A man died. It’s not about your money or vacations. Waste of time.

This story is unimaginably sad all the way around and the narrator’s petty comments about Nancy’s writing while boasting about her own publication seemed low. Also, it’s the “gallery,” not the “audience” in the courtroom and it’s the “court reporter” not the “clerk” who transcribes the proceedings. Maybe do two seconds of your own research.

The story of Nancy is made for podcasts, and it feels like this particular podcast wasted it with mediocre writing and narration. It’s fine, but could have been SO MUCH better if the pacing, suspense, and character development were better executed.

First of all, Heidi A+++++ FIVE STARS. On a SCALE 1-10, 10 being the best, you get 100. I loved this true crime story. Not the crime, obviously, but the way you dropped us into the story. So as you were narrating, I felt like I was in an open air tour bus, with a group of crime story writers and we were in the story. I live outside of Portland, a newbie, originally from Carmel, Ca., and as i listened to your podcast, i felt like bragging to my author friends back home, that “this happened only a town over ! And I’ve driven by where it happened!!” It really is so surreal. You and everyone involved in assembling this story for your podcast, did a fabulous job! In fact I sent your story and podcast to a friend of mine, also an author, whose husband is a famous child actor. They love stories like this. And I sent to many of my friends on Facebook..many best selling authors … I know they will follow you, like I’m doing. Thank you for such a well done story. I look forward for your next one ! By the way, I found an excerpt from Nancy’s , “From My Navel to my Knees” and oh my gosh, it was published in 2012 but it was made for TODAY…all about women’s rights ! Have a wonderful week! Leslie Buck

Poor story telling in the beginning and overbearing/way too frequent sound design made this show feel very hollow. I had to literally stop listening because it was irritating to listen to.

Some very harsh critics here, almost feels like astroturfing. I enjoyed everything about the script and presentation. I especially liked the dramatization of Nancy’s books and the tie ins. Makes for a unique true crime experience.

I’m really not sure what crawled up the naysayers butts, but they weren’t listening to the same show we were…This podcast riveted my entire family. Great job, and the narrator should get her own podcast. Excellent, through and through. Music, sound effects, story, all binge-worthy. I’d love to see Happily Never After become a series, with Heidi as narrator, and the editorial team staying with the interesting story telling techniques. Everyone’s a hidden critic these days, and bullies get their jollies being snarky and mean, stalking and creeping behind a fake persona. Disgusting and misleading. Highly recommend.

Serious question for the naysayers, what did you listen to and what did you expect? It is a PODCAST for ENTERTAINMENT. Get a grip. It’s a fun easy listen. This is not a banal police statement. I am sure she took creative liberties, but again, it’s entertainment. Worth a listen.

I can’t believe real humans wrote or sound designed this. It is terrible through and through. The scripts are banal and lame.

A deep lack of self-awareness here. For as much as Heidi loves to suggest that Nancy is a hack, she has somehow assembled an even hackier podcast. It’s shockingly tone deaf, and she can’t hide her giddiness at being handed such an ironic story (the narration sounds like what I imagine an audio book for a romance novel would sound like, which, if purposeful, is astoundingly gross, and, if not, is astoundingly myopic). Other than pointing at that irony, over and over, she has absolutely nothing to say. In the final episode, she claims that the reporters felt a responsibility to tell this story to give Dan a voice, to paint a full picture of the man. Well, they don’t. At all. And to make that claim without actually dedicating any meaningful time to it is pretty unforgivable. Ultimately, it’s self-aggrandizing, self-congratulatory, solipsist schlock. As far as it’s artistic and journalist merit, it’s all the things it accuses Nancy of being.

The cutesy music and narration is over the top. Very annoying to try to listen to.

About 6 episodes too long

Wasted 45 minutes and they never gave a resolution or answered ANY questions!!!!!! Very frustrating! TOTAL WASTE OF TIME

The narrator is so annoying (gives her opinions very unnecessarily), and as another individual commented, you need to listen to this on 1.25 or 1.5 speed in order to pay attention. The production does not fit the crime at hand. The crime itself is very intriguing, but we’re really only presented one side. It would have been better had we heard Nancy’s side of the story. But regardless, the narration and production really brings down the value of the plot.

If you don’t play this at 1.25 or 1.50 you’re gonna wonder if you’re having a stroke. Trying to stick through the first episode but it’s painful we’ll see if I can make it

I have so many mixed feelings about this podcast. I loved the story telling for a majority.. but the host needs to chill on their opinions. I eye-rolled the hardest when the host said "her badly written novels" and it was just unnecessary and tasteless.

A clearly circumstantial case presented as a clearly just result because that’s what the jury said. It would have been a superior show if both sides were shown equally and presented even handled. Using things like someone “not acting normal,” is really offensive to anyone with any neurodiversity/mental health issues and shouldn’t be allowed. The fact that they followed the common practice of buying life insurance for the bread winner since life insurance is suppose to replace income not reward the bereaved). She sold the insurance as a side hustle and so she knew good deals and got communion for her and him on the purchases. The fact that when her husband’s temper flared up she took the blame? I’ve done that in many relationships particularly when I was trying to keep someone from being fired. If anything it’s a reflection of her complete dependence on him and her instinctive need to protect him. The evidence was pathetic.

Came across this accidentally and loved it. Enjoyed the length and depth. Made me look it up afterwards. Thank you.

Excellent narrator. The story is wild and I couldn’t stop listening. Great reporting

I hate to say this was fun because murder is a bummer but I really enjoyed the way the story was told and I thought the way it was put together was clever!

Tragic story but well told. I loved the narrator and her voice. Binged the whole thing one afternoon while painting. Highly recommend!

