—everybody knows—what she went through and how that must have affected her clients.” There was a part of me that thought, “How could those cases that she had in her last couple of years not be given a little more attention to see what really went wrong?”
But I never imagined that it would be like this. And I didn’t want it to be like this. I wanted the system to work. It’s ridiculous that it would take this long. And it’s crazy that it would take so much media and so many resources and investigators to correct something like this.
IB: Knowing all of the information that was out there—with Serial, with your podcast Undisclosed and your blog—what then spurred the book?
RC: Actually, it started before the Undisclosed podcast even began. When Serial was airing I was blogging every week in response to it. And I had been writing for many years for different outlets and across a spectrum of issues—a lot of political issues and issues around bigotry and civil rights. There was a literary agent who read my blog and had seen my other writing and said, “You should consider writing a book.” And I said, “Oh, that would be great. I’d love to write a book. I’ve always wanted to write a novel.” And she said, “No, I mean about Adnan’s case.”
I had never considered it. It was overwhelming. I didn’t know the case as well as I needed to, even at that point. The case documents—I hadn’t seen them in many, many years. They had gone from Adnan’s home to Sarah Koenig. And she had given me an electronic copy once, but for me to have my daily full-time job, plus my family, plus a blog—I didn’t have the time to go through the documents.
So when the agent contacted me, I said, “Absolutely not. I can’t do it. And, it would feel a little exploitive. I’m not comfortable with that.” But then she raised an excellent point.
She told me that somebody was eventually going to write the book. It could be me—someone who knows Adnan, knows the lawyers, knows Sarah Koenig, knows more about the story than anyone could know, and who also is very concerned about protecting Adnan’s interest. Or, it could be another journalist. “It’s your choice,” she said. So, I talked to Adnan about it and told him that she made a good argument. He told me that if I wanted to do it, I had his permission.
I ended up writing 800
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,192 reviews
June 21, 2024
I am so glad that I read this book, but at the same time, I almost long for my ignorance. It is easier to be unaware of how disturbingly incompetent and unconcerned the very people paid to "serve and protect" behaved. The outrage really sets in when it becomes glaringly obvious that the plethora of mistakes made was not unique in the police work, but poured into the trial.
To me, this kid never had a chance. There is not one moment where I thought that someone in the judicial and/or legal system truly considered Adnan--the person. Not one time was he treated as "innocent until proven guilty". To say that the circus that replaced his trial was riddled with errors, illegal manipulation along with flat-out suppression of pertinent information, would be remarkably generous.
If, like me, you know Adnan's story from the Serial (and/or subsequent) podcast(s), you know this. And maybe, like me, you are still consumed with a sickening, gut-wrenching wonder as to how so much could go so horribly wrong---unquestionably, indisputably wrong---without any repercussions or efforts to acknowledge, own and correct the mistakes, then perhaps you already have this in your To-Read stack. Basically—if you’ve been at all touched by this tragic but all too true tale—I whole-heartedly believe you will be grateful for Ms. Chaudry’s work. The author says it best: the story Serial told “…was true, but it wasn’t the whole truth, or the whole story” and if ever there was a whole story---with its entire truth—that begged to be told, it is Adnan’s.
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To say that I became obsessed with Adnan's story while listening to the Serial podcast would be grossly understating it. When I realized there was a whole book about it, of course I had it to have immediately.
Just 60 pages into it, completely absorbed. Today will not be productive, I see that now.
9/23/16
To me, this kid never had a chance. There is not one moment where I thought that someone in the judicial and/or legal system truly considered Adnan--the person. Not one time was he treated as "innocent until proven guilty". To say that the circus that replaced his trial was riddled with errors, illegal manipulation along with flat-out suppression of pertinent information, would be remarkably generous.
If, like me, you know Adnan's story from the Serial (and/or subsequent) podcast(s), you know this. And maybe, like me, you are still consumed with a sickening, gut-wrenching wonder as to how so much could go so horribly wrong---unquestionably, indisputably wrong---without any repercussions or efforts to acknowledge, own and correct the mistakes, then perhaps you already have this in your To-Read stack. Basically—if you’ve been at all touched by this tragic but all too true tale—I whole-heartedly believe you will be grateful for Ms. Chaudry’s work. The author says it best: the story Serial told “…was true, but it wasn’t the whole truth, or the whole story” and if ever there was a whole story---with its entire truth—that begged to be told, it is Adnan’s.
*********** ********* ******** ********* ********* *************
To say that I became obsessed with Adnan's story while listening to the Serial podcast would be grossly understating it. When I realized there was a whole book about it, of course I had it to have immediately.
Just 60 pages into it, completely absorbed. Today will not be productive, I see that now.
9/23/16
September 12, 2016
More to come, but let me start off with the fact that when I do review this book, it will be the book it actually was, which was Rabia's Story. Not Adnan's Story.
September 2, 2016
Being a huge fan of the “Serial” podcast, I had to read this book. Adnan’s Story is a great book that goes above and beyond the well-known case of the 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee. In this book, Chaudry’s 17 years of investigative work, perseverance, and loyalty shows. Her writing is engrossing, uncomplicated, and persuasive. Adnan also contributions to this book through letters so we get to know a bit more about him. What went on with the police investigations, evidence and witnesses is beyond belief. You will have to read it to find out more. If I were Hae’s mother, I would be demanding answers. “Serial”, non-fiction and true crime fans will enjoy this page-turner. 4 1/2 stars!
April 17, 2023
So originally when I read this in 2019 I swore he was guilty because of one glaring fact. I won’t put it here.
I’m finally listening to SERIAL the podcast and I understand it was created to figure out if there were any liars, accomplices etc. lastly as far as I can tell he has been released after all of this time.
Well I am of the accomplice theory and it’s two fold -the original fact from my reading a few years ago (so glaring) and also because of an experimental run of the track he drove or walked to see if the timeline was possible. Well the first theory is discussed with such a nonchalant answer that he talked himself out of it (did not even go near answering what was asked). And secondly I cannot believe this narrator thinks someone can strangle a person in a minute or less. Ummm no that’s not how it works that’s not how any of this works. So I find this story interesting yet I think also that not all of the players were arrested or even interrogated. Something is definitely wrong about this case.
I’m finally listening to SERIAL the podcast and I understand it was created to figure out if there were any liars, accomplices etc. lastly as far as I can tell he has been released after all of this time.
Well I am of the accomplice theory and it’s two fold -the original fact from my reading a few years ago (so glaring) and also because of an experimental run of the track he drove or walked to see if the timeline was possible. Well the first theory is discussed with such a nonchalant answer that he talked himself out of it (did not even go near answering what was asked). And secondly I cannot believe this narrator thinks someone can strangle a person in a minute or less. Ummm no that’s not how it works that’s not how any of this works. So I find this story interesting yet I think also that not all of the players were arrested or even interrogated. Something is definitely wrong about this case.
