This was an interview listen for anyone interested in true crime. It was easy to imagine the case and how finger pointing didn't allow a clear investigation.

A quick read about a case that was far less about the death of two young children and more about the character of their mother and what women "ought" to be. Despite the back-and-forth and ultimate conviction of Alice Crimmins there seems to be no evidence that she was guilty and an unlawful witch hunt hounded her for years. Gross writes a compelling and tragic tale.

Thank you to NetGalley,the author Kenneth Gross, and Highbridge audio for my copy of this book.

This book is a detailed summary of the Alice Crimmins Case in Queens, New York in 1965, when her two children (ages 4 and 5) disappeared from their first-floor bedroom, to be found dead in separate locations later. The case was interesting and I have never heard of it before despite living in NYC for the past 8 years. I think the aspects about Alice Crimmins being young and attractive, showing less emotion than you would expect from a mother whose children are missing, and having openly extramarital affairs turned this case into a witch hunt against Alice where she was considered guilty despite little evidence against her. It was interesting to learn about this case but in the end, the book felt a bit overdramatized and unresolved, leaving me wanting more. I found myself struggling to stay engaged at times when listening to the audiobook as the narrator’s voice did not work for me. This was just an okay read for me but may be very interesting to those who love true crime documentaries. Thank you to NetGalley, Anais Renevier, and Crime Ink for the gifted ALC in an exchange for an honest review.

This is the first I remember hearing about the Alice Crimmins Case set in New York from the mid-1960s. This true crime account is actually still somewhat of a mystery to some, and Renevier presented the facts in a concise way. I didn't think there were too many details and not necessarily too few. I was left with some questions, and definitely had to research what was happening with the case and the people currently.
This particular case involving Alice's missing children was certainly emotional. It is interesting how differently she would have been perceived in the media and in the courts, I believe, today. She was not following typical societal norms for a young housewife of her day, and it does seem like that became a factor in how she was perceived. Judged first, then seemingly she was deemed guilty before her innocence could even be proven. It was reminiscent of the current-day Scott Peterson trial where he was perceived guilty mainly because of his character shown in the media and in public. I still think it is highly plausible he did murder his wife and unborn child, but Alice was judged perhaps even more harshly for doing less egregious things than him.
Overall this was a quick, informative listen. The narrator lagged a bit and had some expressions that I didn't always think fit what she was reading. It sounded a bit contrived at times, but perhaps it was just me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crime Ink for this ARL. All opinions are mine.

A tragic story all around. It was interesting to listen to, although some parts were more difficult than others. More of a critique on the investigation than a true crime story.

The book is about The Alice Crimmins Case. Alice was the mother of 2 children, Eddie Jr and Missy. The children were taken from their apartment and murdered. Of course, Alice, the mother, was the prime suspect. The police zeroed in on her because they felt like she was a bad mother. She went out with men (she was separated from her husband), so they concentrated on her sex life, which made her a bad mom to them. Alice was convicted, then it was overturned, this happened a couple of times until she finally was convicted and was released on parole. But there was still questions about her guilt. Did she really do it? This book was really good in describing everything from beginning to the end. If you did not know anything about this case, you do afterwards. And it was done in a way that made it easy to understand, since there was so much information, with there being 3 trials. The author also did not portray Alice as anything other than an average mother who was accused of this heinous crime. With this being an audiobook, I found it harder to stop listening to it than to stop reading a book! The narrator was really good and spoke at a good level and was easy to listen to. She spoke the words very clearly, as well. I would gladly listen to her again.

This was a very interesting, well researched book. I do wonder if the case would have played out the same way if it had taken place in a more modern time.

A short but in-depth study of the double murder of Alice Crimmins’ children in 1965.
Shortly after the discovery of the bodies of her missing children, the finger of blame is pointed squarely at their mother. The book covers her trials and the unsympathetic media coverage. Alice doesn’t fit the mold of what a mother ‘should’ be. She has lovers, looks like a movie star and is self confident - but does that make her guilty of the worst crime a parent can commit?
I really enjoyed this book - it’s a lesser known true crime case (at least, I wasn’t aware of it!) and hearing the details for the first time was shocking to me. I can’t help but feel that Alice would be treated in the same way in 2025.
I listened to the audiobook version, and would rate the narration at 3.5/5 - the narrator had a lovely tone that was easy to listen to for the most part, but occasionally, in particularly dramatic parts, adopted an over the top old fashioned news reader voice which I didn’t like!

Thanks to NetGalley for a free audio ARC in return for an honest review.

The story of Alice Crimmins is absolutely insane. I had never heard of this story before I found it on NetGalley. From start to finish I didn't want to stop listening to the story because I just had to know what really happened to her children. The whole entire audio is gripping, the details are wild, the events that occurred are just incredulous, finishing the audio I still feel like I know nothing. Did Alice do it? Was it just some strange man in the night that took her children away?

