Homicide & True Crime Stories of 2017

Kevin Kollins’ narration is the standout here. His voice—smooth, measured, and devoid of the hammy theatricality some true crime narrators lean into—lends the material an air of credibility. There’s no over-enunciation, no forced gasps; just a presence that feels like a trusted guide leading you through a dark alley, flashlight in hand. The pacing is its own character, too. Lo’s writing is tight, but Kollins’ delivery ensures the stories never drag. My one gripe? The transitions between cases can feel abrupt, as if the editor hit ‘skip’ mid-sentence. A smoother segue between, say, the Golden State Killer revelations and the Houston massacre would’ve saved me from mentally rewinding every time. The stories themselves are a masterclass in juxtaposition. The opening chapter on the murder of a beloved teacher by her student is heartbreakingly ordinary until it isn’t—Lo’s research reveals the banality of evil in a way that makes your skin crawl. The chapter on the Las Vegas shooter, meanwhile, is a chilling dissection of motive and opportunity, leaving you questioning how such a tragedy was allowed to unfold. That said, a few cases (looking at you, ‘small-town scandal gone wrong’) lack the depth of the others. They’re not bad, just… perfunctory. The production also stumbles slightly with audio clarity in a couple of outdoor interview segments, where Kollins’ voice warbles like a bad cell connection. But these are minor quibbles in an otherwise compelling listen. If you crave true crime that respects your intelligence—and your nerves—this is your next obsession.