I've been taking a break from the true-crime genre. It honestly wasn't a huge portion of my reading list to begin with, but I had a handful of podcasts and YouTube channels that I enjoyed listening to. That was until I watched a few videos from a specific channel. I can't remember what it's called at this point since I didn't seek it out on purpose, but every episode started the same way. They offered "their deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the victims families" in that almost human sounding AI narrator voice so many channels use now. Its hard to explain why it upset me so, but it kind of reminded me of starting a conversation with "no offense, but..." It was just peak pandering. Once I noticed the pattern I started to realize just how many tasteless tactics that these producers used and its just such a turn off.

I read a lot of biographical works based around dictators, genocide and general governmental folley so nonfiction about terrible events does not bother me. But there seems to be a disconnect in the true crime community between factual presentation and unabashed voyeurism. There's always been books published about particularly horrible or vexing crimes but most of them really go unnoticed unless you're geographically close to were the event took place. Now that any Tom, Dick and Harry can whip out a podcast the market is flooded with tactless people seeming to just want to cash in on the newest craze.