The scrutiny that Alice faced while they were trying to convict her for killing her children was insane. The events that occurred after the tragedy of losing her children, absolutely insane.

This book was so hard to stop listening because you just wanted to know more, and every chapter I felt like sounded a little crazier than the last.

I wish this author would have gotten the chance to sit down and talk to Alice and have her be apart of this story, I know that they tried.

Alice Crimmins was a real person, who really did lost her children. This is her story.

Thanks to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for the Audio ARC!

It was very interesting and enlightening to hear about a US true crime case through a foreign lens. I loved the style and tone of the author's retelling of this case. And as someone from a different cultural background, she approached things in a different way, and looked at things through a different lens. I'm definitely looking forward to searching out more from the author! I would recommend this to all true crime listeners.

The Alice Crimmons Case audiobook is a compelling and meticulously researched account of one of the most sensational criminal cases of the 20th century. The narration is superb, bringing the story to life with a perfect blend of emotion and clarity.

The author delves deep into the complexities of the case, exploring the social and legal intricacies that surrounded Alice Crimmons and the tragic events that unfolded. The audiobook format enhances the experience, making it feel as though you’re right there, witnessing the drama and tension firsthand.

What I found particularly engaging was the balanced perspective the author maintained throughout the narrative. The story is presented with a keen eye for detail, ensuring that all sides of the case are explored thoroughly. This approach allows listeners to form their own opinions about the events and the people involved.

The pacing of the audiobook is well-managed, keeping the listener hooked from start to finish. The use of archival audio clips and interviews adds an extra layer of authenticity and immersion.

Overall, The Alice Crimmons Case is a must-listen for true crime enthusiasts and anyone interested in the complexities of the legal system. It’s a gripping, thought-provoking journey that will leave you pondering long after the final chapter.

Thank you to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for providing an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

With the backdrop of the second wave of feminism, Alice Crimmins is accused, and in the opinion of myself and this book, scapegoated and sacrificed in the name of maintaining the status quo.

Written by french journalist Anaïs Renevier, this book is a part of the Fifty States of Crime series for Society magazine and recently translated to English from its original french. From countless infamous cases to represent New York, l'affaire Alice Crimmins is one that particularly exemplifies the kind of misogyny in this era and the response to the feminist movement and other civil rights battles going on at the time. In a case where two children went missing and were murdered, the only thing those involved seemed to care about was the morality of the children's mother, Alice, making her pay for living her life the way she wanted to.

Fast paced and with the weight of hindsight, this archival investigation from Anaïs introduces to most of those outside the US who had never heard of this case the investigations, if one could call them that, and multiple trials of Alice Crimmins. This detailed recounting doesn't forget that nothing ever happens in a bubble, and that feminism fought for the right of female journalists to be in the same room where a witch-hunt against another woman took place. This book makes it clear that if the institutions at the time hadn't been so revolted by a woman living her life, maybe there would have been true justice and a murder trial would have taken place instead of a trial of morality.

I really appreciated the opinions of journalists and others involved at the time giving their opinions nowadays, after the dust has settled, such as Kenneth Gross, a journalist that was present during the trial and who wrote one of the only books on the matter. While I quite enjoyed it, it wish it could have gone into more detail, but considering that this series was written for a magazine, its length makes sense.

Will keep my eyes open for other installments in the fifty states of crime series, and on whatever else Anaïs publishes, even if its not translated to English.

The Alice Crimmins Case is a short, quick read or listen. I received an audiobook review copy from NetGalley and the publisher HighBridge Audio. Alice Crimmins was accused of the murder of her 2 children in 1965. She was the last one to see them alive, but her recollection of events didn't seem to match up with the little evidence available. Alice was also far from what one would picture as a 1960s housewife and mother. She wore heavy makeup, teased her hair, and had countless affairs. Police surveilled her for 3 years before charging her, but was she really a murderer or just an easy scapegoat?

This is a true story. An insightful look into a murderer called Alice crimmins. Suspected of killing her 2 children and the lengthy wait to get to any form of justice.
How so many people got a lot of things wrong, how she managed to change her name carry on with life with hardly any repercussions.

Alice Crimmins woke up one morning and her children were gone. They were both found murdered- at different times and different locations. Alice Crimmins had a reputation, so the police and public vilified her.

Is she guilty? Based on what I know, I don't think so. But we will never truly know due to how this case was handled.

Even if she is guilty, the way she was treated by the justice system is reprehensible. Being questioned on the stand about what she wore on dates with men- how is that relevant? Because she took multiple lovers and cared about her appearance, she was guilty according to the police and public.

Then, the number of retrials, being in and out of prison for the same crime is just insane.

