10 True Crime Podcasts You Probably Haven’t Listened to Yet

Back in 2014 (a millennium ago by the standards of the Internet), the Serial podcast began, and the whole world stopped listening to it. Today, the show is considered one of the most influential podcasts in history , a cultural phenomenon that popularized the crime film genre, fueled the debate on criminal justice reform, and helped legitimize podcasting as a medium of mass media. The success of Serial proved that podcasting could be a vehicle for high-quality investigative journalism, and its legacy has endured in the countless true crime podcasts and investigative journalism projects that have followed. Since your search for podcast recommendations has no doubt led you to this article, you have no doubt already heard all the series , as well as other shows that have come after it. But I’m happy to tell you that podcasting is a deep well and there are many more high quality true crime podcasts that you haven’t swallowed yet. Here are 10 of my favorites, but you don’t have to take my word for it; many of these shows have been endorsed by Crime Writers On… , a true crime podcast review podcast hosted by two professional crime story writers.

In the dark

The first season of In the Dark , hosted by Madeleine Baran, investigates the case of Jacob Wetterling, a Minnesota boy who was abducted in 1989 and went missing for 27 years until his remains were discovered in 2016. It’s fantastic, but for this top ten list, I want to direct you to the second season, which focuses on the case of Curtis Flowers, a man who was tried six times for the same crime in Mississippi. Madeleine and her team conducted extensive research to examine the shortcomings in the case against Flowers and highlight how race and politics may have influenced the prosecution’s efforts. (Such as the testimony of a single inconsistent witness who confessed to lying, and how the prosecution used peremptory strikes to exclude black jurors from the case.) “In the Dark” was notorious for unearthing new evidence pointing to Flowers’ potential innocence, including an alternate suspect and possible evidence of prosecutorial misconduct. In 2019, the US Supreme Court cited the show’s coverage in its decision to overturn Flowers’ conviction, but only after he had spent 23 years in prison. (Listen to In the Dark ‘s review of Crime Writers On… here .)

Bone Valley

Bone Valley follows Leo Schofield, who was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 1987 for the murder of his wife, 18-year-old Michelle Schofield. Leo is still in jail despite new evidence linking crime scene fingerprints to a guy named Jeremy Scott, who even confessed to killing Michelle. Leading and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Gilbert King and assistant reporter Kelsey Decker will take you to Florida and guide you every step of the way, sifting through evidence, studying Jeremy Scott’s taped confession, and looking for new developments. A parole hearing scheduled for May 3 will determine whether Leo is released from prison. If yes, then this podcast will play a big part in that. (Listen to a review of Bone Valley on Crime Writers On… here .)

Live and die in Los Angeles

The first season of To Live and Die in L.A. , hosted by journalist Neil Strauss (acclaimed author of The Game: Infiltrating a Secret Pickup Society), tells the story of the disappearance of an aspiring actress and model named Adea Shabani, who vanished in February 2018 years after leaving his Hollywood apartment. Over the course of 18 episodes, Strauss explores the circumstances of Shabani’s disappearance and dives into the complex and dark world of Hollywood, interviewing detectives, friends and family members for answers. The show’s compelling storytelling is as strong as its reporting, leading to renewed interest in the case and ultimately to the release of new groundbreaking evidence.

Undisclosed

Fans of the series will remember that it was Rabia Chaudhry, Adnan Syed’s lawyer and friend, who told Adnan’s story to Sara Konig, who directed the series. After the series, Rabia started Undisclosed with two lawyers, Colin Miller and Susan Simpson. The show aims to investigate and analyze wrongful convictions in the American criminal justice system. Each season focuses on a different case and usually includes in-depth research, legal analysis, and interviews with key figures. Rabia, Susan and Colin use their legal expertise to find new evidence or point out flaws in the prosecution’s case. In particular, fans of the series should definitely listen to three amazing episodes: one about Adnan , one about Hae Min Lee and one about Jay . (Listen to Undisclosed’s review of Crime Writers On… here .)

