A True-Crime Podcast That Tackles Flawed Investigations: In the Dark
Careful investigations of investigations.
Information is well-organized and detailed.
Focus is on the conduct of investigators, not the crimes.
Pexels/Kat Wilcox
Best Podcast for White-Collar Crime: Swindled
Insight into outlandish scams and corporate injustices.
Covers crimes not discussed in many other podcasts.
Uses narrative storytelling and archival audio.
Sometimes lacks a human angle.
The focus is on one city’s corruption at a time.
May not appeal to those who aren’t interested in the cities.
Crimetownis a true-crime podcast with an original, wide-lensed angle from the creators of HBO’sThe Jinx.
The second series focused on Detroit.
Unsettling Murder Stories for Horror Enthusiasts: Casefile
The podcast’s worldwide focus.
The fast narrative momentum of episodes.
The eerie background music.
The unnerving and often distressing ambiance.
Can get overly detailed.
The examination of society, race, and class.
Ads that open each episode.
The narration can be a bit heavy-handed.
Only one year of episodes.
Best Crime Podcast for Variety: Criminal
Crimes are reconstructed in absorbing detail.
Each episode focuses on a new crime.
Some episodes are more lighthearted.
Doesn’t explore a particular crime in depth.
Ads in the middle of the stories interrupt the flow.
The comedic angle is a refreshing change.
The colorful language may be too strong for some.
Discussing violent murders in a chatty way seems odd.
Best True-Crime Podcast of a Cold Case: West Cork
A comprehensive inquiry into the case.
Uses multiple sources and points of view.
The podcast is now free.
Tends to focus more on the suspect than the victim.
A Crime Podcast for Armchair Psychologists: Dirty John
Forensic examination of John’s psychology.
Slow, disjointed pace.
The bare-bones production values.
Works better as a written feature than a podcast.
Another Cold Case Podcast for Armchair Sleuths: Someone Knows Something
Compelling cases.
Well-constructed sense of mystery.
Careful revelation of new details on each case.
Not satisfying for listeners who like a clear resolution.
Her body was found two days later.
Ridgen goes to Thompson to speak with family members, witnesses, and suspects.
What he found there might help the case move forward.
More a study of fringe religious groups than crime.
Not as crime-focused as some true-crime fans prefer.
A Crime Podcast Heavy With Drama: Unsolved Murders
Well-paced episodes, suspense, and characterization.
Uses actors to recreate important scenes.
Wide range of cases.
Tone of the podcast can sometimes be melodramatic.
Some may find the ensemble cast distracting.
An abundance of ads.
Subject material is very dark.
Describes cases without salaciousness.
The episodes may be too heavy and dark for some.
Relies heavily on audio clips.
Host injects too much of his own opinions into the story.