I very much enjoyed this brief look into this case. The length was good due to it being such an old case- there just aren't first hand accounts, so any longer would have been drawn out.

Lisa S. Ware narrates the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

I had never heard of this case prior to reading this book. Now that I have and started doing additional research, I have no idea how I hadn’t heard of it.
This was a case of a true witch hunt. From the first meeting between Alice and the investigator to her trials, all involved in the investigation state they did not like her. She was judged and tried solely on being a woman of questionable morales, hearsay, opinions, and unreliable and coerced witnesses. There was no concrete evidence and the little evidence that was there, was botched or ignored.
Did she do it? Did someone get away with murder? We will probably never know.
The saddest part of the entire case is that everyone focused on burning Alice and never really focused on those poor babies.
I can see myself falling down the rabbit hole of this case already.
I highly recommend this book to true crime lovers.

The Alice Crimmins Case by Anya Mora is an incredibly immersive audiobook that reads more like fiction than a true crime account, which speaks to the author’s skill in storytelling. The level of research is evident throughout, and as someone who had never heard of the case before, I was completely captivated by the details and context presented. Mora does a fabulous job of providing the facts without trying to convince the listener of Alice Crimmins’ innocence. Instead, she lets the evidence (not that there is much considering how horrible of job police did) speak for itself, giving a balanced perspective of the case.

What stood out to me the most was how the case turned into a witch hunt against Alice Crimmins. The inappropriate and invasive questioning she faced during the trial – especially about her sex life and what she was wearing at various times – was shocking. It was appalling to see how little her character had to do with the actual crime. How does promiscuity have any bearing on the cold-blooded killing of children? The book really highlights the misogyny that permeated the investigation, especially from the detectives, which ultimately clouded their ability to focus on finding the real killer.

This case is a perfect example of how societal biases can derail justice, and Mora’s approach to telling this story was both thought-provoking and eye-opening. By sticking to the facts and letting the truth speak for itself, Mora has created a compelling narrative that’s a must-read for anyone interested in how media and misogyny can shape a criminal investigation.

I appreciate Netgalley providing me with an advance copy in return for my candid assessment. Although I don't usually give non-fiction ratings, I thought this one was deserving of a strong four stars. Eddie Crimmins Jr., age five, and his sister, Missy, age four, vanished from their beds on a sweltering summer night. Supposedly. Alice Crimmins, their mother, quickly emerged as the prime (only) suspect. Law enforcement and the media closely scrutinized Alice's lifestyle because she had recently left her husband, had several lovers, and enjoyed going out to parties. Law enforcement made every effort to blame this "moral less" mother for the children's deaths, which were discovered soon after the disappearance. As someone who enjoys reading true crime novels, I was excited when I found this book as I haven't heard of the Crimmins case before. The author did a thorough job in their research and it was very evident throughout.

If you aren’t familiar with this case, Alice Crimmins was convicted of killing her two children, Missy and Eddie Jr., in the 1960s. From the very beginning, Alice was a suspect. Alice was recently divorced and a lot of people did not agree with how she was living her life, so she was under a microscope for the investigation. But, was she really guilty or did the police drop the ball?

I enjoyed this book. I think any true crime fan will. It was well researched and didn’t come off as the author being biased or using opinions instead of facts. It really gets the reader thinking “Was she truly guilty?” Towards the end, it also gives the reader a glimpse as to what life can be like for people like Alice who get paroled and try to live life outside of the prison system.

I listened to the audio version of this book. I enjoyed the narrator and thought she did a great job.

I received an ARC of the audiobook version from Netgalley and HighBridge Audio in exchange for an honest review. This has not impacted my review at all. Thank you Netgalley and HighBridge Audio!

I listened to the audiobook version of The Alice Crimmins Case, and I have to say—the narrator was fantastic. She had a calming, almost chill voice that kept me engaged the entire time. I never felt like she was losing me, which is rare for true crime audiobooks. Granted, I do listen at an increased speed, so keep that in mind, but the tone and delivery were spot on.

Now, onto the book itself—extremely well-written and clearly well-researched. The author makes her stance on the case pretty obvious, but that’s fine because the way she lays out the evidence and perspectives makes it easy to form your own opinions. And honestly? The whole case is infuriating. So much of it feels like a mess of missed opportunities and biased assumptions, largely thanks to chauvinistic detectives who couldn’t see past their outdated ideas of what a "good mother" should look like.

One of my favorite aspects was hearing about the press interactions with Alice Crimmins—it was fascinating to see how they portrayed her and how she handled it. I also really appreciated how the author wove in the larger historical context, like the feminist movement gaining traction at the same time. It added a layer of depth that made the story feel even more impactful.

Overall, this was a gripping and frustrating read (in the best way). If you enjoy true crime that dives deep into the societal forces at play, this one is worth checking out.