Crime Writers On...True Crime Review

The Copernic Affair Feb 20, 2025

In October 1980, a motorcycle packed with explosives went off outside a Paris synagogue, killing four and wounding nearly four dozen others. French investigators gathered evidence the attack was planned by a Palestinian militant group, but the trail for the bomber went cold for years.

Twenty-eight years after the attack on Rue Copernic, French authorities accused a Canadian sociology professor of Lebanese descent of planting the bomb. Hassan Diab proclaimed his innocence, saying their evidence was flawed and circumstantial. It spawned a diplomatic crisis, as Canadian judicial authorities also questioned whether Diab should be turned over to France for trial.

“The Copernic Affair” from Canadaland and House of Many Windows re-examines the controversial terrorism probe. Hosts Dana Ballout and Alex Atack talk to victims, investigators, and Diab himself to make sense of how an unassuming academic with a common name was accused of a horrific crime four decades ago. Is Hassan Diab guilty of an unspeakable act of political violence? Or is he a scapegoat for a failed investigation?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE COPERNIC AFFAIR" BEGIN IN THE FINAL NINE MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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The Takedown: American Aryans Feb 17, 2025

The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas was more than a white power hate group. They were also a sophisticated crime syndicate into drug trafficking and prostitution. Known for its violent methods against its rivals, it was equally as brutal to those suspected of being snitches. After a series of particularly cold-blooded killings, law enforcement groups teamed up to take down the Aryans’ statewide operation. By flipping defendants and cultivating informants, authorities were able to connect the racket and destabilize the group.

“The Takedown: American Aryans” on Max looks at the six-year operation to infiltrate the Neo-Nazi crime syndicate. The series walks viewers through several key cases that allowed them to break up much of the hate group’s criminal activities.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE TAKEDOWN: AMERICAN ARYANS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: hard-boiled crime.

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Stakeknife Feb 13, 2025

In 2003, Northern Irish journalists outed Freddie Scappaticci as one of Britain's most notorious double agents. His code name was “Stakeknife.” For years he was in charge of finding and killing informants within the IRA, and was now accused of working with the Brits all along. The story rocked those on both sides of The Troubles. High-ranking British officials were criticized for allowing their secret asset to kill and torture with impunity. And families of those killed for being alleged informants questioned whether they were executed to keep the IRA from suspecting Scappaticci was the real traitor.

“Stakeknife” is the second season of the podcast “Cover” from BBC Sounds, Second Captains & Little Wing. Host Mark Horgan explores how British Army intelligence sanctioned Scappaticci’s dirty work and the lengths taken to protect their valuable operative. He also brings us relatives of those murdered by Stakeknife to talk about the lifelong pain and stigma of having a loved one executed for being an informant - whether it was true or not.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "STAKEKNIFE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL ELEVEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Lords of Death Feb 10, 2025

In 1995, when a woman’s body was discovered in a Dayton, Ohio park, Kari thought her boyfriend Mick McQuerter and his prison buddy Tim Terrell may be involved. Before the two could skip town, Kari discovered incriminating evidence in the car. After the men went to prison, detectives turned up at Kari’s door, looking for connections to a decade’s old pair of unsolved murders on a secluded farm. Demonic symbolism at the crime scene cast suspicion on Tim, who served time with a self-styled Satanist and who sported an occultic tattoo for the “Lords of Death.”

From Tenderfoot TV and Audacy comes the podcast “Lords of Death.” Host Thrasher Banks grapples with his long held presumptions about the culpability of his mother’s boyfriend Mick in the murder of Cindy Cozad. He also looks into whether Tim Terrell bludgeoned an elderly farmer in 1987 - then returned a year later to kill his widow with a screwdriver through the head.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "LORDS OF DEATH" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TWELVE MINUTES OF THE PODCAST.

In Crime of the Week: knowing the ropes.

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An Update on Our Family Feb 06, 2025

Myka and James Stauffer built a popular and profitable YouTube channel featuring hundreds of videos of their children and homelife. Then in 2017, after the Stauffers revealed they were adopting a boy from China, subscriptions to their channel took off. Viewers were drawn in by the family’s breezy efforts to address the toddler’s developmental issues. Then past videos of the boy were abruptly gone from the feed and he no longer appeared in the vlog. The mystery around the move sparked a huge backlash, with many criticising Myka’s motives and fearing for the child’s well-being.

The HBO Original series “An Update on Our Family” recounts the controversy around the Stauffers and accusations they adopted a child just for the clicks. It also explores the issues about privacy on the internet, the nuances of trans-national adoption, and the unregulated industry of monetizing one’s family.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "AN UPDATE ON OUR FAMILY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE PODCAST.

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The Bunker Feb 03, 2025

In 2015, after being given a date rape drug, Isabel Eriksson awoke in a locked bunker in Sweeden, held captive by a mysterious doctor. Martin Trenneborg wanted to keep her as his girlfriend, subjected her to abuse, and refused to let her go. Though years have passed, Isabel has never dealt with the PTSD of the incident. But now she’s willing to confront it - on camera.

The Swedish language documentary series “The Bunker” is available on the Nordic streaming service Viaplay, which is available through Amazon Prime, Roku, Xfinity X1 and other platforms. Isabel recounts her ordeal for filmmakers, goes to counseling for the first time, and experiments with exposure therapy. That includes a visit to a reconstruction of the bunker where she was held in order to process the pain she’s repressed for all these years.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE BUNKER" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TWELVE MINUTES OF THE EPISODE

In Crime of the Week: hired muscle.

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Dakota Spotlight: Homicide at House of Bottles Jan 30, 2025

On a cold North Dakota night in February 1999, Robbie Rahrich’s friends and fiancée waited for him to come home from his shift at a Bismarck liquor store. When they went to the House of Bottles, they discovered Robbie’s body in the backroom and money missing from the cash register. Investigators looked into who might want to target the store and have the opportunity to hold it up. They turned their attention to Shawn Helmenstein, who’d been in Bismarck at the time, but fled to Montana.

From Dakota Spotlight and PorchLight Podcast Network comes “Homicide at House of Bottles.” Host James Wolner tells the story through longform narrative, observations from investigators, and an interview with the man convicted of killing Robbie Rahrich.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DAKOTA SPOTLIGHT: HOMICIDE AT HOUSE OF BOTTLES" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Assume Nothing: A Deadly Diagnosis Jan 27, 2025

In the 1940s and 50s, Dr. John Bodkin Adams grew a large practice in East Sussex caring for the elderly. But few knew that Adams was administering heroin to his wealthy patients before they slipped into comas. Many listed the doctor as executor of their estates or left him a sizable inheritance in their wills. Officials later determined the deaths of over 160 of Adams’s patients were suspicious. His 1957 prosecution for murder was dubbed the “Trial of the Century.” But was Adams killing his elderly patients for money or was he simply easing the pain of their dying days?

Broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster and distributed by BBC Sounds, “Assume Nothing: A Deadly Diagnosis” is the latest installment in the investigative podcast series. Host Vinny Hurrell revisits the historical true crime case of the Northern Irish GP suspected of being a serial killer. Was Adams an angel of mercy or an angel of death?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "ASSUME NOTHING: A DEADLY DIAGNOSIS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL ELEVEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Souper Bowl-less.

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Scary Terri Jan 23, 2025

In 1979, a teenage girl drowned while vacationing in Hawai’i. Months later, her distraught mother drove her car off a cliff with her nanny in the passenger seat. In each case, the beneficiary in their wills was Terri Lee Hoffman, the leader of a Dallas-based spiritual group. Over the next ten years, a dozen people in her orbit died by suicide or accident, including two who believed they had terminal illnesses but did not. Several left Terri their assets, and for years, family members have suspected the spiritual leader may have used her power of persuasion to cause the deaths.

From Sony Music Entertainment comes “Scary Terri.” Host Jonathan Hirsch revisits the deaths and attempts to answer whether she manipulated her devotees into taking deadly action. He also tries to follow the money that disappeared when Terri claimed she was bankrupt.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SCARY TERRI" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Sons of Ecstasy Jan 20, 2025

After ratting out John Gotti and leaving witness protection, Sammy “The Bull” Gravano joins his adult children in Phoenix to start over. Despite trying to go legit, his son, Gerald, is making extra money selling ecstasy at underground raves. Gerald finds himself in a turf war with English Shaun, a former British stockbroker who’s now Arizona’s biggest E dealer. As police look to disrupt the party drug trade, they’re stunned to learn the famous New York hitman is in the middle of it all.

The Max Original documentary “Sons of Ecstasy” features Sammy the Bull and the whole Gravano family, plus members of the rival crew locked in a lucrative turf war over Molly. The show lets its subjects do the talking about their crimes, their beefs, and their ideas of what “loyalty” means.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SONS OF ECSTASY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: ballin'.

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The Good Whale Jan 16, 2025

Audiences were charmed by “Free Willy,” the 1993 movie about a captive orca returning to the wild. But when the world learned the real whale was wasting away in a Mexican amusement park, scientists and activists united in a project to re-introduce Keiko to the open ocean, just like his on-screen counterpart.

NOTE: We are reviewing the entirety of The Good Whale, although some of it is still behind a payway via The New York Times. (It is being released weekly on public platforms)

But learning the skills to fend for himself in the sea proved difficult for an orca who grew up in an aquarium, not in a killer whale pod. Meanwhile, as the public waited for a cinematic conclusion, disagreement grew about how best to help Keiko and whether his lifelong reliance on humans made it impossible for him to return to the ocean.

From Serial Productions and The New York Times comes “The Good Whale.” Host Daniel Alarcón recounts the ambitious, multinational experiment to rewild the famous orca, as well as the scientific and ethical struggles around the effort. The series also includes a controversial creative choice: presenting Keiko’s unseen journey through the ocean in the form of a musical number.

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEWS OF "THE GOOD WHALE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Bad Sisters 2 Jan 13, 2025

The Garvey sisters gather to celebrate Grace’s wedding to Ian, a man far more loving than her dead first husband, John Paul. But Roger is struggling with his guilt of helping Grace get rid of The Prick and making it look like an accident. After an unexpected turn, Eva and her sisters struggle with a pushy neighbor, an unexplained absence, and a possible blackmail scheme. As the Garveys dig themselves deeper into a hole, the Garda re-examine John Paul’s untimely death and the sisters’ connection to it.

The second season of the Emmy-nominated “Bad Sisters” from Apple TV+ finds Eva, Bibi, Becka, and Ursula trying to cover up more crimes and confront their own family turmoil. The dark comedy explores how far people will go to protect the ones they love.

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEWS OF "BAD SISTERS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Can do it with my eyes closed.

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The Unborn Jan 09, 2025

Jared Akron seemed to be living the perfect life: a newlywed with a new house and twins on the way. But as the due date approached, that life started to unravel. Their home was destroyed in a fire. Then, kept from the delivery room by COVID protocols, his wife Kristy texted that the babies were gravely ill. As he tried to put their lives back together, Jared realized he overlooked some red flags about the pregnancy and his social media-obsessed wife. Were the calamities around them caused by bad luck - or by someone close to him?

From iHeartMedia, Audio Up, and Just Sweep Press Productions comes the podcast “The Unborn.” Host Trisha LaFache talks with Jared and his loved ones about his tale of illusion, deception, and psychosis.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE UNBORN" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Get Millie Black Jan 06, 2025

After she quits Scotland Yard, detective Millie Black takes a post in her native Jamaica to confront her troubled past. She tries to reconnect with Hibiscus, the sibling who for years she thought was dead, but is now living on the margins as a trans sex worker. Millie works the case of a missing child who may be connected to a powerful family. The investigation takes a turn when a British detective turns up in Kingston with an interest in a lead suspect.

Tamara Lawrence and Joe Dempsie star in the HBO Original “Get Millie Black.” The crime thriller follows the detective haunted by unsolved cases and unresolved trauma as she navigates the gritty parts of Jamaica tourists don’t see.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "GET MILLIE BLACK" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: ding dong dog.

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Best TV of 2024 Jan 02, 2025

There was something for everyone on the TV in 2024. We saw documentaries that revealed intimate aspects of the justice system. And there were some that challenged viewers to decide what is fact and what is fiction. But there were also shows that made us laugh…and more than one that made us cry. But which TV shows and documentaries truly stood out? Here are the crime writers; top ten lists for the best TV of 2024.

Lara Bricker:

JUSTICE, USA
The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping
Bad Monkey
True Detective: Night County
Daughters
Say Nothing
The Diplomat season 2
Only Murders in the Building season 4
Ren Faire
They Called Him Mostly Harmless

Toby Ball:

The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping
Say Nothing
Ripley
Woman of the Hour
The Diplomat season 2
Baby Reindeer
Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist
Only Murders in the Building season 4
The Stanford Prison Experiment
Tell Them You Love Me

Kevin Flynn:

Daughters
Baby Reindeer
Ripley
Say Nothing
The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping
JUSTICE, USA
Ren Faire
Woman of the Hour
The Truth vs. Alex Jones
American Nightmare

Rebecca Lavoie:

The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping
The Jinx: Part Two
The Diplomat season 2
Say Nothing
Baby Reindeer
The Perfect Couple
Ripley
Daughters
Only Murders in the Building season 4
Woman of the Hour

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Best podcasts of 2024 Dec 30, 2024

2024 was an exceptionally strong year for podcasts. There were multiple investigative series, fascinating retrospectives of the history you thought you knew, and even some light-hearted fare that was quirky and entertaining. But which titles truly stood out? Here are our top ten selections for 2024.

Lara Bricker:

In the Dark season 3
Stolen: Trouble in Sweetwater
Beyond All Repair
Hysterical
Hush
The Runaway Princesses
On Our Watch: New Folsom
Cover Up: The Anthrax Threat
Murder on Music Row
Varnamtown

Toby Ball:

In the Dark season 3
Murder on Music Row
On Our Watch: New Folsom
Stolen: Trouble in Sweetwater
Fallen Angels
Slow Burn: Gays against Briggs
Radical
Hysterical
The Vanishing Point
The Man Who Calculated Death

Kevin Flynn:

Beyond All Repair
Hysterical
Murder in Boston
In the Dark season 3
Murder on Music Row
Hush
Varnamtown
Backfired: The Vaping Wars
Fallen Angels
Broomgate: A Curling Scandal

Rebecca Lavoie:

Beyond All Repair
In the Dark season 3
Hysterical
Murder in Boston
Stolen: Trouble in Sweetwater
On Our Watch: New Folsom
Hush
Broomgate: A Curling Scandal
The Man Who Calculated Death
Backfired: The Vaping Wars

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The Sticky Dec 26, 2024

Sap farmer Ruth Landry is deeply in debt and faces losing her property to the Quebec Maple Association. Her friend Mike hatches a million dollar scheme with a security guard to rip off the association. They plan on stealing barrels of syrup from the warehouse and selling it themselves. Plans for the heist become more ambitious, but a murder connected to the conspirators threatens to complicate the operation. And if Mike’s mob bosses find out what he’s up to, the trio will have more to worry about than the police.

Margo Martindale stars in “The Sticky” from Prime. Inspired by the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist, the comedy-thriller mixes “Ocean's Eleven” with “Fargo.” Can this unlikely trio syphon millions of dollars in syrup and land a sweet deal?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE STICKY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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The Kings of Tupelo Dec 23, 2024

By day, Kevin Curtis was a janitor at a Mississippi hospital. By night, he was an Elvis impersonator, performing with his brother - who was also an Elvis impersonator. But after seeing something disturbing in the morgue, Kevin became consumed with conspiracies about illegal organ harvesting rings. Fueled by his paranoia, Kevin damaged personal relationships and crossed swords with powerful people in Tupelo. Then in 2013, when ricin-laced letters were sent to Kevin’s enemies - as well as the President - authorities homed in on him. Was the scheme the Elvis impersonator’s attempt to foil the body parts cabal once and for all…or was it a conspiracy to get rid of him?

From the directors of “Wild Wild Country” comes Netflix’s “The Kings of Tupelo.” Filled with its twists and turns, and extensive access to the story’s colorful cast of characters, the series explores how one man’s obsession could leave a whole town - and the White House - all shook up.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE KINGS OF TUPELO" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE

In Crime of the Week: Old love, new love.

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Radioactive: The Karen Silkwood Mystery Dec 19, 2024

In 1974, Karen Silkwood wanted to blow the whistle on the nuclear fuel plant she worked at. Armed with documentation about insufficient safety measures, radiation leaks, and unaccounted plutonium, Silkwood drove to meet an investigative reporter. But on her way, she was killed when her car went off the road - an accident some believed was caused by the powerful company hoping to silence her.

Though police said they believed Silkwood fell asleep at the wheel, the mysterious nature of her crash continues to fascinate the public and haunt her family. But now, two reporters who’ve spent decades covering the story believe they’ve discovered newly-revealed evidence that could shed light on what happened on State Highway 47.

In “Radioactive: The Karen Silkwood Mystery” from ABC Audio and Standing Bear Entertainment, hosts Bob Sands and Mike Boettcher break down the story and use modern techniques to analyze the wreck for evidence her car was run off the road. They also reveal long-hidden audiotapes about those who may be responsible for the death of nuclear power’s most famous whistleblower.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "RADIOACTIVE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Nature of the Crime Dec 16, 2024

Thirty years after his involvement in the shooting of a cop, Todd Scott prepares for his sixth parole hearing and a chance to demonstrate his rehabilitation. Convicted at age 14 for killing another teen and a baby, Chad Campbell faces the parole board for the ninth time to argue for his release. But their lawyers fear the board will only ever consider one factor: the heinous nature of their original offenses. Because they can never go back and change the crime, they believe the inmates have no hope of ever receiving parole, despite their exemplary prison records and expressions of remorse.

The HBO Original documentary “Nature of the Crime” takes us into the closed-door interviews with those seeking parole in New York. It explores how, for certain inmates convicted of high profile crimes, the hearings are foregone conclusions because of public pressure and the desires of politically-appointed board members to appear tough on crime. It also highlights a Connecticut program that focuses on the emotional growth of offenders who were juveniles when they committed their crimes.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "NATURE OF THE CRIME" BEGIN IN THE FINAL ELEVEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Santa's little Elphabas.

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The Man Who Calculated Death Dec 12, 2024

Her mother’s dying wish was that her daughter complete her memoir about her childhood in Nazi Germany. That’s how reporter Suzanne Rico learned a secret about her grandfather. Years before Robert Lusser was an American rocket designer, he was the German engineer who invented the V-1 flying bombs that rained down on London.

Suzanne’s grandmother was killed when Allied planes dropped bombs on their secluded farmhouse, a revenge attack her elderly aunts believe was targeting Lusser. Suzanne and her sister headed to Germany to make sense of their family history, investigate the 1945 bombing, and confront the legacy of a grandfather who played such a deadly role in the Third Reich.

“The Man Who Calculated Death” from Discount Sushi and Novel is part family memoir, part historical puzzle. We follow Suzanne’s journey to uncover the mystery of her grandmother’s death. And as she unearths more of her grandfather’s story, she ponders what responsibly her family bears today for the horror of Lusser’s flying bomb.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE MAN WHO CALCULATED DEATH" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Inside McKamey Manor Dec 09, 2024

San Diego’s McKamey Manor drew fame as a boundary breaking, interactive haunted house - not one filled with ghosts and goblins - but one where visitors are tied up, waterboarded, or buried alive. Now located in Tennessee, attraction goers are saying the manor is going too far with its physical and mental abuse.

Owner Russ McKamey disagrees, pointing to its rabid online following for his no charge, “extreme haunt” experience. But its murky waiver forms, military-grade stress techniques, and intimidation of visitors who want to leave the haunted house now have the authorities wondering if McKamey Manor is actually a torture chamber.

In the podcast “Inside McKamey Manor” from Always True Crime, host Elizabeth McCafferty explores the controversial scare attraction, why people are drawn to it, and why it’s still in operation. She also talks to a variety of experts with insight into various aspects of the horror experience.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "INSIDE McKAMEY MANOR" BEGIN IN THE FINAL ELEVEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: O brother, where art thou?

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Denise Didn't Come Home Dec 05, 2024

Karen Falasca was the last person to see her sister Denise alive before she was murdered in 1969. Haunted by the tragedy, Karen spoke to podcaster Anthony Scalia about her five decade search for Denise’s unidentified killer. Scalia retraced Karen’s investigation into likely suspects. But the sister remained skeptical of the police’s findings. And as a terminal illness threatened to take her life, Karen made one request of Scalia: finish her work and learn the truth behind Denise’s murder.

In the podcast “Denise Didn’t Come Home” from truth.media and Sony Music Entertainment, Scalia repeats Karen’s investigation and questions the person the cops say strangled the 15-year-old all those years ago. He also recounts Karen’s life story, their blossoming friendship, and explores whether her memories of that day hold up.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DENISE DIDN'T COME HOME" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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The Stanford Prison Experiment: Unlocking the Truth Dec 02, 2024

In 1971, Stanford psychologist Philip Zimbardo conducted an experiment with college students to evaluate behavior in a mock prison. Within days, the guards were abusing their power and mistreating the prisoners so badly the study was shut down early. The “Stanford Prison Experiment” was heralded in academia and in pop culture as a landmark study into the corrupting power of authority. But a re-examination of Zimbardo’s methods questions whether he manipulated the subjects into those behaviors, challenging whether its shocking results - and its legacy - should be discredited.

The three-part series “The Stanford Prison Experiment: Unlocking the Truth,” is produced by Nat Geo and is available on several streaming services. It unearths Zimbardo’s scientifically dubious methods that steered the study toward its violent conclusion. It also reunites the former guards and prisoners - some for the first time - to explain what was really driving their actions.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: If the shoe splits...

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Backfired: Attention Deficit Nov 28, 2024

When researchers found that providing stimulants to hyperactive children improved their behavior in school, educators, pediatricians, and drug manufacturers helped build interest in identifying and treating a new condition: Attention Deficit Disorder. Some saw it as a breakthrough in treating learning disabilities. But the implications of medicating children drew a backlash from advocates. Plus, doctors could not agree on concrete tools for identifying ADHD, prompting suspicions of over-diagnosis. And Big Pharma’s attempts to expand the market has resulted in unintended consequences.

“Backfired: Attention Deficit” is the latest season of the podcast from Prologue Projects and Audible Originals. Hosts Leon Neyfakh and Arielle Pardes explore the origins of ADHD, public reaction to its treatment, and the unforeseen outcomes of diversifying the customer base for stimulants first intended for children.

OUR SPOILER-FREE EPISODES OF "BACKFIRED: SAY NOTHING" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Say Nothing Nov 25, 2024

Speaking to an historian, Dolours Price discussed her life as a volunteer in the Provisional Irish Republican Army. Beginning in the 1970s, Dolours and her sister, Marian, convinced its operatives, including leader Gerry Adams, to let them fight in their guerilla war against British troops in Belfast. Throughout The Troubles, the sisters were part of a secret IRA unit whose missions included robbing banks, blowing up cars, and making traitors disappear. But decades later, as Adams negotiated an end to the conflict, Dolours became disillusioned about her past actions and the future of Northern Ireland.

Based on the book by Patrick Radden Keefe, “Say Nothing” tells Price’s four-decade story as a young IRA soldier and her attempts later in life to set the record straight. The series by FX on Hulu also focuses on the search for the mother of ten children, whose 1972 disappearance threatens to take down some of modern day Ireland’s most powerful figures.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SAY NOTHING" BEGIN IN THE FINAL NINE MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

Crime of the Week: rat race.

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Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare Nov 21, 2024

Through her Facebook friends in the London Sikh community, Kirat Assi met a charming man named Bobby Jandu. Though a series of health problems and other entanglements kept him away from Great Britain, the two began a long term, online romance. But their virtual relationship took a turn as Bobby became more cruel and controlling. When Kirat learned he was back in the UK and living with his ex, her confrontation with him ended in confusion.

In the Netflix documentary “Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare” Kirat, Jandu, and those close to them discuss the story in their own words. Based on the 2021 hit podcast of the same name, the film brings us inside the victim’s tale of credulity, coercion, and heartbreak.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SWEET BOBBY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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The Diplomat season 2 Nov 18, 2024

American ambassador Kate Wyler believes the Prime Minister orchestrated a false flag operation to rally the nation and thwart a Scottish secession movement. As British forces hunt the Russian fixer behind the attacks, Kate takes a risk hiding a politician with inside knowledge of the plot. Kate sets aside her attraction to the Foreign Secretary to help expose the PM. Meanwhile, her politically-savvy husband, Hal, tries to convince his reluctant wife to embrace the offer to replace the sitting Vice President on the presidential ticket.

Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell return for season two of Netflix’s Emmy-nominated political thriller “The Diplomat.” Kate and her staff navigate personal and professional relationships, all while trying to expose a conspiracy and ease geopolitical tensions.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE DIPLOMAT" SEASON TWO BEGIN IN THE FINAL 8 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: bearly legal.

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Candyman: The True Story Behind the Bathroom Mirror Murder Nov 14, 2024

Set in a Chicago housing project, the 1992 horror movie “Candyman” features a deadly ghost who can be summoned by chanting in a bathroom mirror. But some plot points were inspired by a real life robbery homicide in which the killer broke into an apartment through a hole in the medicine cabinet. A reporter found the flawed design of the bathroom walls were a contributing factor into Ruthie Mae McCoy’s 1987 death. The exposé raised questions about City Hall’s indifference to violence in the projects and the dangers faced by its Black residents. By the time the supernatural retelling made it into theaters, the creature in the mirror did not reflect those systemic issues.

From CBS News and 48 Hours Production comes the podcast “Candyman: The True Story Behind the Bathroom Mirror Murder.” Host Dometi Pongo explores not only McCoy’s homicide. He dives into the larger issues around race, safety in the projects, and the ways they shaped the Hollywood narrative. The series asks how a mainstream audience can find big screen horror in the hallmarks of poverty.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "CANDYMAN" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Anatomy of Lies Nov 11, 2024

Just before the producers of “Grey’s Anatomy” could dismiss writer Elizabeth Finch for mediocre work, she revealed she had a rare form of cancer. Finch drew on her experience to write some powerful episodes for the medical drama. Finch crafted acclaimed storylines based on her own struggles with health, assault, sexual harassment and stalking. Hollywood was shocked when it was revealed Finch was faking. She’d taken other people’s real life trauma and claimed it for her own, stringing along those close to her for sympathy and attention for years.

Peacock’s “Anatomy of Lies” recounts the writer’s elaborate ruse and how she parlayed other’s pain into personal and professional gain. It leans heavily into the perspective of Finch’s wife who worked to expose the woman who fooled so many.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "ANATOMY OF LIES" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: R-O-T-T-O-G-O!

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Kill List Nov 07, 2024

A white hat hacker provides journalist Carl Miller with backdoor access to a page on the dark web offering the services of a hit man. The site is just a scam, but the transactions identify more than 100 people who are in real life danger from someone motivated to harm them. Though the buyers are anonymous, Miller feels an obligation to find the targets and warn them someone is willing to pay to have them killed. Miller’s team is met with skepticism from the authorities, but many would-be victims realize who might be behind their threat. While Miller works to trip up the hitman-shoppers before they turn to real world violence, the team turns its attention to taking apart the website offering murder for hire.

