The investigative reporting was excellent, however, the ratio of ads to real content was 8:1. This could’ve been more succinct and complete in fewer but longer episodes. Just when they were getting going, the episode ended. Only to have to repeat themselves a lot at the beginning of the next episode to bring you up to speed on where the last episode ended. The same goes for the summary of each episode. Ugh.

/ Episode length: 45 mins. / Fluff time, round-up: 11 mins. / Avg time between ads: 12 mins. / Based on episode: S4E1. ==========================

whyyy the heck are the ads in the subscriber edition! what’s even the point of paying $40/year if i still have to listen to ads that disrupt the story just as i was settling into it! very upsetting. please fix this issue.

Terrible research. ! This host is about is nefarious and does not give a f about victims. Delivery is bad and so is his constant commentary and 1000's of ads. I don't think anyone can possibly take this guy seriously. I would rather watch paint dry.

Feels like there are ads every few minutes. SO many ads. Takes you out of the listening experience.

I started with this series and found the way you pay attention to details refreshing. Everything about this show grabs your attention from your voice and the interaction with others on the show and the music. Looking forward to more shows from you. Keep up the great work!

I grew up in Bethel Ohio and was very excited to listen to this but kind of hard to when there are ads every 2 minutes.

I just cannot take Phelps seriously. I watched his show back in the day and he is such a hamhanded, "lets pretend i am an investigator and not just a true-crime host" pretensious blowhard. The way he talks as if he is "investigating" is beyond annoying. Like, dude, you are a writer! Of 40 books??????He is, like Garth Marenghi, probably a man who has written more books than he has read. He seems like the kind of dude who would show up to a crime scene on a motorcycle trying to look cool. I cannot take this dude seriously, but i listened to two episodes, but it was just too bad. Like others have pointed out, this guy is a LONG time grifter and no way can you write 40 books WELL. True crime is an industry and Phelps laughs all the way to the bank.

This is one of my favorite podcasts!

The trolls of Turtle Boy are trying to give him bad reviews because of the (Karen Reed) case. It is so evident that those reviews are manufactured.

This podcast is dishonest and full of opinion not truth. He does not do any work himself and uses other people’s hard work and just makes up the rest. He is a fraud and lies for clicks and money. This is self proclaimed by Phelps himself. He is in it to make money no matter who it hurts.

I like how he explains the work on all of his shows

I love all of season 1, 2, and 4. I’m sorry for saying this because I know she was in pain and still is but the woman that speaks on season 3. Her voice is so irritating. She sounds so fake

This is now my favorite podcast. Excellent production and I love the thorough coverage and investigation on each case. I am now following and listening to all of the podcasts by him!! Can’t wait for the upcoming episodes.

I listened to several of his shows in the past but after hearing his latest show, he has lost all credibility in my eyes. He just makes stuff up out of nowhere. Seriously. I’ve never seen anything like it. He is a pathological liar.

I couldn’t even finish- I was interested to know what happened but he is SO awful to listen to id rather just google it.

Not worth your time. Listen to crime junkie or one of her spin offs.

M. William Phelps is great! He is very thorough and descriptive. He's also very entertaining.

He’s not a serious person

Phelps is a modern day snake oil salesman and a narcissist. Terrible person with a hidden agenda. He calls himself an investigative journalist but doesn’t research nor investigate even the most basic facts of these cases. Fake, phony, fraud!

Phelps is a fake and a fraud with narcissistic personality disorder. You sir, should be ashamed of yourself. He sold his soul to the devil by grifting off of the true crime community, victims, and their families by spreading lies and misinformation. Zero stars should be an option.

Don’t Bother!

Your reading is so bad

I listen to many podcasts, including several true crime. Nobody does a better job of digging into a case and presenting facts as an advocate for the victim. M. William Phelps does outstanding work. Great for anyone serious about the truth and not just sensationalized storytelling.

Just started listening to Paper Ghosts. My first podcasts. Finished season 1 and 2. Great job going into the past to put these stories out there. I can’t wait to start the next season.

Phelps is that guy you see in every cheesy true crime or “worlds scariest killers”-type show. The guy is the Gene Hackman of true crime! My issue with this series, much like a lot of Phelps work, is that he leads his interviewee into sensational statements. The writer in him can’t be satisfied unless he has the most sensationalized version of whatever he’s saying. For example, statements such as “do you think she sold drugs? What type of drugs did she sell?” When no mention of the person ever being suspected of selling drugs. It’s meant to paint a picture of “she’s not just a bad person, she’s a drug dealer who sells heroin to children!” Phelps is just too dramatic to be taken seriously got my taste.

It’s annoying how many times I need to hit FF, and every time I do, I need to hit it 5-6 times (2.5-3min each time).

