This is an amazing piece of long-form journalism with high production value. The story is true crime, but it’s also about some really interesting people, as well as the first amendment. Great podcast music and very well edited. Highly recommended.

When my husband asked me what this podcast was about I said “well it’s about a murder that….no, it’s about a book where….ok, so there was a publishing company who…”. Ultimately this podcast is about the first amendment and the dangers and privileges it affords us and how loose interpretation of the law ended up decimating a family in the most painful way imaginable. I personally found the episodes about “Rex feral” some of the most interesting and I hope it comes out someday who she was. And until that day, I honestly hope “Rex feral” is never afforded a moment of peace.

Left wing bias

This started off like it was going to be good, non-biased journalism. The story was enthralling and was on its way to being a solid true crime story. But like many others the narrator’s opinions begin flooding in and you soon learn that this is nothing but an attack on the first amendment. Sure the judges ruled the way they did so it feels just plain factual, but in the end it’s a podcast about an “evil” podcast. Now that this podcast has “given people the confidence” to find and read a copy of Hitman I think it should be found guilty of any future murder-for-hire trial as an accomplice. Update 4/18/2022 I finally got around to finishing this podcast and my opinion is still basically the same. Sure the investigation was thorough and presented well for the most part, but that’s the only good thing about it. Otherwise it’s just a bit piece on freedom of speech. Take care when you think like this person does. The more and more limited you allow our speech to become, the more and more it can be used against you. One day soon all anti-constitution podcasts could be deemed hate speech and you’d be out of a job.

A fascinating case laying out the facts so clearly that you feel as if you were in the mind of the murderer. Much better than TV true crime, because there is none of the repetition and rehashing as you go through the series. A great series.

The original story about the triple murder is a great listen , gets in the weeds with the 1st Amendment type episodes ( for me ) then gets back on track with the other case

I'm really surprised this podcast series didn't get more press coverage and praise. Although it lacks the sophistication of an NPR show, the structure and writing are very good-- exceptional really. It covers, murder, Motown, the first amendment, racial justice in intelligent ways. I'm going to pass it on.

Very well laid out, interesting story

I really enjoyed the podcast. Story was much deeper than I was expecting and I listened to the last few episodes back to back. The commentary on the first amendment really made me think. Great music too!

Ads are annoying and they push their stupid left wing messages hard

One of the greats!

This is probably one of the most compelling, and saddest podcasts I have ever listened to. So very moving!

I would love to hear more content like this. Great journalism.

I believe everything was amazing !!! So sad it’s over.

Really compelling, the narrator speaks well and has a professional polished presence. The layers of story and ethical debates are great. It’s great enjoyed it until it became complete speculation about the author(s) origins which they can’t/won’t reveal. Could of ended it before that.

It’s well researched and presented but a bit drawn out. Music interludes are annoying and too long. I understand that the presentation is intended to emphasize the weight of the events and information but the pace could have been better.

This podcast is fascinating! Really well done and I really enjoyed it

Very very good podcast ! Very interesting topic. No complaints. Except wish there was more

Very well put together! Equal parts entertaining and empathetic. Tied up at the end with a powerful and inspirational message.

I enjoyed the fact that it has twists and turns and doesn’t just cover one crime. I’ve heard reference to the book in another podcast and was interested to learn more about it, the author, and the publisher. I felt the host showed great empathy for crime victims. I do agree with some other reviewers-lots of ads. They were easy to deal with since they were in the beginning and then in one big clump in the middle of the episode.

I almost feel like this could’ve been longer as it’s a multi layered podcast. It covers true crime, it covers investigating a pen name, it covers first amendment rights, it covers Motown. I mean just the expanse of what this covers was amazing. I know I’ll be giving this one another listen again and and again.

Long adds, like 4 minutes adds. Very long and terrible music. Good information. Very long adds guys!

The sheer span of this podcast is impressive.