The podcast “Kill List” from Wondery and Novel follows Miller’s race against time to warn unsuspecting people around the world that their lives are in danger before the scammed buyers take matters into their own hands. It also covers Miller’s own ethical struggle of inserting himself into the story and the emotional toll his newsgathering takes.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "KILL LIST" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Woman of the Hour Nov 04, 2024

Looking to get a break in show business, struggling actress Sheryl Bradshaw appears on “The Dating Game.” The first two bachelors are either shallow or lascivious, but bachelor number three has an easy charm that makes him the clear favorite. But Rodney Alcala is more than a smooth-talking photographer looking for love. He’s spent the past decade murdering unsuspecting women and eluding detection. How could Sheryl - or the TV audience - know she was about to go on a date with a serial killer?

The Netflix thriller “Woman of the Hour” dramatizes Sheryl’s real life encounter with a predator. Lead actress and director Anna Kendrick ratchets up the tension with a character resigned to 1970s misogyny and its lurking menace, all while showing us in parallel what Rodney is capable of.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WOMAN OF THE HOUR" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: ice to see you.

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Only Murders in the Building S4 Oct 31, 2024

A Hollywood studio courts Charles, Oliver, and Mabel to make a star-studded movie based on their hit podcast. But Charles is shaken by another murder in the building: his longtime stunt double, Sazz, was killed in his apartment by a sniper, and her body burned in the incinerator.

Before she died, Sazz had been poking into something about the first season of the podcast. The fatal shot came from the west side of the Arconia, occupied by an odd collection of residents with a secret to hide. Writers, directors, executives and stuntmen also make up the suspect list. Now the podcasters are on a new case: what bombshell did Sazz uncover and who was willing to kill to keep it quiet?

Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez return for season four of “Only Murders in the Building.” This time, the Emmy Award-winning series deconstructs the murder mystery through the lens of film. The movie forces Mabel to ponder how the world views her, and leads Oliver to re-examine his relationship with Loretta. Meanwhile, Charles is racked with guilt that his old friend may have died because of him. As usual, “Only Murders” delivers sly humor, a touch of pathos, and crackling performances by the leads and many guest stars.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING" SEASON FOUR BEGIN IN THE FINAL [ XX ] MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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#1 Dad Oct 28, 2024

Comedian Gary Vider had a great childhood story about him and his father sneaking into scores of games at Madison Square Garden posing as a reporter for Sports Illustrated Kids. But the charming tale belied a deeper truth. Manny Vider was a prolific con artist, with a never ending stream of business scams, insurance fraud, and other schemes that eventually tore his family apart. Twenty-four years later, now a father himself, Gary set out on a quest to locate Manny. His goal was to process the effects of his estranged dad’s actions on his life and family. He also wanted to learn whether the unrepentant conman has changed his ways.

From iHeartMedia and Big Money Players Network comes “#1 Dad.” Vider talks to relatives, partners, his own therapist, and fellow comedians about Manny’s many swindles - both personal and professional. Can he convince his father to meet and confront their past? And will the son get the truth from a man who’s spent his life spinning lies?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "#1 DAD" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: techno pop.

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Flint Town Oct 24, 2024

Filmmakers follow officers in a troubled Michigan city to confront the challenges of policing, race relations, politics, and what it means to be a community. We’ll go back to our 2018 review of the documentary series “Flint Town.”

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Criminal Attorney Oct 21, 2024

Former prosecutor Paul Bergrin made a name for himself as an aggressive defense attorney, handling difficult cases involving celebrities and hardened criminals in New Jersey. But as his reputation grew, so did suspicions about the lengths he’d go to get his clients off the hook.

An FBI investigation found that Bergrin wasn’t just representing his unsavory clients; he was directing their criminal activities. They learned the lawyer was overseeing drug trafficking, directing an escort service, and involved in money laundering and witness intimidation. It left agents wondering how far Bergrin would go to get an acquittal.

From Wondery comes the podcast “Criminal Attorney.” Host Brandon “Jinx” Jenkins introduces us to the voices of those who knew Bergrin, those who investigated him, and those affected by his actions. Why would an accomplished lawyer risk everything and find himself - and not his clients - pleading his case before a jury?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "CRIMINAL ATTORNEY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Whopper copper.

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Witnessed: Night Shift Oct 17, 2024

In 1992, relatively stable patients at the VA hospital in Columbia, Missouri were dying on one ward’s overnight shift at an alarming rate. A review of the charts showed nurse Richard Williams had been present for most of the Code Blues, but he denied being responsible for the deaths. Whistleblowers accused VA administrators of keeping the situation quiet and retaliating against staff who tried to stop it. Even the FBI seemed to slow-walk the investigation, leaving grieving families to wonder whether anyone will be held accountable for the deaths of up to 50 ill veterans.

In the latest installment of the podcast from Sony Music Entertainment and Campside Media, “Witnessed: Night Shift” reinvestigates the Columbia VA deaths. Who did it? Why did the hospital try to cover them up? Author Jake Adelstein interviews doctors - including his own father - who fought the government to identify one of the most prolific serial killers to roam a hospital.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WITNESSED: NIGHT SHIFT" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 8 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Bad Monkey Oct 14, 2024

After fishermen reel in a severed arm off of Key West, demoted police detective Andrew Yancy grows suspicious of the victim’s young widow and her mysterious new boyfriend. Yancy thinks Eve’s husband Nick might not be the victim of a boating accident, especially as more people wind up dead.

Meanwhile, the couple have been scooping up property and displacing residents on the nearby island of Andros. Neville approaches the sultry Dragon Queen to put a curse on the speculators who stole his shack. Yancy and Neville’s stories become intertwined, as the wisecracking detective wonders how far Eve will go to execute her plan.

“Bad Monkey” from Apple TV+ stars Vince Vaughn as the fleet-footed and silver-tongued Yancy. Based on Carl Hiaasen’s best seller, this part noir/part dark comedy features rat-a-tat-tat dialogue and a host of quirky characters. Can Yancy get his badge back, straighten out his love life, thwart a crooked cop and the neighborhood real estate agent, and bring the scheming couple to justice?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BAD MONKEY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Lost in the mail.

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Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD Oct 10, 2024

New York’s police department says its mission is to protect and serve, but its long forgotten origin story says something different. Before they carried weapons and wore uniforms, the city’s loose affiliation of constables and watchmen hunted escaped enslaved people and made arrests for a fee. New York eventually formed a police force, one less focused on solving crime and more to serve the mayor’s political interests. In the 150-plus years that followed, police reforms and counter reforms shaped how the NYPD uses its authority. But the debate continues on how modern law enforcement interacts with the community.

From Wondery, Crooked Media and PushBlack, comes the podcast “Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD.” Peabody Award winner Chenjerai Kumanyika recounts the lost history of Gotham’s police, and brings his personal experiences as a second-generation police reform advocate.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "EMPIRE CITY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Oct 07, 2024

A small-time Atlanta numbers runner named Chicken Man is given a big-time opportunity: throw a party for all the bosses of the Black mafia after Muhammad Ali’s comeback fight. But a group of robbers holds up the partygoers, making off with nearly a million dollars in cash and jewelry. Detective JD Hudson is tasked with finding the violent robbers - that is unless “Black Godfather” Frank Moten finds them first. Chicken Man finds himself in the crosshairs of both the police and the mob, needing to convince both he had nothing to do with the heist.

“Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” from Peacock is based on the podcast about the 1971 real-life caper. Kevin Hart leads an all-star cast that includes Taraji P. Henson, Don Cheadle, and Samuel L. Jackson. The crime drama goes beyond the holdup, focusing on the characters’ dreams of what life in a modern Atlanta could be.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "FIGHT NIGHT: THE MILLION DOLLAR HEIST" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: The G.O.A.T. of goats.

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Hush Oct 03, 2024

Oregon death row inmate Jesse Lee Johnson always proclaimed his innocence in the 1998 murder of Harriet Thompson. Seventeen years later, with little fanfare, authorities released Johnson from prison instead of retrying him for the crime. But if the case was too weak to pursue a conviction, how was Johnson arrested in the first place? Why did Salem police rely on recanted witness statements and badly documented evidence, while ignoring DNA placing other people at the crime scene? And was Johnson’s race a factor for the investigators with a history of problematic statements?

From Oregon Public Broadcasting comes the investigative series “Hush.” Host Leah Sottile and producer Ryan Haas examine the investigators and their evidence that nearly sent Johnson to the execution chamber. It explores the inequities in policing policies. And it refutes the state’s claim Johnson was the only suspect in Thompson’s murder.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "HUSH" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Dangerous Memories Sep 30, 2024

A young woman from a posh English family sought clarity about her sexual orientation from therapist Anne Craig. She convinced Fipsi her issues were a result of childhood abuse at the hands of her family - abuse Fipsi had no recollection of. Anne convinced her to cut ties with them and focus instead on their sessions. Anne diagnosed most of her well-to-do patients as victims of an underground pedophile ring. The women spent years estranged from their families. It left their parents convinced Anne brainwashed their daughters and unsure of how to get them back.

The podcast “Dangerous Memories” from Tortoise explores the work of the self-styled counselor who convinced women of privilege they were victims and lured them into isolation and dependence. Host Grace Hugh Hallett talks to former clients and their families about Anne’s cult-like hold on them and the efforts to stop her.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DANGEROUS MEMORIES" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: digital downloads.

Here's the GOURDS article from McSweeney's!

And here's the one from the Baroness Von Schraeder!

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Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter Sep 26, 2024

Cathy Terkanian learned the daughter she gave up for adoption decades earlier vanished under mysterious circumstances while a teenager. When she dug deeper into Aundria Bowman’s disappearance, she learned police never investigated her adoptive father, despite his history of violence. Convinced the Bowmans knew more than they were saying, Cathy began a crusade to force Aundria’s adoptive parents to talk. Could a chance encounter between cold case detectives and evidence left 1,000 miles away be the break they’ve been waiting for?

From the producers of the true crime classic “The Keepers” comes the two-part Netflix series “Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter.” It follows Cathy’s journey to do right by the child she never knew and learn what happened to her. Her journey is filled with surprising twists and leaves the viewer to ponder how far is too far to seek justice for a daughter.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "INTO THE FIRE: THE LOST DAUGHTER" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Chameleon: Dr. Miracle Sep 23, 2024

Dr. Robert Young rose to prominence in the world of holistic medicine claiming cancer was not a cell, but rather poisonous acid in the body, so a diet rich in alkaline would neutralize it. The charismatic practitioner opened the so-called Miracle Ranch, where sick people sought expensive treatments to balance their pH. Though he doled out advice and performed baking soda IVs, Young had never been to medical school. And as his devoted followers favored vegetable smoothies instead of chemotherapy, their conditions worsened.

“Chameleon: Dr. Miracle” is the latest season of the podcast from Campside Media, Sony Music Entertainment, and Dorothy Street Pictures. Host Larrison Campbell recounts Young’s pseudoscientific alkaline diet and talks to ranch employees and patients who received his quack treatments. It also looks into the difficulty of holding Young accountable - and where he is today.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "CHAMELEON: DR. MIRACLE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Behind iron(y) bars.

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In the Dark season 3 (eps 6-9) Sep 19, 2024

When we last listened to season three of “In the Dark,” Madeleine Baran had collected signatures from the families of the Haditha victims, hoping to obtain secret photographs of the massacre. In the final episodes of the season, the team gives the pictures to an analyst who says the images are clear evidence of a war crime. Military prosecutors eventually charged eight Marines for killing two dozen unarmed Iraqi men, women and children. But a cascade of immunity offers, intervention by commanding officers, and a generous plea bargain meant no one was held accountable for the murders in any meaningful way.

The final episodes of “In the Dark” season three probes what went wrong with the prosecution of the infantrymen who rounded up and slaughtered civilians in retaliation for an IED attack. And while the number of victims in Haditha have been listed as 24, Baran and her team find evidence the number is too low.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "IN THE DARK" EPISODES 6 THROUGH 9 BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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The Perfect Couple Sep 16, 2024

Hours before a wedding at the Winbury’s Nantucket estate, the maid of honor’s body washes ashore. Investigators believe the death was no accident. All the family members are now suspects in the case. They include man-of-leisure Tag Winbury, his high-strung wife and mystery novelist Greer, and their three sons: cash strapped Thomas, adolescent Will, and Benji, the groom. Together with the fish-out-of-water bride, Thomas’s pregnant wife, a shifty best man, and a French cougar, everyone had reasons to kill Merritt Monaco - but who did?

Based on the best-selling novel, the six part Netflix series “The Perfect Couple” stars Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, and Eve Hewson. The high-profile investigation threatens to undermine Tag and Greer’s facade of considerable wealth and an ideal marriage so necessary for their public persona.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE PERFECT COUPLE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Goodbye yellow brick nose.

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A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Sep 12, 2024

Secondary school student Pippa Fitz-Amobi selects a controversial topic for an extra credit project. She wants to re-investigate the murder/suicide that rocked her sleepy English village five years earlier. She’s not convinced popular teen Andie Bell was killed by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, and Pip enlists his brother to help her. Pip grills Andie’s friends about what led up to her death and disappearance. Soon she gets anonymous threats to back off. Is someone willing to kill again to keep the truth about Andie from surfacing?

From BBC Studios and streaming on Netflix comes the adaptation of the YA bestseller, “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder,” starring Emma Myers. The thriller series follows Pip’s growing obsession with the Andie Bell case, as she pushes her good girl boundaries to solve the mystery, and navigate adolescent relationships as complicated as the crime.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "A GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Noble Sep 09, 2024

Working off a tip, investigators in a small Georgia town made a gruesome discovery at Tri-State Crematory. Bodies that were supposed to be cremated were instead dumped around the business’s property. The deceased numbered in the hundreds and had been left to rot for years. Owner Brent Marsh was charged with several crimes. Meanwhile, loved ones felt re-traumatized, left wondering who - or what - was really in the urns they had.

The true crime podcast “Noble” from Wavland and Campside Media revisits the 2002 Tri-State Crematory scandal. Host Shaun Raviv talks to relatives, lawyers, and investigators about the case, and seeks answers as to why Marsh never put hundreds of remains in the oven.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "NOBLE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: line(up) dance.

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Drowning Creek Sep 05, 2024

In 2007, 18-year-old Justin Gaines left an Atlanta-area nightclub, got into a black car and disappeared. Seven years later, Dylan Glass told police he took part in Justin’s murder at an after-hours party and his mother helped clean it up. He was never charged and later recanted his statement.

Over the years, tips about Justin’s fate and his whereabouts have led investigators to nothing but dead ends. Theories include a robbery, a jealous boyfriend, and a drug debt to the Mexican cartel. But podcast host Sean Kipe uncovered a promising lead: that Justin’s body was placed in a toolbox and submerged in Lake Lanier.

In the podcast “Drowning Creek” from Wavland, Kipe chases down witnesses, suspects, and possible motives for the disappearance of Justin Gaines. Along the way, he uncovers new clues that might be helpful to the investigation. Kipe also lands an exclusive interview with the man believed to have information that can break open the case.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DROWNING CREEK" BEGIN IN THE FINAL EIGHT MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Introducing: Toby Ball's RIP CURRENT Sep 04, 2024

California, September 1975. Within a span of 17 days and less than 90 miles, two women, working separately, tried to assassinate the president of the United States, Gerald R. Ford. These are the only two times we know of that a woman has tried to assassinate an American president.

The first, Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, was already infamous as a prominent follower of cult leader Charles Manson.

The second, Sara Jane Moore, was a 45 year-old housewife who infiltrated San Francisco's violent radical underground working undercover for the FBI.

The story of one strange and violent Summer, this season on RIP CURRENT.

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Backfired: The Vaping Wars Sep 02, 2024

A pair of Stanford students turned their senior project on making a new kind of clean e-cigarette into the multi-billion dollar company known as JUUL. But a product envisioned as a way to give adults an alternative to smoking soon contributed to a new epidemic of teens getting hooked on nicotine.

Though public outrage, bad press, and legislative action has largely gutted JUUL’s market share, new vape products have taken its place - many with dubious quality and questionable ingredients. And while advocates and regulators continue their fight against sales to minors, one controversial question remains unanswered: is vaping actually safer than smoking cigarettes?

From Prologue Projects and exclusively on Audible, “Backfired: The Vaping Wars” chronicles the rise and fall - and rebirth - of a multi-billion dollar industry laser focused on satisfying customers’ nicotine cravings. Hosts Leon Neyfakh and Arielle Pardes go beyond JUUL’s cautionary tale and explore the current marketplace. It features an extended interview with JUUL founder James Monsees. It also follows Neyfakh’s own struggle with vaping and his quest to learn what the early science actually says about the hazards of the product.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BACKFIRED: THE VAPING WARS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL NINE MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: sticks nix chick flicks.

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The Thing About Pam Aug 29, 2024

For the first time, network TV’s biggest true crime personality brings his signature style to podcasting. We’ll rewind to our September 30, 2019 review of the quirky classic from Dateline NBC, “The Thing About Pam,” with a "Date with Dateline" cameo appearance.

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In the Dark: Season 3 (eps 1-5) Aug 26, 2024

An Iraqi lawyer reaches out to an American investigative journalist about a massacre that killed family members and others in his hometown. In 2005, after an IED attack on their convoy, US Marines stormed a village and executed 24 men, women, and children. The servicemen claimed they were returning fire from insurgents, but the evidence collected - including secret photographs - suggested a war crime was committed. Despite international condemnation of the Haditha massacre, none of the Marines served time for the killings. Two decades later, Madeleine Baran asks the question “why not?”

Season three of the two-time Peabody Award winning podcast “In The Dark” from The New Yorker digs into the arcane world of the military justice system. The nine-part series is the result of four years of investigation, hundreds of interviews, and thousands of unreleased documents. Along the way, they uncover new details about that day in Haditha, the Marine Corps’s efforts to minimize it, and why no one involved in the biggest American war crime since Vietnam was ever punished.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF EPISODES 1-5 OF "IN THE DARK" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THIS EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: who can it be now?

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The Night Of Aug 22, 2024

A man awakes to find his one-night stand has been murdered. Can a down-on-his-luck lawyer win his freedom? We’ll go back to our July 22, 2016 review of HBO’s Emmy award winning “The Night Of."

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Daughters Aug 19, 2024

A group of young girls prepare for a special Daddy-Daughter dance with their incarcerated fathers at a Washington, D.C. jail. For most, it’s the only time they’ll be able to touch or hug their dads until they’ve completed their sentences. The inmates must first complete a course on the meaning of fatherhood and contemplate their relationships with their children. But after the tearful last dance, the men grapple with how to be part of their daughters’ lives either in or out of jail.

The Netflix documentary “Daughters” looks at the collateral damage of the criminal legal system through the eyes of four girls growing up with a father behind bars. It shows the men coming to terms with the effects of their incarceration on their children. It also follows the daughters long after the dance to see whether the event had a lasting impact on their relationships.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DAUGHTERS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL ELEVEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE

In Crime of the Week: golden opportunity.

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Killing Eve Aug 15, 2024

An intelligence analyst and a cunning assassin play a sexy game of cat and mouse. We’ll do a classic rewind to our June 8, 2018 review of BBC America’s “Killing Eve” starring Emmy winners Sandra Oh and Jody Comer.

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The Confessions of Anthony Raimondi Aug 12, 2024

As he nears the end of his life, an aging hitman makes a confession to podcast host Marc Smerling. In 1978, he traveled to Rome to help the Italian mafia assassinate Pope John Paul I to cover up wrongdoings by the Vatican bank. Anthony Raimondi says he got into organized crime because his father was a ruthless mob enforcer. Instead of going to prison for killing a rival, he was recruited into a secret commando squad in Vietnam, and later instructed mobsters how to poison the Pontiff. The only problem for Smerling is he can’t verify anything he’s saying.

In “The Confessions of Anthony Raimondi,” Smerling walks us through the mobster’s tales and his proclaimed role in the secret killing of the head of the Catholic Church. As the “Crooked City” host tries to discern fact from fiction, he wonders if the exploits are real…or whether Raimondi believes they are.

OUR SPOILER-FREE EPISODES OF "THE CONFESSIONS OF ANTHONY RAIMONDI" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: no bones about it.

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Don't F**k with Cats Aug 08, 2024

Who’s ready for a “number two”? America’s favorite true crime teenagers return to investigate who is the Turd Burglar. We’ll go back to Oct 7, 2018 for a classic rewind to our review of the Peabody Award-winning comedy series “American Vandal" season 2.

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Teen Torture, Inc. Aug 05, 2024

Their parents think they need tough love to get off drugs or improve their behavior. That’s how many adolescents wind up in a facility for so-called troubled teens. Billed as schools or camps, staff members often use violence to maintain discipline or mete out punishment. For decades, these programs resulted in physical and sexual abuse, deaths, long-lasting trauma, and few consequences for staff or management. Only now, after a series of high-profile incidents and celebrity awareness, attention is focused on the loosely-regulated industry and its legacy of pain.

“Teen Torture, Inc.” from Max Originals is the latest title in the growing true crime subgenre about the billion dollar Troubled Teen Industry. This three part series features survivors from a variety of programs. It also looks into the history of the business, the corporations making money off the families, and the political efforts to add some accountability to the industry.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "TEEN TORTURE, INC." BEGIN IN THE FINAL NINE MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: thar she blows.

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Wind of Change Aug 01, 2024

Was a cold war rock song actually a piece of CIA propaganda? We’ll rewind the cassette to our May 25, 2020 review of "Wind of Change " from Spotify, Pineapple Street, and Crooked Media, with host Patrick Radden Keefe.

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Lost Hills: Dark Canyon Jul 29, 2024

In 2009, after her release from the LA County Sheriff’s Department on a minor arrest, Mitrice Richardson walked into the night and vanished. Her naked, mummified body was discovered months later in a remote Malibu Canyon creek bed. Authorities said the cause and manner of her death were undetermined. Mitrice’s family accused the department of botching the investigation, mishandling her remains, and ignoring signs of foul play. They also failed to get answers from the last person who saw her alive: a man with a violent past living in a wilderness fort near the creek.

“Lost Hills: Dark Canyon” is the fourth season of the true crime podcast from Pushkin Industries and Western Sound. Host Dana Goodyear traces Mitrice’s last steps in an effort to learn how she died. She also identifies a new person of interest and tries to do what detectives couldn’t: get evidence against this prime suspect.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "LOST HILLS: DARK CANYON" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Homecoming Jul 25, 2024

A therapist discovers the mysterious clinic where she works is treating war vets by erasing their memories. We’ll go back to our Dec 30, 2016 review of Gimlet’s “Homecoming” starring Catherine Keener and Oscar Isaac.

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Hysterical Jul 22, 2024

In 2011, more than a dozen high school girls in Le Roy, New York began displaying Tourette-like twitches and tics. Health officials could not find a physical or environmental cause for the symptoms, and believed the teens were suffering from conversion disorder. But some rejected the implication their illness was all in their heads, insisting a medical cause was to blame. Was Le Roy High School the site of the latest chapter in the history of mass hysteria?

From Wondery and Pineapple Street Studios comes the seven part podcast “Hysterical.” Host Dan Taberski looks to answer whether the teens were victims of a mysterious illness or a psychosomatic contagion. He also examines Havana Syndrome and fentanyl-exposure overdoses, other instances where victims may be affected more by suggestion than by science.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "HYSTERICAL" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: send our regrets.

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Class Action Park Jul 18, 2024

It was a water park focused on crazy rides and little concern for safety...and Rebecca has the scars to prove it. We’ll return to our Sept 21, 2020 review of “Class Action Park.”

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Deep Cover: The Nameless Man Jul 15, 2024

While conducting a routine firearms background check, a federal agent hears a rumor about Thomas Gibison that dated back to high school. He’d bragged that he and a friend shot a Black man to earn a skinhead spider web tattoo. Investigators get accomplice Craig Peterson to confirm 15 years earlier they killed a random pedestrian in Philadelphia. But with no name, date, or open case to work from, the agents are at a loss as to how to solve this crime. They’re able to match the details to the unsolved death of Aaron Wood, the victim of a random shooting in 1989. But can prosecutors win a conviction for a real life hate crime working off of loose talk and old memories?

“Deep Cover: The Nameless Man” is the fourth season of the investigative podcast from Pushkin Industries. Pulitzer Prize winner Jake Halpert talks to investigators, jurors and family members about the crime and its implications. How were the authorities’ questions answered about who was their victim and the family’s questions about who was the shooter?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DEEP COVER: THE NAMELESS MAN" IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE PODCAST.

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Mindhunter Jul 11, 2024

A pair of FBI agents teams with a researcher to interview the most dangerous serial killers to create a new investigative tool: criminal profiling. We’ll revisit our Oct 27, 2017 review of Netflix’s “Mindhunter”

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Murder on Music Row Jul 08, 2024

In 1989, 23-year-old Kevin Hughes was killed when he was ambushed by a gunman along Nashville’s famous Music Row. Hughes had been troubled that the country music record chart he worked for was accepting money under the table to manipulate the rankings of up-and-coming artists.

Hughes’s opposition to the dirty practice put him in the crosshairs of powerful independent music promoters who paid for chart positions to milk money from their unsuspecting clients. Detectives wondered if Hughes was executed because he didn’t want to play ball…and whether someone lured him into a deadly trap to get back on the chart with a bullet.

In the podcast “Music on Murder Row” from The Tennessean, host Keith Sharon explores who benefitted from Hughes’s killing, challenges the claims of the passenger in the car, and looks at the unscrupulous actions of promoters who prey on those dreaming of stardom. Sharon also tells the tale of the hit country music song “Music on Murder Row” and how it does and doesn’t fit in with the case.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "MURDER ON MUSIC ROW" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 14 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: bust a gut!

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Tell Them You Love Me Jul 04, 2024

After seeing a report about facilitated communication, a student of professor Anna Stubblefield asked if she could help his disabled brother. With support for his arm and hand, Derrick Johnson could type on a small keyboard. With Stubblefield’s assistance, the nonverbal man could express a wide range of thought, feelings, and academic promise. Over time, the pair fell in love and started a sexual relationship. But the Johnsons speculated Stubblefield was manipulating his communication, guiding his finger to type out what she wanted. They also believed Derrick was incapable of consenting to a relationship and the professor was raping the man she promised to help.

Who was actually typing his messages? In the Netflix documentary “Tell Them You Love Me,” we hear from both Stubblefield and the Johnsons and their differing takes on what happened to Derrick. It also explores the controversy around facilitated communication and the likelihood of bias by those assisting nonverbal users.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "TELL THEM YOU LOVE ME" BEGIN IN THE FINAL NINE MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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The Letter: Ripple Effect Jul 01, 2024

In 1982, restaurant manager Michael Moore shot accountant Jordan Rasmussen, then laundry van driver Buddy Booth who discovered the body. Though he escaped the firing squad, Moore sought advice from the sentencing board on how he might someday win his release from prison. The murders left gaping holes in the lives of the victims’ families, but when they learned Moore was an exemplary prisoner who was contrite about his crimes, some saw the killer in a new light. They began a process of forgiveness, one to provide compassion for Moore and one to heal their own pain they’d been carrying for years.