November 15, 2016
Wow! Wow! Wow!
This book was great!
First off, I should explain what interested me in this book. This book is based off of (kind of) the podcast Serial. My boyfriend kept trying to get me to listen to podcasts and I refused, due to always listening to books on CD instead. He convinced me to give Serial a try because of my love of True Crime and it was told in somewhat of a story form. Well, I fell in love.
So when I heard that there was going to be a book based off of the podcast I had to read it, even though it had been about a year since I listened to the podcast.
This book was absolutely intriguing! It was sooo much more than I could have ever imagined. It blew the podcast out of the park! I learned so much extra details in this book and its very up-to-date, since it was published in September 2016.
I am now listening to the podcast Undisclosed, because the author of this book is one of the main people on the podcast. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
WOW! I don't even know how to give this book enough credit for how amazing it was! Everyone that likes True Crime should read this. You do not need to listen to the podcast before hand, but I would suggest doing it because they talk about it a lot.
This book was great!
First off, I should explain what interested me in this book. This book is based off of (kind of) the podcast Serial. My boyfriend kept trying to get me to listen to podcasts and I refused, due to always listening to books on CD instead. He convinced me to give Serial a try because of my love of True Crime and it was told in somewhat of a story form. Well, I fell in love.
So when I heard that there was going to be a book based off of the podcast I had to read it, even though it had been about a year since I listened to the podcast.
This book was absolutely intriguing! It was sooo much more than I could have ever imagined. It blew the podcast out of the park! I learned so much extra details in this book and its very up-to-date, since it was published in September 2016.
I am now listening to the podcast Undisclosed, because the author of this book is one of the main people on the podcast. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
WOW! I don't even know how to give this book enough credit for how amazing it was! Everyone that likes True Crime should read this. You do not need to listen to the podcast before hand, but I would suggest doing it because they talk about it a lot.
September 16, 2016
Link to full review below! Wonderful read for anyone who has an interest in the legal system and its failings. You don't have to agree that Adnan is innocent to agree that some serious legal issues were in play here! Audio version was GREAT!See full review on The Book Disciple
September 20, 2024
2.0 Stars
Readers need to be aware that this book is seriously biased and take all the arguments with a huge boulder of salt. It was a compelling nartative when I first read but now it feels like the author is wearing a tinfoil hat while throwing theories at the wall, hoping something sticks
Readers need to be aware that this book is seriously biased and take all the arguments with a huge boulder of salt. It was a compelling nartative when I first read but now it feels like the author is wearing a tinfoil hat while throwing theories at the wall, hoping something sticks
November 20, 2016
I loved Serial, and became really invested in case because of the podcast. However, the book was so all over the place, and although understandably (by yet still distractedly) bias, that it was really hard to take seriously. There were a few updates on the case that I hadn't already learned through research and the podcast but said updates were laced throughout the book haphazardly. This book should have been called Rabia's Story not Adnan's Story, because I learned more about the author than I cared to honestly and not enough about the story that caught my interest in the first place. My advice, listen to Serial, and research updates on this case. I would not recommend this book. Maybe if parts were edited out and it was organized differently, but not as it is.
October 29, 2022
One of the most insightful, eye-opening nonfictions I have ever read. I highlighted this forward and backwards, shocked by all the information I did not know about this case that I’ve been following for years.
I’m in awe of how much information Rabia shared while also fighting for his innocent outside of the pages of this book. It pains, horrifies me to know Adnan’s story is not unique, but I hope it can be a catalyst for change.
I’m in awe of how much information Rabia shared while also fighting for his innocent outside of the pages of this book. It pains, horrifies me to know Adnan’s story is not unique, but I hope it can be a catalyst for change.
July 4, 2022
4 stars for the overall story - 3 stars - based on the unresolved ending of the book
Twenty three years incarcerated. Half his life. This could be the year Adnan Syed would be getting out of prison had he taken that plea deal in 2018. The deal that would have made him say he was 'guilty' and then still do 4 more years incarcerated. What the hell kind of deal is that?
My faith in the judicial system is next to zero. I believe that police corruption is rampart. Criminal cases are there to be solved and quickly - at any cost. Attorneys are over worked, lead to believe that they are so intelligent that they no longer need to truly investigate those cases they take on and mistakes in the courtroom are paramount.
This is truly a justice system for the rich and empowered. I have lost almost total faith in our judicial process and those who took a vow to uphold it.
Adnan Syed is still incarcerated for a crime committed in 1999 - one which points to a total travesty of justice. Hae Min Lee was killed - a girl Adnan loved - and his religious faith was used as bias against him and a case was devised by Baltimore police pointed solely at him. He was their pawn.
What is it with a judicial system that will only allow DNA evidence to be tested at certain times? Or new evidence to be admitted only when they say it can be? Why are not all witnesses interviewed? Why do we fully and knowingly allow our police to lie to get convictions? How can two different people examine the same evidence - such as DNA evidence - and come up with two totally different answers? What is our margin of human error when it comes to a sentence of life plus 30 years?
Want to be reminded how awful and unjust our judicial system is? Pick up this book! Whether you think Adnan is guilty or innocent just read this book to understand that this could easily happen to you. Be accountable for every second of your day, save your money, and pray you are not next...
Twenty three years incarcerated. Half his life. This could be the year Adnan Syed would be getting out of prison had he taken that plea deal in 2018. The deal that would have made him say he was 'guilty' and then still do 4 more years incarcerated. What the hell kind of deal is that?
My faith in the judicial system is next to zero. I believe that police corruption is rampart. Criminal cases are there to be solved and quickly - at any cost. Attorneys are over worked, lead to believe that they are so intelligent that they no longer need to truly investigate those cases they take on and mistakes in the courtroom are paramount.
This is truly a justice system for the rich and empowered. I have lost almost total faith in our judicial process and those who took a vow to uphold it.
Adnan Syed is still incarcerated for a crime committed in 1999 - one which points to a total travesty of justice. Hae Min Lee was killed - a girl Adnan loved - and his religious faith was used as bias against him and a case was devised by Baltimore police pointed solely at him. He was their pawn.
What is it with a judicial system that will only allow DNA evidence to be tested at certain times? Or new evidence to be admitted only when they say it can be? Why are not all witnesses interviewed? Why do we fully and knowingly allow our police to lie to get convictions? How can two different people examine the same evidence - such as DNA evidence - and come up with two totally different answers? What is our margin of human error when it comes to a sentence of life plus 30 years?
Want to be reminded how awful and unjust our judicial system is? Pick up this book! Whether you think Adnan is guilty or innocent just read this book to understand that this could easily happen to you. Be accountable for every second of your day, save your money, and pray you are not next...
February 6, 2017
Like millions of other people I was obsessed with Season 1 of the podcast Serial that investigated and picked apart the murder of 18 year old Hae Min Lee and the subsequent guilty verdict of 17 year old Adnan Syed for the crime.
