Listener Reviews

Re: Deathbed Confessions — Diane Crawford. Would I be wrong in assuming that you never spoke to a resident of the town in which this very interesting crime occurred? I say this because anyone who lived there would have, in a millisecond, corrected your pronunciation of that beautiful town. While it is indeed spelled “Staunton,” and the way you phonetically pronounced it a million times — everyone who knows better, and how it has been from its founding, pronounces it “Stanton.” So, your narrative of the case, to me, is a bit tainted — too bad!

Been a listener since the beginning, and Esther consistently delivers an interesting, well researched story- and her own opinions and editorializing are never annoying or offensive (imho). Excellent podcast and an excellent host.

I’m so mad I’m late listening I was always subscribed to this podcast and just started binging and can’t stop listening now…Awesome podcast

I’ve listened to 6 or maybe 7 of these podcasts and have really enjoyed most of them. They seem to do pretty good research in my opinion. May give that 5th star if the next several are as good as the last 3. Kudos!

Esther, I love your show! I look forward to getting into my car so I can listen to your crime stories. So good!

I just started getting into podcasts (not murder😜) this year! This was the first podcast I fell in love with and binged! Thank you for your detailed episodes ! I love it!

I have listened to quite a few true crime podcasts such as Serial, Crime Junkie, Criminology and more. Esther’s voice is great and her sarcasm is funny. I do miss the banter of a co-host that this podcast does not have and the sounds (I am on episode 196) are a bit too long, unnecessary, and corny. Some of the editing is choppy and in one there was an entire section of a story cut off. She also does quite a few episodes about women who kill, such as betty broderick, however, the narrative she tells about these women make them sound crazy (which may be true) and one sided. Some of the comments Esther makes just sounds a bit insensitive and paints females in a bad light in my opinion. With that being said, the stories are captivating and I like her personality.

Awesome job ! Love your voice

I think I like the scripted shows better. Unscripted works better when you have a partner to throw ideas/thoughts against. That is just my opinion. You have to listen and judge for yourself. But, overall, I like this podcast series very much and would recommend.

Ester, you outdid yourself self on this 3 part series! Great research as usual & I really enjoyed how you gave us Part 3 more casually & with your personal thoughts. I love Once Upon a Crime true crime podcasts! She provides all the facts & her own opinion on rare occasions. Great podcasts!!! Thank you for saving my sanity during a pandemic & the election cycle 🥰

I’ve been listening for awhile but was prompted to review finally after listening to the Trailside Killer series. I’m a Bay Area native and remember these murders from when I was a child. Very scary, and there’s so much in the show that I never knew. Thank you so much for this, and I liked the more “casual” approach in the last episode.

I like listening to your podcast. But the last trail side killer. Ugh. You talk around yourself. It is way to hard to follow. I couldn’t listen to more than 15 min. I can always listen to your normal podcast. But not this. I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be mean. This is IMO

I can’t understand why people leave such negative “picky” reviews?! Yes, she reads the episode instead of ad-libbing, because she’s doing it solo. Plus it’s her style, and many listeners like it. Plus I’ve always found her very thorough and her episodes interesting. For those who criticize her every word, I’d say...just don’t listen. You can leave a review saying it’s not for you, but don’t be so rude!

I love this show! Definitely, the no script episodes are my favorites. I just love your casual discussions on the murders more than scripted!!

I started listening to true crime about a year and a half ago. This was the first podcast I tried. I listened from the first episode all the way through. When I went looking for a new one to listen too along with OUAC because I was caught up and had to wait for the next episode to drop I had a hard time finding one that I liked because this one had everything I wanted. The storyline is in an understandable order, the narrator’s voice comforting, and I love the physiological insights she gives to try to explain the perpetrator’s behavior.

Great narrator everything is greatly explained and intriguing.

I love this podcast, but the flute playing background music in the Gordon Ramsey episode is so distracting and annoying. Please discontinue.

Really like everything about this podcast. No unnecessary chatter or personal interpretations. Great topics, good research, and knowledge of subject. Binge time for sure. Also I just finished the Diane Downs episode. I have read the book by Ann Rule as well as the book by Diane, and have seen the movie. You asked the one question that none of the others did. How did the “stranger” even know there were kids in the car! Thank you!

Infinitely better than crime junkie. Objective, thorough and interesting reporting (no political opinions), supplemented with empathic and reasonable commentary.

Original stories that you don’t hear on other true crime podcasts. I don’t mind the voice, I find it soothing and matter of fact. I appreciate there is no banter or third party audio. The only issue I have with the podcast are the stupid sound effects. They’re CONSTANT and so distracting. They don’t even match with the storylines, they’re weird and chime like. Please get a new sound guy and limit the amount of random sounds while you’re talking !!!!

No co-host banter to muster through. No political opinions inserted in. Just true crime stories. Esther enunciates well & is easy to understand. The clear delivery is appreciated as I can follow the story easily while multi-tasking on another project at home.

I love the different series with focuses on different kinds of crimes. So well written!

If you don’t like unnecessary chatter and getting off topic, this podcast is for you (and me). I love that this podcast is in series episodes! I do notice the reading instead of actually talking to us, but she’s a great speaker! Happy I found this one! -Kelli in IL

Awesome story telling. Love this no frills true crime.