At it best, it is quite a podcast. Sometimes, however, you have the feeling they fluff it up unnecessarily. One struggles to understand, for example, the point of the long readings of the suspect’s letters to another woman. We know he is a liar, we know he has no shame, let’s get on with it. I skipped the “conversations” chapters after the first one: they do not add anything. In all, however, a very decent podcast.

So much repetitive information and interviews with unimportant people just proposing theories. This could have been edited down to like six strong episodes. I honestly skipped stuff bc it dragged so much.

This podcast may have worked better in real time. When I found it, wasn't totally over but most episodes had dropped and the inquest episodes I found especially tedious and while I appreciate the accuracy they were going for with the French-accented suspects and witnesses, it became impossible to listen to. I think it could have benefited from snippets of the recreation of the inquest with a lot more narration. I'm sure the idea was for the people involved to speak for themselves, as it were, but I have made it most of the way through, but the hour+-long episode/interview with the main suspect's ex-wife was too much and I had to stop. It's awful what happened to Sally's mother and brother, and ultimately to her; and how dismissive the cops were, and I am very glad for her that she had these people from News7 to really push the matter forward, but if you are listening to this not in real time, it's just, well, tedious, too many episodes and could use some editing.

This podcast was so well done so amazing and wow, what twist and turns I love how all through it you acknowledge the people that are helping and created such a loving community of support

Hope you all feel a sense of accomplishment today. Hard to hear Marion has been pronounced deceased, but it’s the way forward. So sad to hear you say this was the last episode of TLV…but I have a feeling you’ll be back. Thank you for your research, professionalism, thoughtfulness on the show and your support and dedication for Sally. After everyone ignoring her for years, I’m so thankful you heard her and agreed to help. Well done! A listener from very early on. 💚 Cami Idaho - USA

I just want to say a heartfelt thank you to this amazing team. Sally deserved an army of warriors behind her and you were that for her and continue to be. Justice must be served for Marion and for Sally and family.

Thank you for a very well done investigation.

This is a very tragic and interesting story that I am very invested in knowing more about, but I just can’t keep wading through hours and hours of repetitive detail. I really wish they had done a better job of editing this material to a manageable length. Even the episodes that are supposed to be recaps just drag on and on ad nauseum.

I made it through every episode and conversation until Episode 15 (“Progress”). The phone calls to Remakel are infuriating and actually painful to listen to, due to the language barrier and the podcast’s absolutely tactless approach. In this and the Luxemboug episode, both hosts from 7NEWS (Bryan and Alison) seem to have zero skill or instinct for communicating with a subject who’s elderly, struggles with English, and clearly has no idea what’s going on. I can’t believe how badly the podcasters handled their investigation on this front.

I gave up. After 7 or so episodes I realized that each episode was padded with repeat material and awful doomsayer music and “how awful this continues to be for the daughter” and actually added very little info to move the story forward. I tried fast-forwarding to much later episodes and found the same thing—itty bits of questionable info and repetition of old material,awful music and “how awful this is for the daughter”

I was hooked from the first episode! SAD sure but with twists and turns along the way in this case. Something is amiss with the police investigating. Gosh as bad as in the Delphi case!

Super well done - but really came here to say that Diane, Rics wife, is certifiable! I’ve never heard someone so divorced from reality !!!

This is not well produced. I have skip through 3 episodes because it is so slow and repetitive. Not sure I’ll finish.

Only part way in but soooo interesting. Lots of twists and turns! A must for teachers. One caveat- pls be careful if you’ve survived physical abuse or SA as a child. However, hosts do give warnings about sensitive content. One more thing…. Don’t ever find yourself missing in Australia!!! There is a strong and unfounded tendency (even/esp. by authorities and ‘experts’) to believe that most missing people have just run from their lives on their own accord.

This is an amazing tribute to a daughters love of her mother. Love can move mountains and this group is doing it!! Love your dedication and wishing you the best! A must listen!!

This podcast truly leaves you stunned and saddened by the lengths this man of many many names has gotten away with for far too many years. It also leaves you hopeful for Marion, her daughter Sally and the far too many victims who deserve justice.

Riveting podcast! Incredibly sad for Sally and family! All those lost years without Marion and the lost years of no investigations! Horrendous.

This is a great podcast.