First, I have to tell you all that I love real crime stories… I honestly think I should have gone into Forensics in real life because the whole aspect of the investigations just completely intrigues me. That said, the law end of it is incredibly confusing and frustrating to me at times.
I can tell you up front that I don’t believe that Adnan is guilty of this crime… there is enough evidence in this case that get you past the “beyond a reasonable doubt” that this jury apparently didn’t pay attention to when convicting him and add that to the many changing stories of the states ‘star witness” and the half-assed investigation by the police and prosecutor, the incompetency of the original defense attorney and I’ve got my own conclusions and thoughts on who might have done this.
I decided to read this via audiobook because I felt it would be an easier way for me to ingest the information Rabia Choudry is providing, and I think that was a perfect choice for me because Rabia told the story in a clear and concise way and her narration was wonderfully done. You could tell when she felt emotional about something that was happening and that really helped a lot with the story because it is a lot of legal information and facts that you really have to ingest to get the full story but you need that balance of the personal to really keep the story part of this interesting.
What I will say is that this story for me, was really more Rabia’s story than it was Adnan’s. What I mean by that is that because this is from Rabia’s perspective, it’s more about how Adnan’s story has impacted Rabia’s which was interesting enough in itself and I don’t think had to be touted as Adnan’s story to get me to read it. While this really rehashes a lot of what you learned by listening to Serial you also get to find out about some of the stuff that was edited out of the podcast… that said, there wasn’t a ton of new information here until the end where you get some more information about Don (Hae’s boyfriend at the time) who wasn’t really investigated because he supposedly had a rock solid alibi… which if you listen/read, you’ll find out actually has quite a few holes in it.
What I also found interesting here is that Rabia really shares a lot about the Muslim faith and some misconceptions that people might have about it. You also get a better understanding about how Adnan’s Religion and the biases the prosecution had, played a big part in his conviction, (something that Serial didn’t really delve into).
Choudry did a really good job of laying out the details, providing in depth information about the trial and subsequent appeals and the added personal letters from Adnan were a much needed touch of humanity in this story filled with lots of legal information.
If you get as engrossed as I do with true crime stories and haven’t yet heard about Adnan’s case, I highly recommend first listening to Serial and then checking out Choudry’s own podcast Undisclosed where she delves deeper into the case… then grab this book for more of the personal side of the story… the impact Adnan’s incarceration has had on his family and friends and yes, on Adnan himself. It’s an in-depth look at how the current legal system can sometimes absolutely fail.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the future because Adnan's story isn't quite done... after 17 years in prison, he has been granted a new trial, and a chance to clear his name and hopefully prove things that should have come out in the original and hopefully we’ll hear from Choudry as the process to clear Adnan of these charges continues.
First, I have to tell you all that I love real crime stories… I honestly think I should have gone into Forensics in real life because the whole aspect of the investigations just completely intrigues me. That said, the law end of it is incredibly confusing and frustrating to me at times.
I can tell you up front that I don’t believe that Adnan is guilty of this crime… there is enough evidence in this case that get you past the “beyond a reasonable doubt” that this jury apparently didn’t pay attention to when convicting him and add that to the many changing stories of the states ‘star witness” and the half-assed investigation by the police and prosecutor, the incompetency of the original defense attorney and I’ve got my own conclusions and thoughts on who might have done this.
I decided to read this via audiobook because I felt it would be an easier way for me to ingest the information Rabia Choudry is providing, and I think that was a perfect choice for me because Rabia told the story in a clear and concise way and her narration was wonderfully done. You could tell when she felt emotional about something that was happening and that really helped a lot with the story because it is a lot of legal information and facts that you really have to ingest to get the full story but you need that balance of the personal to really keep the story part of this interesting.
What I will say is that this story for me, was really more Rabia’s story than it was Adnan’s. What I mean by that is that because this is from Rabia’s perspective, it’s more about how Adnan’s story has impacted Rabia’s which was interesting enough in itself and I don’t think had to be touted as Adnan’s story to get me to read it. While this really rehashes a lot of what you learned by listening to Serial you also get to find out about some of the stuff that was edited out of the podcast… that said, there wasn’t a ton of new information here until the end where you get some more information about Don (Hae’s boyfriend at the time) who wasn’t really investigated because he supposedly had a rock solid alibi… which if you listen/read, you’ll find out actually has quite a few holes in it.
What I also found interesting here is that Rabia really shares a lot about the Muslim faith and some misconceptions that people might have about it. You also get a better understanding about how Adnan’s Religion and the biases the prosecution had, played a big part in his conviction, (something that Serial didn’t really delve into).
Choudry did a really good job of laying out the details, providing in depth information about the trial and subsequent appeals and the added personal letters from Adnan were a much needed touch of humanity in this story filled with lots of legal information.
If you get as engrossed as I do with true crime stories and haven’t yet heard about Adnan’s case, I highly recommend first listening to Serial and then checking out Choudry’s own podcast Undisclosed where she delves deeper into the case… then grab this book for more of the personal side of the story… the impact Adnan’s incarceration has had on his family and friends and yes, on Adnan himself. It’s an in-depth look at how the current legal system can sometimes absolutely fail.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the future because Adnan's story isn't quite done... after 17 years in prison, he has been granted a new trial, and a chance to clear his name and hopefully prove things that should have come out in the original and hopefully we’ll hear from Choudry as the process to clear Adnan of these charges continues.
August 16, 2016
Wellllll shit.
I didn't think this case could get any more screwed up...
This is the perfect antidote for Serial withdrawal and goes into more detail about almost everything. It challenges the cell phone tower pings that seemed to be one of the most compelling pieces of evidence in the trial. It looks at how Jay was quite clearly the most unreliable, coerced witness there could have been. It examines why the initial trial was a shambles and most importantly it respects Hae and Adnan.
I think there's a tendency to get caught up in 'mass media' cases like this and for the vicitm, Hae, to be forgotten completely. Instead it becomes a question of justice and the justice system. However throughout this book I felt that it wasn't just Adnan who needed justice...it was Hae who also needed justice. The person who killed her needed to be caught.
From what I've heard in Serial and read in this book, I find it hard to believe that Adnan was guilty or that he had any part to play in Hae's murder. There is just no evidence to convince me, beyond reasonable doubt that he did it. (But that's a whole other conversation!)
This book does focus quite heavily on religion and the religious practices of Muslims and how there was a cultural bias and almost certainly racism behind the arrest and subsequent charge of Adnan. Whilst these sections at times proved interesting, I did find my attention waning slightly.
The book includes letters from Adnan, snippets from interviews, sections of the trial and moments from Serial which all combine to make a rather overwhelming book; there were times when I was listening to it (I read the audiobook) that I had to stop playing it and take a break. I can't imagine what it must be like to live inside this case.
I highly recommend this book if you loved Serial. As always, don't expect to come away with a conclusive answer...obviously this book proclaims Adnan's innocence but one must remember how subjective it is...