From Lemonada and KSL Podcasts comes the second season of “The Letter: Ripple Effect.” Host Amy Donaldson brings another unlikely tale on the power of restorative justice. Could a grieving family recover by extending mercy to Jordan and Buddy’s killer? And can Moore be completely rehabilitated - or is he just playing the family in a long con to get out of prison?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE LETTER: RIPPLE EFFECT" BEGIN IN THE FINAL NINE MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Happy birthdays to me

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Slow Burn: Gays Against Briggs Jun 27, 2024

As California’s gay community began flourishing in the 1970s, a conservative politician pushed through a statewide ballot question: should gay and lesbian teachers be banned from California schools? State Senator John Briggs told voters children were at risk of molestation and indoctrination in the classroom. Though their political influence was small, queer activists began to mobilize against a growing anti-gay countermovement. If Proposition 6 passed at the ballot box, it would be more than a defeat for the teachers. It could set gay rights back for decades.

In its ninth season, Slate’s “Slow Burn: Gays Against Briggs” revisits this consequential dispute on equality - the first time a state held a vote on gay rights. Host Christina Cauterucci brings us the voices of the activists and political consultants on both sides of the referendum which echoes in today’s news.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SLOW BURN: GAYS AGAINST BRIGGS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 7 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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White Devil Jun 24, 2024

In May 2021, Belize police superintendent Henry Jammott was shot in the head with his own service weapon. Investigators arrested socialite Jasmine Hartin, who claimed the gun accidentally fired while Jammott was teaching her to handle it. Many in Belize assumed Hartin would get special consideration because her common-law husband was the son of British billionaire Lord Michael Ashcroft. Instead, Hartin believed the Ashcrofts weren’t using their considerable clout to help her - they were doing all they could to bend the rules, convict her, and cut her out of the family and its fortune.

In the 12-part series “White Devil” from Campside Media, host Josh Dean uses extensive interviews with Hartin to dig into the puzzling investigation of the shooting, as well as examine her high stakes custody case and financial disputes with the Ashcrofts. It also looks into the depths of corruption in Belize and the unchecked influence of a businessman dubbed by locals as a “white devil.”

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WHITE DEVIL" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: take it from a Top.

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Dead Man Running Jun 20, 2024

In 2019, authorities in California searched the sea for Scottish tourist Kim Avis, who was last seen going for a swim. BBC journalist Myles Bonnar remembered Avis as an eccentric street vendor from his hometown. But American police believed Avis faked his disappearance to avoid criminal prosecution for sexual assault back in Scotland. An international manhunt failed to turn up the fugitive. But a thousand miles away, a Colorado woman was growing suspicious of her new friend with the indiscernible accent.

In “Dead Man Running” from BBC Sounds, Bonnar recounts the search for Avis. It also does a deep dive into his life as a figure around town, the crimes he committed, and why it took years to bring him to justice.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DEAD MAN RUNNING" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Ren Faire Jun 17, 2024

For fifty years, George Coulam has owned the Texas Renaissance Faire, which he runs with an iron fist. Seeking to fill his remaining years with romance, the 86-year-old is considering selling the faire. His earnest general manager Jeff Baldwin believes “King George” will someday pass the reigns to him.

For reasons unclear, the mercurial owner sours on his loyal employee, forcing him to share responsibility with a former elephant trainer. Meanwhile, a kettle korn vendor with deep pockets makes a play for the faire. It sparks a game of thrones among those seeking to rule, and for the future of the kingdom.

The HBO Documentary series “Ren Faire” mixes cinema verité and fantasy to tell this feud among subcultures. Will the festival’s temperamental monarch sell his prized asset? And how will those decisions affect those in this Shakespearean-sized story of succession?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "REN FAIRE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: nut case.

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Broomgate: A Curling Scandal Jun 13, 2024

In 2015, the gentlemanly world of professional curling was rocked by a new breakthrough. A team debuted the Hardline broom, one whose brushes were incredibly effective at guiding the gliding rock across the ice to the target with astonishing precision. Opponents bristled, claiming the Hardline broom provided an unfair advantage. Then a competing manufacturer unveiled an even better broom, one that practically allowed players to steer the rock. In a sport operating mostly on handshakes, this broom arms race threatened to alter the game and sweep away the bonds among the curling community.

In the podcast “Broomgate: A Curling Scandal” from CBC and USG Audio, comedian and curler John Cullen recounts those rancorous days when gamesmanship nearly won over sportsmanship in the most unlikely of athletic controversies. Cullen talks to the central figures who brought curling to the brink, but later found a way to preserve the sport.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BROOMGATE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Fallen Angels Jun 10, 2024

Workers discover a young woman has overdosed in a hotel room filled with drugs and a video camera, but the police never take any action against the older man who was with her. After getting a tip, LA Times investigative reporter Paul Pringle learns the man is Doctor Carmen Puliafito, the dean of USC’s medical school, who’s been living a secret life of hard drugs and coercive sex with the victim. Pringle and his colleagues are stonewalled by Pasadena police and the administration at USC. But once they uncover enough to print an explosive story about Puliafito and the medical school, they find their own editors are slow-walking the exposé on the powerful university.

From iHeart Podcasts and Best Case Studios comes “Fallen Angels: A Story of California Corruption.” Pringle recounts the steps of his investigation into Puliafito and lengths taken by USC to cover up the scandal. Pringle also points fingers at the bosses in his own paper who acted as if they were in cahoots with the university to kill the story.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "FALLEN ANGELS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE PODCAST.

In Crime of the Week: cock up.

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Pretendians Jun 06, 2024

What do some of the most prominent Indigenous celebrities, politicians, and cultural leaders have in common? They’re not actually affiliated with the tribes they claim to have ties with. More and more so-called “pretendians” are being unmasked, accused of fabricating their native heritage. Some fake their ancestry to accumulate power, reshape their public image, or obtain benefits meant for Indigenous people. While motivations vary, risk of exposure or accountability remains low.

In “Pretendians” from Canadaland, co-hosts Robert Jago and Angel Ellis reveal unbelievable stories of audacious fraudsters and investigate the complex phenomenon of Indigenous identity theft.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "PRETENDIANS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE SHOW.

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Under the Bridge Jun 03, 2024

Writer Rebecca Godfrey returns to her parents’ home in Vancouver to develop a book about local teens in a foster home. One of the troubled girls she focuses on is soon connected to the disappearance of her frenemy, Reena Virk, last seen fleeing a group of teens who chased her from a party. When Reena’s body is discovered, Rebecca inserts herself in the teens’ world to find the real story for her book. Meanwhile, Rebecca’s childhood friend, Officer Cam Bentland, seeks her own answers as to what happened that night under the bridge.

Hulu’s “Under the Bridge” stars Riley Keough and Golden Globe winner Lily Gladstone in this adaptation of Godfrey’s nonfiction book. The series combines the real life story of Reena Virk and the teens responsible for her death with a dramatized story of women confronting their pasts.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "UNDER THE BRIDGE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: traffic jam.

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She Has a Name May 30, 2024

Two decades ago, reporter Tonya Mosley got an unexpected phone call from a man claiming to be her nephew by a half-sister she never knew about. Antonio Wiley said his mom vanished in Detroit in the 1980s when he was just 14-years-old. When Anita Wiley’s body was identified in 2020, Tonya and Antonio teamed up to retrace her life and examine why she died. The journey changed the way the journalist looked at her hometown, her family, and herself.

From APM Studios and TMI Productions comes the latest season of “Truth Be Told Presents: She Has a Name.” The series is part investigation/part memoir, with the host exploring Anita’s troubled life and unsolved murder. It also examines Tonya’s and Antonio’s struggles to reconcile their feelings about absent parents and their lives that could have been.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SHE HAS A NAME" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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The Jinx - Part Two May 27, 2024

Behind the scenes, years before Robert Durst’s hot mic murder confession made it to air, investigators in the Susan Berman case had been reviewing evidence uncovered by the producers of “The Jinx.” And as America grew transfixed with the 2015 TV series, the man connected to three high-profile crimes felt the heat.

Once the millionaire fugitive was captured, prosecutors began building their legal case by tying together two crimes. They argued Berman knew Durst was behind the disappearance of his first wife, Kathleen, and he murdered Berman to keep her quiet. But to prove their theory, they’ll have to get it out of Durst’s many loyal friends and associates.

In “The Jinx - Part Two,” director Andrew Jarecki reveals in real time what was happening as the original HBO series shook up the cold case. With extensive jailhouse recordings and courtroom footage, the sequel dissects the murder trial and seeks to answer the final mystery: what happened to Durst’s money?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE JINX - PART TWO" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: inhospitable.

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Power May 23, 2024

How did America law enforcement get to its present state of near-unaccountability? An examination of its history shows policing has its origins in running slave patrols, displacing indigenous tribes, and coercing organized labor. Once used as a tool by the powerful to maintain social order and protect their personal property, modern police have become a power unto themselves.

With the help of “tough on crime” politicians, law enforcement has only grown in strength and resources. And despite an onslaught of high-profile police brutality, murder, and misconduct cases, legal protections prevent most cops from being answerable for their actions.

The Netflix documentary “Power” is a deep dive into the history of policing in America and where it’s going in the future. Historians, academics, and critics discuss the problems of a system that demands unqualified compliance from its citizens. The film also asks whether the police - or the people that they serve and protect - ultimately hold the real power in America.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "POWER" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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What's up with the Karen Read Case? (A Boston Globe/Say More crossover!) May 22, 2024

Why is (almost) everyone talking about the Karen Read case? If you've also been wondering, you're in luck. Rebecca was asked to dive into it for the Boston Globe's Say More podcast, and on this special crossover edition of Crime Writers On, we're thrilled to share that episode.

Rebecca chats with host Shirley Leung and courts reporter Sean Cotter about the case, why it's gotten so much attention, and what's happening in the trial. Plus, what should we be watching for?

FOLLOW SAY MORE FROM THE BOSTON GLOBE ON APPLE PODCASTS, SPOTIFY, OR WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR AUDIO!

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Bodkin May 20, 2024

A hardscrabble journalist is reassigned to help an American podcaster investigate a cold case in a remote Irish village. After twenty years, Bodkin is set to resume its annual Samhain celebration - a tradition that was canceled after three people disappeared the night of the pagan festival.

While host Gilbert Power focuses primarily on the human interest angle, Dove Maloney thinks a larger story is hiding within Bodkin. Along with their researcher Emmy, Dove looks for connections between the festival victims and an infamous smuggler living in the village under an assumed name.

The Netflix comedy/mystery series “Bodkin” stars Siobhán Cullen and Will Forte. The team tries to navigate car fires, hit-and-runs, yoga teaching nuns, an eel smuggling ring, and the secrets a small town wants to bury, peppered with insider quips about the state of podcasting.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BODKIN" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: home shopping.

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Baby Reindeer May 16, 2024

Donnie Dunn, an aspiring stand-up comedian, extends a courtesy to a distraught pub customer. Martha Scott becomes a friend and a regular at the bar, but her fixation on Donnie starts crossing boundaries. He tries to push away, but a spurned Martha begins an unrelenting stalking campaign which upends his life. The stress of the stalking triggers repressed feelings of Donnie’s own sexual assault at the hands of an influential television writer. As things continue to spin out of control, Donnie struggles to understand himself and decipher the woman who’s obsessed with him.

Netflix’s buzzworthy dark comedy-slash-searing drama “Baby Reindeer” stars Richard Gadd and is based on his autofictional one man show. The series mines deep emotional territory, with performances that are fiercely raw and often unsettling.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BABY REINDEER" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Witnessed: 19 Days May 13, 2024

Police in Austin, Texas had no clue as to who was behind a package bomb that killed a homeowner in March 2018. Ten days later, when two more devices exploded in the city, investigators knew they were dealing with a serial bomber. With each new attack, the devices were more sophisticated. But authorities caught a break when bombs found at a FedEx facility could be traced to a suspicious man who dropped them off.

In the newest installment of the series from Campside Media, Pegalo Pictures and Sony Music Entertainment, “Witnessed: 19 Days” recounts the hunt for the Austin serial bomber. Host Sean Flynn describes the shoe leather efforts of law enforcement to stop the attacks and discern the motive behind the terror campaign.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WITNESSED: 19 DAYS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Don't stop bee-lieving.

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Ripley May 09, 2024

Grifter Thomas Ripley is hired by a wealthy businessman to convince his prodigal son to return from his extended holiday in Italy. But instead he ingratiates himself with Dickie Greenleaf and shares in his host’s life of luxury. Once he overstays his welcome, Ripley hatches a plan to get rid of Dickie and assume his playboy identity.

Instead of Easy Street, Ripley finds himself living one step ahead of Dickie’s suspicious girlfriend, Marge, and an Italian detective investigating the missing bon vivant. Can the talented con man keep up the ruse and avoid getting tangled in the web of lies he’s spun?

Netflix’s series “Ripley” stars Andrew Scott and Dakota Fanning, and is based on the book and movie “The Talented Mr. Ripley.” The moody black & white thriller is punctuated with rich symbolism, awe-inspiring scenery, and heart-stopping suspense, wrapped around a tour de force performance by Scott.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "RIPLEY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Shane and Sally May 06, 2024

In 1988, three months after going missing from a lake in San Angelo, Texas, the bodies of teenagers Shane Stewart and Sally McNelly were discovered - the pair had been shot. Among those in their friend group were a collection of self-styled occultists, and evidence of satanic rituals was found near the park where they vanished. Evidence suggested there was more than one killer and rumors of a falling out between the victims and members of the cult interested investigators. Other possibilities included a drug debt, a random robbery, or police perpetrators and a cover-up. Decades after the murders, new clues keep emerging, but detectives seem no closer to solving this cold case.

From Texas Monthly True Crime comes “Shane and Sally.” Hosts Rob D’Amico and Karen Jacobs take a fresh look at the prominent unsolved mystery. They track down past suspects and seek a motive for the killing of the teens. Did they really double-cross a drug dealer, provoke a satanic cult, or were they the latest victims of a stick-up gang prowling the lake?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SHANE AND SALLY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: give us this play.

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Hello, John Doe May 02, 2024

Among the missing persons cases online sleuth Todd Matthews followed were that of two boys from the same family who vanished 25 years apart. He was shocked to receive a call from a man who thought he might be Phillip Steven Brandenburg, the baby who went missing in 1974.

Todd determined Steve Patterson was indeed the John Doe they’d been searching for and helped him reconnect with the mother he never knew. Sandi Brandenburgh claimed the underground adoption was brokered by her husband. Soon after, Franklin Floyd disappeared with Sandi’s oldest daughter and lived on the run with her for years. Authorities would not tie all these threads together until three more people were dead or missing.

From iHeartMedia, Revelations Entertainment, First and Last Productions, and Neon Hum Media, comes "Hello, John Doe." We hear Todd work with Steve to learn more about where he came from, though the answers are discouraging. It also guides listeners through the connections to the Sharon Marshall and Michael Hughes cases and Todd’s efforts to reunite a family torn apart by tragedy.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "HELLO, JOHN DOE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Serial season 4 Apr 29, 2024

In 2014, Sarah Koenig and Dana Chivvis traveled to Guantánamo Bay hoping to find the untold stories about the infamous military prison. They found many friendly soldiers willing to repeat Army talking points, but no one willing to be candid about life at the detention center.

A decade later, the pair reached out to those people, many who had left the military and were now willing to go on the record. Many remembered Gitmo as a plum wartime assignment in sunny Cuba, filled with strong drinks and sexy personnel. Others have slowly come to terms with what the mission was and the role they played in it. Koenig also spoke with former prisoners, some with little or no connection to the Taliban or Al Qaeda when they were detained.

In season four of “Serial,” Koenig and Chivvis drift away from the podcast format it popularized ten years ago, telling a variety of stories week-to-week about Guantánamo Bay from the people who were there. Instead of a deep investigation into policies and procedures at Gitmo, the hosts seek personal, unexplored stories from more than 100 of those on the ground. The podcast promises an oral history of the military detention center long cloaked in mystery and infamy.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF SEASON 4 OF "SERIAL" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE

In Crime of the Week: distill my heart.

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JUSTICE, USA Apr 25, 2024

After being booked, defendants in Nashville’s justice system must navigate a labyrinth of challenges. They include people whose mental illness gets them in trouble, an abuse survivor who finds herself both victim and defendant, a couple using jail as an opportunity to get clean from heroin, and teenagers facing life sentences for murder. There are also judges and corrections officials who acknowledge the system’s default setting is for incarceration, not rehabilitation. And they recognize the inadequate resources available for those who need help once they’re released.

The Max Original JUSTICE, USA is an insider’s view of Nashville's criminal justice system, going into the jails for men, women, and juveniles. The series features a variety of stories about inmates, lawyers, and judges who confront issues of incarceration, mental illness, and addiction.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Cover Up: The Anthrax Threat Apr 22, 2024

With the nation already on edge after 9/11, envelopes containing deadly anthrax were mailed to journalists and politicians. It killed five postal workers and reporters, and sickened Congressional staffers. Government officials claimed these attacks originated overseas, and used the threat as justification for the invasion of Iraq. The FBI relied on leading experts to decipher the anthrax, and traced the weaponized strain to a particular beaker in a US biolab. Was one of the scientists working with investigators actually responsible for the attacks?

In the latest installment of the series from Sony Music and Campside Media, “Cover Up: The Anthrax Threat” recounts the seven-year probe that shocked the nation, ruined lives and careers, and set the country on the path to war. Host Josh Dean details the sprawling investigation into who mailed the bio-weapon and why.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "COVER UP: THE ANTHRAX THREAT" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Octomess!

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The Truth vs. Alex Jones Apr 18, 2024

The 2012 murders of 20 school children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary shocked the nation and shattered their grieving families. But InfoWars host Alex Jones immediately unspooled a series of conspiracy theories accusing the parents of faking their kids’ deaths in an elaborate hoax. For years, the families were harassed by conspiracy theorists and routinely slandered by Jones. Fed up, a group of parents sued the host for libel and asked courts in Texas and Connecticut to hold him accountable in the biggest defamation case in US history.

The HBO Original documentary “The Truth vs. Alex Jones” goes behind the scenes of the billion-dollar-plus lawsuit. It also digs into the origins of Jones’s unrepentant personna and his scandal-driven business model, as well as the worldview of the followers he inspired to torment the victims’ loved ones.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE TRUTH VS. ALEX JONES" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Stolen: Trouble in Sweetwater Apr 15, 2024

In June 2021, Ella Mae Begay vanished from her Sweetwater, Arizona home in the middle of the night. Preston Henry Tolth admitted to tribal police he stole the 62-year-old’s truck and beat her, but Ella Mae’s family pressured him to say where on the Navajo reservation he left her. A year later, 38-year-old Kristina Carrillo went missing from the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. But as host Connie Walker investigates her disappearance, she uncovers an unlikely connection between the two cases.

In the final season of “Stolen: Trouble in Sweetwater,” Walker looks at two missing persons cases from the largest Indian reservation in the US and their potential link. In addition to her journalism on the issue of missing and murdered indigenous people, the Peabody Award-winning host also focuses on the systemic issues that make solving these cases so difficult.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "STOLEN: TROUBLE IN SWEETWATER" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: the beat slows down.

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Murder 101 Apr 11, 2024

To engage his sociology students, Elizabethton High School teacher Alex Campbell created a unique lesson plan. The class would research a 1970s cold case known as the Redhead Murders. By semester's end, the students had created a profile of the possible serial killer. Six months after the class released their findings, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation identified someone who fit their profile. They said DNA linked a now-deceased truck driver to one of the half-dozen murders. But with links to the other victims still missing, a new group of Mr. Campbell’s students pick up the trail to solve the case once and for all.

From iHeart True Crime and KT Studios, “Murder 101” traces how a group project turned into a potential break in a 40-year-old mystery. The podcast brings us into the classroom discussions on possible clues and an interview with the one person who might tie the crimes of Jerry Leon Johns together: his one surviving victim.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "MURDER 101" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE PODCAST.

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Death and Other Details Apr 08, 2024

Imogene Scott finds herself aboard a luxury cruise ship chartered by the Collier family. The guest list includes powerful friends, as well as Chinese investors interested in acquiring their clothing factory. But after setting sail, an obnoxious passenger is killed with a harpoon through his chest.

Also on board is a figure from Imogene’s childhood: world famous detective Rufus Cotesworth, who tried to solve her mother’s car bombing but abruptly dropped the case. The murdered passenger was actually Rufus’s undercover partner, looking for connections between the Colliers and the enigmatic Viktor Sams. Though she despises him, Imogene agrees to help Rufus investigate when she learns Sams was somehow tied to her mother’s death.

Hulu’s high seas whodunnit “Death and Other Details” stars Violett Beane and Mandy Patinkin. The stylized drama takes the locked room murder format and sets it afloat. Can the pair learn what Danny uncovered that got him killed? Why is Viktor Sams targeting the passengers ? And will Imogene discover who was responsible for her mother’s death all those years ago.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DEATH AND OTHER DETAILS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Up shit's creek.

This episode was recorded live at The Word Barn in Exeter, NH.

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Slow Burn Apr 04, 2024

It was the scandal that took down a President…but it didn’t happen all at once. The road to Watergate was paved over time with small turns and little-known stories that need to be heard.

In this CWO Classic: we’ll revisit our December 8, 2017 review of the classic podcast “Slow Burn.”

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Beyond All Repair Apr 01, 2024

After profiling lawyer Shane Correia years ago for her podcast, part of his story stuck with host Amory Sivertson. He grew up under the cloud that his sister Sophia had been arrested for murdering her mother-in-law. And it was his brother Sean who said he witnessed Sophia commit the crime. But something about the story bothered Sivertson. Did the six-month pregnant 23-year-old really beat Marlyne Johnson with fireplace tongs just to steal some money? Why does the blood evidence only point to Sean, who was given a deal to testify against his sister? But her own investigation takes several turns, and Sivertson wonders if she’ll ever know who’s telling the truth.

In “Beyond All Repair” from WBUR and ZSP Media, Sivertson offers up a classic murder mystery with an enthralling cast of characters. She brings a vibrant narrative style and leaves no stone unturned in her quest to find out who killed Marlyne .

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BEYOND ALL REPAIR" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: sinking feeling.

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Gladiator Mar 28, 2024

He went from NFL tight end to having three murder charges. Could his rags-to-riches-to-ruin story have been different?

In this CWO Classic, we’ll revisit our October 29, 2018 review of "Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football, Inc." from Wondery and the Boston Globe Spotlight team.

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Dissident at the Doorstep Mar 25, 2024

Western news outlets became fascinated with Chen Guangcheng, a blind self-taught lawyer who advocated for human rights inside communist China. When Guangcheng escaped house arrest and fled to the US in 2012, he was held up as a symbol of freedom and democracy. But in the subsequent years, observers were puzzled when Guangcheng re-entered the public sphere as a Trump supporter, repeating right-wing talking points. And the humble dissident who stood up to China’s authoritarian government was spotted in Washington on January 6th.

The podcast “Dissident at the Doorstep” from Crooked Media looks at Guangcheng’s story, tracing his early advocacy for reproductive freedoms and disability rights, to the diplomatic crisis caused by his flight from captivity, and his latter day emergence as a right wing darling. Hosts Alison Klayman, Colin Jones, and Yangyang Cheng ask if the man known as “the barefoot lawyer” changed his political stripes…or was he misunderstood from the beginning?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DISSIDENT AT THE DOORSTEP" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Every dog has his DNA.

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Varnamtown Mar 21, 2024

“Twin Peaks” actor Kyle MacLachlan had a crazy story for his friend. In the 1980s, kingpin Pablo Escobar bribed an entire North Carolina town to let him land airplanes and smuggle cocaine into the US. The little-known story happened in Varnamtown, population 300. They found that residents, many with the last name of Varnam, got rich as a cog in the cartel's trafficking operation. But one fisherman who refused to be intimidated took on the town in a quixotic effort to stop the smuggling. It took a spate of bad luck and double crosses to bring the whole thing down.

In the podcast “Varnamtown,” MacLachlan and war correspondent Joshua Davis revisit this drug war footnote in a tale that features REO Speedwagon, lawn mowing Playboy bunnies, and an attack turkey. We hear from residents, investigators and drug smugglers while the actor and the journalist banter with each other about the story’s quirky twists and turns.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "VARNAMTOWN" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping Mar 18, 2024

Concerned by her adolescent behavior, Katherine Daniel’s parents sent the teenager to the Academy at Ivy Ridge, a school that promised to set her straight through a rigorous program. But within its walls, Ivy Ridge’s students were subjected to humiliation and violence at the hands of its staff. Years later, Katherine and her former classmates returned to the now-closed school. Riffling through its abandoned files and surveillance tape, they put together the pieces of their traumatic experiences, hoping to prove to an unconvinced world they were abused by so-called educators more interested in collecting tuition than in their well being.

The Netflix documentary series “The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping” is a unique view of the troubled teen industry told through the eyes of a former student. Katherine Kubler retraces the academy’s history while confronting former workers and pursuing current owners. She also attempts to come to terms with her own experience at the school and her strained relationship with the parent who put her there.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE PROGRAM" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 14 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: rise, dry, reboot.

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Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative Mar 14, 2024

Journalist Jess Shane had become disillusioned with the documentary industry and its effects on those profiled. She set off to create a new paradigm and craft stories with input from the people whose lives she’s covering. Shane reveals her process of creating a new kind of storytelling, featuring four people who’ll receive compensation and editorial input. But after months of collaboration, the subjects are unable to offer meaningful contributions to Shane’s presentation of their life stories. And the documentarian must confront what happens when subjects want more of the control she offered.

From PRX’s Radiotopia Presents comes “Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative.” Shane lets listeners into her earnest project to create stories that do right by their subjects, only to learn what is lost by doing so. It also asks questions about the commoditization of nonfiction programs by the companies that supply them and the audiences that demand them.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SHOCKING, HEARTBREAKING, TRANSFORMATIVE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 16 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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The Truth About Jim Mar 11, 2024

Sierra Barter’s step-grandfather had terrorized her family for years before his death in 2008. Jim Mordecai sexually abused the women in his life, including his step-daughter and his high school students. But he also seemed to have knowledge about a string of 1970s unsolved murders involving hitchhikers near his Northern California hometown. Sierra launches an investigation into Jim’s life which draws her closer to estranged relatives, but what she learns of her dead step-grandfather fits the profile of a man who could be responsible for some of the most infamous killings in the Bay Area.

The Max Original “The Truth About Jim” follows Sierra’s journey to learn about Mordecai’s past, his victims, and his penchant for violence. Was this serial sexual offender also responsible for the Santa Anna Hitchhiker Murders? Or even more shocking…could he have been the Zodiac Killer?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE TRUTH ABOUT JIM" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: frankly disappointing.

