True Crime Storytime

I’ll admit I approached *True Crime Storytime* skeptically—20+ hours of short-form cases sounded like a recipe for whiplash. But Moore’s structuring is brilliant: the stories aren’t just chronological; they’re *thematic*, with callous 1950s domestic murders giving way to the chaotic, media-fueled killings of the 1970s, creating a throughline about how America’s relationship with violence evolved. Goodrick’s narration is a standout—his delivery in the 1930s segment on the ‘Crime of the Century’ (a kidnap-gone-wrong) had me leaning in like it was a live radio broadcast, while his deadpan reading of a 1980s cult leader’s manifesto made the absurdity land like a punchline. That said, the anthology format isn’t perfect. A handful of later stories (notably the 1990s cases) feel rushed, as if Moore assumed listeners would be numb to details by hour 18—skimming over forensic breakthroughs that deserved deeper analysis. And while the vintage audio flourishes are immersive, a few transitions (like the abrupt shift from a 1960s mob hit to a 1970s spree killing) could’ve used a smoother bridge. Still, the highs vastly outweigh the quibbles. The 1940s segment on a ‘perfect murder’ gone wrong—with Goodrick’s voice dropping to a whisper as the killer’s alibi unravels—is worth the price alone. This is true crime for listeners who crave substance over shock, served by a narrator who knows exactly when to let the silence do the work.