She Is Evil!

Madness and Murder in Memphis

By: Judith A. Yates

Narrated by: Lee Ann Howlett

Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

"That woman is evil. She is evil!"

Ejaz Ahmad was handsome, charismatic, and a self-made businessman. He arrived in the United States from Pakistan determined to fulfill his mother's dying wish: to come to America, complete his education, and make his mark in the world. Settling in Memphis, Tennessee, Ejaz became owner of several businesses, father to a handsome boy, and a devout Muslim. The only thing missing in his life was a wife, someone special to protect, honor, and love.

Leah Ward was a pretty girl, but a prison parolee with a history of drug charges, petty crime, and a questionable past. She led a flotsam life, drifting from town to city to state. When she was introduced to Ejaz Ahmad, she believed she had found the ultimate answer: a place to live, someone to take care of her, and money to spend. But what began idyllic soon became abusive and then dangerous for Ejaz. His friends and family warned him. And in May of 2003, Ejaz paid the ultimate price when family members found his mutilated body in a shed.

She is Evil is a story of trust, abuse, religion, and murder. Of a kind man who tried to help a troubled woman and became the victim of abuse and, eventually, a heinous murder.

©2017 Judith A. Yates (P)2017 WildBlue Press

Exceptionally sad

Such a sad story of what sounds like a lovely man destroyed by a sociopathic woman who, as such creatures do, left a trail of devastation behind everywhere she went. Well told, but left me with a heavy heart.

She IS Evil

This was a surprisingly well done production. I had never heard of the crime but I was captivated by the story.

Judith Yates did an excellent job of narrating the before, during and after of the murder which many books do not; they dwell too long on the during and for get the after but this was very well balanced. I also like when a female reader reads a female author's work. That, to me, lends an air of authenticity. Both Judith Yates and Lee Ann Howlett did an excellent.

This is an engaging tale.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

A compelling true crime tale

'She Is Evil!' was the first book by Criminologist and True Crime Author Judith A. Yates that I have tried, and it will not be my last. In this work, Yates shares the tragic story of Ejaz Ahmad, who hooks with Leah Ward, a troubled young woman with mental problems with an addiction to drugs. Unfortunately for Ahmad, who tried to help Ward in any way he could, but ultimately ended up being savagely killed him, stripping his only son of a loving father. The author deserves a five star review based on her research and gripping story telling. Lee Ann Howlett also provides top-notch narration.

A Psychotic Woman .....................

I tried thinking of other titles for this book, and it always came down to "She is evil".. A sick and heartless woman who ended up destroying the life of many. SAD and disturbing ....................

The author did a great job! Very detailed! Events and characters are well described, though I would have prefer the story told in a different order...

Lee Ann did a amazing job narrating each of the characters! Definitely caught up in the story! :)

*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Top-Notch True Crime

'She Is Evil!' is a true story that I won't soon forget. A man, who by all accounts was a wonderful and giving man much loved by his community, falls victim to a master manipulator and ends up dead by her hands. This story is at once fascinating, heartbreaking and infuriating. Yates weaves the tale expertly with just the right amount of detail and Howlett delivers a great voice over performance that kept me engaged throughout. I would recommend this book to absolutely anyone who enjoys a true crime story - this is one of the good ones.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Good story!

I receive the code for a review.
It’s a good story. And It took me a while to soak in. It’s vivid, accurate, and crisp. The narrator had done a good job.

Narrator keeps you deeply involved in the story

This is a great story, that keeps you interested. The narration is focused and committed to the material. The author is very talented, I look forward to another novel

Yes, she is pure evil!

I had a little trouble getting into this book because of all the background starting out. I felt like I was given a history lesson before I could get to the story. However, I stuck with it and was glad I did. I listen and read a lot of true crime stories and I have to say, this was one of the most interesting cases I've listened to. It is also one of the saddest. The victim was a very good and very trusting person and the murderer was truly evil. Mental disorder plus drugs makes for a deadly combination. I have to mention also that the narration for this book was very good. Narration is very important for me and Lee Ann was perfect for this. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Interesting!

This was a really well written true crime story. I had never heard of this murder before so I found myself googling more when I was done with the audio - that's how invested I was in this audio book. Narration was really well done. This was a sad situation but an interesting case and a good story.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Greed, Lies and a Fascinating Modern Murder Tale

Mental illness, drug addiction, religion, bigamy, a conniving woman and her kindhearted victim all collide in this story of greed and murder.

The book opens with the horrifying discovery of the victim’s decomposing headless body by his son and ex-mother-in-law. From the outset, there’s no question about who did it. The real question is why this happened, and the author does a skillful job in recounting the events that led to the murder and its repercussions.

Having done prison time for a drug conviction, Leah Ward was broke and homeless when she saw an opportunity to take advantage of Ejaz Ahmad. Seizing upon his generosity and naivety, she moved into his home and eventually entered into what amounted to a marriage of convenience with him to continue her fleecing.

Things took an ugly turn not too long after the wedding, with Leah lashing out in fits of jealousy and stealing money out of Ejaz’s bank account. It was all a downward spiral from there, and the author tells the story in a compelling way that kept me intrigued, waiting to hear what crazy thing she would do next.

Learning about the life of the victim, including his early years in Pakistan and the courtship and marriage to his first wife, as well as learning about the troubled background of his killer second wife, helps one understand how this unsuspecting man fell prey to her evil ways.

The story moves at a good pace and the narrator is excellent, striking just the right tone in her reading of the book while recounting the details of this tragic event.

The latter chapters of the book cover the sensational murder trial and its aftermath. The details of the crime itself are gruesome, and hearing them gave me chills.

The author is a domestic violence prevention educator and has rare insight into a case such as this. Focusing on the criminal elements of the case in addition to the psychological and domestic aspects makes for a compellingly told modern murder tale. And while elements of race, religion and class certainly come into play, ultimately this is a story of an evil, psychotic woman who destroyed the lives of the victim and those who loved him.

*I was given a free review copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.