Adnan's Story

Starred review from June 13, 2016
Launched into the collective consciousness by the podcast Serial, the investigation into Adnan Syed’s involvement in the 1999 murder of his ex-girlfriend continues to fascinate in this gripping account from attorney Chaudry, a friend of Syed’s family, who first brought the case to the attention of the podcast creators. Chaudry uses her unique perspective to craft a gripping and meticulously detailed account of the case including letters, court transcripts, and documentary evidence that fill in the show’s gaps and provide the latest updates. Readers new to the story will have no trouble following—the narrative is outlined extensively from the beginning—and podcast listeners will find plenty of previously undisclosed material. Chaudry explains what Serial missed, including a lack of legal perspective, and she argues that host Sarah Koenig failed to convey the enormity of Syed’s (later disbarred) attorney’s incompetence. She strongly makes the case for cultural and religious bias in the investigation and conviction and presents damaging evidence of police misconduct, including tampering with evidence and a witness. She also examines other suspects and their possible motives and alibis. Syed provides running commentary that creates a depiction of the damage inflicted on a person when the system fails. Chaudry’s version of a story of “justice, bigotry, faith, community, devastation, healing, and hope” points to an intentional, systematic framing of Syed by investigators, allegations that will surely spark controversy as his legal ordeal continues.

Starred review from June 15, 2016
"If there is one takeaway from this story, it should be this--the criminal justice system is not just deeply flawed, it is broken." That is how attorney and U.S. Institute of Peace senior fellow Chaudry summarizes the murder conviction and appeals of Adnan Syed, the subject of the Serial podcast.The author, whose brother was Adnan's best friend, approached Sarah Koenig with Adnan's story to set in motion the popular podcast, "an international phenomenon and the most successful podcast ever produced." With more than 100 documents and letters spread throughout the book, Chaudry walks through the state's case, issues with Adnan's attorney (who was disbarred a few months after her client's conviction), and other pieces of the story that don't stack up. She gives the readers more background on Adnan's family and how his conviction tore them apart, the reward paid to a key player in his prosecution, and how Adnan has survived his incarceration. The author peppers the narrative with Adnan's letters, which provide his perspective and reflections on the legal process and his life behind bars. Chaudry, who works to counter violent extremism, outlines the bias that pervaded Adnan's prosecution and provides context for the Muslim community and how first-generation American-Muslim teens navigate its strict cultural mores. Her writing is clear, eloquent, and engaging, and her case is convincing. After Serial, Chaudry recruited accomplished legal and investigative minds to track down mistakes, conflicts, and new evidence for Adnan's case. These insights seem to exonerate Adnan and point to a different suspect. Any murder is a tragedy, but a young, potentially innocent suspect sentenced to life in prison after a cursory, slipshod investigation full of cultural bias--and defended by an inept attorney--only magnifies the travesty. For Serial and true-crime fans, this book is a page-turner perfect for a quiet weekend.

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August 1, 2016

Nothing about this case is normal, learns Chaudry, who spent more than a decade advocating for Adnan Syed, her brother's best friend, before bringing his case to the attention of journalist Sarah Koenig. In 2014, Koenig narrated Syed's story via the popular podcast Serial, a spin-off of the radio program This American Life. Recounted is the racial and religious profiling that occurred as Syed was convicted of the first-degree murder of his ex-girlfriend in 1999, denied bail, given a life sentence, and refused multiple appeals--all while enduring a negligent lawyer who was later disbarred. In building their case against Syed, Chaudry maintains, the state of Maryland followed no other leads; ignored crime scene evidence; engaged in witness tampering, including offering rewards; and arrested Syed's only alibi. Chaudry, a lawyer who hosts the podcast Undisclosed, also reveals inconsistencies in cell phone evidence among other key records. Interspersed among detailed court proceedings are reflections from Syed. Most haunting are depictions of his family members, who each grieve in their own way. VERDICT A skillfully written account of injustice that will have wide appeal to fans of Serial and readers of human interest stories, and is especially timely as Syed's conviction was vacated in July 2016 and a new trial granted.--Stephanie Sendaula, Library Journal

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2017

Chaudry was a law student when her younger brother's good friend Adnan Syed was arrested for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee. Back in 2000, the case made local headlines, but nothing could be compared to the national attention it attracted when Sarah Koenig decided to produce the podcast Serial for This American Life in 2013. Thanks to the national publicity of Serial, the following podcast Undisclosed, and the hours of work by Chaudry and other prominent lawyers and friends, Syed was granted a new trial in June 2016. Chaudry, with Syed's approval, details even more mistakes and travesties of the murder investigation and the trial. As recently as August 2016, controversies over Syed's alibi have been in the news, and many high school students listen to the podcast in class. While the book is a bit clunky toward the end, readers will still want to acquire all the facts to decide for themselves if Syed is guilty or innocent. VERDICT Fans of Serial will eagerly read more about the case, and true crime enthusiasts will download the podcast after reading this title.-Sarah Hill, Lake Land College, Mattoon, IL

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 31, 2016
Attorney, scholar, and human-rights activist Chaudry tackles the audio edition of her book chronicling the ordeal of her younger brother’s best friend Adnan Syed, the subject of the first season of the popular true-crime podcast Serial. (Syed, who has spent almost two decades imprisoned in Maryland for the death of his former girlfriend Hae Min Lee, was recently granted a new trial.) Chaudry brings a palpable sense of passion and drive to the recording. When speaking in the first person with regard to being Muslim and her close connections to Syed, Chaudry’s delivery takes on an engaging conversational quality. When reading the complex maze of transcripts and evidence accounts, Chaudry’s manner seems a bit less polished. Yet fans of the radio-journalism style that the very case in question helped bring to the forefront will appreciate her thorough, no-nonsense approach. The audiobook also includes a special PDF of documents related to Syed’s case, a straightforward, no-frills display of the written record that presents the wide-ranging scope of Syed’s defense. A St. Martin’s hardcover.