I really hope one day real justice is done for Hae.
I didn't think this case could get any more screwed up...
This is the perfect antidote for Serial withdrawal and goes into more detail about almost everything. It challenges the cell phone tower pings that seemed to be one of the most compelling pieces of evidence in the trial. It looks at how Jay was quite clearly the most unreliable, coerced witness there could have been. It examines why the initial trial was a shambles and most importantly it respects Hae and Adnan.
I think there's a tendency to get caught up in 'mass media' cases like this and for the vicitm, Hae, to be forgotten completely. Instead it becomes a question of justice and the justice system. However throughout this book I felt that it wasn't just Adnan who needed justice...it was Hae who also needed justice. The person who killed her needed to be caught.
From what I've heard in Serial and read in this book, I find it hard to believe that Adnan was guilty or that he had any part to play in Hae's murder. There is just no evidence to convince me, beyond reasonable doubt that he did it. (But that's a whole other conversation!)
This book does focus quite heavily on religion and the religious practices of Muslims and how there was a cultural bias and almost certainly racism behind the arrest and subsequent charge of Adnan. Whilst these sections at times proved interesting, I did find my attention waning slightly.
The book includes letters from Adnan, snippets from interviews, sections of the trial and moments from Serial which all combine to make a rather overwhelming book; there were times when I was listening to it (I read the audiobook) that I had to stop playing it and take a break. I can't imagine what it must be like to live inside this case.
I highly recommend this book if you loved Serial. As always, don't expect to come away with a conclusive answer...obviously this book proclaims Adnan's innocence but one must remember how subjective it is...
I really hope one day real justice is done for Hae.
October 15, 2021
Strange case! Unbelievable and sad! Honestly if he’s innocent he should be free now after 20 years!
October 19, 2016
If you listened to Serial then you have to read this book. Period.
It's a very engaging and well-written book providing a very clear explanation of the case that sometimes got very convoluted when listening to Serial and especially Undisclosed. It also has a lot of interesting information about Adnan and his family. If you haven't listened to Undisclosed, then there's also plenty of new information to be learned about the case that was either never mentioned on Serial, or not discovered until after it aired.
The book is written by Rabia Chaudry, a close family friend. I have to admit, the more I listened to this book the more weirded out I was by her obsession with this case. I honestly have to wonder if maybe she's secretly in love with Adnan. It just seems strange to me that someone would basically give their entire life to exonerate a family friend. I didn't necessarily feel that way at first, but the more I listened, the more I had to wonder.
I was also a little irritated with her at times, particularly when she would express frustrations she had with Sarah Koenig during the airing of Serial. It was seriously like she was personally offended that Sarah approached the case like a journalist would - with an open mind, and providing as unbiased a narrative as possible. Rabia wanted Sarah to ignore anything that didn't paint Adnan as a saint and use the podcast to be a cheerleader for his case, which I don't think any reasonable person would have expected but she was just too close to it. It sounds like Serial, while ultimately extremely successful in helping Adnan, caused her a lot of distress because it wasn't biased in his favor enough for her tastes.
But Rabia's clear bias notwithstanding, it's a very interesting book and I thought her writing was great, and her narration even better. I usually don't like listening to audiobooks, but listening to her read her book was addicting. I couldn't stop. I think maybe it's because most book narrators are Acting with a capital A, and I just don't feel like they capture the natural cadence of regular speech, whereas with Rabia, she's reading her own words so she knows what the inflections should be. It felt natural instead of performed.
4 stars.
It's a very engaging and well-written book providing a very clear explanation of the case that sometimes got very convoluted when listening to Serial and especially Undisclosed. It also has a lot of interesting information about Adnan and his family. If you haven't listened to Undisclosed, then there's also plenty of new information to be learned about the case that was either never mentioned on Serial, or not discovered until after it aired.
The book is written by Rabia Chaudry, a close family friend. I have to admit, the more I listened to this book the more weirded out I was by her obsession with this case. I honestly have to wonder if maybe she's secretly in love with Adnan. It just seems strange to me that someone would basically give their entire life to exonerate a family friend. I didn't necessarily feel that way at first, but the more I listened, the more I had to wonder.
I was also a little irritated with her at times, particularly when she would express frustrations she had with Sarah Koenig during the airing of Serial. It was seriously like she was personally offended that Sarah approached the case like a journalist would - with an open mind, and providing as unbiased a narrative as possible. Rabia wanted Sarah to ignore anything that didn't paint Adnan as a saint and use the podcast to be a cheerleader for his case, which I don't think any reasonable person would have expected but she was just too close to it. It sounds like Serial, while ultimately extremely successful in helping Adnan, caused her a lot of distress because it wasn't biased in his favor enough for her tastes.
But Rabia's clear bias notwithstanding, it's a very interesting book and I thought her writing was great, and her narration even better. I usually don't like listening to audiobooks, but listening to her read her book was addicting. I couldn't stop. I think maybe it's because most book narrators are Acting with a capital A, and I just don't feel like they capture the natural cadence of regular speech, whereas with Rabia, she's reading her own words so she knows what the inflections should be. It felt natural instead of performed.
4 stars.
September 17, 2016
"Adnan's Story" is Rabia Chaudry's retelling of the events behind the podcast "Serial" and how the legal case for Adnan Syed has gone forward since the release of the podcast. What's good: Rabia Chaudry can certainly write. Her mastery of case detail is impressive. And above all, her passion to support her friend is something that is simply stunning--"loyalty" in any dictionary could be defined by Rabia Chaudry. Now, on the downside: Rabia seems unaware of what the real lure of her story is--how a young woman managed to balance an important national job, legal career, family life, and pursuit of justice for Adnan. How could she have managed as she did? She proceeds as if this herculean task is something anybody could do. Second (and most unfortunately), in her dedication to Adnan, she drifts into the language of absolutism and conspiracy theories. Anyone who disagrees with her is a liar, evil, etc. The prosecutors are all horrific human beings, not people just doing their jobs, even people who honestly believe that Adnan is a murderer. Third, Rabia's language turns to the dramatic, especially when she is discussing online theorists who became part of Adnan's crew. They are all geniuses, brilliant, and so on. Again, there's no critical eye cast here, and that does raise eyebrows.
September 26, 2016
I came to Serial late - I'd heard vaguely about it but didn't listen until I needed something to pass the time during Kait's nighttime nursing sessions. Amusingly, I've read most of this book during Maddie's.
The book really drove home at the beginning how young Adnan was through the inclusion of some poems and letters he wrote Hae. Then it largely goes into describing the timeline of trials, appeals and finally the discoveries that lead to the hope that Adnan will be freed one day.
I think with my obsession with the case this might have been a five star read for me except for the inclusion of the weird bit where some random woman dreamed about Hae's death. I could handle Rabia's dreams about Adnan, though I feel they are a bit silly and inconsequential in terms of what the rest of the book is covering, but that bit strained credibility for me and knocked off a star.
