This much we do know: Sophie Toscan du Plantier was murdered days before Christmas in 1996, her broken body discovered at the edge of her property near the town of Schull in West Cork, Ireland. The rest remains a mystery.
Gripping, yet ever elusive, join the real-life hunt for answers in the year's first not-to-be-missed, true-crime series. Investigative journalist, Sam Bungey, and documentarian, Jennifer Forde, guide listeners through the brutal, unsolved murder and the tangled web of its investigation, while introducing an intricate cast of characters, a provocative prime suspect, and a recovering community whose story begs to be heard.
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(Audible Originals, 8 February 2018, audible, audiobook, multiple narrators)
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I didn't realise until after I'd listened to a couple of episodes that West Cork was about a real-life, unsolved murder.
I really enjoyed the audible show, split into thirteen podcasts. I listened to them in one setting. I found myself completely gripped.
Sophie's unsolved murder is a tragedy as is any unsolved murder. In this case, it's worse because her tragic death was overshadowed by the circus that became Ian's life.
On the one hand, the police seemed to been obsessed with proving Ian murdered her, despite the lack of any real evidence against him. If the information in the show is to be believed, they coerced people to lie or change crucial evidence to frame him.
On the other hand, Ian does not come across in a good light. Despite his protests that his life was ruined because of the accusations, he seems to relish the publicity. His behaviour is bizarre at times. He makes a name for himself, as a victim on the back of someone's murder.
I liked the way the show was constructed, with interviews by people who were involved in the case.
West Cork was fascinating to listen to. I hope Audible do something similar in future.
