Seduced by Evil

The True Story of a Gorgeous Stripper-Turned-Suburban-Mom, Her Secret Past, and a Ruthless Murder

By: Michael Fleeman

Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner

Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

As an exotic dancer at The Great Alaskan Bush Company in Anchorage, Mechele Hughes Linehan knew how to captivate men. Three of them were convinced she was engaged to them. Then one spring morning in 1996, one man, Kent Leppink, was found in the snow, shot in the head…

Days before his death, Kent had removed Mechele's name from his million-dollar life insurance policy. He wrote a letter to his family stating that, should he meet foul play, Mechele would likely be among those involved. But she wasn't charged with Kent's death. She married a doctor, moved to Olympia, Washington, and began a new life.

For years, Mechele's suburban friends never suspected a thing. She went to school meetings, hosted backyard barbeques, and was beloved by her neighbors. But authorities eventually found enough evidence to mount a case against her and an alleged accomplice. Did Mechele conspire to kill her ex-fiancé? Or is she the innocent victim as she claims? Seduced by Evil is the shocking true story about a love triangle that ended in mystery - and murder…

©2011 Michael Fleeman (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Nothing Crazy Here

it made me think about how I would fare if emails from me twenty years ago were put on trial (I hope good?). I felt the story could have been better organized as it was tough to get into (probably easier around the time this was more relevent) but once it jumped 10 years I thought it got better. Ends on a cliffhanger, which the internet was able to provide...I think an updated afterward would've been nice to provide an update aft er it all settled.

This was a really good book.

Very interesting. Loved this book more than most true crime I’ve heard lately. Excellent writing and narration.
In the beginning I hated Michelle. I rarely feel sorry for the defendants. But considering now much she changed her life, I did feel sorry for Michele. It may not be a popular sentiment, but there really wasn’t enough evidence to find Michele guilty of 1st degree murder. (Coming from my law background) worst than that it’s absolutely horrible what happened to the other defendant (no spoilers) and I felt horrible for his son who took part in his imprisonment.
The victim obviously should never have been killed. But he was so crazy in lust or whatever you want to call it that he was spending weeks following her. His last letter seemed like a smoking gun when I first heard it, but he gave no actual evidence of why he suspected the defendants. And the trial shows that all he knew at the time of his death was that Michele was having multiple affairs. That’s not evidence of murderers.

Ok but dissapointing

Narration is perfect, story is true crime and imperfect, but I spent the entire time feeling ambivalent.

Very good book & story

I found this book very interesting it kept me captivated throughout the story the start was a little slow but it picked up well later.

Good read

I enjoyed the book very much. The content was good and so was the performance.

Started at breakfast; finished before dessert.

Severe thunderstorms with fierce wind and hail created the perfect backdrop for a stripper tale. Certainly, not War and Peace – but this riveting story coupled with expert narration is worth the time investment. As they say – fact is stranger than fiction.

I loved it!

If you’ve been on this earth for a few years – you probably know of --- or are aware of the Mechele Hughes Linehan type. She’s the self-absorbed narcissistic gold-digger who has no shame putting her needs and wants before those of others; creating drama wherever she goes --- while leaving a trail of broken pieces in her wake. Even the spelling of her first name is indication Mechele is different from the rest of the girls.

A lyric in Bob Seger’s “Hollywood Nights,” characterizes the former short flat-chested exotic dancer best: “She had been born with a face that would let her get her way. He saw that face and he lost all control…”

Hopeful suitors bankrolled her lifestyle, paid her outstanding bills, and showered her in furs and bling. They probably would have swallowed her bath water if it were the cost of admission into her life.

Granted Mechele’s victims were adults. No one put a gun to their heads; except for one perhaps --- but you teach people how to treat you. Even her infidelity failed to assuage her husband's devotion.

What is equally fascinating is how Mechele --- without missing a beat --- created a contradictory new life: a military doctor’s wife, doting mother, model citizen; and, queen of the neighborhood who loved animals, PTA, and the homeless.

Shame on her for the heartless manipulation of others. Let us hope the apple does not fall too far from the tree. However, let us not forget: the sins of the fathers shall be visited upon the sons.

Good story

Pretty well written. I enjoyed the book but I'm not sure if she is guilty or not.

An intriguing tale with some twists

This true crime tale has some rather unusual features. For one, the vast majority of crime stories in my library involve men harming women. But here’s a woman taking advantage of the men she meets at a strip club where she works. A cunning mercenary, it’s fascinating how she juggles two or three men at a time, all of them in love with her.

Even more unusual is how she transforms her life completely in the opposite direction. She’s now a doctor’s wife, doting mom, and community volunteer. But her past catches up with her. Will justice prevail, or will she? I won’t give spoilers here! I would recommend this one.

This audio is hard to put away

Great build up of the investigation to trial.; I don't agree that it was slow