root of evil

The Root of Evil tells the story of the infamous Black Dahlia murder that took place in Los Angeles in 1947. It is led by sisters Rasha Pecoraro and Yvette Gentile, great-granddaughters of George Hodel, a well-known doctor and murder suspect. The show delves into the history of the Hodel family, their connections to Hollywood, and the shocking revelations that have come about with the potential George Hodel case. As you delve into the Black Dahlia murder investigation, Yvette and Rasha pull one skeleton after another out of their family closet in search of the meaning of true evil and what it means to them as Hodel’s descendants. After you get drunk on Root of Evil, listen to their other Facing Evil podcast , which continues the conversation.

Believe her

Trust Her reverses the true crime scenario by making you ask yourself: What happens in a domestic violence situation when the victim becomes the perpetrator? “Trust Her” tells the story of Nicole “Nikki” Addimando, who shot her boyfriend in self-defense after years of abuse (his phone was used to search for the phrase: “Will the police know if he [sic] was sleeping? when I shoot her ?” shortly before his death). However, in 2019 she was convicted of his murder and sentenced to 19 years in prison. Gov. Katie Hochul has yet to approve Addimando’s plea for clemency, despite the fervent desire for freedom from her supporters. Maybe this show will help change that. (Hear a review of “Trust Her” on Crime Writers On… here .)

courteous

The Pulitzer Prize-winner Polite tells the story of David Luis “Polite” Gonzalez, who was released from prison in 2017 after going to jail in 1988 for a crime he committed at the age of 17. (This follows a 2012 U.S. Supreme Court decision to reopen thousands of juvenile life sentence cases.) But more than that, it tells the story of the friendship between Polite and journalist Maria Hinojosa, who spent nearly 20 years documenting her life. story. The show covers the time before, during and after Polite’s release from prison. (Listen to a review of Crime Writers On… here .

Suspect

In 2008, 24-year-old Arpana Jinaga was found strangled in her apartment after a Halloween party at her home. DNA evidence links her body to three men, one of whom was Emanuel Fair, a black man from Seattle who was held for nine years before being found not guilty. The case remains unsolved, but in “The Suspect,” journalists Matthew Schaer and Eric Benson use extensive interviews to tell a story about racism, injustice, the misuse of DNA forensic evidence, and how we arrive at our perceptions of guilt and innocence. It’s exceptionally well done – rather than summing it up, the show aims to ask a lot of important and disturbing questions about why this case remains unsolved. (Hear the suspect’s testimonial on Crime Writers On… here .)

S-city

S-Town is a non-fiction podcast produced by Serial and This American Life. It tells the story of John B. Macklemore, a resident of a small town in Alabama who contacts journalist Brian Reed to investigate a murder and other alleged injustices in his town. While investigating a murder, Reed meets the eccentric and restless Macklemore and understands his difficult relationship with his hometown. S-Town has an amazing third episode that takes listeners down a path they never expected. This is a story about a murder, but more importantly, about the man who brought Reed to the crime scene. (Listen to S-Town ‘s review of Crime Writers On… here . )

Bear Creek

Host Jason Moon, Bear Brook tells the story of a years-long mystery surrounding four unidentified bodies that were found in a state park in New Hampshire in 1985. It all started with the discovery of two barrels in Bear Brook State Park, which were the remains of two unidentified women and two young girls. The case remained unsolved for decades until the advent of new DNA technology enabled investigators to make a major breakthrough in the case. Through detailed reporting and compelling storytelling , Bear Brook touches on DNA technology, genealogy, and the challenges of identifying and resolving unsolved cases. The second season takes on a new case: the story of a man named Jason Carroll, imprisoned for the murder of Sharon Johnson 35 years ago after confessing. He remains in prison despite evidence suggesting that his confession may have been based on a lie.