Introducing… Toil and Trouble

Introducing… Toil and Trouble

From Toil and Trouble by Always True Crime

October 21, 2025 · 1 min · Season 1

About this episode

The episode explores the story of Alfred Douglas and his dangerous relationship with a guest named Maura, highlighting themes of magic, control, and family concern.

When 80-year-old Alfred Douglas invites a near stranger to stay, his family thinks nothing of it. Alfred is a world-renowned expert in tarot and his students often visit his extensive library at his home in Rye. This is how he learned from his teacher and why now he runs a magic school - the Order of the Morning Star. When the pandemic hits, Alfred and his guest, Maura, provide each other with much-needed companionship. But when it’s all over, things change.  To Alfred’s family, it seems Maura’s interest in magic is becoming less about knowledge, and more about power. As Alfred is slowly isolated from everyone he knows, the family can only watch on - do they have any right to intervene? Fearing for Alfred’s safety they start to keep a diary of what is happening to him. They’re right to be concerned, Alfred is in danger. Taylor Glenn and Hannah George, hosts of the podcast Drunk Women Solving Crime , explore a true story of magic, control and fear…that all ends up in court. For more true crime that you'll be obsessed with head to AlwaysTrueCrime.com. This series contains themes of domestic abuse and coercive control. If you live in the UK and require support, there are a…

People in this episode

Hosts: Taylor Glenn, Hannah George

Guest: Maura

Topics covered

  • magic
  • control
  • domestic abuse
  • coercive control
  • true crime
  • isolation

Keywords

  • tarot
  • magic school
  • pandemic
  • companionship
  • court case

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Order of the Morning Star, Always True Crime

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