Once Upon a Crime

Esther Ludlow is a solo narrator in the true sense. No co-host, no banter, just carefully researched storytelling delivered in a voice that listeners either love or find hypnotic. Her JonBenet Ramsey coverage stands out because of how meticulously she constructs the narrative, pulling from court documents, police records, and investigative journalism to build the story from the ground up. Once Upon a Crime has been running since 2016 with over 400 episodes and a 4.6-star rating from nearly 5,000 reviews. The format is straightforward: Esther picks a case, researches it thoroughly, and presents it as a narrative. No gimmicks, no comedy breaks, no beer pairings. Just the story. That makes her JonBenet episodes feel almost like listening to a well-written longform article read aloud, which works beautifully for a case this complex. The show's tagline about stepping into "the darker side of history" is apt. Esther does not shy away from the uncomfortable details, but she presents them with a measured tone that never tips into exploitation. Some listeners have noted that more recent episodes have gotten shorter, but her earlier deep-dive installments, including the JonBenet coverage, run at full length. If you prefer your true crime served straight, with rigorous research and no distractions, Once Upon a Crime delivers exactly that.