This story is very intricate and engaging but at the same time, it is sensitive. The entertaining mysterious parts do the right thing and the hard, tragic parts are treated with dignity. I think it was a very good production. And yes it’s definitely worth listening to and you will enjoy and empathize with it.

As a former journalist who reported and collaborated with law enforcement, I appreciate the detailed histories. This is more than just one main case, but a history of decades of crime related to the short and left term harms and effects of government and amateur crime manuals. Interviews are broad and faceted without cheap lines and dramatic or disrespectful unnecessary observations and judgements. Just really great journalism, excellent job.

If you’re reading reviews to gauge if you should listen or not. LISTEN TO IT. That’s all I have to say.

Was there a final episode or are we just waiting for nothing? Love the podcast but come on, tie up the loose ends with something other than an episode dedicated to a Caribbean vacation.

I absolutely love true crime podcasts but this is the first time I’m writing a review because I was so moved by the whole package that is this podcast. Jasmyn Belcher Morris’ reporting & telling of this story was very easy to follow, her voice is extremely pleasant to listen to, & I was quickly hooked. It talks about so many different issues & Jasmyn’s ethics are impeccable while navigating such difficult topics. My heart goes out to Tiffani Horn & her family. Many blessings to all!

Truly truly moving.

People say its biased and boring, but porbably only because it's very different than other True Crime podcasts... it drills deep into the story of the book, including in depth legal drama, character background, etc. The author asks genuine questions about free speech, cause and effect, the legal system... The most interesting True Crime podcast I've listened to, but maybe not as thrilling or fast paces as is typical in the genre.

The story is really gripping. Unfortunately there is no structure to the releases and very few updates about when new episodes will release. The narrator tries to present this as a neutral issue but has a pretty clear bias that you can pick up on easily. I have no clue if all the episodes have been released yet but if I were a new listener I would wait until it’s over and binge the whole thing. It’s been weeks since the last episode and I’ve pretty much lost interest.

It's an interesting topic but the podcast is jumbled and disorganized. Really lost me - It's ridiculous the reporter protects the authors identity. I think that's a disservice to the victims when the reporter seems to sympathize with the book's author and protects her. Gross.

Was confused at first- thinking one episode would be one complete story, but this compilation is a huge story pulled into one! It releases every Monday (mostly) it at least makes you think they are actively getting more info on it which makes it even better that it is so up to date! Highly recommend for true crime. The narrator is so genuine sounding and I like that she seems so real!

Nancy Crampton-Brophy is the woman supposedly behind the book. A simple internet search can find her real identity and mug shots. She had her husband killed.

Unlike some crime podcasts that can feel voyeuristic or a bit cavalier about the lives that have been lost or ruined, Hit Man takes listeners on an adventure that is a wild ride but still feels respectful of the people whose lives were impacted by this book. Haunting and beautiful. Highly recommended.

This is a really interesting story that takes such an interesting turn. I would have given 5 stars except it’s so annoying that there’s no order to episodes being released. It’s been 3 weeks since the last episode! I love the podcast but what is going on?!?!

Very interesting podcast. I don’t get where people think the author is “pushing a liberal agenda” but whatever. Great listen

Yep she is definitely pushing a liberal agenda. Only good tbing about this podcast is it made me aware of the book hit man and now I want a copy.

I just listened to the first episode, very intriguing however I found it very inconsistent and distracting that the jump cuts in the podcast were done so poorly. She would start talking about one thing and then a mid-sentence theme change would happen. I checked my phone to see if it was something wrong with the wifi or my app...but nope it’s the podcast. I would say it’s 4 stars but the edits really ruined the experience

Really enjoying it so far. It's friday though and pretty disappointed there's no episode to listen to. Where are the episodes??! If you’re not ready to release the entire series on time then don’t release it at all!!!

There is an AWFUL ad that plays the most horrible sound I’ve ever heard in my life. How this got by editors is insane to me. Ruins the entire podcast and quite honestly terrifies me.