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Murder on Middle Beach Mar 07, 2024

A young filmmaker sets off to find his mother’s killer. What he uncovers shocks him.

In this CWO Classic Rewind we’ll revisit our December 7, 2020 review of HBO’s “Murder on Middle Beach.”

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Cover Up: Body Brokers Mar 04, 2024

Sunset Mesa Funeral Home was a trusted business for bereaved residents in Montrose, Colorado. Director Megan Hess smooth-talked family members and offered steep discounts on cremations for those who donated their bodies to science. But the community was shocked when it learned the ashes in their urns were not those of their loved ones. Investigators discovered customers were being misled as to how their remains would be used. Hess was getting rich in the shadowy world of body dealing. In the backroom, she was dismembering heads and limbs to be illegally sold to medical companies for research.

From Sony Music Entertainment, Campside Media and Black Bar Mitzvah, comes “Cover Up: Body Brokers.” The podcast recounts how Hess and her mother harvested body parts from their funeral home while giving families cremains from a mixed pile of ashes. Host Ashley Fantz talks to investigators, Sunset Mesa employees, and loved ones affected by the scam.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "COVER UP: BODY BROKERS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: By any other name.

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True Detective 3 Feb 29, 2024

An aging detective with a failing memory struggles to solve the kidnapping case that has haunted him his whole career. On this CWO Classic Rewind, we'll revisit our February 4, 2019 and March 4, 2019 reviews of HBO's "True Detective" season three.

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True Detective: Night Country Feb 26, 2024

After the last sunset of the year, a group of scientists vanish from their arctic research station near Ennis, Alaska. Police Chief Liz Danvers later finds the men naked and flash-frozen in the ice with no indication of how they got there.

Danvers reluctantly reunites with Trooper Evangeline Navarro, her former partner still haunted by the unsolved killing of an indigenous woman. The uneasy pair seek to answer what happened at Tsalal station and whether it’s connected to Annie K’s murder. But as an endless darkness settles over the Night Country, are greater forces at play?

“True Detective: Night Country” is season four of the HBO series and stars Jodi Foster, Kali Reis, Fiona Shaw, and Finn Bennett. Are the deaths linked to one another or with the mining operation polluting the water supply? Haunted both literally and figuratively by loss and isolation, the characters confront their own darkness living above the Arctic Circle.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "TRUE DETECTIVE: NIGHT COUNTRY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: dick pic.

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Runaway Joe Feb 22, 2024

In 1985, Irish residents were stunned to learn the man they knew as country gentleman Michael O’Shea was actually Joseph Maloney, a fugitive from America, accused of poisoning his wife twenty years earlier. He had fled to Ireland after escaping custody in New York. Though a court ruled he be sent back to the US, a legal glitch with his extradition order allowed Maloney to flee with his second wife. Decades later, the accused murderer remains on the run, frustrating authorities on two continents.

From RTÉ Documentary on One comes the podcast “Runaway Joe.” It looks at one of the FBI’s oldest cold cases. Host Pavel Barter interviews friends of Maloney’s murdered wife, American authorities hunting him, and Irish residents who knew him for years as Mick O’Shea. Can investigators find the elusive fugitive and bring him to justice nearly 60 years after the crime?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "RUNAWAY JOE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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They Called Him Mostly Harmless Feb 19, 2024

The case of an unidentified hiker found dead in the Florida Everglades baffled police. He’d gone by the trail nickname “Mostly Harmless,” but no one knew who he really was. His story energized Internet sleuths who started their own investigation into the John Doe. The online community grew toxic, with splinter groups competing with one another in a search for answers. But when the identity of Mostly Harmless was uncovered and the questions to his life on the trail were answered, some wondered whether the quest had been worth it.

The Max Original film “They Called Him Mostly Harmless” recounts the crowdsourced hunt for the mysterious man’s identity. It poses questions about whether these armchair detectives were searching for the hiker - or searching for themselves.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THEY CALLED HIM MOSTLY HARMLESS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: long in the tooth.

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On Our Watch: New Folsom Feb 15, 2024

When Valentino Rodriguez Jr. died at home, his family believed it had something to do with his time in an elite investigative unit inside New Folsom Prison. He’d been driven out of the job by other corrections officers Valentino believed were behind the abuse of prisoners. KQED reporters Sukey Lewis and Julie Small began to dig through reams of newly-released documents and interview tapes, hoping to shed light on what was happening in California’s most violent prison. Meanwhile, with guidance from Valentino’s mentor, Val Senior launched his own investigation into his son’s final days with the help of an insider.

Season two of KQED’s “On Our Watch: New Folsom” tells the tale of two corrections officers struggling with the pattern of violence and a culture of silence within the high-security facility. The hosts investigate the challenges they faced and follow in their footsteps to uncover the secrets hidden inside the most dangerous prison in the Golden State.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "ON OUR WATCH: NEW FOLSOM" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

Note: This episode has been updated to correct an error in an earlier posted version.

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Dr. Death: Bad Magic Feb 12, 2024

Doctor Serhat Gumrukcu had been hailed as a genius whose experimental treatments for cancer and AIDS made a half-billion dollars for Enochian Biosciences. But the researcher seemed to have two obsessions: one was performing magic tricks and the other was a penchant for secrecy. Financial investors turned up troubling information on Serhat. His diplomas and other credentials were phony, and he’d left a trail of white collar crimes. They’d soon learn, on the other side of the country, a man in a business dispute with Serhat was lured from his home, murdered execution-style, and left in a snowbank.

“Dr. Death: Bad Magic” is season four of Wondery’s hit podcast series. Host Laura Beil tells the tale of the amateur magician and professional con artist who fooled financiers, scientists, and patients - and now faces murder-for-hire charges. Was Serhat the medical pioneer he claimed to be or was it all an illusion?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DR. DEATH: BAD MAGIC" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of The Week: Cocaine bears.

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Gwyneth vs Terry: The Ski Crash Trial Feb 08, 2024

In 2016, a pair of skiers collided on the slopes of Utah’s Deer Valley Resort. Retiree Terry Sanderson said the crash left him with brain damage and emotional pain, so he filed a $300,000 lawsuit against the other skier: A-list celebrity Gwyneth Paltrow. But Paltrow said Sanderson crashed into her. Rather than settle, she defended herself in court with an army of high-priced attorneys and expert witnesses. What might normally be a low-profile personal injury case turned into a televised cause celebre.

The documentary “Gwyneth vs Terry: The Ski Crash Trial” from Discovery+ and Max looks back at the case that captivated pop culture. Was the actress using her star power to avoid responsibility or was the optometrist to blame and just looking for a payday?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "GWYNETH vs TERRY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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The Runaway Princesses Feb 05, 2024

In 2000, the daughter of Dubai’s leader, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ran off to England. Though her father was seen as a progressive champion of women’s rights in the Arab world, Shamsa claimed her father subjected his children to harsh punishment for disobedience. The princess was then forcibly taken from British soil by Sheikh Mohammed’s men, sparking a diplomatic crisis.

After spending nearly four years in prison for her own escape attempt, Shamsa’s sister Latifa also fled the country in 2018 to get away from her father. Her swashbuckling, high-profile breakout made international news, but claiming she’d been kidnapped, Indian security forces captured her at sea and brought her home.

From the team at The New Yorker and “In the Dark” comes “The Runaway Princesses.” Madeleine Baran and Heidi Blake report on Latifa’s and Shamsa’s attempts to leave Dubai, the consequences for doing so, and what’s happening with the princesses today. Is Latifa now living a happy life in Dubai as she claims, or is she making those statements under duress?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE RUNAWAY PRINCESSES" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: no tipping.

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The Vanishing Point Feb 01, 2024

Emmilee Risling was last seen in 2021 on the Pecwan bridge. Hoopa Valley authorities were unable to determine whether the troubled woman threw herself into the Klamath River or met with foul play.

Emmilee was just another in the growing number of indigenous men and women who vanished from tribal lands in the Pacific Northwest. All their stories are different. Some deal with addiction, mental health, or domestic violence. But what they all have in common is the same location in Northern California.

“The Vanishing Point” from Tenderfoot TV looks at the story of five missing people from Hoopa Valley. Host Celisia Stanton and her team explore the cold cases and attempt to learn why this tribal land is a vanishing point for so many.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE VANISHING POINT" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Radical Jan 29, 2024

In 2000, a deputy was killed and another wounded in Atlanta’s West End while trying to serve an arrest warrant. Authorities said the gunman was Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, the leader of the local mosque and caretaker of the predominantly Muslim neighborhood. In the years before becoming Imam Jamil he’d been known as H. Rap Brown, a leader in the 1960s Black Power Movement accused by the FBI of inciting violence. West End residents did not think their spiritual leader was behind the fatal shooting and wondered if his arrest was motivated less by the contradictory evidence and more by his past as an outspoken activist.

From Campside Media, Tenderfoot TV and iHeartMedia comes “Radical.” Host Mosi Secret investigates the night of the shooting and attempts to find out who Iman Jamil really is. Is he truly a man of God? Is he a dangerous extremist? Or is the answer somewhere in the middle?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "RADICAL" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: fowl language.

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The Estate Jan 25, 2024

Growing up, Alex Estrada knew there was something important about the phone calls his father would receive from a man in prison. He learned his dad and Calvin Jones were accused of having their business partner killed in 1973. They dropped the charges against Rosalio Estrada, but Jones got a life sentence. Already navigating a toxic relationship, Rosalio’s possible culpability confirmed Alex’s belief his father was a bad man. But was he a killer? Alex sets off to scrutinize the fifty-year-old murder case in an attempt to reconcile his complicated feelings for his dead father.

In the podcast “The Estate” from Sonoro and Tenderfoot TV, Estrada re-examines the evidence in a long-forgotten case, looking for clues as to who Rosalio really was. It attempts to blend true crime, political science, and family memoir into one.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE ESTATE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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American Nightmare Jan 22, 2024

In 2015, Aaron Quinn told Vallejo police his girlfriend had been kidnapped in the middle of the night by home-invading frogmen. Detectives thought he made up the far-fetched tale to hide her possible murder. But days later Denise Huskins turned up at her parents’ house with a similarly elaborate story of abduction and sexual captivity. Citing its parallels to the movie “Gone Girl,” investigators accused the couple of a hoax. But miles away, a rookie detective uncovered an out-of-place piece of evidence in a serial rape case: a strand of blonde hair attached to a pair of blackout goggles.

The Netflix series “American Nightmare” follows Aaron and Denise’s ordeal, first as the victims of a bizarre serial rapist, then as defendants humiliated by cops who said they lied about it. It also features the investigator who bucked the system to get them justice on more than one level.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "AMERICAN NIGHTMARE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: watch and wear.

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In Her Defence Jan 18, 2024

After missing for six years, Miles Naslund was discovered at the bottom of an Alberta pond, his body welded inside a metal toolbox. Police arrested his wife Helen who said she shot him in 2011 while he slept after enduring three decades of abuse. But the full extent of her sons’ involvement in the killing remains murky. And Helen’s sentence was much harsher than that of other Canadian women who’ve used the Battered Woman defense.

From The Globe and Mail comes the podcast “In Her Defence.” Host Jana G. Pruden recounts Helen Naslund’s case through jailhouse interviews and commentary from friends, children, and legal experts. Did the court fully take into account the 30 years of domestic violence she endured at the hands of her shooting victim? And is she protecting any family members who might have played a larger role in the killing and coverup?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "IN HER DEFENCE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Peacock's Dr Death 2 Jan 15, 2024

TV producer Benita Alexander thinks the work of a transplant surgeon will make for a great story. Dr. Paolo Macchiarini is saving lives by implanting the first artificial tracheas, and Benita soon finds herself in a secret relationship with the charismatic medical pioneer. Once they’re engaged, Benita grows suspicious of his tales of famous friends and promises of a new life in Europe. But worse, Macchiarini has been obfuscating the results of his surgeries, treating patients like human guinea pigs while the devices rot inside their bodies.

Peacock is out with the second installment of their dramatic adaptation of “Dr. Death,” based on the Miracle Man season of the Wondery Podcast. Actors Mandy Moore and Edgar Ramírez recreate Macchiarini’s catfishing romance in the US, while Luke Kirby plays one of the doctors in Sweden looking to expose the surgeon’s deadly lies.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DR. DEATH" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of Week: road script.

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Burden of Guilt Jan 11, 2024

As a child, Tracyrachel Bern’s father would beat her if she asked about the 1971 death of her baby brother Matthew. Her parents would later tell her what they told police: that the two-year-old girl threw the infant from his crib. After living years with the guilt, Tracyrachel came to question details of the accident and whether her abusive father, Jan Barry Sandlin, may have killed the baby and blamed it on her. She set off on a four decades long journey to learn the truth and get justice for Matthew.

From Glass Podcasts comes “Burden of Guilt.” Host Nancy Glass interviews Tracyrachel about her efforts to clear her name and hold Matthew’s killer responsible. Did a toddler really dash a baby’s head or was she scapegoated to hide someone else’s fatal act of violence?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BURDEN OF GUILT" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Boston Globe's Murder in Boston Podcast Jan 08, 2024

It was a crime story that shook Boston. The survivor of a fatal carjacking said his pregnant wife was murdered by an unknown Black man - triggering an unprecedented police crackdown in Black neighborhoods still dealing with the racial legacy of bussing. The city’s spotty track record on civil rights fueled police, politicians, and the media too eager to believe a fiction wrapped in racism. But even after it was revealed to be a hoax - and that Charles Stuart staged the death of his wife - the damage to the community could not be undone.

The “Murder in Boston Podcast” by The Boston Globe is a companion to, but separately produced from, the HBO series of the same name. Hosted by editor Adrian Walker, the podcast digs into the Charles Stuart case from a local point of view, going deeper into its many threads. It takes a critical look at the city’s racial backstory, flaws in the investigation, and the indiscriminate targeting of Black men - as well as the failures of its own newspaper. It even uncovers new information about who knew ahead of time that Stuart was the culprit.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "MURDER IN BOSTON PODCAST" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: pothole committed.

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HBO's Murder in Boston: Roots, Rampage & Reckoning Jan 04, 2024

In 1989, Boston was stunned by a dramatic carjacking. Charles Stuart said his wife Carol was shot in the head and he was gravely wounded by a Black man who robbed them. While the media fought each other for the latest details, police launched an aggressive and prolonged manhunt in the adjacent Black neighborhoods. Within the Black community, the harassment and heavy handed arrests opened fresh wounds in a city with a checkered past on race relations. But police were so willing to believe Stuart’s account of the bizarre attack, few suspected he was behind it all along.

From HBO Documentary Films in association with The Boston Globe comes “Murder in Boston: Roots, Rampage & Reckoning. The three-part series retraces the investigation into who killed Carol Stuart against the backdrop of a liberal city unable to reconcile its racist history. We also hear from reporters, activists, and local residents affected by the manhunt and an unapologetic cop who helped run it.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "MURDER IN BOSTON: ROOTS, RAMPAGE & RECKONING" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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The Bakersfield Three Jan 01, 2024

In 2018, Micah Holsonbake’s family said the 34-year-old banker went missing from Bakersfield, California. Two weeks later, a friend of Micah’s reported his 20-year-old girlfriend Baylee Despot also vanished. Just weeks after that, another friend, 38-year-old entrepreneur James Kulstad, was gunned down in a quiet neighborhood. Their families believed the fates of the three were more than a coincidence.

The three were loosely connected in a world filled with drug addiction, sex trafficking, and illegal weapons. The mothers of the so-called Bakersfield 3 banded together to alert the public, keep pressure on investigators, and support each other, all while Baylee’s boyfriend publicly taunted her mom. But as new evidence turned up, the answer to what happened threatened to tear their alliance apart.

From Casefile Presents comes the 15-part podcast “The Bakersfield Three.” Host Olivia LaVoice draws upon her years of covering the case as a TV reporter. Using her police sources, intimate relationships with the families, and her own story, LaVoice walks us through a mystery filled with shocking twists.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE BAKERSFIELD THREE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: gold brick.

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Best TV of 2023 Dec 28, 2023

There was something for everyone on the TV in 2023. We saw documentaries that dug deep into issues of crime and punishment. There were several true stories told in real time by the people in the middle of them. But there were also shows that made us laugh…and sometimes sing.

But which TV shows and documentaries truly stood out? The crime writers will reveal their lists for the Best TV of 2023.

Lara's Top Ten

Great Photo, Lovely Life
Navajo Police: Class 57
Victim/ suspect
Reality
Only Murders in the Building season 3
Navalny
Telemarketers
How to Create a Sex Scandal
Jury duty
Last Call

Toby's Top Ten

Great Photo, Lovely Life
Reality
Shiny Happy People
Telemarketers
Last Call
Savior Complex
Murder in Big Horn
Only Murders in the Building season 3
Navalny
The Diplomat

Kevin's Top Ten

Jury Duty
Victim/Suspect
Great Photo, Lovely Life
Only Murders in the Building season 3
BS High
Scouts Honor
Stolen Youth
Burden of Proof
Telemarketers
Murder in Big Horn

Rebecca's Top Ten

Great Photo, Lovely Life
Jury Duty
The Diplomat
Shiny Happy People
Only Murders in the Building season 3
Telemarketers
Netflix's Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal
Navalny
Navajo Police: Class 57
Last Call

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Best Podcasts of 2023 Dec 25, 2023

This year brought us podcasts that examined interesting characters - from the super famous to the terribly infamous. There were the meticulously investigated stories of people caught in a system stacked against them. And it provided us with many series told by hosts with very personal connections to the crimes they covered.

But which titles truly stood out? All four crime writers present their top 10 podcasts for 2023.

In Crime of the Week: A lot of nerve swerve.

Lara's Top Ten

Earwitness
Suspect: Five Shots in the Dark
The Retrievals
Blind Plea
Ghost Story
The Kids of Rutherford County
Fiasco: Vigilante
Verified: Full Disclosure
Overlooked
Admissible Sheds of Evidence

Toby's Top Ten

Fiasco: Vigilante
You Didn’t See Nothin’
Blind Plea
Earwitness
I’m Not a Monster season 2
Alabama Astronaut
Witnessed: Devil in the Ditch
Ghost Story
Chameleon: Dr. Dante
The Retrievals

Kevin's Top Ten

You Didn't See Nothin
Earwitness
I Am Not a Monster season 2
Fiasco: Vigilante
Witnessed: Devil in the Ditch
City of Tents: Veterans Row
Suspect: Five Shots in the Dark
Blind Plea
The Retrievals
Overlooked

Rebecca's Top Ten

You Didn't See Nothin
Earwitness
Witnessed: Devil in the Ditch
The Retrievals
Think Twice: Michael Jackson
Fiasco: Vigilante
Ghost Story
Blind Plea
Dear Alana,
The Dream season 3

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Great Photo, Lovely Life Dec 21, 2023

International photojournalist Amanda Mustard returns home to pursue an open family secret. As her grandfather Bill Flickinger nears the end of his life, Amanda investigates the decades of sexual abuse he inflicted on his young chiropractic patients. Mustard looks at how Flickinger avoided accountability for decades and reaches out to her grandfather’s many victims. They include her mother and sister, but the effort to find forgiveness between them threatens to tear the family apart.

In the raw HBO Original “Great Photo, Lovely Life,” Mustard chronicles her family’s story, seeks to empower survivors, and confronts the fallout that facing family trauma head-on can bring. Viewers are presented with home movies, boxes of mementos, and intimate conversations aimed at disrupting a cycle of abuse, blame, and anger.

OUR-SPOILER FREE REVIEWS OF "GREAT PHOTO, LOVELY LIFE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Gooned Dec 18, 2023

The Troubled Teen Industry comprises the wilderness programs, therapeutic boarding schools, and group programs desperate parents turn to when their kids are struggling with mental health, substance misuse, and behavioral issues - whether real or perceived. Often, kids are escorted to these programs by so-called Goons - transport agencies hired to take kids away from home, often against their will in the dark hours before dawn. But are these Goons a last-resort tactic for families at the end of their rope or a high-ticket, legal kidnapping operation?

In the podcast “Gooned,” journalist Emma Lehman details many facets of the Troubled Teen Industry, interviewing survivors, former employees, and even impersonating the parent of a teen in crisis in order to dig up dirt on what she asserts is ground zero for the emotional, physical, and psychological abuse that leads to lasting trauma for those the industry is claiming to help.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "GOONED" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: ghost in the machine.

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Gay Girl Gone Dec 14, 2023

Amina Arraf grew a following for her blog recounting her life as an openly gay woman in Syria, a nation where homosexuality is illegal. She was revered by the queer community internationally, started an online romance, and drew attention from journalists covering the Arab Spring. Her legions of fans were shocked when Amina was arrested by the government and disappeared. But Amina’s descriptions of life under the Syrian regime didn't ring true to those in the small gay community of Damascus. As international efforts to locate and rescue Amina were underway, cracks in her story appeared.

From the CBC comes the podcast “Gay Girl Gone.” Journalist Samira Mohyeddin investigates what happened to the famed blogger. The show also explores the impact on the people and political causes damaged by the whole affair.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "GAY GIRL GONE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God Dec 11, 2023

In 2021, police in Oregon discovered the mummified corpse of Amy Carlson. Her body had been transported and adorned by the members of her small cult “Love Has Won.” The woman they called Mother God had been emaciated and her skin had turned blue. Her followers believed Carlson was the reincarnation of Joan of Arc and Marilyn Monroe, and communed with a group of Galactics led by dead celebrities like Robin Williams and John Lennon. The cult sustained itself through online donations and selling miracle cures as new leaders annointed by Mother God sewed internal strife. Was it her very practices and beliefs that led to her failing health and eventual death?

From HBO Documentary Films, the series “Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God” examines Carlson’s rise as spiritual guru and her conspiracy-laced convictions. It features interviews with her followers in the immediate days after her death, still enthralled with her dogma.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "LOVE HAS WON: THE CULT OF MOTHER GOD" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: A Santa Claus bites the dust.

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Ghost Story Dec 07, 2023

Journalist Tristan Redman had no idea his wife's great-grandmother Naomi Dancy had been shot in the eyes by her brother in a 1937 murder-suicide that happened in the house next door. He wondered if it was connected to the spooky incidents in his bedroom or claims from the new owners that it was haunted by a ghost with no face.

Naomi’s husband had narrowly escaped a bullet during the crime, but modern researchers questioned whether it was he who might have killed his wife and brother-in-law. Redman wondered if the apparition was Naomi asking him to prove John “Feyther” Dancy was the real killer…an inquiry that wouldn’t sit well with Redman's in-laws.

In the podcast “Ghost Story” from Wondery and Pineapple Street Studios, Redman explores the life of the accomplished-yet-problematic patriarch while managing his in-laws’ misgivings. He employs historians, cold case detectives, and spiritual mediums to determine whether his long-dead neighbor was killed by her troubled war veteran brother or her braggadocious husband.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "GHOST STORY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Imperfect Paradise: People vs. Karen Dec 04, 2023

Mommy-influencer Katie Sorensen went viral with a story of a couple who attempted to kidnap her kids in a craft store. When Sadie and Eddie Martinez saw their photos in the news, they knew they’d been racially profiled and falsely accused in the latest so-called “Karen” incident.

As it became clear Katie had exaggerated the event, police charged her with filing false reports. The criminal case turned into a litmus test on the online phenomenon of white women accusing people of color of criminal behavior for innocuous things. Did she make up the story to get clicks, or did other factors contribute to her allegation?

In a short series from LAist Studios, “Imperfect Paradise: People vs. Karen” looks into the backlash against one white woman’s incrimination and the people who fought back against the racism and social media shaming. Reporter Emily Guerin also examines other things in the zeitgeist that may have led to her thinking her children were at risk.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "IMPERFECT PARADISE: PEOPLE VS. KAREN" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Airing of the Grievances.

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Witnessed: Fade to Black Nov 27, 2023

Screenwriter Gary DeVore vanished in 1997 driving through the Mojave Desert. He’d been writing an action film with input from CIA agent Chase Brandon. His wife Wendy wondered whether Gary's disappearance and his missing script were linked to the CIA and whether authorities were trying to scuttle the case. And even when his body and SUV were discovered a year later in the California Aqueduct, she still was convinced things didn’t add up.

The newest season of “Witnessed: Fade to Black” looks into the conspiracy theories around the famous case and explores the CIA’s very real Hollywood influence efforts. Host Josh Dean tries to pull apart fact from fiction, with new reporting on whether Gary’s death was a high-stakes assassination or a simple accident.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WITNESSED: FADE TO BLACK" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: flying horses couldn't drag me away.

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The Kids of Rutherford County Nov 20, 2023

A fight among children caught on video led to the arrest of eleven Black students, charged for not stopping the fight. Kids as young as 8 were cuffed and booked into jail, even though Tennessee law says juveniles can’t be detained for minor infractions. Two attorneys were shocked to learn that over a decade officials in Rutherford County arrested hundreds of children for small violations and left them in jail cells for days. The police, the prosecutors, and the detention center all ignored the case law for one reason: the juvenile court judge told them to.

From Serial Productions and The New York Times comes “The Kids of Rutherford County.” Host Meribah Knight looks at a massive civil rights violation, reveals how it came to be, and follows the two juvenile delinquents-turned-lawyers who try to do something about it.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE KIDS OF RUTHERFORD COUNTY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: faked Alaska.

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Unrestorable Nov 16, 2023

In 2014, Catherine Hoggle returned home without her three- and two-year old children. Though their bodies have never been recovered, Hoggle was placed in a psychiatric facility to treat her mental illness and restore her competency for trial. But Maryland law states if a defendant is still deemed incompetent after five years, their charges will be dropped. With the deadline approaching, both prosecutors and the children’s father accuse Hoggle of faking it, trying to run out the clock and avoid prison.

In the podcast “Unrestorable,” journalists Sarah Treleaven and Beth Karas examine the balance between a father’s quest for justice and the rights of the mentally ill in the justice system. Meanwhile, one key question that overshadows this case: Can you really fake being incompetent and get away with murder?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "UNRESTORABLE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTE OF THE EPISODE.

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Earwitness Nov 13, 2023

In 1995, Deputy Sheriff William Hardy was shot while moonlighting at a Birmingham hotel. An informant told police the shooter was Toforest Johnson. Even though ten people saw him in a nightclub at the time of the crime, detectives believed they had their man. But after Yolanda Chambers’s statements were discredited, prosecutors turned to Violet Ellison who said she overheard Johnson confess on a three-way phone call. Years later, even the prosecutor has doubts about the so-called “earwitness” and whether Johnson should be on Alabama’s death row.

From the producers of “Bone Valley” comes “Earwitness.” Host Beth Shelburne picks apart the original investigation, police conduct, and the credibility of the key witness. What does it say when even the people who put an innocent man on death row can’t get the justice system to right a wrong?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "EARWITNESS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: It's a small turd after all.