I can't wait for further developments in the case and hope Rabia follows up with another book once this is all over.
The book really drove home at the beginning how young Adnan was through the inclusion of some poems and letters he wrote Hae. Then it largely goes into describing the timeline of trials, appeals and finally the discoveries that lead to the hope that Adnan will be freed one day.
I think with my obsession with the case this might have been a five star read for me except for the inclusion of the weird bit where some random woman dreamed about Hae's death. I could handle Rabia's dreams about Adnan, though I feel they are a bit silly and inconsequential in terms of what the rest of the book is covering, but that bit strained credibility for me and knocked off a star.
I can't wait for further developments in the case and hope Rabia follows up with another book once this is all over.
September 27, 2016
4 1/2 stars. Even though anyone who has followed this case after the Serial and Undisclosed podcasts knows what is happening, I was still sitting on the edge of my seat at times. This is more Adnan's story as seen through the perspective of Rabia Chaudry, and how she was involved and dealt with it. She is a truly engaging storyteller, and you can tell how much she believes in Adnan's innocence and cares about him.
She also discussed some personal details about her own life, and while a lot of the facts about the case were repeats from Undisclosed, it wasn't so detailed that it became uninteresting. My mind did wander at certain points, especially during some of the dream/prediction tangents.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, although a really tragic story for two families. I couldn't begin to imagine the agony Hae's parents are going through with this case getting so much attention. Hae, Adnan, and their families were failed over and over again by so many people in the justice system, and that is what is truly heartbreaking.
She also discussed some personal details about her own life, and while a lot of the facts about the case were repeats from Undisclosed, it wasn't so detailed that it became uninteresting. My mind did wander at certain points, especially during some of the dream/prediction tangents.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, although a really tragic story for two families. I couldn't begin to imagine the agony Hae's parents are going through with this case getting so much attention. Hae, Adnan, and their families were failed over and over again by so many people in the justice system, and that is what is truly heartbreaking.
August 14, 2016
Serial got me into podcasts and Undisclosed allowed me to drop legalese into any conversation ("That's obviously a Brady violation...").
I am impressed by Rabia's ability to take this immensely complex and confounding tale and lay it out in a logical and compelling manner. This telling adds the interpersonal context and fully submerges the reader in a life many have only seen from the shore.
This is a Pixar movie of true crime: be ready to use all of your emotions.
I am impressed by Rabia's ability to take this immensely complex and confounding tale and lay it out in a logical and compelling manner. This telling adds the interpersonal context and fully submerges the reader in a life many have only seen from the shore.
This is a Pixar movie of true crime: be ready to use all of your emotions.
October 31, 2016
I think this book would be better titled "Rabia's Story."
February 7, 2023
I love Rabia.
January 16, 2021
I'm not even sure where to begin with how this book made me feel. This case, like so many high-profile murder cases is extremely polarizing. Many people fight and argue over the innocence or guilt of the person convicted of the crime. In this case I strongly believe that Adnan is innocent and has had 2 decades of his life taken away from him locked behind bars as so many others before and after him have as well. The prison industrial complex is fueled by incarcerating POC by any means necessary. At the end of the day Adnan was convicted of the murder of his ex-girlfriend based solely on a drastically ever-changing witness testimony that was most-assuredly fed to him by the police, blatant Islamophobia and racism, and cellphone records that were later determined to be inconclusive.
What I loved about this book is that Rabia gave insight to the Islamic and Pakistani aspects that were completely wrong with this entire case. So many of the blatantly Islamophobic and racist remarks made during the trial have made me want to bash my head into the wall with the insane level of ignorance and confidence of these bigots, and how the jury and society took their words for the absolute truth without a single grain of doubt. Yes, Rabia does go into her life too in this book which has some people annoyed, but it shows the reader that despite everything going on in her life she was dedicated to the fight of exonerating Adnan alongside the rest of the team. Although Serial is thorough in many ways, I believe Sarah should've familiarized herself with Pakistani culture and Islam because she knew next to nothing about either of them and it was an integral part of the entire trial. I think this book is great for people that have followed this case and may know next to nothing about Islam in order to understand the level of deeply rooted Islamophobia that fueled this case and wrongful conviction. Serial, Undisclosed, this book, and several other well-researched podcasts can all supplement one another in details and the various areas of expertise or perspectives the creators individually have.
Adnan's race and religion were on trial from the very beginning, and the self-proclaimed experts of Islam and Pakistan during the trial were white Americans filled with bigoted Islamaphobic and Xenophobic beliefs. Why aren't a white Christian man's race and religion brought up in every single murder case involving a white Christian man? So many aspects of this case make my blood boil, my heart break, and my mind spin in so many circles. It kills me, looking at this case, how the legal prosecutors would in one breath condemn Adnan of the crime because he was Muslim therefore an extremist and then in another breath condemn him because he wasn't as good of a Muslim as everyone thought due to his extracurricular partying activities. They did not care about his level of piety; they hated Muslims period.
It is undeniable that the Baltimore police department has been riddled with corruption and racial bias for a very long time. If you go for a quick search of the many cases of police brutality, wrongful life sentence convictions of primarily of men of color, white supremacy ties, murder and various assault charges, and so many other terrifying bullet points of their long list of corruption you are going to need a lot more time to read through it all. This case was botched from the very beginning considering only two suspects were tested for DNA and they were two young men of color. What irks me to no end about this entire case above the many other things is that Hae's boyfriend Don was never considered a real suspect because he was white.
Don was a man in his early 20s dating a high school student; predatory much? That was a huge red flag for me right from the very beginning yet it didn't seem to bother law enforcement. There are notes in police records of him assaulting Hae's friend Debbie, and that her friends did not like him. His alibi was provided by his mom who was also his boss and there is so much lack of credibility with his time card and all of the details of his swiss cheese-hole riddled alibi story.
So many leads and evidence weren't even looked into with this case and it's heartbreaking what Adnan's and Hae's families have had to endure all these years due to the negligence and incompetence of the investigators and legal teams. A beautiful innocent life was lost at the hands of a truly evil individual, and an innocent life was placed behind bars because of corruption and a racist system working just as it was created. Anyone that is on a jury could not rightfully convict a young teenage boy of murder with a life sentence based on a flip-flopping witness that has committed multiple perjuries, and circumstantial evidence that was later determined to be unreliable and flawed. I believe Jay was just as much a victim of this flawed system as Adnan and threatened and coerced by the Baltimore PD to do what he did in the trials for fear of his own life. Unfortunately, this case is not rare or unfamiliar due to the deeply rooted racism within the prison industrial complex, our mockery of a judicial system, and the racism that plagues this country that allows these miscarriages of justice to persist.
