Crime Scenes

by Vespucci, Emilia Fox (Narrator)

The truth is more twisted than fiction…

Crime Scenes takes you behind the police tape and immerses you in the stories of astonishing crimes from around the world. A town created by Disney, a luxury yacht in the Caribbean, an impenetrable Australian forest, the backstreets of Liverpool and a bungalow in Wales all provide settings for a series of sinister, and at times unbelievable, true crimes.

CONTENT WARNING

There are depictions of serious injury, sexual assault, rape and murder, some of which are graphic. There are also descriptions of suicide and mental health issues. Please take care when listening.

Where actors are used, their words are closely based on existing documents and research, but may be paraphrased at times and certain lines have been imagined based on our research.

If you are affected by any of the themes in this series, see below for a list of organisations that can offer support and information.

EPISODE 1 - Celebration, Florida.

In 2019, the perfect town has been created for those chasing the American dream but behind the white picket fences and manicured lawns, an unimaginable nightmare is unfolding for one family.

EPISODE 2 - Llanfairpwll, Anglesey.

The beautiful landscape of the Welsh island of Anglesey was tainted in 2001 by the brutal murder of 90-year-old Mabel Leyshon. But there’s something the police are holding back - what is so unsettling about this particular crime scene?

EPISODE 3 - Belanglo State Forest, New South Wales.

1990s Australia is a popular destination for young backpackers. Two, however, are found murdered in a dark, foreboding forest and the police uncover an even more chilling truth.

EPISODE 4 - Antigua and Barbuda, the Caribbean.

Off the coast of the picture-perfect, crime-free Caribbean island of Barbuda, a yacht bobs gently in the florescent blue sea. But below deck, the serenity evaporates as the four-person crew have all been brutally murdered. Are there serpents in paradise?

EPISODE 5 - Anfield, Liverpool.

In 1931, the quiet veneer of domesticity shatters when housewife Julia Wallace is found murdered in her home. But is all as it seems?

SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS

SANEline - If you're experiencing a mental health problem call 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm–10.30pm every day).

mind.org.uk

Samaritans – call 116 123 at any time of day or night if you need someone to talk to. Alternatively, email jo@samaritans.org. (or the Samaritans Welsh Language Line is 0808 164 0123)

rapecrisis.org.uk/

thesurvivorstrust.org/

Other international crisis helplines can be found at befrienders.org

Genres: Audiobook, True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Mystery, True Story

Audible Audio

Published July 10, 2025

Reviews

[Chrissie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, but perfectly formed.

This is an in depth study of five separate murders, narrated by the perfectly formed Emilia Fox.

[Sammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not awful, with some interesting stories, but it would have been SO much better without all the sound-effects. They just make it sound cheesy. And somehow less believable?

[Toni · Rating 2 out of 5]

old stories or lesser-known stories that were presented in a very uninteresting way.

Quick read, so there's that.

[Shawna Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good, short listen on popular true crime stories. It was interesting, but nothing I hadn’t heard before of the cases.

[Klara · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredibly interesting audiobook that feels a lot more like a crime podcast than a traditional book. While some listeners might already know a few or all of the cases covered here, every single crime was completely new to me, which made it a gripping listen from start to finish.

While I sometimes wished for a little more narrative suspense, this is definitely not an "easy" or lighthearted listen. Some of the crime scenes and settings described are genuinely terrifying. I was so absorbed in the eerie atmosphere that if my boyfriend came home while I was listening, I would have jumped out of my skin!

Since this is based entirely on true stories, there are no recurring characters to follow—instead, each episode dives into a different, self-contained crime. Some of the endings are genuinely surprising while others are less so, but every single story is deeply disturbing.

If you decide to pick this one up, consider yourself warned: be prepared for some very dark and unsettling content.

[Lexi Sølvhammer · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I really enjoyed this Audible Original despite some of the negative reviews I had seen beforehand. The narrator did an excellent job with a calm and engaging voice, making it easy to listen to. I especially appreciated the dramatized elements with different characters’ voices, which gave the whole experience a very authentic feel. The different cases explored are presented in a respectful yet captivating way, striking a fine balance between sobriety and intrigue. Overall, I found it both well-produced and compelling.”

[Michele · Rating 2 out of 5]

Narrator’s voice got on my nerves. The writing was eh. Stories were just okay. Nothing I can really pinpoint, they just bothered me.

[Kresta Maynard · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be ok, but it kept getting worse. Kinda stupid in my opinion.

[Felicia Baxter · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an ok audiobook. The reenacted voices were so hard to hear. The narration was fine. When listening with earbuds some of the background noise was way too loud. The stories overall were meh.

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reads similar to a podcast. Might as well listened to podcast. Also not very direct.

[Angel **Book Junkie** · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crime Scenes was like sitting in a dark basement at 2 a.m. while someone whispered true crime stories directly into your ear with a flashlight under their chin. Creepy? Absolutely. Entertaining? Most of the time. Slightly exhausting after a while? Also yes.

The audiobook itself was the real star here. The narrator understood the assignment and then dragged it through a haunted house with surround sound. The chilling effects, the atmosphere, the dramatic delivery... chef’s kiss. Every murder, robbery, and unhinged criminal felt cinematic. I was locked in. I was ready to investigate crimes I have zero qualifications for.