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Murder in Apartment 12 Nov 09, 2023

In 2005, Kevin Jones discovered his girlfriend bludgeoned to death in her Russellville, Arkansas apartment. Police zeroed in on Jones, thinking the murder of former beauty queen Nona Dirksmeyer was an open-and-shut case. Despite a strong alibi and critical evidence pointing to an unknown assailant, prosecutors would not alter their theory of the case. And years after a jury would decide Jones’s fate - and DNA from the scene was linked to Nona’s violent neighbor - many would not change their minds about what happened in apartment 12.

From Dateline NBC comes their latest podcast, “Murder in Apartment 12.” Host Keith Morrison looks back at his two decades of covering the case. While still employing his famous droll delivery style, this Dateline mystery does not get wrapped up in a bow at the end.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "MURDER IN APARTMENT 12" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Navajo Police: Class 57 Nov 06, 2023

The Navajo Nation is the only tribe that runs its own police academy, training officers for an understaffed force patrolling the largest reservation in the US. The latest class of about two dozen Navajo recruits must go through a rigorous 28 week boot camp to prepare them for the rigors of the job.

But Class 57 begins to dwindle, with recruits dropping out or being dismissed for misconduct. Yet those who graduate find themselves unprepared for the emotional reality of patrolling a reservation filled with poverty, addiction, and violence which mirrors their own experiences growing up Navajo.

The HBO Original documentary series “Navajo Police: Class 57” takes us inside the academy of a police force desperately trying to fill its ranks and into the complicated lives of those seeking to wear the uniform. It reveals how the NPD is a microcosm of the Navajo Nation itself…revealing its history, uncertain future, and its resiliency.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "NAVAJO POLICE: CLASS 57" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

Plus, the Crime Writers read a statement regarding toxicity in podcasting.

In Crime of the Week: Mamas boys.

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Happy Face Nov 02, 2023

A serial killer father! Truckers! Bunk beds! Prison letters! BEARS! This podcast seemed to have everything, except maybe a point. In this CWO Classic, we'll revisit our October 22, 2018 review of "Happy Face."

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Big Vape Oct 30, 2023

Grad students James Monsees and Adam Bowen envisioned a new technology, one that would give smokers like them the hit of nicotine they craved without the carcinogens of a combustible cigarette. After a decade of refining vape products, they finally achieved commercial success with Juul. But instead of reaching smokers wanting to quit, Juul’s biggest customer base were young people attracted by their fruity flavors and extra pack of nicotine. Instead of being an alternative to Big Tobacco, the company had its own problems with regulators, parents, and public health officials.

With users, experts, and former employees, Netflix’s “Big Vape: The Rise and Fall of Juul” chronicles the history of the controversial tobacco product. Did Juul’s mission backfire, making the public health crisis it tried to mitigate only worse? Or did its financial success blind its creators to the inevitable outcomes of perfecting smokeless tobacco?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BIG VAPE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: gummin' bears.

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MANslaughter Oct 26, 2023

The 1970 shooting of a Wisconsin man should have been an open-and-shut case - but it led the victim’s niece on a decade’s long search for the truth. On this CWO Classic we’ll revisit our epic April 12, 2021 review of MANslaughter.

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Magnificent Jerk Oct 23, 2023

When Maya Lin Sugarman was cleaning out her grandmother’s home, she discovered some screenplays written by her late uncle. Galen Yuen was in a Chinese street gang before becoming a small-time actor. Maya had no idea the script about his life story was made into the 1997 movie “Crazy Six.” By the time Hollywood was finished with the semi-biographical thriller about an Asian crack addict looking to rip off some Oakland drug dealers, it featured Rob Lowe trying to steal plutonium from Eastern European gangsters. The screenplays send Maya on a quest to uncover her uncle’s true life story, find the real people who inspired the characters, and learn how his movie got whitewashed in the first place.

The Apple Original podcast “Magnificent Jerk,” produced by Pineapple Street Studios, is the true story of the fake story of a real life. The host takes a journey into the colorful past of the uncle she thought she knew and finds a tale about identity, ambition, and family.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "MAGNIFICENT JERK" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Paying your debt to society.

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The Shell Lake Massacre Oct 19, 2023

While his wife and eight of his children lay sleeping, James Peterson awoke to a stranger at his farmhouse door. Within a matter of minutes, all but one family member would be shot to death in Canada’s worst random murder spree. The scope of the 1967 crime shook Saskatchewan, leaving locals in fear for their lives. Mounties would later interrogate a neighbor who’d been recently released from a hospital and had been hallucinating about the devil.

Rawlco Radio presents the six-part podcast “The Shell Lake Massacre.” Host Brittany Caffet recounts one of Canada’s most gruesome slayings. She also introduces us to Kathy Hill, the only surviving member of the Peterson family, as they both return to the scene of the crime.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE SHELL LAKE MASSACRE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Savior Complex Oct 16, 2023

In 2009, nineteen-year-old Renee Bach said the Lord called her to go to Uganda and establish a charity to feed the hungry. But the Serving His Children clinic morphed into an intensive care unit for gravely malnourished babies and toddlers. Her work attracted Christian donors and filled her social media feed. But Bach became the target of Ugandan activists opposed to white missionaries using African children as props for their own agendas. And observers noted why starving babies continued to die at her clinic: Bach was personally directing the children’s care even though she had no medical training.

“Savior Complex” from HBO Documentaries uses video of the clinic shot by Bach to tell a story of white privilege and religious hubris. It also follows local activists drumming up opposition to Bach and other Westerners more interested in grabbing the spotlight than providing humanitarian relief.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SAVIOR COMPLEX" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: stick 'em up.

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The Dream season 3 Oct 12, 2023

People are spending thousands of dollars to get the guidance of life coaches, so-called experts who promise to motivate clients, provide clarity to their problems, and set them on the path to financial reward. But often these gurus recruit new coaches, ensnaring them and their downstream clients in a multi-level marketing cycle. But who gets to say they’re an expert in giving life advice or promising prosperity to clients for the right fee? And why do people think these self-styled gurus can change their emotional and financial situations in the first place?

In season three of “The Dream,” host Jane Marie explores the life coaching industry, and whether followers can transform themselves by altering mindsets or tapping into the universe. Jane makes the journey personal by discussing her feelings of dread and depression, and employing her own life coach to improve her outlook.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE DREAM" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Who Killed Jill Dando? Oct 09, 2023

In 1999, Great Britain was shaken when popular BBC news presenter Jill Dando was gunned down at her front door. In their search for the shooter, police examined loved ones, fans, assassins, political extremists, and connections to her popular TV show “Crimewatch.” After months of false leads, a neighbor caught the attention of authorities. Would a single particle of gunpowder be enough to convict a suspect of killing the nation’s most beloved television star…or put the wrong man in jail?

The Netflix series “Who Killed Jill Dando?” explores the 1999 slaying of the journalist and the many twists and turns of the investigation. Why does her death continue to grip experts and the public all these years later?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WHO KILLED JILL DANDO" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: hard rock.

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Only Murders in The Building s3 Oct 04, 2023

When last we saw our heroes, temperamental actor Ben Gilroy had died on stage at the premier of Oliver’s new Broadway show. But a very-much alive Ben returns from the hospital, only to plummet to his death in the Arconia’s elevator shaft. Who among the cast and crew would want Ben dead? Oliver fears the show will tank if it’s a cast member - like the alluring Loretta Durkin whom he’s crushing on. Charles is struggling with both his love life and the musical’s patter song. Meanwhile Mabel is leaving the Arconia and feels disconnected from the guys. As she moves forward on the podcast without them, can this trio solve the latest murder in the building?

Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez return in season three of Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building.” Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd round out the cast. The show turns its focus away from true crime podcasts to musical theater, while providing another group of odd-ball suspects to investigate.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Exposed: Cover-Up at Columbia University Oct 02, 2023

After a patient reported Dr Robert Hadden assaulted her in the exam room, many women came forward with similar accusations. But aggressive tactics by lawyers for the OB-GYN stymied the prosecution, ultimately resulting in a slap on the wrist. Survivors learned behind the hardball maneuvers was Hadden’s employer. For years, Columbia University ignored the complaints against the doctor, choosing to protect its brand instead of its patients.

In the Wondery podcast “Exposed: Cover-Up at Columbia University,” “Dr. Death” host Laura Beil talks to survivors, advocates, and prosecutors about the decade’s long effort to hold a serial sexual predator accountable. The series also explores how elite institutions wield their influence to avoid responsibility.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "EXPOSED: COVER-UP AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Don't give a flying f*ck.

Support Kevin's Walk a Mile in Their Shoes 👠 by donating here. Proceeds go to the Crisis Center of Central New Hampshire.

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Scouts Honor Sep 28, 2023

Though thought of as a leading youth group for skills and character building, the Boy Scouts often attracted adults who preyed on children. For decades, the national headquarters cataloged these incidents in confidential files, but publicly they denied there was a problem. It wasn’t until a former scout sued that the files were disclosed, revealing leaders knew about, but never acted on, hundreds and hundreds of cases of abuse. And even today, after a multi-billion dollar settlement with victims, whistleblowers say the Boy Scouts are failing in their mission to protect its members.

The Netflix documentary “Scouts Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America” looks into the cover-up behind the largest sex abuse case in history. Survivors, journalists, and insiders recount what happened when the organization that urged young men to be honest and trustworthy ignored its own ideals in favor of self-preservation.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SCOUTS HONOR" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Over My Dead Body: Gone Hunting Sep 25, 2023

In December 2000, Florida’s Mike Williams disappeared in alligator-infested waters while duck hunting. His loss seemed to crush his wife Denise and his best friend Brian Winchester. While authorities ruled his presumed-death an accident, his mother Cheryl believed it was foul play. For years, she begged police and reporters to look into Denise’s involvement. It wasn’t until years later, when Denise got an insurance payout and married Brian, did investigators reopen Mike’s case.

From Wondery comes “Over My Dead Body: Gone Hunting,” season four of the true crime podcast series. Host Jennifer Portman recounts the two decades-long investigation and her own reporting on whether Mike’s wife and best friend were involved in his disappearance.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "OVER MY DEAD BODY: GONE HUNTING" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: weird science.

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Dear Alana, Sep 21, 2023

In 2019, Boulder, Colorado residents were shocked by the death by suicide of 24-year-old Alana Chen. The woman who once dreamed of being a nun had struggled with her sexual identity and was left scarred by conversion therapy. The reports intrigued Simon Kent Fung, who interviewed her mother and friends to learn more about Alana’s story. Exploring her inner life through the journals she left behind, Alana’s journey made Simon reflect on the parallels of his own struggles to reconcile his faith with his efforts to change his hidden sexuality.

“Dear Alana,” from Tenderfoot TV, Aslept Audio, and the Center for Independent Documentary, traces the life of a young woman looking for acceptance in the Church by denying the truest part of herself. It’s also Simon’s self-study on the price he and Alana paid to balance the love of God with the love for themselves.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DEAR ALANA," BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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BS High Sep 18, 2023

America was introduced to Ohio’s Bishop Sycamore High School during a nationally televised football game. When they lost 58-0, people first questioned how a team so clearly bad made it on to ESPN. But there was a bigger twist: the high school they played for didn’t exist! Coach Ray Johnson had dreamed up Bishop Sycamore just so he could put together a football team. Along the way, he flouted safety rules and sporting codes, while taking financial advantage of the players, creditors, and the government.

The HBO Originals documentary “BS High” tells the story of the scam around a fake school and its gridiron team, as well as the conman-turned-coach. We hear from officials who tried to sound the alarm on the scheme and from the many Black, impoverished players who were led astray. It also explains why, despite the evidence, there’s nothing officials can do about a fictitious football team.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BS HIGH" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: The Big Sleep.

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The Girlfriends Sep 14, 2023

In the 1990s, Carole Fisher started dating Doctor Bob Bierenbaum, but she broke it off with the charming physician after seeing his dark side. Carole created a kind of support group among Bob’s ex-girlfriends and talk soon turned to a strange part of his past: the doctor’s first wife disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Gail Katz vanished from New York City in 1985, around the time she told friends she was going to leave Bob. The case stayed cold for years, until detectives turned to Carole and her friends for help.

The podcast “The Girlfriends” from Novel and iHeartMedia describes the sisterhood formed among Bob’s suspicious former lovers and how investigators used their knowledge to get an arrest. The women also meditate on their relationship with each other and the murder victim they never knew.

OUR SPOILER-FREE EPISODES OF "THE GIRLFRIENDS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Telemarketers Sep 11, 2023

Teenager Sam Lipman-Stern started videotaping his eccentric co-workers at a chaotic New Jersey call center which raised money for police organizations. When his friend Pat Pespas discovered Civil Development Group was keeping most of the donations, the pair hoped to expose the fraud. Though the feds took down CDG, Sam and Pat wondered why the police organizations were never held accountable for their role in the scheme. A decade later, the pair resumed their investigation, only to meet resistance at every turn.

The HBO Originals “Telemarketers” follows the ne'er-do-wells’ quixotic attempts to shake up a billion-dollar industry. It also shows Sam and Pat’s unconventional friendship from their wild days in the boiler room to their earnest demands for answers from police and politicians alike.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "TELEMARKETERS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: wigged out!

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Wild Wild Country Sep 07, 2023

A cult takes over an Oregon town, then resorts to violence to keep their community…built on love. We'll return to our March 28, 2018 review of Netflix's "Wild Wild Country."

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Fiasco: Vigilante Sep 04, 2023

In 1984, a man shot four Black teens who approached him in a subway car, then vanished into the station. Reflecting New Yorkers’ growing anxiety about crime, the shooter was hailed by residents and the media as “The Subway Vigilante.” The unknown suspect was Bernie Goetz, who told investigators his unrelenting fear of city life fueled his actions. But as a more accurate portrait of the events emerged, a heated debate began whether his use of force was appropriate. And the case became a Rorschach test on crime, race, and justice that continues to resonate.

Exclusively on Audible and slated soon for full release, “Fiasco: Vigilante” is the latest installment in the series by host Leon Neyfakh. It features interviews with witnesses, reporters, lawyers, and victims’ family members all touched by the infamous Bernie Goetz case. It also recounts the external factors that shaped public attitudes about the shooting that turned Goetz from populous hero to a cautionary tale of violent paranoia.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "FIASCO: VIGILANTE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 14 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: graduation part-ly.

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Abducted in Plain Sight Aug 31, 2023

How did a man get away with kidnapping his neighbors’ daughter not once - but twice? We'll revisit our January 28, 2019 review of the unforgettable true crime documentary "Abducted in Plain Sight."

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Demons & Saviors Aug 28, 2023

Teenager Tina Resch made news in the 1980s with stories of supernatural disturbances in her Ohio home. The so-called “Poltergeist Girl” was the focus of academics who wanted to research her powers and skeptics who believed the whole thing was an act. As an adult now going by Christina Boyer, the young mother returned from work to find her three year old Amber fatally injured while in the care of her boyfriend. Though she maintained her innocence, Boyer accepted a life plea to avoid the death penalty.

After three decades in prison, a group of Georgetown students dug into Boyer’s case, looking to expose a miscarriage of justice. Despite questions about the evidence used to convict her, officials remained unshaken the mother is deceptive and guilty of murder.

The Hulu series “Demons & Saviors” from ABC News Studios digs into Boyer’s paranormal origin story, the circumstances around Amber’s death, and the effort to win her release. What role did her supernatural fame play in her prosecution? And can she find justice when authorities feel in the absence of solid evidence, she’s still criminally responsible just because the victim was her child?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DEMONS & SAVIORS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: a series of unfortunate events.

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Accused season 2 Aug 24, 2023

On this CWO Classic, we revisit our October 20, 2017 split-decision review of Accused season 2.

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Stephenville Aug 21, 2023

After Susan Woods’s killer died from cancer, his diary about the 1987 case was discovered. The 30 year old woman was murdered in her Stephenville, Texas home. Family and friends were convinced the killer was her estranged husband, Michael. Had Stephenville police taken the story of a teenage rape victim more seriously, they might have spotted a big clue to the killer’s identity. But it would take decades and advances in technology to finally solve the cold case.

“Stephenville” from Texas Monthly revisits the Woods case. Host Bryan Burrough sheds light on the effects of the crime on a small town and how it did wrong by the outsiders caught up in the case. He also explores the mind of a murderer through his own writings.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "STEPHENVILLE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: smell ya later.

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Catch and Kill Aug 17, 2023

On this CWO Classic, we revisit the panel's December 16, 2019 review of Ronan Farrow's "Catch and Kill."

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Last Call Aug 14, 2023

In 1992, authorities were slow to make connections between separate murders. A pair of affluent, but closeted men disappeared after leaving New York City gay bars, their dismembered bodies later discovered in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. As more men were killed, gay activists tried to sound the alarm that someone was stalking club-goers. But New York police were indifferent to the crimes and hostile to the queer community. The culprit known as The Last Call Killer escaped detection for a decade until new technology gave detectives the clues to his identity.

The HBO Original series “Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York” recounts the crime spree that shook the community. Based on the Edgar-winning book by Elon Greene, the series also dives into the lives of the victims, the challenges for investigators, and the cultural issues of the day.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "LAST CALL" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: crash course.

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Missing Richard Simmons Aug 10, 2023

On this CWO Classic, we revisit our February 24, 2017 review of "Missing Richard Simmons," the first of six episodes dedicated to the groundbreaking podcast series. The panel heralded the arrival of Dan Taberski as a fresh, new voice in the industry.

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Where is Baby Gabriel? Aug 07, 2023

No one has seen Gabriel Johnson since 2009, when his mother took the eight month old from her home in Arizona to Texas. In the middle of a custody dispute with her ex, Elizabeth Johnson told him she smothered the baby and threw his body in the garbage.

When she returned home, Elizabeth had a different story. She said she gave Gabriel up in a black market adoption in San Antonio - a transaction facilitated by a couple who’d been trying to adopt the child themselves.

The Peacock series “Where is Baby Gabriel?” explores the theories around the child’s disappearance? Was he murdered? Is he living with a new family? And what role did interloper Tammi Smith play in his fate?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WHERE IS BABY GABRIEL" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Ghosted.

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Beware the Slenderman Aug 03, 2023

On this CWO Classic, we revisit of February 3, 2017 review of the scary, provocative HBO documentary, "Beware the Slenderman." It looks at the case of two young girls who stabbed their friend to appease a modern-day internet boogeyman. The panel is split but agrees on one thing: don't watch this one in the dark.

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The Retrievals Jul 31, 2023

Patients at a Yale fertility clinic complained of severe pain during common egg retrieval procedures. Despite nurses’ insistence they’ve received the maximum dosage of fentanyl, the women continued to suffer, unaware they were actually receiving a simple saline solution. After a tampered vial was discovered, authorities arrested an addicted nurse who’d been swapping out the opioid. But the many patients had more questions. Why were their complaints ignored? Could the clinic have done more? And how are these victims who want a family supposed to feel about the legal accommodations made for a defendant with children of her own?

From Serial Productions comes “The Retrievals.” Host Susan Burton tells the story of the patients whose pain was ignored, the nurse who stole their medicine and watched them suffer, and the institution that failed them all.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE RETRIEVALS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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In Crime of the Week: do not taste this rainbow.

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Crimetown Jul 27, 2023

On this CWO Classic, we look back at our December 9, 2016 review of "Crimetown." Marc Smerling and Zac Stuart-Pontier take us to Providence, Rhode Island, a city where organized crime corrupted every aspect of public life.

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Suspect: Five Shots in the Dark Jul 24, 2023

Leon Benson says he’s innocent of the 1998 murder of Kasey Schoen, who was shot in his truck in Indianapolis. Despite his alibi, no motive, and a lack of physical evidence, Leon was convicted based on a cross-racial identification from 150 feet at night. Attorney Lara Bazelon looks for clues to winning Leon’s exoneration. Was evidence about alternative suspects withheld? And should Bazelon’s team approach the man they believe actually pulled the trigger?

“Suspect: Five Shots in the Dark” is season three of the acclaimed series from Campside Media and Wondery. In a break of format, host Matthew Shaer works with Bazelon in a side-by-side effort to clear Leon’s name. Will the one-two punch of lawyers and podcasters get him out of prison? And what does correcting this wrong mean for Schoen’s family?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SUSPECT: FIVE SHOTS IN THE DARK" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Chinese food take down.

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Lost Girls Jul 20, 2023

Fresh off the news of an arrest in the Long Island serial killer case, we go back to March 23, 2020 for the panel's review of Netflix's film adaptation of "Lost Girls" staring Amy Ryan. Does this two-hour dramatization of Bob Kolker's excellent book live up to the expansive source material?

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Dark Valley Jul 17, 2023

In 1988, twenty-two year old Jane Boroski was attacked at a soda vending machine. The seven-month-pregnant New Hampshire woman was stabbed 27 times and left for dead. Boroski is believed to be the last victim and only survivor of the Connecticut River Valley Killer, a suspect who murdered at least seven women between 1978 and ‘88. Decades later, the question remains why did he kill and where did he go?

In the podcast “Dark Valley'' from Crawlspace Media and Glassbox Media, Jennifer Amell looks back at the murders along the Vermont/New Hampshire corridor. The host accompanies Jane as she reexamines the lasting impact of the attack on her life, all the while seeking new information on who the Valley Killer - or Valley Killers - were.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DARK VALLEY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: cowabunga!

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Shiny Happy People Jul 10, 2023

America was fascinated with the lives of the Duggars, a devout Christian family with 19 children and their own reality TV show. While they projected an image of wholesomeness on screen, off screen the Duggars tried to cover up allegations their son Josh had molested his sisters.

The Duggars’ views on marriage, education, and childrearing were formed by the Institute of Basic Life Principles, a radical religious organization that espoused obedient children and subservient wives. Its practices shaped the Duggar household in which their growing kids were oppressed and groomed to be victims.

The four-part Prime docuseries “Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets” looks at the truths hidden in plain sight about the ultra-conservative reality TV family. It also explores how the IBLP informed the Duggar’s worldview and how its purity culture is masking misogyny and sexual exploitation.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 14 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: lying liars who lie.

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Jared from Subway Jul 03, 2023

Jared Fogle became the pitchman for Subway after his unconventional sandwich diet helped him lose 245 pounds. While on a promotional tour, Fogle shocked a local radio host with a sexual comment about children. Rochelle Herman began taping their phone calls, hoping to record the celebrity’s fascination with pedophilia.

While Herman helped an FBI investigation, Fogle’s business associate Russell Taylor was creating explicit images of children. The two paths would cross, exposing the pop culture icon’s world of sexually exploiting minors.

From Investigation Discovery and now streaming on Max, “Jared from Subway: Catching a Monster” looks at Fogle’s secret life of pedophilia. It features audiotape of him discussing his deeds and desires with Herman and the toll it took on her.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "JARED FROM SUBWAY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 16 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Who's your daddy?

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Smoke Screen: Just Say You're Sorry Jun 29, 2023

When a Texas Ranger asked Larry Driskill if he could help solve a cold case, he agreed to talk to him. But Ranger James Holland accused him of killing Bobbie Sue Hill in 2005. After two days of intense interrogation, Driskill wondered if maybe he did do it and walked into a confession. Holland is revered for his talent at getting confessions, even though he uses questionable techniques like deception, suggestion, and forensic hypnosis. Did the detective known as the “serial killer whisperer” ensnare an innocent man?

In the latest season of “Smoke Screen: Just Say You’re Sorry,” host Maurice Chammah asks what happens when suspects are convinced they can’t trust their own memories to defend themselves. It does a deep dive into Holland’s interrogation of Driskill, as well as those of other suspects subjected to his unorthodox questioning style.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SMOKE SCREEN: JUST SAY YOU'RE SORRY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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How to Create a Sex Scandal Jun 26, 2023

While touring a building that had been a defunct swingers club, Margie Cantrell’s foster children said they’d been there before. As Margie helped police with questioning, the children said adults made them dance and have sex with each other. Seven people were charged with grooming and exploiting them for money. But there was no evidence nor adult witnesses who could corroborate the claims. Did the abuse actually happen - or were the allegations planted in the impressionable children by a caretaker with ulterior motives?

The Max series “How to Create a Sex Scandal” examines the 2008 Mineola Swingers Club case. Did innocent people go to prison based solely on the word of children coaxed into making the allegations? And if so, why would somebody put them up to it?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "HOW TO CREATE A SEX SCANDAL" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: scam of the cloth.

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Under Cover of Knight Jun 22, 2023

After Sue Knight’s body was found in her home, a past acquaintance was stunned she named him executor of her estate. While Steve Barksdale was settling her affairs, the Texas man received a mysterious phone call from the CIA. The Barksdales tried to set aside suspicions that the unassuming British ex-pat and pistol marksman was a spy. But a warning from a local sheriff made him think he should stop asking questions.

From Apple TV+ and Spoke Media comes the podcast “Under Cover of Knight.” The hosts lay back and let the interviewees tell Sue’s story. Was her death a personal tragedy or the work of clandestine operatives? And is it possible Sue is still alive?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "UNDER COVER OF KNIGHT" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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The Curious Case of Natalia Grace Jun 19, 2023

Michael and Kristine Barnett thought they were adopting a six-year-old little person with a disability from Ukraine. But Natalia had the physical traits of an adult, including pubic hair and a period. Soon the family lived in fear as the girl was threatening to harm them. The Barnetts petitioned a court to declare her an adult and they moved Natalia to her own apartment to live on her own. But police were not convinced Michael and Kristine hadn’t used the system to abandon a special needs child.

From Investigation Discovery and available to stream on Max comes “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace.” With extensive interviews from Michael Barnett, the docuseries explores Natalia’s identity and true age, the family dynamics, and the legal fallout that resulted. Viewers are left to decide whether the Barnetts or Natalia are the actual victims.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE CURIOUS CASE OF NATALIA GRACE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: date crashers.

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Blind Plea Jun 15, 2023

In 2017, Deven Grey claimed self-defense when she shot and killed her abusive partner in a remote trailer in rural Alabama. Instead of freedom, she was handed a “blind plea” – an option to take an unknown sentence in exchange for pleading guilty. Deven’s 15-year sentence became the final link in a chain of generational trauma, coercive control, and a broken justice system. How did this academic star from Baltimore wind up in Alabama, living under a false name, trapped with a violent boyfriend, and no way out

From the makers of “Believe Her” comes the ten-part podcast “Blind Plea” from Lemonada. Host Liz Flock asks who do we believe, and why? And in America, who has the right to self-defense and a fair trial?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BLIND PLEA" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Burden of Proof Jun 12, 2023

In 1987, Jennifer Pandos vanished from her Virginia home after a quarrel with her father. Her mother discovered a suspicious note from someone claiming Jennifer had willingly left with her, though she never returned.

After odd behavior, flunked polygraphs, and accusatory handwriting analysis, Stephen Pandos believed his parents were involved in her disappearance and had covered up the crime for years. But his mother insisted she knew nothing and now only wants her son back in her life.

Eight years in the making, the HBO series “Burden of Proof” follows Stephen’s journey to solve his sister’s cold case by getting his parents to confess. With a team of cops, private eyes and other experts in tow, can the answers to Jennifer’s disappearance be found within his family - or somewhere else?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BURDEN OF PROOF" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: bathroom break.