This might be the best podcast/story out there. Hoping Sally finds the truth.

I started listening to this podcast in 2019 while still living in Australia. It was frustrating not being able to access all content at that stage because some content was restricted and not available in Australia. Fortunately for me I could listen to those episodes while I was back in the US. Great work Sally with keeping this investigation moving forward! Many thanks to Channel 7 as well.

I’ve listened to all the episodes. It’s an engaging story, and I’m pleased many answers have been uncovered. There are a few drawbacks to storytelling format: the lead ins and recaps are way too long; it’s like an author has to rehash an entire book at the beginning of every chapter: tedious listening material. Also, the background noises and music in the later episodes are overdone and become distracting instead of atmospheric.

Finally figured out what this podcast has mentioned over and over! Watching a detective show and “deed poll” popped up in the subtitles……one mystery solved!

This is a very well-done and interesting podcast (btw, I’m Canadian and completely able to understand the accents) but it’s made less enjoyable by the way Bryan constantly interrupts, talks over, and minimizes Alison - who is actually the executive producer! His behaviour towards her seems very disrespectful and sexist, and I find myself gritting my teeth every time they’re in an unscripted conversation together, because I know Bryan will hog the airtime and prevent Alison from sharing her equally valid thoughts. When Alison was told by the police media team that they would no longer deal with her, Bryan’s response was that he “couldn’t be happier” with the police because HE still had a great relationship with them. That is so dismissive! Alison is the leader on this project and his colleague, and he should be as affected by unfair treatment towards her as she is. I find Bryan’s tone and verbal choices so unprofessional that it’s hard to concentrate on the otherwise fascinating story of Marian and Sally (who I hope gets all the answers and closure she deserves after all these years.) Alison, please start interrupting him!

I am in the US and can understand every word. Great podcast sad case. Good luck

Achingly sad, yet so incredibly addictive. Late to this podcast so I’m binging to catch up. So many twists and turns that you can forget the tragedy that it’s a real person missing and a real family involved. Bravo to Alison and Brian. You are truly fantastic. What a team! Alison is a true professional and I’m so glad Brian has returned. Sally, my heart breaks for you. If I were in your situation, I would move heaven and earth to find my mom. I hope you find your mom. You deserve some peace. ❤️

I feel extreme guilt for loving this ongoing heartbreaking story. I am only on Episode 9, but I am obsessed! I truly hope Sally gets answers about her mom. I also love how the podcast is being done and the Australian accents. I can feel the anguish and frustration with each episode. I hope missing person reports are handled differently due to what has been uncovered in this podcast!

The perseverance that Sally has shown in the pursuit of answers as to why her mom completely disappeared from her life is admirable and very touching. I have such high regard for all the people who have helped her on this journey and appreciate all the time and effort it has taken to continually bring the information to us!

The gold standard for activist podcasts.

Amazing deep dive podcast!

This lady that claims she saw Marion - seems ridiculous! Why would she be brought to court? Seems unlikely.

I’ve only recently discovered this podcast. I have listened to every episode in a short amount of. The story is heartbreaking, but Sally’s love for her mother and unfailing efforts to uncover the truth about Marion’s disappearance are inspiring. I’m an American listener and had no trouble understanding the accents. I also appreciated when explanations were given for Australian law procedures. Thank you for recognizing your international audience & seeking to help us have a greater understanding of the processes “down under”.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND. ONE OF THE BEST IVE LISTENED TO. Note that I’m an American listener and I don’t find it at all hard to understand the accent. Not sure why others have trouble?? This podcast is well-done and absolutely fascinating. I started listening this past year but I believe 7 News has been investigating this cold case and releasing info as they uncover it. My suggestion is to SKIP OVER over most of the BONUS material. I found much of it tedious. I believe they needed filler as their investigation hit temporary roadblocks. Don’t stop listening. This story is one of the best.

I CANT UNDERSTAND A SINGLE WORD. ACCENT IS WAY TOO STRONG.

Intriguing story, but I have to say that the ambush journalism, especially when confronting elderly people who don’t speak English as a first language, is incredibly offensive. I am unsure if speaking or in any way verbally or physically responding to a journalist in Australia legally implies consent to be recorded/on record and consent to publicize their names and locations, but it doesn’t seem like the “right thing” especially when implying someone has been involved in a crime. I honestly don’t understand how you folks aren’t being sued left and right.

