I really liked 'Serial', which is why I was so surprised that I did not enjoy this podcast. For the first couple of episodes, you feel like you're going to get another season of Serial. Unfortunately, the reporter somehow makes the story about himself and about how HE explored what was going on in this town instead of being about the actual people that were living and dying in it. It was really off-putting to me. I stopped listening after 4 episodes. I'm glad that people enjoyed it, but this was not for me.

Brian Reed does an excellent job taking us into a time, place and life. The story was compelling but spread out a bit too much for me as it went on. There's a build up of mystery, which morphs into the overall story of John B. Mackelmore. It did make me tear up at times, but in the end I found the narrative arc a bit disappointing. Definitely worth a listen though, especially if you're up for a podcast that unfolds over numerous episodes. I also liked that all episodes were released at once.

I'm not a typical bandwagon podcast listener. But, since everyone was raving, and I wanted to do a long run one Saturday I decided to dive in. And dive in I did. I listened to the whole 7 episodes in 3 days, which is impressive for a full-time working Mom with shit to do. The first few episodes grabbed me so fully I listened whenever I had more than 2 minutes to listen. I even arranged my work around getting to listen so I could do the monotonous tasks while fully engrossed in the narrative Brian spun. All that to say, I wasn't so blown away that I will tell everyone I know to listen asap. The production is incredible. The time, energy, care and attention that Brian and his team put in to this series is evident and it pays off. It took me to the time, place and going-ons that he describes. But. And here is my but. In the end, as the final two episodes spun down in to my ears I felt, eh. Was this how it was going to end? What was all the build up for? Where is the true crime. Where are the confessions. What happens to Tyler and Ruth and where are they at now. All that said, I appreciate how he chose to package and tell this story. I appreciate the connections he made and how he wove together a story about our world with the of this one brilliant man who lived this incredible simple and yet complex life in shittown usa. So will I tell you to listen, sure. But, if you have other stuff to get to first, I won't rush you.

This seven part series doesn't take you where you think you're going. It did take me into a world I don't know, Shit Town, Alabama. Very moving and Brian Reed does such a good job of helping us understand a deeply complicated man.

A great and addictive listening experience.