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Scamanda Jun 08, 2023

Amanda Riley was known as a loving stepmother, devoted church member and an inspiration to an online community that followed her cancer journey. Her upbeat attitude in the face of a terminal diagnosis won her emotional and financial support from admirers far and wide. But despite her intricate medical details and convincing photos, a reporter became suspicious of Amanda’s back and forth stories of illness and remission. Soon investigators wanted to know if social media’s most popular cancer survivor was a phony.

“Scamanda” from Lionsgate Sound recounts how Amanda Riley ripped off friends, celebrities, and online supporters by faking a terminal illness. Host Charlie Webster dissects her blog and interviews family and friends about a six-figure scheme that took advantage of people’s kindness.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SCAMANDA" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 8 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Reality Jun 05, 2023

On June 3, 2017, two FBI agents arrived at the home of Reality Winner, an Arabic language translator with a top secret security clearance. While a team executed a search warrant, the pair gently quizzed the 25-year-old about documents she viewed and whether she may have mishandled classified material. The agents asked Reality whether she sent secret military documents to online journalists who published the leak. As she revealed more and more about her actions, the whistleblower said she felt the government was lying to the American people.

The script for the HBO film “Reality” is made entirely from the interrogation during the espionage case. Sydney Sweeney portrays Reality Winner as smoldering with fear and sadness, as Josh Hamilton and Marchánt Davis softly tug the thread on how and why she’d risk everything.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "REALITY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL [ ] MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Bad license photo.

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Victim/Suspect Jun 01, 2023

Emma Mannion told police she was raped in a car by a fellow University of Alabama student. When investigators said her story wasn’t credible, she reluctantly recanted her claim. That’s when cops arrested and prosecuted her for filing a false report.

Journalist Rachel De Leon discovered a nationwide pattern of law enforcement using deceptive interview techniques to break the victim’s resolve, then turning the tables on them and accusing them of their own crimes. De Leon traveled the country to explore the story of Emma and others like her who were treated less like victims and more like suspects.

The Netflix documentary “Victim/Suspect” follows De Leon as she exposes why women who sought justice for their assaults were falsely arrested and imprisoned because police didn’t believe them. It also recounts the case of several victims who’ve lived with the personal and public pain of false recantations.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "VICTIM/SUSPECT" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Yellowjackets Season 2 May 29, 2023

Teenage Shauna and her stranded soccer teammates face death during the brutal winter after their plane crash in the wilderness. As the birth of Shauna’s baby approaches, the Yellowjackets are desperate for food. Meanwhile, Lottie emerges as a spiritual leader, getting the team to connect to the supernatural powers of the forest.

Back in present day, the police home in on Shauna and her family for the murder of her lover Adam, as Misty attempts to throw an internet detective off the track. A troubled Taissa reunites with Van as they join Natalie and the others at the cult-like self-help commune run by Lottie. With the world closing in on them, are the surviving Yellowjackets ready to confront their long-held secrets?

Showtime’s Emmy-nominated “Yellowjackets” returns for a second season. We see the teenage survivors take their first steps toward the foreshadowed nature-worshiping, antler-wearing, cannibalistic tribe they’ll become - while their adult selves are drawn to their one-time woodland priestess for answers. Did the Yellowjackets escape the malevolent force of the wilderness, or did they bring it back with them?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "YELLOWJACKETS" SEASON TWO BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: long, long overdue.

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Love and Death May 25, 2023

Candy Montgomery seems to have it all: loving husband, adorable kids…and friends from church like Betty Gore. But to fight the mundanity of suburban life, Candy propositions Betty’s husband, Allen. After the affair runs its course, Candy and her husband Pat are closer than ever. But a visit to Betty’s house turns deadly when the women fight over an ax.

Elizabeth Olsen stars in the Max Originals “Love and Death,” chronicling the 1980 murder that captivated the nation - and spawned a different miniseries about the case on Hulu less than a year ago. Why would Candy kill Betty with 41 blows from a three-foot ax? Was it the affair…or did she just snap?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "LOVE AND DEATH" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Brokers, Bagmen, & Moles May 22, 2023

In the 1980s, brokers at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange were not Ivy League financial-types. They were mostly blue-collar workers with on-the-job training in commodities exchanges. And they were making more money than most knew what to do with. All that cash caught the interest of the FBI, who suspected financial fraud at the Merc. But after undercover agents spent thousands of hours on the floor losing millions of dollars in taxpayer money, their investigation turned out to be a bad investment.

In “Brokers, Bagmen, and Moles” host Anjay Nagpal takes listeners into the pits of Chicago’s exchanges to detail one of the costliest FBI investigations ever. Were authorities really going after the handful of small fish they caught - or did they actually have their sights on some blue chip executives?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BROKERS, BAGMEN, AND MOLES" BEGIN IN THE FINAL NINE MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: booze cruise.

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Think Twice: Michael Jackson May 18, 2023

Just as his commercial success began to wane, Michael Jackson faced career-ending criminal charges he molested a child - not the first time such allegations surfaced. It was the most serious item on the list of problematic conduct and idiosyncratic behavior which defined his public persona. But his journey from fame to infamy was not simple, nor is there consensus on its effects on his legacy. Even a decade after his death, there remains one camp of fans dedicated to his influence and innocence - and another that’s come to terms with the veracity of his deplorable actions.

From Audible Originals, Wondery, and Prologue Productions comes “Think Twice: Michael Jackson.” Hosts Leon Neyfakh and Jay Smooth present original interviews seeking new ways to examine Jackson’s staying power in pop culture despite years of disturbing allegations.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THINK TWICE: MICHAEL JACKSON" BEGIN IN THE FINAL NINE MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Jury Duty, plus a Bone Valley update May 15, 2023

Leading off: After all of his appeals options have been exhausted, Leo Schofield has one last path to freedom. A Florida parole board agrees to consider his application for release. Setting aside his claims of innocence and focusing on his conduct during 35 years of incarceration, the board offers some hope. In the bonus episode of “Bone Valley,” Gilbert King and Kelsey Decker examine the board’s nuanced ruling and talk to Leo about what lies ahead.

Moving on: Documentarians are granted unfettered access to a civil trial and the deliberations of its jury. The panel includes Ronald Gladden, who takes his role earnestly. What he doesn’t know is that the judge, the lawyers, and his eleven fellow jurors are all actors. When alternate juror James Marsden - played by the real James Marsden - gets the jury sequestered, Ronald remains unaware of the elaborate charade as he interacts with quirky characters, ridiculous situations, and bizarre testimony.

“Jury Duty,” available on Amazon’s Freevee, wraps its scripted trial in a real life comedy of manners featuring an unsuspecting everyman. But Ronald surprises both the audience and the producers with his heartwarming tolerance to the idiosyncratic jurors, the oddball defendant, and the nutty set pieces engineered for his benefit.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "JURY DUTY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 8 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Days of wine and lollipops.

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Catching Lightning May 11, 2023

In 2006, a group of armed and masked men used kidnapping and precision to enter a money counting center, making off with £53 million in cash. The media buzzed over who was behind the largest heist in history. The trail led to “Lightning” Lee Murray, a champion contender in the world of mixed martial arts. But Murray didn’t just make money as an ultimate fighting star. The middleweight remained connected to the street gang he grew up in...and now he’s on the run.

Showtime Sports Documentary Films presents “Catching Lightning,” looking at Murray’s rise in extreme sports and his role in the Securitas depot robbery. The four-part series uses jailhouse recordings of Murray, plus interviews with athletes and investigators to dissect why “Lightning Lee” turned to crime and how he was caught.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "CATCHING LIGHTNING" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE SHOW.

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The Diplomat May 08, 2023

Career staffer Kate Wyler gets a surprise appointment to be US ambassador to the UK during a moment of crisis. A sneak attack on a British ship has left dozens of sailors dead, but Kate is unconvinced Iran is behind the assault. She is unable to rein in her husband, a former ambassador known for his diplomatic connections and for going rogue. While she works to temper the Prime Minister’s belligerent rhetoric, Kate learns the real reason she’s been given the post. It’s an audition to replace the politically disgraced Vice President.

Keri Russell stars in Netflix’s trending drama series “The Diplomat.” Kate must employ her skills as a former foreign service staffer to work with her British counterparts and avert a war. She also must negotiate her own domestic relations with a sexy Foreign Secretary and the meddling husband who remains devoted to her.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE DIPLOMAT" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: standing on your principals.

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The 12th Victim May 04, 2023

In 1958, the nation was horrified by a random murder spree across the Midwest by teenager Charles Starkweather and his girlfriend Caril Ann Fugate. Authorities said Starkweather was responsible for 11 deaths - including those of Fugate’s parents and sister - but they didn’t believe the 14-year-old’s claims she was an unwitting accomplice.

When he shifted blame for the crimes on Caril, she said she was the last of Starkweather’s victims. She received little sympathy from the courts or the public. Even after her parole in 1976, her infamy followed her everywhere, threatening her dreams of an ordinary life.

The Showtime series “The 12th Victim” reexamines Caril Ann Fugate’s actions and the criminal trial that made her the youngest woman convicted for first-degree murder. It also discusses the murders’ influence on movies, music, and pop culture.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE 12TH VICTIM BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Unreformed: The Story of the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children May 01, 2023

A hundred years ago, Alabama took over a reform school that served Black children who were "wayward" or broke the law. But survivors say the facility at Mount Meigs was run more like a slave plantation, complete with forced labor and physical and sexual abuse. For decades segregationist politicians gave administrators a free hand in running the school. Then in the 1960s a whistleblower led a lawsuit to improve conditions - with qualified success.

School of Humans and iHeartMedia present “Unreformed: The Story of the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children.” Host Josie Duffy Rice talks to former residents to recount the institutional cruelty and intergenerational trauma inflicted by the school at Mount Meigs.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "UNREFORMED: THE STORY OF THE ALABAMA INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL FOR NEGRO CHILDREN" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: speedy delivery.

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Witnessed: Devil in the Ditch Apr 27, 2023

For twenty years journalist Larrison Campbell has been haunted by the murder of her grandmother in her Mississippi home. Known affectionately as “Presh,” the victim was found bludgeoned in her parlor, a towel over her face, and her purse dumped out. Despite a full-scale investigation, the case soon went cold.

Campbell returned to her hometown to re-investigate the 2003 murder. While it could have been a simple robbery-gone-wrong, police believed Presh knew her killer. For years, the family has suspected Richard - an oddball cousin who viciously quarreled with Presh over money days before her death - but has never been arrested.

In season four of Campside Media’s “Witnessed: Devil in the Ditch,” Campbell explores her story of loss and the unsubstantiated suspicions of the family outcast. The host mines the social and political impact of a small Southern town society murder and asks if not Richard, then who?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WITNESSED: DEVIL IN THE DITCH" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Perry Mason Season 2 Apr 24, 2023

After a self-imposed exile, Perry Mason returns to criminal defense work, charged with defending two young Mexican men accused of murdering the son of a powerful businessman in 1930s Los Angeles. With the help of sidekicks Della Street and Paul Drake, Perry seeks justice for the defendants he fears will be railroaded. But victim Brooks McCutcheon was into some shady business: casino boats, oil drilling, and a new baseball stadium - not to mention his dangerous sexual predilections. While Paul seeks clues in LA’s mean streets, Perry and Della navigate the high society players who’d be happy to see the Gallardo brothers take the fall.

Matthew Rhys and an all-star cast return for the second season of the Emmy-nominated “Perry Mason.” Once again, the famous defense attorney must find how all the disparate players and opaque clues fit together hoping to reveal the real culprit and get a dramatic confession.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "PERRY MASON" SEASON TWO BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Justice is delivered.

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Overlooked Apr 20, 2023

Lamonte McIntyre was imprisoned for a 1994 murder he didn’t commit, based largely on evidence provided by detective Roger Golubski. After his exoneration, attention in Kansas City, Kansas turned to the retired cop with a reputation for racism and corruption.

Residents said Golubski preyed on Black women and sex workers, abusing and forcing sex from them. Several of these women were murdered, their cases investigated by Golubski and left to go cold. Years later, federal authorities finally went after the cop many thought was untouchable.

Winner of the Investigative Reporters and Editors national award for best audio project, “Overlooked" is a six part series from KCUR and the NPR Midwest Newsroom. Host Peggy Lowe examines Golubski’s years of misdeeds, his connections to unsolved crimes, and the present-day effort to hold a dirty cop accountable.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "OVERLOOKED" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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CSI on Trial Apr 17, 2023

Juries often take as gospel forensics based on expert opinions and not peer-reviewed findings. There’s now a growing scrutiny of techniques like blood spatter, footwear analysis, bite marks, and arson detection - long accepted as reliable, yet responsible for many wrongful convictions. And efforts to establish meaningful standards to the disciplines are met with resistance from the prosecutors who rely on them.

“CSI on Trial” from iHeart and School of Humans examines the veracity of the most common forensic techniques, like ballistics and pattern analysis, as well as misapplied findings of arson and shaken baby syndrome. Host Molly Hermann uses the stories of those freed after wrongful convictions and those still behind bars because of shaky science.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "CSI ON TRIAL" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: old crime.

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Murder in Big Horn Apr 13, 2023

A teenager found in a field, another in a yard, another near a highway rest stop. They were the latest in the long line of deaths of Native women from Montana’s Crow and Northern Cheyenne reservations. Despite their suspicious nature, investigators failed to call the deaths crimes.

The incidents drew attention to the larger issue of Native American and First Nation women missing and murdered in the US and Canada. The cases have been largely ignored by the media, met with law enforcement indifference, and inflicted pain on a marginalized community.

Showtime’s “Murder in Big Horn” asks questions about the deaths of Henny Scott, Kaysera Stops Pretty Places, and Selena Not Afraid, as well as the pattern of missing and murdered Indigenous women. It explores the many issues contributing to the problem, like historical colonization, economic inequities, sex trafficking, and the lack of consequences for violence against women by Native and white men alike.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "MURDER IN BIG HORN" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Admissible: Shreds of Evidence Apr 10, 2023

Wrongful conviction lawyers looking for pre-DNA era evidence to test found a trove of samples where they shouldn’t have been: taped to a lab technician’s paperwork. That material would exonerate 13 men in Virginia. Advocates praised forensic scientist Mary Jane Burton for keeping the samples and foreseeing the arrival of DNA testing.

But few were asking why Burton broke the chain of custody rules or why so many of her cases resulted in wrongful convictions. Whistleblowers said Burton would skip scientific steps and record her blood test results in pencil, so she could change her findings to benefit the police.

Virginia Public Radio and Story Mechanics present “Admissible: Shreds of Evidence.” Host Tessa Kramer examines Burton’s work to answer whether those smuggled samples revealed more than just the wrong guy did it. Were the scientist’s unconventional methods responsible for getting innocent men out of prison…or for putting them there in the first place?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "ADMISSIBLE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: rock of the church.

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Navalny Apr 06, 2023

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny emerged as Vladimir Putin’s strongest rival for the presidency. But while on a flight to Moscow, Navalny became gravely ill. After getting treatment in Germany, it was determined he’d been poisoned with a nerve agent - likely by Russian special forces.

Using telecom data, investigative journalists working with Navalny identified the scientists and operatives who executed the attack. The politician then used the press and social media to expose his would-be assassins in an act of defiance against Putin’s regime.

The Academy Award winning documentary feature film “Navalny” from HBO Max and CNN Films brings us inside the activist’s effort to solve his own assassination attempt and score political points against an autocrat. We also see in real time the fallout as Navalny returns to Russian to continue his campaign to change the nation.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "NAVALNY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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The No Good, Terribly Kind, Wonderful Lives and Tragic Deaths of Barry and Honey Sherman Apr 03, 2023

The 2017 murders of Canadian pharmaceutical executive Barry Sherman and his wife Honey shook the nation. The Sherman’s were seen as pillars of Toronto’s Jewish community. But the billionaire CEO also had a reputation for being a savage businessman, even among those in the cutthroat world of generic drug manufacturing. Meanwhile, Sherman’s cousins claimed they’d been swindled out of their share of the company. Kerry Winters claimed Barry once asked him to murder Honey, then drew suspicion when he told the press he wanted to kill his uncle himself.

From Lionsgate Sound and CBC Podcasts comes “The No Good, Terribly Kind, Wonderful Lives and Tragic Deaths of Barry and Honey Sherman.” Five years after the unsolved crime, host Kathleen Goldhar explores the business rivals, disgruntled relatives and far-out conspiracy theories around the brutal society murders. While the culprit is unknown, Goldhar says the motive is surely money.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE NO GOOD, TERRIBLY KIND, WONDERFUL LIVES AND TRAGIC DEATHS OF BARRY AND HONEY SHERMAN" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THIS EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Shawshank-style.

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Love, Janessa Mar 30, 2023

Thousands of love-struck men around the world were fooled by untold scammers whose cons all had the same thing in common. They all used stolen images of the same woman: a one-time camgirl and adult entertainer known as Janessa Brazil.

Heartbroken men and serious journalists all searched for the real Janessa, only to be fooled by more imposters. But where is the woman whose face drew the victims in? Was she just the unwitting bait used by others for their crimes, or was she part of the swindle?

From CBC Podcasts and the BBC World Service comes “Love, Janessa.” Host Hannah Ajala tracks down con artists in West Africa, victims in Europe, and a woman in the US believed to be the face that launched a thousand scams.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "LOVE, JANESSA" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Boston Strangler Mar 27, 2023

Loretta McLaughlin struggles for respect in the 1960s male-dominated newsroom at the Record-American. But she finds a pattern in different Boston-area murders: women choked in their homes, their stockings tied around their necks in a bow. Teamed with reporter Jean Cole, the women lead the hunt for the killer they dub the Boston Strangler. The pair find their safety threatened as suspects move in and out of the frame, and the cops unable to make an arrest.

Oscar nominee Keira Knightley stars in “Boston Strangler” from 20th Century Studios and streaming on Hulu. McLaughlin fights the sexism of the police and fellow reporters, all while seeking the culprit. Was the man arrested for the crimes responsible for all 13 deaths? Or do the changing methods and victims indicate more than one man was the Boston Strangler?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BOSTON STRANGLER" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: late for school.

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Stolen Hearts Mar 23, 2023

Welsh police sergeant Jill Evans thinks she’s found the man of her dreams. Dean Jenkins is attentive and a bit mysterious. What she doesn’t know is that Dean has been supplementing his income as an armed robber. After his arrest, Jill's colleagues are suspicious of her claims she didn’t know Dean was a bandit. Now it’s more than just her career on the line.

From Wondery and Novel, comes “Stolen Hearts.” Host Kerry Godliman mixes true crime and rom-com for a breezy look at a very British scandal.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "STOLEN HEARTS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 8 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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You Didn't See Nothin Mar 20, 2023

In 1997, 13-year-old Lenard Clark rode his bike into a white Chicago neighborhood, only to be jumped and beaten into a coma by a group of teens. One of them was the son of Frank Caruso, a union boss with reputed mob ties. The crime shook the Black community and shocked the city.

As a young man, Yohance Lacour was puzzled why some Black community leaders rallied around Frank junior, who was trying to mend his public image before trial. Now an investigative reporter, Lacour revisits the crime and its aftermath…and reflects on how the incident affected his own life.

From USG Audio and Invisible Institute comes the podcast “You Didn’t See Nothin.” Through the lens of his lived experience, Lacour probes the actions of those in power who stood behind a white assailant instead of his young Black victim. And he asks why calls for racial reconciliation are not a two-way street.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "YOU DIDN'T SEE NOTHIN" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: no bones about it.

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Done Disappeared Mar 16, 2023

He's not a podcaster. He's a filmmaker. He's never made a podcast...but he's also never made a film. Who else can find Clara Pockets and the Goose Ganker but John David Booter? We look back at our 2017 and 2018 discussions of the first two seasons of "Done Disappeared, with me, John David Booter."

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Smoke Screen: Deadly Cure Mar 13, 2023

Believing they’ve found the cure to aches and pains and serious diseases, Jim Humble and Mark Grenon create a church espousing the use of the Miracle Mineral Solution. But what people are consuming isn’t medicine - it’s diluted bleach. MMS is sold around the world, promoted by the church as a panacea for malaria, autism, cancer and all common ailments. Activists urge the FDA to take action to prevent further injuries and deaths associated with MMS. Just as the media begins to expose the scam, the bleach regimen gets an unexpected endorsement as a treatment for COVID-19.

From Neon Hum Media, Bloomberg & Sony Music Entertainment, “Smoke Screen: Deadly Cure” follows the rise and fall of a family who pushed a dangerous product on people looking for alternative medicine. Host Kristen V. Brown also spotlights the armchair detectives who tracked the Grenons and their allies. Did they believe MMS was a religious sacrament or was it just a cover to sell poison?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SMOKE SCREEN: DEADLY CURE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 15 MINUTES OF THE SHOW.

In Crime of the Week: auto drive.

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Uncover: Escaping NXIVM Mar 09, 2023

On this bonus episode of Crime Writers On, we'll take a look back at our October 1, 2018 review of the CBC's "Uncover: Escaping NXIVM.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "ESCAPING NXIVM" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 3 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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City of Tents: Veterans Row Mar 06, 2023

In one of LA’s fanciest neighborhoods, homeless military veterans erect a tent city. While some volunteer to help the vets, others want to see the encampment demolished and its occupants moved along. The camp sits along a fence to the local VA hospital, the place where services for them are offered. But some don’t qualify or can’t get into their programs. Others choose to remain on the street. But if the vets don’t find another place to live, the sheriff will ensure the tents come down.

From KCRW comes “City of Tents: Veterans Row.” Reporter Anna Scott brings us into a world where the desires of activists, officials, neighbors, and vets themselves are often at cross purposes. It examines the larger issue of homelessness and the half-measures employed to solve the problem.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "CITY OF TENTS: VETERANS ROW" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: mummy issues.

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Netflix's Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal Mar 02, 2023

A fatal drunken boating accident turned the spotlight on a powerful South Carolina family. Survivors claimed Alex Murdaugh used his considerable influence to steer the investigation away from his son who caused the crash. Then Murdaugh returned home to find his wife and son murdered in the family dog kennel.

The high profile case renewed interest in other suspicious deaths connected to the Murdaughs - including the roadside beating of a high school student and the fatal fall of the housekeeper in their home. But the story has a final plot twist. Alex Murdaugh was shot while changing a flat tire - in what police say was a set-up.

Netflix’s “Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal” is a timely look at the nation’s biggest crime case. With new interviews from the accident survivors, the three-part series focuses on everything leading up to the current murder trial.

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEWS OF "MURDAUGH MURDERS: A SOUTHERN SCANDAL" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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The Coldest Case in Laramie Feb 27, 2023

In 1985, when Kim Barker was a teen in Laramie, Wyoming, Shelli Wiley was murdered in her apartment. Now a New York Times reporter, Barker discovered there’d been a break in the long-unsolved case. Investigators arrested a former cop with what seemed like overwhelming evidence.

So how did a case that seemed open-and-shut go cold again? The Pulitzer Prize winner returned to Wyoming to find out why it took 30 years to identify Fred Lamb and why the charges against him were dropped.

“The Coldest Case in Laramie” is the new 8-part series from Serial Productions. Barker digs into the investigation of Lamb and other suspects in the homicide. Was he let go as part of a cover-up or did the cops just get it wrong?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE COLDEST CASE IN LARAMIE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: broken arrow.

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The PEZ Outlaw Feb 23, 2023

Steve Glew was a part-time flea market vendor when he was introduced to the world of PEZ dispensers. Learning collectors would pay big money for rare versions of the popular candy holders, Glew hatched a plan to visit Eastern Europe and get dispensers not available in the US.

Connoisseurs marveled at Glew’s collection of rare dispensers and paid top dollar for them. But the president of the company’s US subsidiary flipped his lid…and vowed to shut down the bootleg operation any way he could.

The documentary “The PEZ Outlaw” profiles Steve Glew and his attempt to outsmart the candy maker and corner the collectibles market. Glew plays himself in light-hearted recreations of his smuggling operation and features diehard collectors and corporate antagonists to recount how the operation flourished and eventually collapsed.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE PEZ OUTLAW" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 7 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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I'm Not a Monster season 2 Feb 20, 2023

In 2015, a 15-year-old East London girl left for Syria with two of her friends to live in the so-called Caliphate. After Shamima Begum was captured in a refugee camp in 2019, the British public was enraged by her attitude that she’d done nothing wrong and for downplaying the violence committed by ISIS.

Journalist Josh Baker traveled to Syria to interview the evasive prisoner, then retraced her steps to fact check her story - that she went to the Caliphate to practice fundamentalism, not to become an ISIS soldier.

BBC Sounds and Radio 5 Live present season two of “I’m Not a Monster: The Shamima Begum Story.” Josh Baker explores war ravaged Syria to discover the network which smuggled her into ISIS territory, examine her life as a soldier's bride in the Caliphate, and confirm whether or not the British teen was an active combatant against Coalition forces. The host repeatedly risks his safety to answer the simple question: should Shamima be believed?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "I'M NOT A MONSTER" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: shitty review

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Ghost Herd Feb 16, 2023

The Easterdays drew a lot of water in southeast Washington. Cody Easterday was a titan of agriculture who provided Tyson food with two percent of its beef. But a series of bad investments and commodities speculation put the rancher in a desperate financial position.

Easterday engineered a quarter-billion dollar hoax: tricking Tyson into paying for the upkeep of cattle that only existed on paper. When the hoax was discovered it disrupted the food supply and threatened the farming empire the community depended on.

KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio and Northwest Public Broadcasting present “Ghost Herd.” Host Anna King plows into the livestock swindle, as well as shines a light on the precarious nature of farming and the food supply in modern America.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "GHOST HERD" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Killing County Feb 13, 2023

A wave of gunfire in a parking lot. A man hogtied and beaten to death. A grandfather with dementia shot in his driveway while holding a crucifix. The many families of victims in Bakersfield and Kern County, California search for justice in the county with the highest death rate by police violence in America.

In a system where police brutality is investigated by the police, few cops here are held accountable for even the most egregious uses of deadly force. And its police chief is more interested in giving taxpayer money to settle lawsuits than improving public safety.

From producer Colin Kaepernick, the ABC News Studio Hulu’s “Killing County” explores one community’s cops known to shoot first and ask questions later. It provides video and witness accounts of police brutality, and introduces us to several families affected by law enforcement violence. In an era where police murders are prevalent, “Killing County” asks why is it so bad here?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "KILLING COUNTY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Naked justice.

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Stolen Youth Feb 09, 2023

In 2010, a group of students at Sarah Lawrence College was surprised when a co-ed’s father began sleeping on the couch in their dorm. One by one, Larry Ray became a confidant and mentor to the young men and women, eager for his worldly knowledge.

After Ray and the students moved into a Manhattan apartment, his paternal guidance morphed into coercive control - complete with corporal punishment, sex trafficking, and group paranoia that evil forces were targeting them. For ten years, Ray exerted his influence over them, until authorities broke up what they labeled “a cult.”