I found your story from the Prosecutors Podcast last week and I have listened to every episode already. I can understand and appreciate the time, the support, and the progress made. The end of the latest episode mention the VOLUMES of information acquired by Sally, the podcast, all the amazing Super Sleuths and the officials. I feel so connected to your family. I understand the complexities that can arise with purposeful and unintended secrets. As well as, the effect uncovering the details has on those closest to you. I am sending massive hugs to Sally and family. ❤️

Oh what a tangled web… Seriously. Tangled. Web. This is a remarkable story and it isn’t over. But whatever the theories of the listener: Even if Marion Barker did ‘disappear’ to begin a new life, that does not mean she relinquished her protection under the law. ‘Starting a new life’ is not an invitation to be harmed. This story isn‘t over, but I’m with it to the end. Find Marion! If she’s alive, PROVE IT.

I have been listening to this for over a year off and on. I totally support you all and your podcast. To have people care so much and work so hard.

Prosecutor’s Podcast has captivated me into wanting to listen to The Lady Vanishes. I’ve binge listened to it in just a few days. I can’t put it away! I hope Sal finds her mom. Listening from North Dakota, USA! I’m happy to see no stone unturned and the amount of effort shows! Keep on this you are all wonderful! Hope the listers can help find her.

This is an interesting story, but the podcast drags. Each episode is over an hour long and there is maybe one little piece of new information in each, with a LOT of repetition from earlier episodes.

I got sucked into this immediately but then it fell apart. It doubles back over things its already covered ad nauseam & parts of the story are hugely underdeveloped & confusing. I have no doubt this pod’s efforts caused the case to finally move forward so I’ll give it kudos for that. I also want to say that I think Sally deserves peace and I hope that peace includes seeing her mother for what she actually was no matter her ultimate fate. There are parts of the story that make me very sad for Sally and her brother. Of course, that doesn’t mean their mother deserved an evil end if that is what happened.

Interesting story, but a few episodes in it becomes glaringly clear that Sally and her team seem incapable of accepting or even considering all the evidence that points toward an answer they don’t want. I absolutely empathize with the emotional toll and effects Marion’s disappearance must have had on Sally, but the deeper she digs, the more obvious the dismissals and brushes past important information become, while they paint a clearer and clearer picture of the truth Sally can’t - or won’t - accept (despite her repeated assertions of the opposite.) At the same time, certain details or unconfirmed possibilities/weak evidence are often stated as indicating something indisputable. Bizarre conclusions are drawn from given facts, while the obvious ones are swerved around and ignored because they’re too uncomfortable. Ultimately, the people who love Marion only ever entertain theories in which she was a victim - of foul play, a con, a cult, or a psychotic break of some sort. These are all possibilities, but they aren’t the only ones to seriously consider. The most obvious indication of the inability to accept certain “undesirable” aspects of the truth and the evidence supporting it is the fact that “who Marion was” ((according to whomever is speaking)) is somehow stronger evidence that holds more weight than anything else. This belief that “Marion would never” (even when she did) and the absolute confidence in that idea cloud Sally’s and everyone’s ability to embark on a true search for the truth, from the outset. Unfortunately, it’s painfully obvious that Sally’s on a search for proof of her preferred narrative more than anything else. I understand why. I do. But I’m bracing myself for the impending heartbreak that is to be expected by someone who pretends to want truth, when all they want is reassurance. It’s a good listen, but it’s worth recognizing the unreliability of our narrators. There is the Marion they know and see as a whole, the image held in memory of “who she was,” and there is the Marion we get to know through her behavior, and choices. Each episode begins by describing her as “A mother, a teacher” - and generalized descriptions of her describe her as friendly/well liked, happy, loving, and dedicated - and someone who wouldn’t just pick up and go... which she may very well have been. But no one is all of these things all of the time. Marion was a mother (without custody/living apart from her kids), she was a teacher (who hit her students), she was friendly/well liked (but had a hard time connecting with other people, and difficult to get along with), happy (but clearly lonely and struggling with some deep unhappiness), loving (but with no close friends, serious relationship, nor her kids, even, around to receive it), dedicated (to a job she was increasingly distracted from & performing angrily, showing aggression towards children), she would never pick up and go... except for every “promotion” she’d repeatedly moved for... or a year spent traveling abroad & selling her house for because.... she WOULD. For the promise of something “better.” Marion was flawed and troubled and that’s okay. The nurse who spoke about mental health issues was giving inaccurate information and only furthered the absolutely false assumption that Marion would have had to suffer a mental breakdown or serious issue to disappear by her own volition. She lends authority to concepts she clearly doesn’t really understand, but can confirm what Sally wants desperately to be true. Ultimately, Sally has an image of her mother she wants to preserve, even though some of her impressions are clearly contradicted by everything her mother actually did. She sees “mom” while we slowly start to understand Marion. But that’s her prerogative, and perfectly understandably human. EDIT TO ADD, after another year+ of episodes…. seems clear Sally is more than just misled in her desperation, and even had some part in driving her mother away with her behavior. Maybe her obsession comes in part from absolving herself of any guilt. Marion’s own sisters believe she had plenty of reason to leave her life behind. Even if she was led astray by a sketchy man, she was unhappy at work, had strained relationships with her parents, her son, and YES! Even Sally! Marion clearly had more than enough to want to get away from in her own life. I hope she got to live out her dream adventure, and retired on a beach far from her terrible family.

