Listener sentiment
Crimes of the Centuries continues to command a passionate following that values Amber Hunt's deep research, engaging narrative style, and knack for surfacing lesser-known historical crimes — many longtime listeners describe it as a standout in a crowded genre and praise the show's intelligence and wit. However, satisfaction remains sharply polarized, and the friction points have not eased. The single most recurrent complaint is advertising: listeners across the rating spectrum report that ad breaks are too frequent, noticeably louder than the main content, and sometimes repeated within a single break; even some paid subscribers say they still encounter ads. Ad reads featuring Hunt's partner are a particular flashpoint, with multiple reviewers finding them cringey and distracting from the show's journalistic tone. A separate cohort of one- and two-star reviewers object to what they perceive as a leftward political bias in Hunt's commentary — particularly around race and gender framing — and some have unsubscribed over it, while supportive listeners push back, arguing the contextualization is simply honest reporting. Pronunciation errors and occasional factual lapses continue to draw criticism from both fans and detractors, with several reviewers citing specific instances that undermined their confidence in the research. Production complaints — overloud background music, audio static, and divided opinions on Hunt's vocal delivery — round out the recurring criticisms. The net picture is a show whose content quality is widely admired but whose listener experience is increasingly weighed down by cumulative friction around ads, production, and editorial sensibility.
Apple4.0 · 260
Summary generated Sep 2, 2026
