25 True Crime Podcasts That’ll Satisfy Your Whodunnit Bug
One of these picks is sure to be the next Serial.
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There's nothing more fascinating than a good mystery. For everyone who grew up on Harriet the Spy, Nancy Drew and Encyclopedia Brown, the thrill of putting together the clues to figure out whodunnit just can't be beat. It's frustrating, infuriating and yes — sometimes even a little terrifying. But there's something about the lure of the unknown, peeking into the incomprehensible mind of the criminal, and of course, the heartbreaking reality for the victims and their families that keeps us counting down until the next episode.
And after the success of Serial, arguably the first true crime podcast to really hit the mainstream, you can fill your podcast listening queue with a whole selection of true crime listens. Tune in to make your commute go by faster, to add a little excitement to boring chores or make the miles fly by on a road trip. Some are formatted like longform stories that feel like reading a great mystery, others add a little humor as the hosts talk over the details, and still others let you get in on the fun by doing your own investigation alongside the experts. If you consider yourself a "crime junkie," you'll love these thrilling true crime podcasts (and while you're at it, browse our guide to the best podcasts of 2020!).
Jensen & Holes: The Murder Squad
In this innovative podcast, retired cold case investigator Paul Holes and true crime journalist Billy Jensen team up to tackle unsolved crimes and missing person cases each week. They invite listeners to contribute their own research and theories, so you can put on your own Sherlock hat.
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Root of Evil
Sisters Rasha Pecoraro and Yvette Gentile investigate their great grandfather George Hodel, who is believed to be responsible for the death of Elizabeth Short, also known as The Black Dahlia. One of the most infamous unsolved murders in America, the case is terrifying enough on its own but the family's shocking secrets will send chills down your spine.
Let's Talk About Sects
The techniques used to recruit and retain cult members feel both familiar and foreign, and that's probably what makes them so fascinating. This monthly podcast takes a research-based look at a different cult each episode, so you'll come away having learned something new.
Hollywood Crime Scene
Not all true crime podcasts have to be deadly serious (sorry, not sorry). In this hilarious one, hosts Desi Jedeikin and Rachel Fisher talk about the sordid scandals that take place among the stars, with lots of side commentary to keep you chortling.
Up and Vanished
This podcast aims to shed light on cold cases that may have flown under the radar at the time, with the first season investigating the 11-year-old cold case of a Georgia high school teacher's disappearance. The second season delves into young mother Kristal Reisinger's vanishing from a remote mountain town in Colorado.
Unjust & Unsolved
According to Innocence Project estimates, more than 20,000 people currently languish in American prisons. Learn their stories with host and investigative journalist Maggie Freleng in this new pod through interviews with them, their lawyers, family and friends. It might make you look at our criminal justice system in a new way.
Fraudsters
In this new podcast about the down and dirty deeds people do to make money, Hosts Seena Ghaznavi and Justin Williams cover all kinds of fraud, from fake psychic hotlines to corporations cooking the books. It'll make you go, "Wait, can they do that?"
To Live and Die in LA
When an aspiring actress went missing in Hollywood in 2018, journalist Neil Strauss was asked by the family to investigate. Despite his fears (and threats on his life), he decided to release this shocking podcast. There's an affair, suicide — and the drama hasn't stopped. You won't be able to stop hitting play, either.
Crime Junkie
Can't get enough of stories about mysteries? You might be a "crime junkie," just like the host of this podcast, Ashley Flowers. Each episode, she tackles a different dastardly deed and keeps you in the loop with follow-ups and updates so you have all the pieces to the puzzle.
Over My Dead Body
Dan and Wendi seemed like the perfect couple. They were two attractive attorneys, but their relationship went sour. Then, one of them turned up murdered. Are you hooked yet? Matthew Shaer guides us through this story, and introduces us to all of the shady characters and suspects involved along the way.
Dr. Death
If there's one person you can trust, it's your doctor ... right? This podcast will make you second guess that notion as you learn the story of neurosurgeon Christopher Duntsch. Though he claimed he could take people's pain away, he often made his patients worse, not better. Listen as host Laura Beil breaks down the heartbreaking aftermath of misdiagnoses and a surgeon who doesn't know best.
Atlanta Monster
It's 1979 in Atlanta, children are going missing, and no one knows what to do. Nearly 40 years later, this podcast revisits the harrowing disappearances and murders of over 25 African American children and young adults. Once you're done binging, roll right along to season two, which is about the notorious Zodiac Killer.
My Favorite Murder
Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark have a hard and fast rule: "Stay sexy and don't get murdered." The hilarious duo have quickly become household names, as they tell true stories about murders and other heinous crimes, with lots of asides and a healthy dose of mental health awareness to boot.
Death, Lies, & Cyanide
If the title doesn't catch your attention, the story will. This podcast, produced by Asiaville, covers one of India's most disturbing true crime stories in which a mother allegedly poisoned six members of her own family over 14 years. What's worse, she managed to avoid suspicion until 2019. Tune in to find out how.
Cold
Susan Powell went missing nearly 10 years ago, but her body has never been found and no one was ever convicted. Police always suspected her abusive husband Josh committed the crime, but they couldn't pin it on him. The story takes the most tragic turn, and it's all covered here.
Dirty John
You know a podcast is good when it gets turned into a TV series.. Whether you've already watched the show or have only heard about it, you don't want to miss the original podcast that started it all.
Casefile
Considered "Australia's first true crime podcast," this series covers a new criminal case in almost every episode. The fact that the host insists on remaining anonymous adds to the podcast's allure — because who doesn't love an extra dose of mystery?
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In the Dark
This gripping podcast has two seasons: The first is about the abduction of a young boy named Jacob Wetterling, whose remains were found nearly 30 years after his disappearance. The second season follows Curtis Flowers, who has been tried six times for the murder of four employees at a furniture store. Both are excellent and engrossing.
RELATED: I Tracked Down the Man Who Molested Me 30 Years Ago
Criminal
This isn't your average crime podcast. Hosted by Phoebe Judge, it delves into the mind of the criminal and the complex who, what, when, where, why and how of the terrible things people do and that happen to them. It's compelling, it's poignant, and Judge has one of the most velvety voices on the airwaves.
RELATED: Casey Anthony Speaks Out for the First Time About the Death of Her Daughter
Undisclosed
If you obsess over wrongful convictions, this is the podcast for you. By taking a closer look at how our criminal justice system works, all the way from the crime, through its investigation and eventual trial, it peels back the curtain on the whole machine. Fans of Law & Order, you're going to want to tune in.
Blake Bakkila has been writing about everything from pop culture to lifestyle products for more than eight years. Her work has appeared on GoodHousekeeping.com, WhattoExpect.com, Health.com, and in the print and digital versions of Real Simple and People.
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