The three-part Hulu documentary “Stolen Youth” brings us inside the so-called Sarah Lawrence College cult, with exclusive interviews from the former students and homemade video from inside their psychological prison. It then jumps to the present day to chronicle the remaining cult members’ struggle with the consequences of their pasts.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "STOLEN YOUTH" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 8 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Truth and Lies: The Informant Feb 06, 2023

Kansas resident Dan Day discovers his new friends belong to a militia group fixated on the Somali refugees in their community. That’s when he’s approached by the FBI, asking him to join the right-wing group and report on whether they’re planning violence. When the informant learns the extremists are drawing up an attack on Muslims, the investigation takes on a new urgency. Dan finds himself in the middle of a plot in which the lives of many hang in the balance…including his own.

ABC Audio’s five-part podcast, “Truth and Lies: The Informant,” takes us inside the probe of extremists in the heartland and the ordinary guy thrust into the middle of the investigation. Host Dick Lehr supplements interviews with residents, agents, and prosecutors with undercover audio tapes documenting the plans of a domestic terror attack.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "TRUTH AND LIES: THE INFORMANT" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: wingin' it.

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Gunther's Millions Feb 02, 2023

When a German countess died in 1992, she left her fortune to the only family she had: her dog Gunther. The world’s richest pooch enjoyed private jets, personal chefs, and a dedicated staff led by Gunther’s caretaker, Maurizio Mian.

The will also decreed that Gunther would form a pop band. The dog bought Madonna’s mansion where the group’s attractive members were directed to have sex with one another, while researchers studied their levels of happiness. But few questions were asked about the origins of the fortune or how Maurizio came to control Gunther’s financial empire.

The Netflix documentary series “Gunther’s Millions” turns the feel-good story of a rich dog into an investigation of media manipulation, tax fraud, sex cults and the man at the center of it all. Is this a story about one lucky dog or is it the ultimate test to see if money can buy happiness?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "GUNTHER'S MILLIONS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 8 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Chameleon: Dr. Dante Jan 30, 2023

In the 1960s, Ronald Pellar performed as nightclub hypnotist “Dr. Dante.” He thrilled crowds, mixed with celebrities, and even married a movie star. But Dante was a prolific con man, accused of stealing and attempting to have a rival hypnotist murdered.

After prison, Dante expanded his stage act to include seminars, self-help tapes, tattooed makeup, and a collegiate diploma-mill. He made millions of dollars on false claims and was comfortable telling reporters all about them. When it seemed an elderly Dante was ready to retire from his life of deception, he planned a comeback.

Campside Media is out with season five of “Chameleon: Dr. Dante.” “Wild Boys” host Sam Mullens recounts the many lives of the hypnotist who used his powers of persuasion to be one of the greatest con men in history.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DR. DANTE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: stuffing sausages.

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The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker Jan 26, 2023

A racially-motivated attack on pedestrians was thwarted by the driver’s passenger: a man he picked up hitchhiking. He went simply by “Kai,” and the colorful way he described the incident became a viral sensation. Kai’s quirky personality and unlikely story made him Internet-famous. He declined TV offers in favor of going back off the grid. But months later, the carefree drifter the world thought was so charming when he struck a criminal with a hatchet would be implicated in a murder.

The Netflix film “The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker” recounts Kai’s rocky journey from meme to murderer, propelled by Hollywood and social media. Was the world so taken by the dude in the “smash smash smash” video they overlooked his violent tendencies which were in plain sight?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE HATCHET WIELDING HITCHHIKER" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Crooked City: The Emerald Triangle Jan 23, 2023

When journalist Sam Anderson learned a high school friend was wanted for the murder of a Northern California pot farmer, he set off to prove his friend’s innocence. He discovered the infamous Emerald Triangle was not the hippie Shangri-la it was made out to be. Anderson tries to reconcile the friend of his youth with the man implicated in a fatal ripoff. He seeks answers as to what happened in the hills that drove Zach Wuester to violence.

In “Crooked City: The Emerald Triangle,” Anderson makes his way through California’s strange and dangerous marijuana harvesting culture. Did Zach lead seven others to kill the farmer who ripped them off, or was he just an unwitting accomplice?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE EMERALD TRIANGLE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL NINE MINUTES OF THE EPISODE

Crime of the Week: hotel parking.

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Alabama Astronaut Jan 19, 2023

Ex-preacher and musician Abe Partridge went on a journey to discover songs never recorded, but passed down for generations in Appalachia. He discovered the largest repository of undocumented music were in Pentecostal churches where preachers employed the controversial practice of handling snakes. But once getting over the customs of their unconventional worship, Partridge developed a true appreciation for the people, their beliefs, and their music. He’d eventually convince a snake-handling preacher/musician and his wife to record the songs of their faith.

In the podcast “Alabama Astronaut,” host Ferrill Gibbs relays Partridge’s odyssey through an often ridiculed subculture and his hunt for the folk art long hidden. It focuses less on the spectacle of handling snakes and drinking poison and more on how it informs their little-known musical expressions.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "ALABAMA ASTRONAUT" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 14 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Unveiled: Surviving La Luz del Mundo Jan 16, 2023

As head of La Luz del Mundo, third generation church leader Naasón Joaquín García promised eternal salvation. All the while, he used his position as Apostle to groom children and young women for sexual abuse for years. When García’s victims in the US and Mexico meet on Reddit and compare stories, they ban together to expose the church’s secret. Once seeming untouchable, they convince authorities to go after García and hold him accountable.

The HBO Original “Unveiled: Surviving La Luz del Mundo” is the latest documentary exploring the sins of religious leaders using their position as God’s messenger to coerce followers into sexual exploitation. It provides plenty of space for American and Mexican victims to tell their truth and covers García’s fall from grace.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "UNVEILED" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: doggie style.

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Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Jan 12, 2023

A group of uber-successful professionals are invited on a weekend trip to their billionaire friend’s island to play a game: solve his own murder. But one stranger is also tagging along: the famed detective Benoit Blanc, who fears a more sinister game is afoot.

The lights go out. A body is sprawled on the floor. Who’s the killer? The politician? The fashion model? The scientist? The video gamer? Or the former business partner the host swindled?

Daniel Craig leads an all-star cast in “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.” A modern take on the parlor mystery, the audience follows Blanc as he attempts to solve the case before the killer can strike again.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "GLASS ONION" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Undetermined Jan 09, 2023

In August 2019, her friend reported Jessica Easterly Durning missing. When family members got little response from New Orleans police, they conducted their own search and found Jessica’s body in a field a short distance from her home. Several forensic factors made it impossible for authorities to definitively say whether Jessica’s death was homicide, accidental or some other manner. Meanwhile suspicion has fallen on her husband Justin whose story about her last night at home kept changing.

Jessica Noll hosts “Undetermined” from Tenderfoot TV & Resonate Recordings. The podcast dives into the mystery around the death, including her volatile marriage and secret hustle as a cam girl. The series asks whether Jessica’s untimely death was murder - and if so - who was responsible.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "UNDETERMINED" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 8 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: bug in the restaurant.

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The Battle for Justina Pelletier Jan 05, 2023

Justina Pelletier was a 14-year-old girl diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder that required numerous surgeries and caused severe pain. When she was taken to Boston Children’s Hospital, doctors suspected Justina’s issues were psychological and not physical - and they suspected her parents were committing medical child abuse.

Over the next 16 months, the Pelletiers used the media and threats of litigation to apply pressure on the hospital and the state to discharge their daughter. But administrators said these hardball tactics made it impossible to get Justina care at other facilities, further harming her prognosis.

The Peacock documentary series “The Battle for Justina Pelletier” looks at the very public tug-of-war between parents and physicians convinced they’re doing the best thing for a sick child, as well as the exploits of a computer hacker who came to her cause. It also explores the thornier question of what Justina’s medical issues truly were and how that affected the adults’ decisions.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE BATTLE FOR JUSTINA PELLETIER" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 7 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Verified: Full Disclosure Jan 02, 2023

JeAnna Anderson says Officer Anthony Armour sexually assaulted her during a traffic stop. Frances Salazar went to prison over Armour’s false testimony. And fellow officer Abby Dennison says Armour drugged and raped her.

At the time, Armour was on something called the Brady List, a catalog kept by Arizona prosecutors of cops who shouldn’t be called to the stand - cops whose history of lying or misconduct could impeach their testimony. And that evidence was never disclosed to the women.

In the latest season of “Verified: Full Disclosure” host Natasha Del Toro looks at how Arizona failed to hold disreputable cops accountable or track them from job to job. Piggybacking on the work of an investigative reporter, Del Toro explores a system in which cops can lie and no one needs to know.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "VERIFIED: FULL DISCLOSURE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: shag doll.

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The Best TV of 2022 Dec 29, 2022

Scheming families, conniving con men, and dangerous killers. We saw a lot of great series and documentaries on the small screen this year. We’ll each give our top ten list for the Best TV of 2022.

Lara

Only Murders in the Building season 2
Yellowjackets
The Vow, Part Two
Bad Sisters
Blackbird
Fireboys
The Tinder Swindler
The White Lotus season 2
Landscapers
The Dropout

Toby

We Need to Talk About Cosby
Bad Sisters
The Patient
Ozark
The White Lotus season 2
Candy
A Friend of the Family
Only Murders in the Building season 2
Captive Audience
Gladbeck: The Hostage Crisis

Kevin

Yellowjackets
The Patient
HBO's The Staircase
Bad Sisters
The White Lotus season 2
Only Murders in the Building season 2
Gladbeck: The Hostage Crisis
The Dropout
A Friend of the Family
NBC’s The Thing About Pam

Rebecca

Yellowjackets
The White Lotus season 2
The Patient
Bad Sisters
Ozark
Only Murders in the Building season 2
The Dropout
Blackbird
Friend of the Family
Undercurrent

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Best Podcasts of 2022 Dec 26, 2022

Wrongful convictions, political investigations, and colorful characters were BIG this year. We’ll each give our lists for the Top Ten Podcasts of 2022.

Lara

Bone Valley
Motive: Blind Spot
Burn Wild
Stolen: Surviving St. Michael's
Accused: The Impending Execution of Elwood Jones
The Sunshine Place
Imperfect Paradise: The Sheriff
The Letter
Chameleon: Wild Boys
Smokescreen: Puppy Kingpin

Toby

Chameleon: Wild Boys
Bone Valley
Burn Wild
Stolen: Surviving St. Michael's
Cover Story: Seed Money
Fiasco: The AIDS Crisis
Death of an Artist
Will Be Wild
Project Unabom
Suspect season 2

Kevin

Bone Valley
The Trojan Horse Affair
Stolen: Surviving St. Michael's
Chameleon: Wild Boys
Will Be Wild
Fiasco: The AIDS Crisis
Project Unabom
Breakdown: The Trump Grand Jury
Smoke Screen: Puppy Kingpin
Motive: Blind Spot

Rebecca

Bone Valley
Will Be Wild
Chameleon: Wild Boys
Stolen: Surviving St. Michael's
Cover Story: Seed Money
The Letter
Motive: Blind Spot
The Trojan Horse Affair
Burn Wild
Run Hide Repeat

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Cover Story: Seed Money Dec 22, 2022

Ex-spy Matt Marshall makes a stunning accusation: billionaire Mike Goguen has been trafficking women to his Montana safehouse, paying them for sex, and bribing law enforcement to get away with it. Matt said he knew this because he’d been Mike’s right-hand man for years. The rich philanthropist had a secret life of paying millions of dollars to strippers and harboring his own fantasies of saving the world. Was the billionaire with a superhero complex actually a super villain? And could the former CIA operative be trusted?

In season two of “Cover Story: Seed Money” from New York magazine and Vox, host Hanna Rosin and investigator Ken Silverstein interview both Mike and Matt and try to make sense of the accusations, lawsuits, and criminal charges in the case. How did two best friends find themselves in a world of sex, money and international intrigue…and what can the reporters believe of a story in which they know everyone has lied to them?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "COVER STORY: SEED MONEY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 7 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Welcome to Chippendales Dec 19, 2022

Steve Banerjee kept failing in his bid to create an upscale club in Los Angeles. His luck changed when he turned the strip club model on its head, creating the all-male dance review for women known as Chippendales. His new choreographer Nick De Noia elevated Chippendales with polished showmanship. But as the dance troupe attracted national attention, Nick vied for credit and control of the operation. Filled with resentment and jealousy, Steve set in motion a plan to get rid of his rival.

Hulu’s “Welcome to Chippendales” stars Oscar nominee Kumail Nanjiani and Emmy winner Murray Bartlett. The drama shows how one man’s American dream turned into a murderous nightmare. The limited series tells the behind-the-scenes tale of greed, murder…and lots of sex.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WELCOME TO CHIPPENDALES" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 8 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: hot dog.

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Infamous: Boy Gone Wild Dec 15, 2022

Joe Francis made a fortune on a simple concept: get drunken women to flash the camera for his direct-to-DVD series “Girls Gone Wild.” When the filming stopped the debauchery continued, as Francis allegedly coerced sex from the women…some of whom were underaged. Local authorities wanted to protect the victims and put a stop to the filming. Francis remained defiant, until the night an armed man broke into his Bel-Air home to give him a taste of his own medicine.

In the five-part podcast “Infamous: Boy Gone Wild,”* host Vanessa Grigoriadis recounts her early days covering the show for Rolling Stone and the legal troubles Francis would later find himself in. It’s part profile of a vile libertine and part commentary on what constitutes exploitation.

*Note: The title of this series has also been listed as "Infamous: Girls Gone Wild."

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "INFAMOUS: GIRLS GONE WILD" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 7 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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The White Lotus Season 2 Dec 12, 2022

A new set of wealthy guests have checked into The White Lotus in Sicily, each with their own kind of baggage. They include Dominic Di Grasso, with his father Bert and son Albie, who’ve come to seek their Italian relatives. Cameron & Daphne and Ethan & Harper are on a couples vacation. But recently having come into money, Harper is suspicious of her husband’s old college roommate. And returning is quirky heiress Tanya McQuoid, accompanied by her husband and her new assistant he’s not supposed to know she dragged along.

Winner of ten Emmy awards, “The White Lotus” returns to HBO for a second season. Set in a Mediterranean paradise, the hotel staff attempts to cater to the needs of their guests who are slowly coming undone. This character study asks the questions whose relationships will survive, what it means to be a modern man, what happiness can money buy, and which of those guests was found dead in the water at the end of their vacation?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE WHITE LOTUS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 8 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: kick in the pants.

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The Vow, Part Two Dec 08, 2022

Facing federal charges that included establishing a sex cult and branding his female followers, NXIVM leader Keith Raniere prepares for trial. Meanwhile his second-in-command, Nancy Salzman, breaks her silence to say she didn’t know the darker things happening within the organization. Prosecutors lay out a strong case of racketeering and trafficking against Raniere. His attorney and his remaining followers proclaim Raniere’s innocence, saying life in NXIVM is not the cult portrayed in the media.

HBO’s “The Vow, Part Two” picks up the story as Raniere’s trial begins. The focus moves away from his disaffected followers and reveals new details about the crimes and victims of the DOS program. Its sweeping access includes a comprehensive profile of Salzman as she awaited sentencing for racketeering.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE VOW, PART TWO" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 8 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Run, Hide, Repeat Dec 05, 2022

After a childhood of secrecy and sudden relocations, reporter Pauline Dakin’s mother finally revealed the reasons behind their family’s chaotic upbringing. Unbeknownst to the children, they’d been living in hiding from their father, a powerful figure in organized crime. The Dakins had been protected for years by Stan, a family friend and federal agent posing as a preacher. Now an adult, Pauline is made aware of the ever-present dangers posed by the gangsters. But as the situation grew increasingly complex, she learns the truth is darker than she thought.

The CBC podcast “Run, Hide, Repeat” is based on Dakin’s memoir of her fugitive childhood. In the five-part series, she confronts the family secrets and deceptions that followed her her whole life. She attempts to answer the question “what was our time in witness protection really about”?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "RUN, HIDE, REPEAT" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: big cheese.

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Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields Dec 01, 2022

Between 1986 and 1991, the remains of four missing women were discovered in the same field in League City, Texas. Authorities couldn’t rule out the deaths were connected to a string of 30 murders outside of Houston since the 70s. Then another string of disappearances began in the mid-90s. Were all of these crimes linked in some way? And what is their connection to that secluded plot of land on Calder Road?

Season three of “Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields” looks at the long history of murder along the interstate 45 corridor. The Netflix series introduces us to those closely affected by the unsolved crimes and zeroes-in on the main suspects.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE TEXAS KILLING FIELDS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Imperfect Paradise: The Sheriff Nov 28, 2022

Sheriff Alex Villanueva won office in 2018 campaigning as a reformer who’ll clean up the scandal-plagued L.A. County Sheriff's Department. After criticism he was doing the opposite, Villanueva doubled down on his efforts to abuse his power, vilify the press, and investigate his rivals.

“Imperfect Paradise: The Sheriff” from LAist Studios examines the controversial head of one of the nation’s largest law enforcement agencies. Host Frank Stoltze interviews Villanueva and talks to his critics to learn how he wields his power, going from a progressive sheriff’s candidate to a right-wing media darling.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "IMPERFECT PARADISE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: beef hot dog beef.

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Suspect Season 2 Nov 24, 2022

Jonelle Matthews vanished after her school Christmas recital in 1984. Colorado investigators had no leads, until a detective homed in on Jonelle’s neighbor, a man said to have a fixation on young girls. The case remained cold for decades until Jonelle’s body was discovered. Then police got a tip about another man in the girl’s orbit: a true crime fan who for years said he had information…but was continually ignored by police.

Season two of Campside Media’s “Suspect: Vanished in the Snow'' is currently on Amazon Music and is scheduled for broad release next year. Host Ashley Fantz examines the case and several of those suspected of the crime. The six-part series also covers the murder trial of the man police say did it.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SUSPECT" SEASON TWO BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE SHOW.

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God Forbid Nov 21, 2022

Giancarlo Granda was the pool boy at a Miami hotel when he was propositioned by Becki Falwell and her husband, the president of evangelical Liberty University, Jerry Falwell Jr. The couple lavished attention and money on Granda to keep the love triangle going and to keep it secret. Like his father before him, Falwell fancied himself a political kingmaker, influencing millions of evangelical voters. But if word of their arrangement with Granda came out it could damage Falwell's 2016 endorsement of candidate Donald Trump.

In the Hulu documentary “God Forbid: The Sex Scandal that Brought Down a Dynasty,” Granda tells his side of the story. It also makes the case that keeping the couple’s kink under wraps changed the course of history.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "GOD FORBID" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Wish I could be part of that world.

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Pseudocide Nov 17, 2022

After breaking up with longtime girlfriend Olivia Newton-John, Patrick McDermott set sail on an overnight fishing trip in June of 2005. When he didn’t get off the boat the next morning, officials presumed he fell overboard. But then the tabloids speculated whether McDermott had faked his death. Potential sightings of McDermott fueled the story. Journalists and private investigators scoured Mexico on tips he was living a new life. But were they reshaping the facts of an accident at sea for their own purposes - regardless of the cost to McDermott’s loved ones?

“Pseudocide'' is the term for faking one’s death. It’s also the name of the Spotify exclusive podcast hosted by Alice Fiennes and Poppy Damon. The team explores McDermott’s upbringing, his relationship with a superstar, and his fatal voyage at sea. They also question those who advanced stories about his secret whereabouts - often based on flimsy accounts.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "PSEUDOCIDE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Vatican Girl Nov 14, 2022

In 1983, 15-year-old Emanuela Orlandi disappeared after her music lesson. Her family were citizens of the Vatican. Men claiming to be her abductors promised her return if authorities would release the man held for shooting Pope John Paul II. Other theories of the crime emerged. Did the Soviet Union take her to blunt the Pope’s political influence in Poland? Were mobsters using her as leverage to recover money laundered by the Vatican Bank? Or was she spirited away by the Church to prevent the exposure of some secret?

“Vatican Girl: The Disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi” explores one of Italy’s most infamous cases. With interviews in both English and Italian, family members and journalists recount the many theories surrounding the disappearance and question a man who claimed to be one of her kidnappers.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "VATICAN GIRL" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: it is what it is.

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Bad Sisters Nov 10, 2022

Grace Williams has just lost her husband, John Paul. But her four sisters are not unhappy to see the man they called “The Prick” meet his demise. For months the Garvey girls had been plotting to kill the cruel and controlling spouse and get Grace out from under his thumb. Now that the deed is done, no one is suspicious - except for the life insurance agent with family secrets of his own.

The Apple Original dark comedy series “Bad Sisters” features an Irish ensemble cast led by Sharon Horgan and Sarah Greene. Just how did John Paul die? How did he make an enemy of each of his in-laws? And will the nearly-broke insurance agents avoid paying on the policy by cracking the mystery?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BAD SISTERS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 7 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Unsealed: The Tylenol Murders Nov 07, 2022

In 1982, authorities were baffled when seemingly healthy people were suddenly dying. They concluded the Tylenol they’d recently bought in Chicago-area stores had been laced with cyanide. In the past forty years, the culprit has not been identified. Investigators had two strong suspects but could not pin the crimes on either one of them.

In the podcast “Unsealed: The Tylenol Murders” from the Chicago Tribune and At Will Media, reporters Christy Gutowski and Stacy St. Clair dig through the files of the famous cold case. They also examine the two main suspects hoping to solve the mystery before it’s too late.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "UNSEALED: THE TYLENOL MURDERS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: sneaky snake.

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We Were Three Oct 31, 2022

Rachel McKibbens didn’t even know her father and brother were sick with COVID until it was too late. She grappled with how the two people she loved the most turned unrecognizable due to pandemic misinformation. But her search for answers only renewed questions about her family history, a life filled with both fear and love that she and her brother experienced. Were the deaths a result of contemporary forces, or was this personal tragedy set in motion years earlier?

The podcast “We Were Three” from Serial Productions is an intimate look at one family’s ending that was both sudden and years in the making. Host Nancy Updike zooms in on one story about what the pandemic took away and what it revealed.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WE WERE THREE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: political positions.

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The Patient Oct 24, 2022

Alan Strauss is kidnapped and chained in the basement of his new patient. Sam Fortner reveals he’s a serial killer and wants the therapist to help him change his violent ways. During his captivity Alan ponders his many regrets in life, all while attempting to cure Sam’s murderous urges. Alan knows if he’s unsuccessful and can't prevent his patient from killing again, he’ll surely become his next victim.

In Hulu’s ten-part miniseries “The Patient,” Steve Carell and Domhnall Gleeson each give tightly wound performances. Both men struggle with how their pasts affect their present. Can Alan convince Sam to stop killing in the ultimate test of cerebral fitness?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE PATIENT" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: the cost of kindness.

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Bone Valley Oct 20, 2022

A Florida judge reaches out to author Gilbert King, saying an innocent man has been in prison for three decades. Leo Schofield was convicted of murdering his wife despite no physical evidence and thin witness accounts. Schofield maintains he was not the one who stabbed Michelle and left her body in a roadside canal.

Gilbert learns authorities never examined fingerprints found on the hood of Michelle’s car, evidence that points to a different suspect. But rather than clear his name, authorities are not interested in correcting this miscarriage of justice and exonerating Schofield.

Lava for Good presents the podcast “Bone Valley.” Gilbert and research assistant Kelsey Decker retrace the investigation into the 1987 Michelle Schofield murder and uncover surprising new evidence about the case. Can the new information convince an indifferent justice system to let Leo Schofield go?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BONE VALLEY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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A Friend of the Family Oct 17, 2022

Robert Berchtold seemed the perfect neighbor and close friend to the Broberg family. But his fixation on their daughter Jan led him to abduct the girl and flee to Mexico. Parents Bob and Mary Ann were left confused as to why their trusted friend would take their child. But long after their return, Berchtold continued to hold Jan under his spell, keeping each parent at arm's length through blackmail. His diabolical scheme to possess Jan lasted years and threatened to tear the Broberg family apart.

Jake Lacy, Anna Paquin, and Colin Hanks star in the Peacock mini-series “A Friend of the Family.” The show recounts the story first told in the shocking documentary “Abducted in Plain Sight.” The dramatization focuses on the interpersonal dynamics between its players while highlighting the bizarre crimes. It’s a cautionary tale on what happens when a master manipulator befriends the easily fooled.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Love you to the moon and back.

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Death of an Artist Oct 13, 2022

Ana Mendieta was a provocative performance artist. Her husband was the mercurial legendary sculptor Carl Andre. They were the It couple of the New York art scene, until 1985 when Ana mysteriously fell from their 34th floor apartment after an argument. Andre’s arrest for his wife’s death split the artistic community. Thirty-five years later, those who knew the couple remain tight lipped on what they think happened that night.

From Pushkin Industries and Somethin’ Else comes the podcast “Death of an Artist.” Host and museum curator Helen Molesworth revisits Ana’s death and the trial that followed, and examines the silence and the protests that have accompanied this story ever since.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DEATH OF AN ARTIST" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Chameleon: Scam Likely Oct 10, 2022

Immigrants and payday borrowers were receiving calls from the US government: either pay the money they owe or be arrested. But it was all an international scam, tricking people into turning over thousands of dollars to con men traveling the country. But with the calls originating from India, authorities had little hope of finding the players and shutting the operation down.

In season four of Chameleon from Campside Media, “Scam Likely” host Yudhijit Bhattacharjee talks to victims, investigators, and some of the phone operators behind an elaborate fraud on unsuspecting people. The team even travels to India in search of the masterminds behind the deception.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "CHAMELEON: SCAM LIKELY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 14 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: rest in pees.

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Le Monstre Oct 06, 2022

In 1995, a pair of eight-year-old girls were kidnapped from the Belgian countryside. Later, two teens vanished after leaving a magic show. Then another set of girls disappeared. Hysteria gripped the country, while the police response seemed not up to the task. After questioning, Marc Dutroux would take investigators to his home where they discovered two of the girls being held in a dungeon. Dutroux’s arrest set in motion a controversy over police errors, government ineptitude, and accusations of cover-ups.

In “Le Monstre: The Dutroux Affair” from iHeart Media and Tenderfoot TV, host Matt Graves looks into the crimes of Belgium's deadliest serial killer. It also explores the country’s institutional failures to protect children and the massive protest movement demanding reforms.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "LE MONSTRE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Burn Wild Oct 03, 2022

In an effort to stop a ski resort expansion in Vail, Colorado, environmental activists set fire to several buildings. It was the work of the Earth Liberation Front, an extremist group that targeted companies they felt were damaging the environment. The FBI labeled the group eco-terrorists and the country’s greatest domestic terror threat. For decades, two of its leaders have been on the run. Now it’s time for them…and the rest of the world…to face the consequences of their actions.

From BBC Sounds comes the new podcast “Burn Wild.” Host Leah Sottile of “Bundyville” and “Two Minutes Past Nine” turns her attention to a different kind of extremist. She poses the question, is it okay to do the wrong thing for the right reason?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BURN WILD" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: dirty mouth.

