Wow! Excellent book with a beautiful narration. Once I started I could not stop listening till I got to the very end. It had me captivated and on the end of my seat the entire 90 minutes.

I am not generally an audiobook fan (I much prefer to read) but this most excellent full-cast and thoroughly researched and factual production may convince me differently! Actually a short listen, this Nonfiction true crime account of a notorious crime and scandals of early 20th century Edwardian England is compelling and intriguing, inspiring one to research the case. I anticipate listening to other titles in this Series, and purchasing the ebook. I highly recommend this for all fans of true crime and crime and/or Historical documentaries.

🎧Audio Book Review🎧

The Trial Of Dr Crippen - A Drop Of Poison
Matt Richards

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟


This is the second book in the Trials Of The Century series and you may remember that back in January I read the first book - The Trial Of Leopold And Loeb - Dickie & Babe by Ben Devlin and absolutely loved it!

This second book was again brilliantly compiled and produced with a full cast playing out the trial, with narration as to the circumstances that the trial came about.

Now, as I said before, I've not been great at reading much true crime, despite being absolutely fascinated by the cases.
Having this series of super quick audio reads is therefore perfect for me to get a fix whilst having lunch or on a trip out in the car.

The case of Dr Crippen actually had me really considering what happened here.
From the information provided and listening to the transcripts of the trial, I'm actually not convinced at all about the verdict that Crippen was guilty nor that he should have been executed for his conviction.

This was then proven as the narrator followed up with some more recent investigations into the case, now that modern technology could glean some better results.

This shows that the old methods were extremely flawed and I really feel for the families involved - on all sides.

This was such a good read and I loved the authenticity of the production and narration.
Such a great series to satisfy those intrigued by true crime, yet like me, haven't yet gone digging.

I really feel like I could devour this whole series and can't wait to see what case we'll be exploring next.




💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

The Trial of Dr. Crippen: A Drop of Poison by Matt Richards offers a fascinating deep dive into one of the most infamous murder cases of the early 20th century; Hawley Harvey Crippen and the death of his wife, Cora Crippen. For listeners who enjoy true crime with strong historical context, this audiobook provides an engaging and well-researched account of the investigation, trial, and media frenzy that surrounded the case.

The narrative does an excellent job of placing the events within the social climate of the time, particularly the sensationalism of the press and the early use of forensic science in criminal trials. The author carefully walks listeners through the evidence, the courtroom arguments, and the public reaction, which helps bring this century-old case vividly to life.

As an audiobook, the pacing is steady and easy to follow, making it a solid choice for listeners who enjoy true crime during long drives or quiet evenings. At times the legal details and historical explanations slow the momentum slightly, but they also add depth and credibility to the story.

Overall, this is an informative and compelling listen that true crime enthusiasts will appreciate. It may not read like a fast-paced thriller, but its strength lies in its careful examination of the facts and the historical significance of the trial. A strong four-star listen for anyone interested in classic criminal cases and the evolution of modern investigation.

What an exceptional series; I listened to the first case recently and this audio title gives a whole new take on the Crippen story. I listened to it in a single sitting, totally engrossed by proceedings. For anyone not familiar with the case, there’s a narrative introduction giving the background. Scotland Yard detective is waiting in Quèbec to arrest Crippen and the start really sets the scene. The court case, with dialogue taken from trial tr@nscripts is dramatic. There are background noises and very clever editing to ensure that all the salient points are covered in this relatively short production. I’m loving this series; innovative and immersive with outstanding interpretation of the narrative. Brilliant.
My thanks for an early review copy via Netgalley.

The “Trials of the Century” audiobook series continues to impress me with this second case. When I first saw it was about a man who could have killed his wife, I wondered what was so special to make this case so fascinating for people. Well, now I know! There are so many nuances that make it more than just another husband killing his wife. And that ending…well, that’s a plot twist. My jaw dropped when I heard that part. I thought the story was over but no, there was still time for a final revelation and what a revelation that was.

I’m still so shocked by how much information we have about trials that took place such a long time ago and I love that we do. I watch trials on Youtube nowadays and this full cast kind of makes me feel like I’m listening to a real trial. Obviously, the transcripts are from a real trial but the way it’s narrated brings all of it to life in such a great way. Reading transcripts would definitely not be as entertaining. And the way something is read out loud can change the simplest of sentences so much. I also adore that we get to know how the media or people from the time reacted to such a crime being committed. It’s something that’s missing in most cases that are pretty old because I guess it’s not easy to find that information. So I appreciate its inclusion here.
Once again, I could have listened to hours of this but I get why it’s 90 minute audiobooks that we’re getting. Listening to them does make me go down a rabbit hole researching more about the case and what people have been saying about it since it happened. That’s all I want from anything true crime related. For it to become a brief obsession I spend time learning more about.

I need to praise everyone involved in this project one more time. The way the script is written for the narrators to bring it to life is brilliant. It’s so easy to follow the story and each narrator has such a clear voice and plays each character so well. Fantastic! All of it!

This audiobook felt as though I were listening to the real trial unfold from long ago. By using transcripts from the actual proceedings, the production brings history vividly to life. The actors portraying the historical figures fully immersed me into another era, making the experience feel authentic and immediate. I wasn't familiar with the case beforehand, though the name sounded vaguely familiar, and now I am eager to continue with the third in the series. At just 90 minutes, it's a fast paced completely captivating listen.
Thank you NetGalley and Classic Crime for the advance listening copy.

The Trial of Dr Crippen: A Drop Of Poison is the second case presented in the Trials of the Century collection of audiobooks. This one was even better than the first instalment. The full cast narration brings the trial to life and I was amazed at how much detail we managed to get in such a short episode. The narrators did an incredible job and the subtle sound effects in the back really adds to the immersive experience. I also really enjoyed the little details provided such as that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was in the courtroom, that Charles Dickens had worked there, and the results of more recent testing in the epilogue. Will definitely be continuing this series!

I loved this form and the narrator. Great actors and what a story!!! It’s a story I’ve never heard about.. very frightening what people do to each other!
The ending is a shocker!!! Recommend listening!!