Adnan’s story by Rabia Chaudry
Published:  first published June 7th 2016
Genre: Non-fiction, true crime, mystery
Pages: 410

You may have heard of Adnan before, through the podcast serial or otherwise. In 1999 Adnan was a 19 year old high school student. Adnans ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee was found strangled and the year after he was convicted for her murder.

The serial podcast went through mountains of evidence, interviews and brought 500 million viewers on trips through Baltimore searching for the truth. With 12 episodes walking us through alibies, the witnesses, physical evidence, talks with Adnan and the scenery of the crime. It’s a well researched and structured podcast that’s interesting to listen to.

So why do I keep talking about the podcast and not the book? Because the podcast came first. And the book is titled Adnand’s story “the search for truth and justice after serial” written by a family friend that always believed in his innocence.

So maybe you’re the type that gets obsessed and want more and more, then this is perfect for you! If you’re not that type, then maybe, you got your fill during serial. I am the latter, and this felt a little tedious. Going through the evidence yet again felt almost like homework. By all means, I find it extremely interesting, but if there’s nothing new to report, then we’re just repeating what we already know.

Don’t get me wrong, the book offers much more detail than the podcast. MUCH more! And it tells you things that hasn’t been told before. And if you listened to the podcast, you know it already gives you a lot. I honestly have difficulty keeping track of everything. At one point I just had to stop and think about my own life and just how much happens in the course of just one day. I can’t believe how much detail there is in 21 minutes!!

I have no personal stake in this, and reading a whole book about something I just spend three days listening to, feels a little like overkill. At some point you want a resolution, and as of yet, you know you won’t get it. Adnan is still in prison, 18 years later, although news are expecting to arrive on a retrial. Until then, I think I’ve had my fill with this case. But is the book interesting? Absolutely! I felt it was written much like the podcast, like someone is speaking right to you and tell you about it and reflecting. If you’re into true crime or looking for more information about this case, this is the place to find it!

As for his innocence, I believe that’s up to the courts and each person to feel for themselves, I have no real bias but I will say this; if Adnan is guilty, engaging a large audience to fight and feel for him is grossly disturbing. But if he is innocent, he has lost a friend, his freedom and his name, and that is an injustice that leaves the murder of Hae Min Lee with two victims.