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mompkin's review
3.0
I enjoyed it enough to finish it, which puts it far ahead of most Audible originals (faint praise). Not particularly compelling as true crime goes, but not terrible.
niaforrester's review
3.0
My interest in the genre kind of carried the day on this one. The producers had such naked bias, it was difficult to consider this an earnest exercise to discover the truth, or even something as close to it as possible. Some of the most obvious questions that should have been asked of the defendant weren't asked even though they had access to him in multiple interviews. Rather there was this constant harping on the circumstantial nature of the evidence. But ... guess what, most criminal cases are built on circumstantial evidence and the absence of direct evidence is not itself evidence of innocence.
Ultimately, my verdict on this one is: an interesting mystery no closer to feeling solved, and definitely insufficiently explored to cast significant doubt on the outcome. Toward the end, the over-identification with the defendant with cursory expressions of sympathy for the victim's family was disappointing. I do think the victim's family's refusal to participate in the production meant they had a greater responsibility to ensure they didn't have a bias, but I saw no evidence that they took that responsibility very seriously except to include the musings of one slightly dodgy-sounding "childhood friend" who came off as wanting to be close to a notorious case. I didn't come away feeling like this was a serious attempt at a balanced treatment of a serious crime, but I didn't find it uninteresting. Recommended if you have an interest in criminal investigations and procedure, and how criminal cases against an individual can evolve based on what might appear to be disparate strands of evidence.
Ultimately, my verdict on this one is: an interesting mystery no closer to feeling solved, and definitely insufficiently explored to cast significant doubt on the outcome. Toward the end, the over-identification with the defendant with cursory expressions of sympathy for the victim's family was disappointing. I do think the victim's family's refusal to participate in the production meant they had a greater responsibility to ensure they didn't have a bias, but I saw no evidence that they took that responsibility very seriously except to include the musings of one slightly dodgy-sounding "childhood friend" who came off as wanting to be close to a notorious case. I didn't come away feeling like this was a serious attempt at a balanced treatment of a serious crime, but I didn't find it uninteresting. Recommended if you have an interest in criminal investigations and procedure, and how criminal cases against an individual can evolve based on what might appear to be disparate strands of evidence.
mugglemom's review
5.0
Excellent podcast series - true crime lovers will definitely enjoy it. I will love to see how this story continues to change as time goes on.
fangirljeanne's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic read. Very enlightening about the issues with the Scottish justice system, at least for this ignorant American. Engrossing true crime documentary/investigation of the murder of Suzanne Piley and the conviction of David Gilroy with no forensic evidence or even a body.
ll_bunnyb's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting but the audio seemed low quality. Story is comparable to Scott Peterson.
ggritzo's review against another edition
4.0
There are still unanswered questions AND no forensic evidence to tie David to the murder, but that doesn't mean he didn't do it ... or does it.
schreckjo's review against another edition
3.0
Another interesting true crime story, but the focus is on the justice system.