Love Love LOVE!
I love this podcast and I adore Esther (even if she’s only a voice through my phone). She puts a lot of work & research in for these episodes and it shows. I appreciate her thoroughness, a lot of podcasts only regurgitate easily found news articles. Her background in counseling/psychology is a huge bonus as it allows her to provide added insight. About some of the neg. reviews…. you can tell she’s reading from a script, duh… 99% of podcasts are scripted. Give this podcast a listen, I think you’ll find the quality of content more than makes up for the lack of inflection in her speech.
- MissNoSelfControl
- Aug. 19, 2023
July 24, 2023 Love Triangle
You had asked the question, “was there even Target Stores in 1980?” Yes, there Target Stores in the ‘80s and even in the ‘70s! Target was a fabulous store in its early years! Way better than it is today.
- MaryMac62
- Aug. 12, 2023
I love your stories.
I love when you tell the stories. Not so much when you have guests. Your research is amazing! Lorena is amazing!!
- Trixiegarrett
- Aug. 7, 2023
Can’t get enough
I’m addicted to the genre, and this show is fast becoming my favorite, right up there with “Case Files” and “Sword & Scale.” As with the other standout podcasts, it’s the quality of the writing that makes for compelling listening. A good tale, well-crafted beats impromptu commentary every time. I’ll be all caught up soon, and I don’t look forward to that time! Update: like some other fans here, I find the episodes that involve interviewing guests to be uninteresting. I skip those. I prefer when you stick to actual cases and employ your excellent writing ability to present the story.
- palanquin
- Aug. 7, 2023
I love your show and your voice and your insight…however…
I wrote this a while back, but it’s still valid! You’re now talking with someone about an axe murderer; PLEASE STOP bringing people in for “conversations”. It looks like a great topic today but you just said you have a guest and my heart sank. I don’t want to be mean, but nobody wants to hear your chit chat. I’m gonna listen for another 5 minutes, but I’m already thumbing through “Swindled” bonus episodes I might have missed. I’m just listening to your interview with ? about Kemper that I think came out over Christmas, and I’ve noticed this before; you have a tendency to talk over your interviewee and it feels awkward and embarrassing. Slow down!! We know you conduct deep research, but let the guest get a word in! You don’t have to prove to him that you read his book by repeating it back to him! I get the conversational format, but take a breath!!! I’m listening as I write this and you’re not giving this dude a chance to speak!!! Just an observation, no offense intended. Wow, I wrote that last Christmas and didn’t remember to send it, and my complaint is still the same. I’m listening to the episode on the “Red Hot Chili Peppers” and you are using your “conversational” style….which is necessary when you’re interviewing somebody, but without a guest it’s just you “talking” to the audience and it’s awful. Your podcast is a scripted show, and I like it. I like the way you write, and your voice is pleasant, but this feels like you have made a bullet-pointed list and you’re just scanning and “winging” it. I too can talk about a crime for an hour with Wikipedia in my lap; I listen to this because the research is good and you are a great story-teller, but you are not a natural interviewer and you’re not very good at it and considering the usual caliber I have come to expect from this podcast, the disaster you are sharing right now feels stultified, lazy, and I’m about to turn it off; it is painful to listen to. And I have listened to EVERY SINGLE episode, so I think my opinion is valid. Please write a script based on your research, and read it. That’s all you have to do.
- Rhiannon Agosti
- July 25, 2023
Very good storytelling, unique podcast
Excellent stories and interviews. Love the narrated ones and especially enjoy the smart interviews. Most recently the author of “Death by Talons” was fantastic. Thank you for your great work, Esther!
- giiigerrrrz
- July 4, 2023
Please go back to original format
I really enjoyed the last 2 episodes (270 & 271). I thought the podcast was back on track after all of the interviews at the end of last year…but sadly there is now another interview episode. I wish the podcast would go back to its original style with Esther’s storytelling and mini-analysis of the criminal at the end, which was great. Please, no more interview episodes!
- x.catherine.x
- Feb. 7, 2023
Love the show, but the frequency of ads is awful
Giving five stars because this is still a great podcast. But it’s no longer one I listen to often, because the frequency of ads is unbearable unless I have my phone in hand. Make that bag for sure— she puts in work and does an amazing job, and that should be compensated. Still, there has to be a way to tone it down, to be more in line with other podcasts. The episode I’m listening to now has an ad break almost every five minutes. That’s too much.
- teawithv
- Feb. 4, 2023
Please do something about the ads
I love the show but 15 mins into a 30 min episode and I’ve already heard 3 ad breaks. 2 of which were at least 1.5 mins long. It’s crazy!
- SarahTheGreat69
- Jan. 24, 2023
One of the best, but have feedback
I love your podcast! I would recommend writing down your interview questions before talking to someone, like Donovan. The stuttering and struggling to formulate your questions is cringey.
- kkfla484
- Jan. 20, 2023
Janine Sanchez Harms
Thank you so much for covering her story! She was my cousin and it was such a awful tragedy we all went through. You did her and my family justice 👏🏼
- Superwebhead2222
- Dec. 31, 2022
- kaypho real
- Nov. 27, 2022
- MidnightStar013
- Nov. 18, 2022
Loving the show!