How anyone can give this 5 stars is beyond me. Narrator is the worst. And why screw up a true crime podcast with a cheesy narrative like you’re reading a Harlequin novel. Don’t waste your time.

They will not get more listeners by dramatizing these events. People listen to podcasts and watch YT to get away from this manipulative nonsense. But they will get those who adore cheesy presentations with inane music that suggests you’re too shallow to feel what they’re selling. Chef Brophy and his family deserve better than drivel. The onslaught of ads driving us to subscribe will only be effective if there’s a compelling reason to listen. Heidi’s voice is amazing but this is not a radio play circa 1946. Somebody on high is out of touch in a big way. Wondery - mark my words - is going to tank.

The one thing I hate is cheesy romance novels and this podcast is all that in spades. I gave it two stars because I’m sure there’s some romantic at heart that likes this sort of thing and it is told fairly well.

I listen to basically only true crime, and this storytelling was great. The narrator is easy to listen to, articulate, and to the point. Sometimes the narrator can make it about themselves, trying to say too much, or do too much, but it can be distracting from the story, and this storyteller is very professional and again easy to listen to. Also, for anyone that is a critic I would challenge you to create your own successful podcast and produce it to see exactly how hard it is to do. The final product here is high-quality, and you should be proud of yourself. Way to go guys. Can’t wait to hear more!

This podcast sucked me in immediately. I love how it was a good mix of true facts, interviews, and also great storytelling that builds suspense. The host did a wonderful job and Dr. Honda’s analysis was fascinating. Glad justice was served.

I listen to a lot of true crime and it’s a balance between storytelling and the proper tone. Here the narrator just isn’t solemn? serious? Etc. enough… it’s not just a story it’s a murder and there is a victim, etc. listen to / take notes from Payne Lindsey.

I love the way this was told. At one point I couldn’t tell if it was truth or fiction. I had to goggle her name to see if Nancy was real! I hope the narrator hosts more podcasts.

Well done! Enjoyed very much!

If cheesy romance suspense is your genre, you’re going to love this podcast. It’s fitting that it’s told in this way since the subject of this true crime story was a wannabe romance writer. Still, it’s barely tolerable when told in this way.

Interesting story and well-told.

Loved it so much I bought a sub

I disagree with the person who said the narrator is annoying. She's just fine, and I like that she has a personal connection to Nancy. The story is interesting and it’s a fast podcast to get through.

I love this podcast! I don’t want it to end!

Just here to say I LOVE the narrators tone. It makes me feel like I am inside a soapy murder mystery and reminds me of the desperate housewives narrator. A perfect storytelling.

Though tragic, this is a compelling and well-told story. Love the tone and the narrator’s first-hand knowledge of Nancy, her writing, and her relationship with her husband. I’m glad Heidi is a voice for Dan and the horrific nature of his death just for a bit of money.

When I started listening I thought for sure I accidentally clicked on an audio book. You will hear music and sound effects that match the narration. It took some getting use to but I now really enjoy it because mixed in are many interviews of this true crime. They did their leg work as well as attention to detail on this one.

While the podcast description promises a captivating narrative, it results in lackluster performance. It did succeed in its production, with carefully placed interviews and complimentary sound effects, ultimately leaving the listener wanting more. However, after listening to the series - I was left still wanting more. “Happily Never After” Season 1 lacked depth into the case and was overly bias, most easily noticed in the narrator’s tone and lack of reverence for the very real story. As an avid podcast listener and reader, it was simply okay.

I think the narrator does a beautiful job.

There are many comments about the narrator that are unwarranted in my opinion. I found this podcast yesterday and listened to 5 episodes in one day it was so entertaining!! Excited for Number 6 only a few days away!!

Agree 100% with the previous review regarding the tone of the show…I wanted to keep listening because the story sounds so interesting, but the tone/descriptions of events, etc was so distracting that I had to stop unfortunately. A real bummer when the story itself seems so good…

The narration is exemplary! This should be a miniseries.

Narration annoying and wrong tone for this true murder story. Interesting story, BUT a REAL challenge to get thru with the narrator.

This is a serious story told in a whimsical tone. It’s a bit jarring and confusing. It’s a true crime story and someone actually died and left behind family. It should be told in a more serious manner without the music and with way more gravity.

Why does the host sound like she is reading to children? Why is the music fun, quirky, upbeat? These are my questions.

This is the podcast that will make me cancel my Wondery+ subscription. The narrator is so overdramatic that it ruins what she is saying. And this is an actual true crime - the way she tells the story turns it into a joke that feels insensitive to the fact that a real person actually died.

Oof, interesting story but I found the narrator to be a bit distasteful. She appeared to have a personal beef with the suspect that feels unrelated with the alleged crime. A think they really missed the mark because the protagonist was actually fascinating. A narrator should allow the listener to make their own conclusions. It felt petty, especially when she called the suspect a terrible writer 🫣. We’ve already heard her writing, let the listener decide. It also seemed like the evidence against her was super weak- this actually made it more interesting but the narrator seemed so intent on vilifying her. It felt personal in a cringe way.

Glad I gave this a try. Interesting story, well told, good interviews and pace. Hoping for more

For those that want this to be one episode, it’s already a dateline story. I’ll prob not finish this since they’re releasing it little by little. The host is sooooo dramatic. Just listen or watch on dateline instead, “Murder in Kitchen One.”

It is too puffed up and could have been told in less episodes, the narrator also sounds very excited as if she isn’t talking about someone who was killed. She also sounds very robotic and I think the script could have been better. The only reason that I gave it any stars is because it is a good story, I just wish it had been told better.