What I loved about this book is that Rabia gave insight to the Islamic and Pakistani aspects that were completely wrong with this entire case. So many of the blatantly Islamophobic and racist remarks made during the trial have made me want to bash my head into the wall with the insane level of ignorance and confidence of these bigots, and how the jury and society took their words for the absolute truth without a single grain of doubt. Yes, Rabia does go into her life too in this book which has some people annoyed, but it shows the reader that despite everything going on in her life she was dedicated to the fight of exonerating Adnan alongside the rest of the team. Although Serial is thorough in many ways, I believe Sarah should've familiarized herself with Pakistani culture and Islam because she knew next to nothing about either of them and it was an integral part of the entire trial. I think this book is great for people that have followed this case and may know next to nothing about Islam in order to understand the level of deeply rooted Islamophobia that fueled this case and wrongful conviction. Serial, Undisclosed, this book, and several other well-researched podcasts can all supplement one another in details and the various areas of expertise or perspectives the creators individually have.
Adnan's race and religion were on trial from the very beginning, and the self-proclaimed experts of Islam and Pakistan during the trial were white Americans filled with bigoted Islamaphobic and Xenophobic beliefs. Why aren't a white Christian man's race and religion brought up in every single murder case involving a white Christian man? So many aspects of this case make my blood boil, my heart break, and my mind spin in so many circles. It kills me, looking at this case, how the legal prosecutors would in one breath condemn Adnan of the crime because he was Muslim therefore an extremist and then in another breath condemn him because he wasn't as good of a Muslim as everyone thought due to his extracurricular partying activities. They did not care about his level of piety; they hated Muslims period.
It is undeniable that the Baltimore police department has been riddled with corruption and racial bias for a very long time. If you go for a quick search of the many cases of police brutality, wrongful life sentence convictions of primarily of men of color, white supremacy ties, murder and various assault charges, and so many other terrifying bullet points of their long list of corruption you are going to need a lot more time to read through it all. This case was botched from the very beginning considering only two suspects were tested for DNA and they were two young men of color. What irks me to no end about this entire case above the many other things is that Hae's boyfriend Don was never considered a real suspect because he was white.
Don was a man in his early 20s dating a high school student; predatory much? That was a huge red flag for me right from the very beginning yet it didn't seem to bother law enforcement. There are notes in police records of him assaulting Hae's friend Debbie, and that her friends did not like him. His alibi was provided by his mom who was also his boss and there is so much lack of credibility with his time card and all of the details of his swiss cheese-hole riddled alibi story.
So many leads and evidence weren't even looked into with this case and it's heartbreaking what Adnan's and Hae's families have had to endure all these years due to the negligence and incompetence of the investigators and legal teams. A beautiful innocent life was lost at the hands of a truly evil individual, and an innocent life was placed behind bars because of corruption and a racist system working just as it was created. Anyone that is on a jury could not rightfully convict a young teenage boy of murder with a life sentence based on a flip-flopping witness that has committed multiple perjuries, and circumstantial evidence that was later determined to be unreliable and flawed. I believe Jay was just as much a victim of this flawed system as Adnan and threatened and coerced by the Baltimore PD to do what he did in the trials for fear of his own life. Unfortunately, this case is not rare or unfamiliar due to the deeply rooted racism within the prison industrial complex, our mockery of a judicial system, and the racism that plagues this country that allows these miscarriages of justice to persist.
April 4, 2023
I finished this audio book the day Adnan was released from prison. Surreal!
If you aren’t already familiar with Adnan Syed, you NEED to read/listen to this book. Listen to Serial and Undisclosed and donate to Syed's fund! READ UP ON IT!
I picked this audio book up because I listened to two fiction audio books and they were both meh so I decided let me go for non-fiction. Am I into true crime? Debatable. But when I saw this I don't know but something caught my eye and something pushed me to pick up this book.
Adnan Syed was sentenced to life plus 30-years for the murder of his ex girlfriend Hae Min Lee, both high school seniors from Baltimore. Syed is innocent- as he has been protesting since his arrest. Rabia Chaudry- A family friend- turned to Sarah Koenig to investigate and she made the international phenomenon 'Serial'.
I actually picked up this book without knowing anything (which I am totally surprise about that I didn't come across it sooner) about it and it was just fate that I picked it up. This book is written after Serial and Rabia's own podcast Undisclosed.
This book goes back to 1999 and re-examines all the events that happened. It shares and uncovers new evidence, where and how the case went wrong, Adnan's life in prison and before and after. I was totally and utterly gripped by what I was hearing. The pre-concieved biases and prejudices, the cover up's done by the police, the lying, the framing. The contradictions and the ambiguity of what really happend that day.
This story is not just about Adnan and the death of Hae but the story of how broken and corrupt the system is. Adnan's case was riddled with biases the very bases of the charges against him relied on a presumption, a bias about Muslim men. Of course not just Adnan's case the entire system is impacted by these biases which have fatal impacts.
Adnan's case was riddled with biases the very bases of the charges against him relied on a presumption, a bias about Muslim men. The jury itself discussed How Arab men treated their women during deliberations. Of course not just Adnan's case the entire system is impacted by these biases. There was information withheld or things not followed up or looked into so you could say Adnan's case was doomed to start with. It is heartbreaking to say the system failed Adnan and many in his situation. With the evidence, timelines, alibis re-visited I do believe Adnan is innocent and the system has taken all these years away from him. Which he will never get back.
I cannot even begin to thank Rabia and the team for the hours and hours they have put into this investigation and campaigned for Adnan to be free. Not everyone like Adnan has a Rabia and I pray that the system can change. But Rabia and co' thank you too because there is no words to say thank you and be greatful for all that you have done and continue to do, because is it your job...no? But because the criminal justice system is not just deeply flawed but broken sometimes taking it into your own hands helps! And it certainly did. It is amazing to witness the power of media and the public bringing justice to those who need it. So thank you! Alhmadullilah that Adnan is now free thanks to you!
So gripping, so heart-breaking, so utterly devastating with the system and not only has it failed Syed, but Hae as well, Hae's family, Jay-for making him lie, to Rabia. These 14 hours of listening to this book is not only educational because of all the law (not boring to listen to) not only compelling but will stay with me forever. I can't say anything more other than to READ/LISTEN emerse yourself with all things Adnan Syed. My only question is do we know who really killed Hae Min Lee?!
(Also when I got into this book I thought at the end it would be about Adnan's release-only to find out he was still in prison and was actually free the day I finished reading! 19/09/2022 it left me shocked and disgusting but I felt a little bit of what Rabia, Adnan and all those involved went through).
If you aren’t already familiar with Adnan Syed, you NEED to read/listen to this book. Listen to Serial and Undisclosed and donate to Syed's fund! READ UP ON IT!
I picked this audio book up because I listened to two fiction audio books and they were both meh so I decided let me go for non-fiction. Am I into true crime? Debatable. But when I saw this I don't know but something caught my eye and something pushed me to pick up this book.
