Gillian Flynn’s book Dark Places is my current recommendation. It’s a mystery novel, and you might recognize the author from her most mainstream book Gone Girl. Flynn’s recipe for a good mystery seems to be something familiar from the headlines, in this case the satanic panic in the 1980s, with an unexpected twist. Dark places follows a now grown up survivor of a horrible family murder, while she looks back at the events that happened and the people involved. Her older brother was convicted of the murders and she had always accepted the picture that was painted for her by investigators and the media. But as she starts looking, she starts to question what she knows… For those who are wondering, yes there is a movie and it is also called Dark Places. It has a great cast but I’ll always recommend reading the book first. The books are just a different experience and better somehow.
books
“Adnan’s Story: The search for truth and justice after Serial” By Rabia Chaudry
This book fills in the gaps between Serial and Undisclosed. Chaudry opens up about her life and her connection with Adnan. We get to see a Muslim perspective for the first time, which plays a bigger role than we are lead to believe in Serial. We get to read Adnan’s letters to family and Sara Koenig. After reading this book, I felt like I had a much better understanding of who Adnan is as a person. And a much better understanding of everything that he and his loved ones have been through because of his conviction. And of course it makes you wonder what things would be like if this case had been investigated thoroughly all those years ago, would Adnan even be in prison? Justice for Hae would most likely mean justice for Adnan. Chaudry offers some thoughts and theories about what actually happened. At the end of the day it is all speculation. But what I do believe is that the State would not be able to convict Adnan again. Not with the whole world watching and taking notes. That is the silver lining in all the wrongful convictions that seem to be coming to light in the recent years. People are finally paying attention.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” -MLK Jr.
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