Love M. William Phelps’ story telling, thorough coverage of the cases, and victim advocacy.

After making it partway through episode 4 of season 4, I finally realized that the main character of every single story in this podcast is dogged reporter M. William Phelps. Not the victim(s). In S4, E4, Our Intrepid Investigative Reporter interviews someone he feels is the likely killer, and spends the greater part of the episode in an expository ecstasy: “*I* had to” go hard on this guy, *I* had to…..etc. Sir. You are not the story. Please dial back on your self-aggrandizement. Bullying an elderly convict, whose voice and reactions clearly show confusion and (potentially) dementia, in an interview is not professional behavior. I hold no brief for this serial killer *at all*, but I question the journalistic integrity of any reporter who makes himself the focus of his own reporting. Aggressively questioning an old man is not the flex you seem to think it is. Your coverage of this 35-year old case would have a lot more impact if you would focus less on yourself in it. This world does not need a 21st century Geraldo Rivera. Conduct yourself accordingly.

Absolutely love this series and podcast. You do such a great job and give the victims such care.

Thorough, passionate and compassionate. For anyone complaining about ads, you can always hit the fast forward button!

Cannot stay subscribed to this platform that supported financially, Ted Cruz, a traitor to our nation.

I always look forward to the next episode. Keep up the fantastic work!!

Ads….everyone has beaten that horse, the creators and apple don’t care about how much we hate how, for ever 30 seconds of content you get, 1:45 of ads is coming next. But when the app tells me “updated 1hr ago” and NOTHING is there, is deceptive, no new episode, no trailer, nothing. Is truly deceitful.

Can’t listen to this, the first ad was pitching a kids social media where they were asking kids to post pics from their summer vacations and saying safety was their top priority. Can’t support a show that would link with that sort of advertisement.

I listen to all of M William Phelps podcasts and still want more! His storytelling is so captivating and his voice is perfect for listening. He truly investigates everything he discusses and gives so much background… it’s fantastic. He has such a passion for what he does it totally shines through on every episode. More Paper Ghosts! More everything from Phelps!

Paid for premium and still get ads. Really disappointed as I like the podcast.

1/3 of every show is obnoxious ads for casinos and other garbage. The content is really good if you can get over the constant ads for nonsense. It’s really hard to continue to listen with this. Seems like every 10 minutes there are 3 minutes of ads. There are other podcasts out there. Skip this one

Great podcast, M William Phelps is one of the top storytellers in all podcasts. I can’t wait until another season begins.

Just wanted to drop a note that you are a great investigator and storyteller. I grew up in Iowa and remember the Tammy Zawicki case and actually now live in Greenville South Carolina and did not know that she went to high school here. I am very hopeful for updates on this case, as it definitely was a very sad story. I have also listened to your other seasons and really enjoyed the work you did! Looking forward to more seasons in the future. Keep up the good work!

Thorough coverage of crimes by a thorough investigator. The final interrogation of the suspect at end of season 4 was Especially intriguing. I do recommend this podcast.

Every time you get into the story, you have to wade through 2 1/2 or three minutes of ads on the payroll payroll and then at the end. It’s only a half hour show. I don’t understand.

I liked most of the show, but the interview in “The Boogeyman” episode was deeply ethically questionable. The man sounded clearly unwell and likely with some sort of dementia. He probably wasn’t even well enough to give informed consent to the interview. Nothing in that interview can be taken as evidence of anything given the state of the old man. I’m shocked any serious journalist would even finish that job interview, let alone publish it.

As someone from Northwest Arkansas I appreciate the time and attention you and your team put into this. I was HOOKED and enjoyed it very much.

Awesome podcast!! I drive for a living so I put this on not only to pass time but each episode and series is really well put together and very interesting. All very unfortunate circumstances but definitely worth listening to! Please tell me there’s more on the way!!!

Again if you love true crime you will love these too. I listened to this first and then found Crossing the Line and have listened to all of those as well. They’re SO GOOD!!!!

Is there anything worse than a podcast host saying the crime has never been solved within the first 60 seconds of the pod?

I found this podcast way back when season 1 was being released. I’ve commented many times on MW’s instagram that he can’t get these out fast enough! Every season is a grand slam and that can’t be said for a lot of other hosts/podcasts. It takes a lot to keep my attention and interest, which is why I have not found anyone else to follow, but MW has done just that. I can’t wait for the next weeks episode, and am always sad when the season ends. MW is a master in true crime and his podcasts are evidence of that.

I am obsessed with this podcast, Paper Ghost. M. William Phelps telling of these true crimes is so amazing! I’m ordering his books now.

A masterful storyteller who truly cares about honoring the memory of the missing and murdered and making sure that the victims and their loved ones have a voice. Mr. Phelps’ work is the absolute best in the true crime genre.