Adnan Syed was sentenced to life plus 30-years for the murder of his ex girlfriend Hae Min Lee, both high school seniors from Baltimore. Syed is innocent- as he has been protesting since his arrest. Rabia Chaudry- A family friend- turned to Sarah Koenig to investigate and she made the international phenomenon 'Serial'.
I actually picked up this book without knowing anything (which I am totally surprise about that I didn't come across it sooner) about it and it was just fate that I picked it up. This book is written after Serial and Rabia's own podcast Undisclosed.
This book goes back to 1999 and re-examines all the events that happened. It shares and uncovers new evidence, where and how the case went wrong, Adnan's life in prison and before and after. I was totally and utterly gripped by what I was hearing. The pre-concieved biases and prejudices, the cover up's done by the police, the lying, the framing. The contradictions and the ambiguity of what really happend that day.
This story is not just about Adnan and the death of Hae but the story of how broken and corrupt the system is. Adnan's case was riddled with biases the very bases of the charges against him relied on a presumption, a bias about Muslim men. Of course not just Adnan's case the entire system is impacted by these biases which have fatal impacts.
Adnan's case was riddled with biases the very bases of the charges against him relied on a presumption, a bias about Muslim men. The jury itself discussed How Arab men treated their women during deliberations. Of course not just Adnan's case the entire system is impacted by these biases. There was information withheld or things not followed up or looked into so you could say Adnan's case was doomed to start with. It is heartbreaking to say the system failed Adnan and many in his situation. With the evidence, timelines, alibis re-visited I do believe Adnan is innocent and the system has taken all these years away from him. Which he will never get back.
I cannot even begin to thank Rabia and the team for the hours and hours they have put into this investigation and campaigned for Adnan to be free. Not everyone like Adnan has a Rabia and I pray that the system can change. But Rabia and co' thank you too because there is no words to say thank you and be greatful for all that you have done and continue to do, because is it your job...no? But because the criminal justice system is not just deeply flawed but broken sometimes taking it into your own hands helps! And it certainly did. It is amazing to witness the power of media and the public bringing justice to those who need it. So thank you! Alhmadullilah that Adnan is now free thanks to you!
So gripping, so heart-breaking, so utterly devastating with the system and not only has it failed Syed, but Hae as well, Hae's family, Jay-for making him lie, to Rabia. These 14 hours of listening to this book is not only educational because of all the law (not boring to listen to) not only compelling but will stay with me forever. I can't say anything more other than to READ/LISTEN emerse yourself with all things Adnan Syed. My only question is do we know who really killed Hae Min Lee?!
(Also when I got into this book I thought at the end it would be about Adnan's release-only to find out he was still in prison and was actually free the day I finished reading! 19/09/2022 it left me shocked and disgusting but I felt a little bit of what Rabia, Adnan and all those involved went through).
December 30, 2016
Wow. Just wow. I remember first listening to the "Serial" podcast early 2015. I listened to each of the episodes on the series while I was at the gym, on my iphone. I didn't know anything about the case it was based on, that of Adnan Syed and his ex-girlfriend, for whom he is currently serving a life sentence plus 30 years for her murder. Of course, after listening to the podcast, I did a little research but due to my own studies, that was limited. I then picked up this book, and have to admit it's been one of the best true crime books that I've read in a while.
If you've listened to Serial, you'll know that it was 12 episodes, so you would think that that is A LOT of information. It's not. It's only a very small portion of Adnan's case, and that is what Rabia herself has said. This book is soooooo rich in information. Information on Adnan, on his case, on the prosecutions case, on the defense case, on the detectives and police, Adnan's family, and of course, Adnan's ethnicity and religion which has played a very important role in his trial. I'm in awe of the amazing job that Rabia has done in the case, and the book, and how enthralling it is to read. I go to 60% through and couldn't tear myself away from it, having to finish it over an hour and a half, whilst holding onto a full bladder!
The flow and style of writing was definitely an absolute pleasure. The release of information was plentiful but manageable, and the way theories and evidence was revealed was fascinating. I really learned a lot about the case, but also about Muslims, which admittedly, I really didn't know a lot about. So I loved all this information and education. Really, I can't speak more highly enough about this book. I believe that there could be no better person to be advocating for Adnan, and Rabia has certainly done a spectacular job throwing her time and effort into this. Adnan would be very proud and thankful for it.
If you've listened to Serial, you'll know that it was 12 episodes, so you would think that that is A LOT of information. It's not. It's only a very small portion of Adnan's case, and that is what Rabia herself has said. This book is soooooo rich in information. Information on Adnan, on his case, on the prosecutions case, on the defense case, on the detectives and police, Adnan's family, and of course, Adnan's ethnicity and religion which has played a very important role in his trial. I'm in awe of the amazing job that Rabia has done in the case, and the book, and how enthralling it is to read. I go to 60% through and couldn't tear myself away from it, having to finish it over an hour and a half, whilst holding onto a full bladder!
The flow and style of writing was definitely an absolute pleasure. The release of information was plentiful but manageable, and the way theories and evidence was revealed was fascinating. I really learned a lot about the case, but also about Muslims, which admittedly, I really didn't know a lot about. So I loved all this information and education. Really, I can't speak more highly enough about this book. I believe that there could be no better person to be advocating for Adnan, and Rabia has certainly done a spectacular job throwing her time and effort into this. Adnan would be very proud and thankful for it.
September 21, 2016
This book seems as much about followers of Islam as it is about the crime, and that's not a bad thing.
I was worried because I felt that Ms. Chaudry would be too biased to write a great book about this subject. Even if you feel that she is biased, there is no denying that Adnan did not receive a fair trial. Chaudry raises a ton of concerns about the case including that the prosecution lied to get a conviction and push credible testimony that would help Adnan away, Jay received compensation for his testimony (and is downright uncredible) and the State was gunning for Adnan and put on a case that was straight up racist.
A must read for fans of Serial.
I was worried because I felt that Ms. Chaudry would be too biased to write a great book about this subject. Even if you feel that she is biased, there is no denying that Adnan did not receive a fair trial. Chaudry raises a ton of concerns about the case including that the prosecution lied to get a conviction and push credible testimony that would help Adnan away, Jay received compensation for his testimony (and is downright uncredible) and the State was gunning for Adnan and put on a case that was straight up racist.
A must read for fans of Serial.
September 29, 2016
5 Stars
This book was amazing! I learned a lot just from reading this book. It takes you into Adan's life story like what his went though in life. It was very interesting on how he fighting for justice. It was nothing that I really excepted, but it was in a good way. I really enjoyed reading this book and from learning what happened and also how much he had to fight for justice. It was not at all easy.
This book was amazing! I learned a lot just from reading this book. It takes you into Adan's life story like what his went though in life. It was very interesting on how he fighting for justice. It was nothing that I really excepted, but it was in a good way. I really enjoyed reading this book and from learning what happened and also how much he had to fight for justice. It was not at all easy.