of investigative reporting! bravo

Where’s the next episode? I’m on pins and needles!!

I feel for sally and her family. Long time listener. Hope you get to bottom of all this!!!!

I agree in part with some of the negative reviews, but find this compelling in spite of flaws. The repetition is annoying and the police seem useless. You don’t have to be a conspiracy monger to think cover-up or ineptitude. My major peeve is that there are many things that could be explored, like the bank, name change, flight, but all we get is these overly long chats with a rather odd sister and equally odd school co-workers who go on and on about gossipy trivia. Bottom line is that if the police know for sure that Marion doesn’t want to be found, why don’t they offer up some proof—they could do that w/o outing her actual location. Rather, it seems they have latched onto the notion (as opposed to EVIDENCE) that she chose to disappear and will not back down on that. I think Sally needs a good lawyer and that the presenters need to concentrate on evidence and actual unanswered questions. Why on earth has no one gone to England? Or Luxembourg? Something just doesn’t add up, but it’s the police who should be answering, so stop with all the silly recorded phone calls that are nothing more than gossip. UPDATE So...they go to Luxembourg—at last! But do they write and find out if they’d be welcome? Nooooooo, just show up and bang on the door, then be stunned when the poor man is upset with them. This was a cheap stunt and accomplished very little. I feel for Sally, but she needs to dump these people—especially Brian. I lost all respect for him in the Luxembourg episode. There must be a better way for Sally to pressure the police. UPDATE—I’ve hung in there (good riddance Bryan) and am now listening to the absurd testimony of Willy Wooters and his many aliases, especially F Remical! Can’t wait to see where this is going. Alison is doing a great job but this channel 7 is no BBC—or even ABC, and the tabloid techniques continue with Alison’s “interview” with Sally. It sounds like Sally, although grateful for their help in getting this far, is tired of talking to them and just wants to get it all over with and find out out what this man did to her Mom. Too bad the police didn’t to their job and dig him up 20 years ago.

Marion was a lucky woman to have such a dedicated daughter. Don’t stop searching until you have your answer, Sal!

Wow. My jaw is on the ground halfway through today’s episode and I am speechless (inquest events from February 3rd) — and I even cheated after the cliffhanger at the end of the last episode and read some local news sources. Profound validation for Sally in her dogged pursuit of the facts. I’ve no doubt the emotions are all over the map, but as an outsider I am so very happy for her that all of this is coming to light. It would never have happened without her tirelessness. ❤️❤️

Sending support from Seattle Washington. I know you’re all trying to turn these episodes out as quickly as possible, but the last two have been somewhat confusing. Maybe you can explain, in your own words, what you’re discovering. I’ve listened since almost the very beginning and I don’t usually have an issuing with following. On pins and needles hoping Sally sounds fine real answers!!

Didn’t see that coming. At least you know more. Xxoo to you sally.

Sally deserves answers. Sally you are an amazing person. Your tenacity and perseverance over the years are a testament to your character and love for your mother.