A true crime story that necessarily evolves into a fascinating contemplation of the fringes of the first amendment. A stimulating listen for crime and law junkies alike. Some popular reviews have disparaged this program’s “liberal agenda,” but that’s utter nonsense. This journalist has arranged a thoughtful conversation that encourages listeners to consider the motives and mindsets of all the involved parties.

Started off great and I couldn’t wait for new episodes but it takes over a week to 3 weeks sometimes and by then you either lose interest or forget not to mention, she’s constantly plugging her liberal agenda. Don’t waste your time on this one!

Love real crime stories so I started Hitman. Very engaging story about the tragic murder of 3 people, but then goes deeper into the legal aspects of the same case regarding the book and the 1st Amendment, then the quest to find the author. Loved it all, well done, well plotted, and extremely engaging.

The podcast is well donee for interesting but could stand better editing for sure. It’s about four stars, IMO. But I gave it five stars to help counteract all the ignorance being spewed against the creator for HAVING AN OPINION ON THE TOPIC. (Not to mention that the courts have sided with her.) This isn’t “the news”. It’s a podcast telling a story and opinions are perfectly appropriate in this context. It’s truly mind-boggling and sad how far the level of critical thinking, comprehension and judgment have sunk among some demographics in this country. Downright deplorable.

This show is full of false starts, the episodes are not cohesive and the inconsistency of releases is annoying AF. I was intrigued by the family murder but then the show changed themes and lost me. Not cool. If you’re not ready to publish, wait, instead of leaving your listeners hanging.

A+ I am completely fascinated by the revelations from episode 8. I wish the (supposed) author of Hit Man would speak up. (If indeed the author is the secretive Florida grandmother! I have my doubts.) The creator/narrator of this podcast hasn’t even hinted that this nameless woman might NOT have written the books. The Florida woman might’ve just posed as the name & face for publishing and legal purposes. The book’s author could just as easily have been the now deceased Phelps (alias) who the producer has proposed was the inspiration for the book and the “real” Rex Feral. So far, we have heard zero evidence that the author was this Florida mother of two. Phelps could’ve written the book and simply had her communicate with Paladin and pose as the author. After all, Phelps had a criminal background and had plenty of motivations to distance himself from the work. Did this mysterious author ever publish any additional works other than the two titles credited to Rex Feral? Perhaps this 70+ year old grandmother doesn’t want to speak out because she never actually wrote either book. This has been the best podcast since S*Town! I have many questions for the producers and researchers. I hope the creator does the talk show circuit or writes a book about her findings. All of this would make a great movie - drama, documentary, or hybrid, I don’t care. It would be riveting I am sure. (HEY NETFLIX!!!) The paperback book in question, Hit Man: A Technical Manual for Independent Contractors, can be found on line in PDF format with minimal effort. I’ve looked at a few passages. It’s kinda cheesy in places. But it lives up to the controversy. It serves only one purpose - and it’s not entertainment even if one is entertained by reading it. It’s an instruction guide on how to kill targets - people targets. I can’t wait for episode 9! Is it ironic that this podcast is such a better work of art than the original book that causes such grief? All true crime aficionados must listen to this podcast. The investigative efforts by the creator are commendable to put it mildly.

I love true crime stories that are not just about the crime. I love the stories that extend to how has the crime or the investigation of the crime led to changes in standard practice, policy, or law. I got all that from this podcast.

I love the investigative journalism & true crime aspect. And I was greatly moved by the story. But the editing... The story was a bit difficult to follow as it was laid out, the rewinding noise was insufferable, and the weird dead air transitions felt stilted. I feel like it did a disservice to all of the effort put in to this project.

Okay story... I Don’t agree with the basis of oppressing freedom of speech (they can’t even prove the guy read the book). They also go to great length to vilify this guy... but whatever’s. Some people are ignorant enough to think they have the world figured out... I don’t let it bother me.