March 25, 2022
This book will be the one to beat for me this year. Absolutely brilliant, heartbreaking, enraging. Rabia Chaudry is a total badass.
September 29, 2022
This was very interesting and incredibly well put together. Do the audio if you can; Rabia has a melliflous voice.
August 12, 2016
This wasn't exactly what I expected, but I enjoyed it immensely nonetheless. I really appreciated how honest Rabia was about all of the myriad emotions and thoughts she has experienced throughout this process, as well as her honesty about what happened during this time in her personal life and how it affected the case. I also found her incorporation of the Islamic faith into the story fascinating and enlightening. I feel like I walked away from this book with a broader understanding of what it looks like to be a Muslim american.
November 21, 2016
4.5 Stars.
The perfect companion to the Serial podcast. I was gripped by word one and held on until the very end. Pretty damn compelling.
The perfect companion to the Serial podcast. I was gripped by word one and held on until the very end. Pretty damn compelling.
July 23, 2017
"From witnesses who changed their testimony,to witnesses who contrived it out of whole cloth,to the cops who enabled it,to the prosecutors who withheld evidence,to the defence attorney who couldn't do her job,to the community that quietly faded away: in this case everyone failed Adnan. And they also failed Hae."
I don't read nonfiction,so imagine my surprise when I couldn't put this book down. I enjoyed every moment of it. It's such an important story,one that I wish everyone would read. At the same time I wish I could change the world so that books like this wouldn't need to be written,stories like Adnan's wouldn't exist. But they do. As Rabia writes in this incredibly well written book: "If there's one takeaway from Adnan's story,it should be this - the criminal justice system is not just deeply flawed,it is broken." Well over one thousand incarcerated people in the US may be innocent. That's one thousand too many.
I had listened to Serial,that's how I first learned about Adnan's case. After that I've checked online every once in a while if anything has changed. I thought I knew a lot about this case. I was wrong. This book tells you what Serial told you,but it also tells you so much more. It goes into detail,covering everything that happened from 1999 to this day. And even though there are lots of names,dates and legal speak,not once did I feel bored. Or confused. It's written in a way that anybody can understand. I could write about this book for hours. There's so much to say.
One thing that I really enjoyed was all the documents,notes and letters in the book. And the sections written by Adnan himself. All that made it that much more real,and really gets you in the story,in this case. You read this,shaking your head in disbelief. Can this really be true? Can the people who are supposed to be there to protect you,to see that justice happens,act like that? And slowly you realize that the can. And they did.
I'm angry. There's one thing that makes me angrier than anything else,and that's injustice. Whether or not you think Adnan did it,after reading this you know he didn't get a fair trial. Not in a long shot. Everything about this case is fucked up. I was angry&sad,I couldn't believe what I was reading.
Besides learning everything about this case,and about Adnan as a person,I also learned so much about Islam and muslims. About their faith,and culture. The prejudice against them. It was all so interesting,I could not put the book down. The prejudice is a big part of this story,and god,how it made my blood boil. What happened in this case,shouldn't happen. Anywhere,ever.
And Adnan himself. Despite spending almost 20yrs in prison,he isn't giving up. He's compassionate and kind. He has built a life for himself,even though it is in prison. He is grateful for all the help he's getting,he loves his family and is just all around good person. And I believe all that. He has been treated so unfairly,still he doesn't carry hate and bitterness around. This is such an important book. If I can get one person to read this,I'm happy. This review doesn't do it justice. Take it from someone who alwas finds nonfiction boring - this one is special. Rabia Chaudry tells this story in a way that sucks you right in,you want to know more. You live all the emotions right along with her. And emotions there are! All the feels. Please,read this. I'm off to listen to Rabia's podcast Undisclosed.
"But as someone who has always felt the urgency of time,the shortness of life,the limitstions of our abilities to do and experience every good thing the world has to offer,nothing makes me more sad than the thought that this may be the only life he will ever know. So when I imagine him out,I hope that he is able to cram a hundred lives into the years he has left."
There is still hope. I will never forget this story. And I keep hoping that the justice will win,and Adnan will one day be a free man.
I don't read nonfiction,so imagine my surprise when I couldn't put this book down. I enjoyed every moment of it. It's such an important story,one that I wish everyone would read. At the same time I wish I could change the world so that books like this wouldn't need to be written,stories like Adnan's wouldn't exist. But they do. As Rabia writes in this incredibly well written book: "If there's one takeaway from Adnan's story,it should be this - the criminal justice system is not just deeply flawed,it is broken." Well over one thousand incarcerated people in the US may be innocent. That's one thousand too many.
I had listened to Serial,that's how I first learned about Adnan's case. After that I've checked online every once in a while if anything has changed. I thought I knew a lot about this case. I was wrong. This book tells you what Serial told you,but it also tells you so much more. It goes into detail,covering everything that happened from 1999 to this day. And even though there are lots of names,dates and legal speak,not once did I feel bored. Or confused. It's written in a way that anybody can understand. I could write about this book for hours. There's so much to say.
One thing that I really enjoyed was all the documents,notes and letters in the book. And the sections written by Adnan himself. All that made it that much more real,and really gets you in the story,in this case. You read this,shaking your head in disbelief. Can this really be true? Can the people who are supposed to be there to protect you,to see that justice happens,act like that? And slowly you realize that the can. And they did.
I'm angry. There's one thing that makes me angrier than anything else,and that's injustice. Whether or not you think Adnan did it,after reading this you know he didn't get a fair trial. Not in a long shot. Everything about this case is fucked up. I was angry&sad,I couldn't believe what I was reading.
Besides learning everything about this case,and about Adnan as a person,I also learned so much about Islam and muslims. About their faith,and culture. The prejudice against them. It was all so interesting,I could not put the book down. The prejudice is a big part of this story,and god,how it made my blood boil. What happened in this case,shouldn't happen. Anywhere,ever.
And Adnan himself. Despite spending almost 20yrs in prison,he isn't giving up. He's compassionate and kind. He has built a life for himself,even though it is in prison. He is grateful for all the help he's getting,he loves his family and is just all around good person. And I believe all that. He has been treated so unfairly,still he doesn't carry hate and bitterness around. This is such an important book. If I can get one person to read this,I'm happy. This review doesn't do it justice. Take it from someone who alwas finds nonfiction boring - this one is special. Rabia Chaudry tells this story in a way that sucks you right in,you want to know more. You live all the emotions right along with her. And emotions there are! All the feels. Please,read this. I'm off to listen to Rabia's podcast Undisclosed.
"But as someone who has always felt the urgency of time,the shortness of life,the limitstions of our abilities to do and experience every good thing the world has to offer,nothing makes me more sad than the thought that this may be the only life he will ever know. So when I imagine him out,I hope that he is able to cram a hundred lives into the years he has left."
There is still hope. I will never forget this story. And I keep hoping that the justice will win,and Adnan will one day be a free man.
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