But sweet mercy, this audiobook loved repeating itself. At times it felt like the narrator hit copy-paste on entire thoughts and just kept circling the same details like a detective who drank too much gas station coffee. I caught myself thinking, “Okay bestie, we got it the first three times.” The repetition started pulling me out of the stories instead of building tension.

Still, the stories themselves were fascinating enough to keep me listening. If you love true crime with eerie vibes and dramatic storytelling, this one definitely scratches that itch. Just be prepared for moments where it feels like the audiobook is pacing back and forth in combat boots trying to remember what point it was making.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Final Verdict: A creepy, atmospheric true crime listen with phenomenal narration and enough unsettling stories to keep you hooked... even if it occasionally sounds like your podcast app accidentally hit replay.

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 5 out of 5]

The five chapters of this book take a deep dive into five pretty horrible cases of murder. The first involves a man who may just have murdered his wife and young children in a sort of murder-suicide pact in which he didn't quite get around to killing himself. The second involves a man who very much wishes to be a vampire and decides to get an early start—you know, before he actually becomes undead. The third involves a grotesque serial killer in Australia who may have been pursuing his macabre interests for decades. The fourth involves the killings of four people on an expensive sailboat just off the coast of Antigua. And the final case involves a man who may have murdered his wife.

The narrator does a superb job of setting the scene and then walking the reader through the police investigations—showing the problems they encountered, the false trails, the lucky instances and intuitive leaps that gave hope of a solution to the cases, and finally the arrest and courtroom outcomes. I was completely captivated by the first four investigations, but I became increasingly uneasy with the fifth one in which the police appeared to be using very active imaginations to tie their suspect to the murder of his wife even though they didn't actually have a single piece of evidence supporting their suspicions.

If you like a bit of real crime fiction, these five cases are a delight.

[Jackson Theofore Keys · Rating 3 out of 5]

This audiobook was not great but not bad either. At least I've never heard of any of these cases before, so that's something. the problem with the book was that each case was covered superficially, and therefore, I couldn't feel like I was terribly invested in the crimes, victims, or perpetrators. The only case worthwhile was the last one about William Wallace in the 1930s. If you are from the United Kingdom, you might be familiar with this case. I was not. This case had many more details and was much more interesting. Finally, the title of the book, Crime Scenes, is really a misnomer. The hook isn't really about crime scenes or crime scene analysis. The book was just the typical book about a few cases that occurred around the Western world. Unless you are bored or truly love True Crime Fiction, I really wouldn't bother with this one. 2.5 stars.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A first of its kind for me…
I was immediately hooked on “Crime Scenes” by Vespucci, narrated by the incredible Emilia Fox. As a fan of British mysteries and crime stories, I appreciated the style and pacing of this series. Fox’s narration is, as always, perfection – she brings the stories to life with her emotional depth and clear storytelling. The series takes you on a journey to different parts of the world, exploring shocking crimes and investigations. Each episode is fully researched and expertly told. While the content can be explicit and disturbing at times, Vespucci's writing is engaging and well-paced. If you're a fan of true crime stories, I highly recommend “Crime Scenes.” I'm already searching for more episodes and similar series.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a well done production that described 5 crime scenes. It detailed out the horrific crimes and then how they were solved by detectives. These cases were from various times in history and different locations around the world. If you are interested in true crime, this short read with 5 compelling cases is worth the time.

[Kate Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good audiobook. The cases were interesting, but not too gory (not quite cozy either...somewhere in between). The narrator's voice was soothing. I would recommend this as a before-bed listen to those who like true crime. I have studied a lot of criminology, and I had never heard of these cases (glad it was something new).

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this original ly because I knew of the first crime personally. The reader is excellent and has a soothing voice. Maybe too soothing because kept nodding off. Most of the crimes were unknown to me, which made them more interesting.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great audiobook! 5 different crime story episodes from Celebration, FL to New South Wales to Liverpool. The narrator is engaging and brings these true crime stories to life. (I love a good audiobook since cataract surgery. I get eyestrain reading too long and I am a voracious reader.)

[Amy Lepore · Rating 4 out of 5]

A memoir genre where the details of several different crimes scenes in unusual places are discussed and revisited. Takes you behind the scenes and allows the reader to "listen in" as police work the scene. Some descriptions of crime not for the faint of heart.

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.5 stars ⭐️

[Cora Wildflower · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Fluff Berger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. It's a bummer that there are people with so little care for other human lives.

[Leserling · Rating 5 out of 5]

It kept me awake all night. Gruesome tales, I'll never comprehend how a human being can do any of this to another human being.

[Ian MacIntyre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little listen (Audible).

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy occasional true live crime. These stories were quite good. My favorite was the one an out the Disney town.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

At time this was a little too gory, even for a true crime junkie like me.

[Graham Sillars · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was outstanding!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t normally listen to this type of program so maybe I’m not the best judge. I could have done without the sound effects but found the content interesting. 4.5 stars.

[Susete Kunkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy documentaries/ true crime shows I am sure you will enjoy this read.

[Ben Rosenstreich · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tabloid crap.