Really enjoy your authenticity. Your show gets better and better. Thank you for so many hours it entertainment
- Adrienne H.13
- Oct. 10, 2022
I love your show and your voice and your insight…however…
I’m just listening to your interview with ? about Kemper that I think came out over Christmas, and I’ve noticed this before; you have a tendency to talk over your interviewee and it feels awkward and embarrassing. Slow down!! We know you conduct deep research, but let the guest get a word in! You don’t have to prove to him that you read his book by repeating it back to him! I get the conversational format, but take a breath!!! I’m listening as I write this and you’re not giving this dude a chance to speak!!! Just an observation, no offense intended. Wow, I wrote that last Christmas and didn’t remember to send it, and my complaint is still the same. I’m listening to the episode on the “Red Hot Chili Peppers” and you are using your “conversational” style….which is necessary when you’re interviewing somebody, but without a guest it’s just you “talking” to the audience and it’s awful. Your podcast is a scripted show, and I like it. I like the way you write, and your voice is pleasant, but this feels like you have made a bullet-pointed list and you’re just scanning and “winging” it. I too can talk about a crime for an hour with Wikipedia in my lap; I listen to this because the research is good and you are a great story-teller, but you are not a natural interviewer and you’re not very good at it and considering the usual caliber I have come to expect from this podcast, the disaster you are sharing right now feels stultified, lazy, and I’m about to turn it off; it is painful to listen to. And I have listened to EVERY SINGLE episode, so I think my opinion is valid. Please write a script based on your research, and read it. That’s all you have to do.
- Rhiannon Agosti
- Oct. 4, 2022
- meegdc
- Sept. 15, 2022
Good content
I like this show but the ad breaks are out of control. Can you set up an Apple Subscription thing with ad free? I hate Patreon's set up but I would be more than happy to pay for ad free if it was in Apple. Other podcasts have done it like Generation Why and I wish everyone would.
- JAlex3445
- July 13, 2022
- Eric Carter-Landin
- June 28, 2022
Interview with Douglas Murray
I love your show very much but this episode you’re just talking over your guest so much its frustrating to listen to. I really wanted to hear from him more. I’m feeling it’s excitement on your end but it’s so distracting waiting for you to give him an opportunity to talk.
- Lisey914
- May 24, 2022
- meegdc
- May 3, 2022
Well Done!
Esther is thorough, intelligent, fair, and best of all, warm. Listening to this podcast can feel like sitting with a dear friend. Very professional.
- JettBelle
- April 3, 2022
LOVE IT
I love this podcast! I have been listening to this for years. It’s my #1! This podcasts inspires me to make my own 3-4 page books. You guys should definitely listen.
- chloe the first
- March 20, 2022
One of the best
I’ve been listening to this podcast for years. The host has such a soothing voice. Always keeps the pace. Straight to the point information. Just overall one of my favorite podcasts. So happy to have an elite true crime podcast done by a woman.
- DobbyISaFreeElf
- March 17, 2022
UK acid attacks episode
I enjoy this podcast but the UK acid attack episode has like 30 seconds of content in the first 10 minutes and 9:30 of ads. A little too much.
- JUtah31
- March 12, 2022
Thank you!
Thank you for making this podcast it remains one of my top favorites! Ik you've changed things up recently but I still love your stories / storytelling. You're doing awesome :D Please keep having fun and trying out new things ❤️
- Pokepl123
- March 5, 2022
I love your show and your voice and your insight…however…
I’m just listening to your interview with ? about Kemper that I think came out over Christmas, and I’ve noticed this before; you have a tendency to talk over your interviewee and it feels awkward and embarrassing. Slow down!! We know you conduct deep research, but let the guest get a word in! You don’t have to prove to him that you read his book by repeating it back to him! I get the conversational format, but take a breath!!! I’m listening as I write this and you’re not giving this dude a chance to speak!!! Just an observation, no offense intended.
- Rhiannon Agosti
- March 2, 2022
Like the show but..
I’ve been listening to this show for probably 2 years or more. I think it’s done very well, and well researched. While I wish the host would not talk quite so animated, I can deal with that. What i am really not sure about is the recent change to add dramatic sounds to the episodes (doors slamming, car noises, water running). But they are randomly placed. This does not help draw me in (I can only speak for myself), but I find it distracting and annoying especially when listening with headphones. If I want a dramatic podcast I will choose that. I’ll give it a bit longer but might have to stop listening.
- -/;3:(;:(()
- Feb. 22, 2022
Good podcast
Love the cases, but the narrator switches from (a very good) standard factual style to a very informal personal style. Esther, please stop with your personal stories and stick to the case. This week’s podcast was especially difficult to listen to. I hope this style isn’t the new norm :(
- Horton 207
- Feb. 14, 2022
Get rid of the sound effects, please!
Love this show but the new sound effects are super distracting and take away from the storytelling
- mbtcf
- Feb. 9, 2022
Stop with the Bent Peni Commercals
Love this podcast but please just stop with the bebt peni ads . I just can’t.
- Laurat5
- Feb. 9, 2022