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The Letter Sep 29, 2022

In August 1996, 19-year-old Zach Snarr took his friend Yvette to a secluded reservoir to take photos of the moon. But their date was interrupted by “George” Benvenuto, a stranger who fatally shot Zach and wounded Yvette without provocation. Zach’s family wanted justice, hoping Benvenuto would rot in prison. But the years brought little comfort and grief turned to anger. That’s when the letter came.

“The Letter” from Lemonada and KSL Podcasts looks at the effects of the murder on the Snarr family and their journey of restorative justice with the man who murdered their son. It’s an intimate portrait of those affected by the shooting and the unexpected ways they cope with it.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE LETTER" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Serial ep 13 & Witnessed: Mystic Mother Sep 26, 2022

Last week, after two decades in prison, Adnan Syed walked out of a Baltimore courtroom when his conviction for Hae Min Lee’s murder was vacated. Sarah Koenig's new episode 13 of “Serial” may play like an epilogue to Adnan's story, but its creation has sparked new consideration for what the famous podcast got wrong, its ongoing obligation to the subject, and whether making Adnan the world’s most famous wrongfully-convicted inmate was enough.

Then...the Phoenix Goddess Temple said it was a house of worship, a place where the healing powers of feminine touch would bring about a sacred union. But police said it was a high-end brothel hiding behind religious protections. In the eight-part podcast “Witnessed: Mystic Mother,” Katie and Leah Henoch revisit the scandal. They also ponder the nature of sex work and what set the Phoenix Goddess Temple apart.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WITNESSED: MYSTIC MOTHER" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Let's taco 'bout pizza.

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Running with the Devil Sep 22, 2022

John McAfee made hundreds of millions of dollars on his ubiquitous anti-virus software and retired to Belize. But after his neighbor was murdered in 2012, McAfee went on the run. Rather than keep a low profile, he let a camera crew film his every move. McAfee uses his unscrupulous methods and considerable wealth to escape his predicament in Central America. But when he gets into trouble in the US, a paranoid, drug-addled, and heavily armed McAfee invites cameras on his luxury yacht as he takes to the sea to avoid capture.

The Netflix documentary “Running with the Devil: The Wild World of John McAfee” brings us inside the businessman’s never-ending flight from justice, through jungles, foreign court systems, and the high seas. It documents his downward spiral while on the lam - and asks questions about his controversial death.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL" BEGIN IN THE LAST 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Missing Pages Sep 19, 2022

To get to the top of the best-seller list takes more than just writing a good book. And going from acclaimed author to scandalous fraud can happen with the turn of a page. Like Kaavya Viswanathan - the young phenom whose book contained plagiarized passages. Or Dan Mallory, the author of The Woman in the Window whose life of adversity was an elaborate hoax played upon the literary community.

The eight-part podcast series “Missing Pages” from The Podglomerate dives into stories of famous authors brought low by their misdeeds and misrepresentations. Host Bethanne Patrick also explores the industry culture and social biases that contributed to the controversies in the first place.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "MISSING PAGES" BEGIN IN THE LAST 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: queen bee.

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The Sunshine Place Sep 15, 2022

In the 60s and 70s, Synanon emerged as an experimental residential program dedicated to helping drug addicts into recovery. But its founder, Chuck Dederich, reclassified the organization as a church, manipulating followers with fear and intimidation. Synanon would soon be caught up in crime and abuse, with Dederich espousing violence to maintain control.

“The Sunshine Place” from C13Originals is hosted by Sari Crawford, the daughter of a former Synanon leader. While some credit the program for their sobriety, others say its messianic leader destroyed their lives.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE SUNSHINE PLACE" BEGIN IN THE LAST EIGHT MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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BREAKING: State asks to vacate Adnan Syed's conviction Sep 14, 2022

Rebecca and Kevin give an urgent True Crime Update on the breaking news from the Wall Street Journal. Prosecutors are asking a circuit court judge to vacate Adnan Syed's murder conviction. They cite their new investigation that uncovered new suspects and information withheld from the defense.

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Who Killed Daphne? Sep 12, 2022

Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered when a car bomb exploded outside her home in Malta. After her death, a group of international reporters took up Daphne’s work, looking to complete the stories that cost her her life. Their investigation into who was behind her assassination would focus on Malta’s most powerful people and even threaten to topple the government.

Wondery presents the six-part podcast “Who Killed Daphne?” Host Stephen Grey takes us inside the quest to avenge her death the only way journalists know how: to publish the truth.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WHO KILLED DAPHNE?" BEGIN IN THE LAST TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: rum runner.

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I Just Killed My Dad Sep 05, 2022

In June 2019, Anthony Templet told police he shot his father after an argument in their Baton Rouge home. It seemed to be a straight-forward case, but then information came to light about Anthony that even he didn’t know about. This all raised new questions about the victim. Was Burt Templet the generous provider that he seemed? Or did his controlling ways drive his son to commit murder?

Netflix's three-part series “I Just Killed My Dad” provides a look at Anthony’s complex psyche and brings us inside his legal case as his lawyer attempts to learn who this family really was.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "I JUST KILLED MY DAD" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: If you build it, they will come.

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Crooked City: Youngstown, OH Aug 29, 2022

For years, the mafia ran Youngstown, OH, providing the drugs, gambling, and prostitution the blue collar town was known for. As crime got worse, Jim Traficant ran for sheriff on a platform to kick out the mob…at the same time he was taking money from them. Even after the FBI arrested him, Traficant was a beloved figure in Youngstown. He was elected to Congress as a populist candidate who fought for his district - all while taking bribes and evading taxes.

“Crimetown” creator Marc Smirling is back with “Crooked City: Youngstown, OH.” This 15-part podcast brings the tales of the city’s mobsters as they maneuver for money and power, and how the colorful Traficant worked both sides of the law.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "CROOKED CITY: YOUNGSTOWN, OH" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 8 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: A little vab with do ya.

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Trainwreck: Woodstock '99 Aug 22, 2022

Organizers of Woodstock ‘99 set out to recreate the vibe of the original concert, all while turning a profit. But the three-day festival was beset by broken toilets, contaminated water, endless garbage, and corporate sponsors price gouging the concert goers. Meanwhile, the organizers failed to appreciate their headline acts were thrash-rock bands who whipped up the oversexed, over-drugged audience into a frenzy - which culminated in a fiery riot.

The Netflix documentary series “Trainwreck: Woodstock ‘99” replays the music festival catastrophe through the eyes of staff, musicians, and concert goers. This docuseries goes behind the scenes to reveal the greed, naiveté, and music that fueled three days of utter chaos.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "TRAINWRECK: WOODSTOCK '99" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE SHOW.

In Crime of the Week: A world of laughter, a world of tears.

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Black Bird Aug 15, 2022

Jimmy Keene is offered a get-out-of-jail card if he can provide the FBI evidence against a serial killer. Larry Hall is poised to leave prison on appeal. Questions remain about his interrogation, and whether the things he said were true or false. Keene draws in the psychopath, delving deeper into a serial killer’s mind. But Hall’s habit of false confessions leaves it unclear whether there’s anything to learn before he’s released.

Taron Egerton and Paul Walter Hauser star in the Apple Original series “Black Bird.” Inspired by true events, Keene must survive a violent prison, dangerous inmates, and ruthless guards, all while trying to befriend Hall and expose his secrets.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BLACK BIRD" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE SHOW.

In Crime of the Week: skirting the law.

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Breakdown: The Trump Grand Jury Aug 08, 2022

Did former President Trump break the law trying to influence Georgia election officials? That monumental legal question will be answered by County D.A. Fani Willis. While Congress and the Justice Department investigate a nationwide effort to overturn the election, Willis is probing whether state law was violated in her county.

Breakdown season 9 from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is a real-time report on the progress of the Trump grand jury. Hosts Bill Rankin and Tamar Hallerman cover what for them is a local story.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BREAKDOWN" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: shakin' bacon.

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Girl in the Picture Aug 01, 2022

After Tonya Hughes is killed in a 1990 hit-and-run accident in Tulsa, her friends learn she’d been living under an assumed name. She left behind a young boy and her much-older husband, Clarence, who tried to control every aspect of her life. And after he kidnaps the boy from school and disappears, authorities hope to learn who each of these people really are.

The Netflix documentary “Girl in the Picture” follows an investigation that looks backwards at the young woman’s identity, while looking forward to the hunt for the dangerous man at this family’s center. “Abducted in Plain Sight'' director Skye Borgman presents a twisting tale of abuse, mystery and evil.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "GIRL IN THE PICTURE" BEING IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: rook against the machine.

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Mind Over Murder Jul 25, 2022

After the 1985 rape and murder of grandmother Helen Wilson, investigators obtained confessions from six people who said they were there when it happened. But even after they were exonerated decades later, family members and cops don’t believe the so-called Beatrice Six would implicate themselves in a crime they didn’t commit. Meantime, a community theater in the small Nebraska town attempts to confront the crime’s impacts by staging a play based on transcripts of the suspects’ controversial interrogations.

The HBO Original documentary series “Mind Over Murder” explores the psychologically complex story of the six people convicted for the murder, the small town cop who drew out their confessions, the psychologist who planted their fake memories, and the town divided on the legacy of what happened.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "MIND OVER MURDER" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: the one who knocks.

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Only Murders in the Building season 2 Jul 18, 2022

When we last saw them, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel were hauled off for the murder of Bunny, the Arconia building president. But their newfound infamy and the success of their true crime podcast has given the trio the opportunities they’ve dreamed of. Mabel is recognized for her artwork, Charles’s classic TV show is revived, and Oliver may finally solve his money problems.

But true crime rival Cinda Canning’s new podcast focuses on them and whether they killed Bunny. The only way to clear their names is to create another podcast to prove to the world they didn’t do it.

In the second season of the Emmy-nominated “Only Murders in the Building,” Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez return to sendup true crime podcasts while providing a captivating whodunnit. With a new batch of suspects and a mystery around the Arconia’s past, the stakes for the team have never been higher.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING" BEGIN IN THE LAST 16 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Home is where you hang your head.

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Project Unabom Jul 11, 2022

Having eluded authorities for 17 years, the criminal known as the Unabomber is ready to make a deal. If newspapers will print his manifesto, he’ll stop killing people. But his anti-technology rants sound familiar to the family of Ted Kaczynski. When the disheveled cabin dweller is arrested, it confirms everyone’s suspicion the culprit was a mad man. But how did he go from mathematics professor to serial bomber? And were there other ways the story could have gone?

Produced by Pineapple Street Studios, the Apple Original podcast “Project Unabom” tells the story of a nation and a family coming to grips with what was happening inside a tiny cabin in the Montana woods. Host Eric Benson digs into Kaczynski’s personal papers, and talks to key people from the investigation…including those first suspected of being the Unabomber.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "PROJECT UNABOM" BEGIN IN THE LAST 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: Your nose knows.

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The Execution of Bonny Lee Bakley Jul 04, 2022

Homicide detectives respond to the shooting of a woman in a car on a dark North Hollywood street. The killing does not appear to be random and the lead suspect is the victim’s husband, actor Robert Blake. Complicating the investigation are the revelations about the victim’s past. Before her marriage, Bonny Lee Bakley spent decades as a con artist, cavorting with criminals and celebrities alike, leaving a long trail of enemies.

From Wondery comes the latest series from the podcast “Hollywood & Crime”... “The Execution of Bonny Lee Bakley” rehashes the 2001 Robert Blake case. Hosts Tracy Pattin and Josh Lucas provide all the narration and dramatic dialogue.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE EXECUTION OF BONNY LEE BAKLEY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: sleeping under the stars.

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Smoke Screen: Puppy Kingpin Jun 30, 2022

Pet store owners tell buyers their puppies come from reputable breeders and humane kennels. But verifying that is challenging, because the dogs are often supplied by brokers who act as middlemen between the shops and shady puppy mills. Jolyn Noethe is a broker who allegedly engineered a multi-million dollar scheme to launder puppies and deceive buyers throughout the country about where their new pets actually came from.

In the new season of “Smoke Screen” from Neon Hum, “Puppy Kingpin” pulls apart the scheme to circumvent laws against trafficking animals from puppy mills to unsuspecting consumers. Host Alex Schuman introduces us to the advocates, pet owners and prosecutors trying to shut down a racket that rewards cruelty and deception.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SMOKE SCREEN: PUPPY KINGPIN" BEGIN IN THE LAST TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Web of Make Believe Jun 27, 2022

The ubiquity of the Web means people can be whomever they want, wherever they want. That cloak of anonymity makes it easy to steal identities, spread hate speech, and make threats against the unsuspecting. But beyond the criminal acts, the nefarious use of the Internet opens the doors for more pernicious problems - like the erosion of truth or the overreach of a government attempting to strike back.

The Netflix documentary series “Web of Make Believe: Death, Lies and the Internet” shows a series of digitally-based crimes - like swatting, sextortion, hate speech and fraud. It also pivots to the ripple effects of these acts - like misogyny, intrusions of civil liberties, police accountability, and the destabilization of our society.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WEB OF MAKE BELIEVE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE PODCAST.

In Crime of the Week: anticipation.

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Gladbeck: The Hostage Crisis Jun 23, 2022

After a 24 hour standoff at a bank robbery, two armed men and their two hostages flee through West Germany. Later, they hold up a city bus and take more hostages. While the police stay back, the criminals instead open a dialogue with the press, calmly taking questions while brandishing weapons. With reporters following the bus through the country, conducting interviews at every stop, the hostage takers are growing more anxious about the situation. With no clear-cut path for a peaceful conclusion, the nation remains glued to the television.

Now on Netflix, the German-language documentary “Gladbeck: The Hostage Crisis” relies exclusively on footage shot by news crews who captured the 54-hour ordeal. For English-speaking audiences unfamiliar with the 1988 event, its close-up, real-time chronicle of this rolling standoff builds both suspense and dread.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "GLADBECK: THE HOSTAGE CRISIS" BEGIN IN THE LAST 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Fiasco: The AIDS Crisis Jun 20, 2022

An unexplained cancer is moving through New York’s gay community. Throughout the early 1980s, as more men die, its origins remain a mystery. Meanwhile battlelines form among activists, scientists, politicians, and the public at large. “Slow Burn” creator Leon Neyfakh is out with “Fiasco: The AIDS Crisis” on Audible. The podcast looks into the forgotten twists and turns of the epidemic’s early days, when a diagnosis was a death sentence. Neyfakh brings us those who struggled to keep the infected alive - and get society to care.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "FIASCO: THE AIDS CRISIS" BEGIN IN THE LAST 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: let me roll it to you.

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One Click Jun 16, 2022

Authorities were stumped by the untimely deaths of people who had been taking a little-known diet drug. Known as DNP, the chemical helped users shed pounds, all while cooking them alive from the inside. But the compound which was developed as a World War One explosive had long been banned for human consumption. How was it turning up on the Internet? Why did those with body dysmorphia want it? And why were authorities slow to take action despite the pleas from families of the victims?

The C13Originals podcast “One Click” is co-hosted by actress Elle Fanning and journalist Jessica Wapner. They dive into the rise of DNP deaths, while also exploring the historical pressures on body image that likely fueled victims’ desperation to take a risky drug in the name of beauty.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "ONE CLICK" BEGIN IN THE LAST 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

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Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey Jun 13, 2022

As the self-proclaimed Prophet of the FLDS, a fundamentalist offshoot of the Mormon church, Warren Jeffs used the lure of eternal salvation to manipulate his followers. He arranged polygamous marriages and coerced families to offer their girls as child brides within the secretive sect, while authorities did little to stop him.

The Netflix series “Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey'' paints a disturbing picture of the modern subjugation of women and the effects of tyrannical control dressed up as religious obedience. It presents many women who fled their underaged marriages and the outsiders who worked to expose the FLDS’s illegal actions.

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEWS OF "KEEP SWEET: PRAY AND OBEY" BEGIN IN THE LAST 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.

In Crime of the Week: car accident.

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Stranger Things Season 4, Part 1 Jun 09, 2022

The gang of friends in Hawkins is slowly growing apart. Mike, Dustin, Max and Lucas are in different high school cliques. Having moved to California with Joyce's family, Eleven is finding it hard navigating a new school without her supernatural powers. Though wanted by the KGB, Joyce and Murray pursue a tip that Hopper is alive and in a Soviet prison camp. Steve, Nancy, and Robin join their friends to defeat a dark wizard who’s targeting troubled teens in Hawkins. Meanwhile a team of scientists push Eleven to confront her past to regain her powers needed for another fight in the Upside Down.

In season four, part one of Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” our heroes attempt to rescue Hopper, recharge El, and repel Vecna. The show widens its universe, adds depth to its young characters, and provides its scariest plotlines yet.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "STRANGER THINGS" BEGIN APPROXIMATELY IN THE 41:00

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HBO's The Staircase Jun 06, 2022

Michael Peterson said he found his wife at the bottom of the staircase after a fatal fall. But authorities believed when Kathleen Peterson learned of her husband’s double life, he beat her skull with a blow poke in a fit of rage. With the support of his family, a top-notch defense attorney, and a French film crew documenting his every move, Peterson stood trial in a case filled with twists and revelations. Despite holes in the evidence, the jury convicted him of murder.

The MAX Original 8-part drama “The Staircase” starring Colin Firth and Toni Collette takes the story beyond where its namesake documentary left off. We see Peterson’s challenges in prison, his family’s personal struggles, clashes over bias in the film - and yes - evidence that an owl attack accounted for Kathleen’s wounds and disorientation.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF HBO'S "THE STAIRCASE" BEGIN APPROXIMATELY IN MINUTE 38:00

In crime of the week: all shook up.

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Stolen: Surviving St. Michael's Jun 02, 2022

On a routine traffic stop in Saskatchewan, a Mountie recognized the driver as the priest who abused him as a child. The officer beat him up, but the priest never reported the attack and the Mountie kept the incident to himself for decades.

That officer was the late father of reporter Connie Walker. She wanted to know more about her Cree family’s experiences with Canadian residential schools. St. Michael’s school not only tried to expunge the children’s indigenous culture, but also subjected them to physical and sexual abuse.

From Gimlet Media and exclusively on Spotify, “Stolen: Surviving St. Michael’s” is Connie Walker’s most personal investigation yet. In a study on intergenerational trauma, Connie gives voice to many of the victims of the systemic abuse while she seeks out the priest who abused her father.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "STOLEN: SURVIVING ST. MICHAEL'S" BEGIN APPROXIMATELY IN MINUTE 40:00

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Very Scary People May 30, 2022

Before it was known on the big screen as a house of horror, the Dutch Colonial at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, Long Island belonged to the family of Ron DeFeo. In November 1974, Ron Junior found his parents and four siblings shot to death in their beds. His trial captivated the community, but his grisly crimes would be overshadowed by the new homeowners' claims the house was possessed.

The new podcast “Very Scary People” from HLN revisits the crime which was the prologue to “The Amityville Horror.” Narrated by Donnie Wahlberg, the series explores the DeFeo family history, theories of the crime, and the supernatural legacy of the crime scene.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "VERY SCARY PEOPLE" START APPROXIMATELY IN MINUTE 33:00

In crime of the week: bear knuckle fight.

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Will Be Wild May 26, 2022

The Capitol insurrection seemed to catch most of the country off guard. But many people believed January 6th would be a violent day in Washington. They included conspiracy theorists, as well as security analysts…even one Texas teenager who tipped off the FBI after hearing his father’s plans to overturn the election.

But who are these people who would take up arms against a nation they say they want to save? What’s been the fallout for the insurrectionists, their families, and officers wounded that day? And could the riot have been blunted or stopped all together?

The hit podcast “Will be Wild” is a production of Pineapple Street Studios, Wondery, and Amazon Music. Ilya Marritz and Andrea Bernstein from “Trump Inc” introduce us to some of the people who planned - or tried to stop - the insurrection. Part current affairs, part cautionary tale - the podcast warns that January 6th wasn’t the end of the story; it was just a practice run.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WILL BE WILD" BEGIN AROUND MINUTE 39:00

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Under the Banner of Heaven May 23, 2022

After the 1984 murder of Brenda Lafferty and her baby, Detective Jeb Pyre learns the woman married into a prominent and devout Mormon family. But her modern outlook soon clashed with her five brother-in-laws’ views on marriage, religion, and the government. As conflicts arose among their wives, their community, and their church - the Lafferty brothers explored Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints teachings about polygamy, taxation and atonement. Now Detective Pyre must question his own faith as he pursues men willing to spill blood in the name of God.

Andrew Garfield stars in the FX on Hulu series “Under the Banner of Heaven,” based on the book by John Krakauer. The story flashes between the murder investigation, the evolution of the Lafferty’s extremist views, and scenes from Mormon history that informed the religious overtones of the crime.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN" BEGIN AROUND THE 45th MINUTE.

In Crime of the Week: I love the sea life. I've got to boogie.

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Dead End: A NJ Political Murder Mystery May 19, 2022

In 2014, authorities discovered the bodies of political consultant John Sheridan and his wife Joyce in the bedroom of their New Jersey home. A barricaded door, an intentionally set fire, and the discovery of two knives near the bodies led investigators to believe John killed Joyce in a murder/suicide.

The couple’s family noticed detectives ignored odd things about the evidence, such as the blood patterns and type of knife that made the fatal blow. In a state known for its graft and shoddy police work, could there be something more to the case?

In the podcast “Dead End: A New Jersey Political Murder Mystery,” WNYC reporter Nancy Solomon explores the brutal deaths of the Sheridans, their sons' quest for the truth, and the political corruption that looms over the case.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DEAD END" BEGIN AROUND THE 33rd MINUTE.

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Candy May 16, 2022

Candy Montgomery seems to have it all: loving husband, adorable kids…and friends from church like Betty Gore. But to fight the mundanity of suburban life, Candy initiates an affair with Betty’s husband, Allen. After the affair runs its course Betty and Allen are closer than ever. But while away on a business trip, Allen becomes concerned when his wife won’t answer the home telephone.

The five-night Hulu event “Candy” stars Jessica Biel, Melanie Lynskey, Pablo Schreiber, and Raúl Esparza. Based on the 1980 crime, the series asks why would Candy kill Betty with 41 blows from a three-foot ax? Was it the affair…or did she just snap?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "CANDY" BEGIN AROUND THE 39th MINUTE.

In crime of the week: rock-a-bye baby.

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Liar Liar May 12, 2022

Since financial advisor Melissa Caddick walked out of her house in 2020, authorities have been unable to determine whether she vanished with the millions from her Ponzi scheme, was snatched by a ripped-off investor, or threw herself into the sea from the high cliffs near her luxury home. The podcast “Liar, Liar: Melissa Caddick and the Missing Millions” is a joint investigation between the Sydney Morning Journal and 60 Minutes Australia. Journalists Kate McClymont and Tom Steinfort seek to finally answer what happened to Caddick and the con artist’s ill-gotten fortune.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "LIAR LIAR" BEGINS AROUND MINUTE 37:00

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Ozark series finale May 09, 2022

With drug lord Omar Navarro in prison and his hot-head nephew Javi in charge, Marty and Wendy Byrde’s plan to get out from under the drug cartel’s control is in freefall. Meanwhile, Ruth makes a play for the casino - key to the money laundering operation Marty needs to fulfill his debt and secure a deal with the FBI. Jason Bateman and Julia Garner return for the final season of Netflix’s award-winning “Ozark.”

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "OZARK" BEGIN AROUND MINUTE 44:00

In Crime of the Week: why don't you grow a pair?

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Captive Audience May 05, 2022

In 1972, seven-year-old Steven Stayner was kidnapped and raised by his abductor under an assumed name. At age 14 he made his escape and returned home. Reporters couldn’t get enough of the miraculous story, and a TV miniseries captivated the nation. But there was no storybook ending for the Stayners. The following years brought conflict, tragedy, and an unthinkable crime.

The Hulu documentary “Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story” follows the ordeals of Steven and Cory Stayner. It supplements its historical footage with clips from the 1989 TV miniseries and with research interviews from its screenwriter. It shows how a story can be manipulated and how the media can treat you like heroes one day - and villains the next.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "CAPTIVE AUDIENCE" BEGIN AROUND MINUTE 38:00

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Sent Away May 02, 2022

Complaints about harsh punishments, sexual abuse, and a fatal field trip surfaced about a Utah teen treatment center. State regulators did little about it - even when its director was accused of rape and using residents as workers in his home. The new podcast “Sent Away” is a joint investigation among The Salt Lake Tribune, KUER, and APM Reports. It looks at the troubling history of Integrity House, as well as Utah’s lax oversight which has allowed the teen treatment industry in the state to explode.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SENT AWAY" BEGIN AROUND MINUTE 42:00

In Crime of the Week: silly bear.

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Run, Bambi, Run Apr 28, 2022

In 1990 Laurie Bembenek escaped from a Wisconsin prison through an open window. When the former Playboy bunny went on the lam, she became a media sensation and a folk hero. But did the former cop and calendar girl known as Bambi actually commit the crime she was in prison for - the murder of her husband’s ex-wife? The new show “Run, Bambi, Run” from Apple Podcasts looks back at the sexy-and-sexist case against Bembenek.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "RUN, BAMBI, RUN" BEGIN AROUND MINUTE 38:00

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Killing Eve season 4 Apr 25, 2022

After walking away from Villanelle at the end of last season, security analyst Eve Palastri is immersed in her new obsession. With the help of friends new-and-old, she’s closing in on the mysterious yet powerful cabal known as The Twelve. Elsewhere, Villanelle is having an identity crisis. Can she leave behind her life as an assassin and prove to herself - and to Eve - that she’s not a monster?

Golden Globe winner Sandra Oh and Emmy winner Jodie Comer star in the fourth-and-final season of “Killing Eve” from AMC and BBC America. Our heroes seek to complete very personal missions all while continuing their obsessive cat-and-mouse game with each other’s emotions.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF SEASON 4 OF "KILLING EVE" BEGIN AROUND MINUTE 43:00

In Crime of the Week: whoever smelt it.

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Motive season 4 Apr 21, 2022

Officials say prisons protect the public from lawlessness, but often they’re the most lawless places in the country. And the security used to keep detainees IN, also keeps OUT transparency and accountability. In season 4 of “Motive” from WBEZ-Chicago, host Shannon Heffernan explores the Illinois prison system. She finds their rural locations, protective culture, and hostility toward inmates creates opportunities for systemic misconduct.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS FOR SEASON 4 OF "MOTIVE" BEGIN AROUND MINUTE 41:00

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NBC's The Thing About Pam Apr 18, 2022

When Betsy Faria was murdered in 2011, police aggressively pursued her husband, Russ. But the evidence pointed to her BFF Pam Hupp. And while bad things continued to befall people around her, TV news magazines homed in on Pam and her web of lies. Renée Zellweger stars in “The Thing About Pam,” the NBC dramatization based on the NBC podcast based on the NBC news magazine Dateline.

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEWS OF "THE THING ABOUT PAM" BEGIN AROUND MINUTE 37:00

In Crime of the Week: tall tale.

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Yuba County Five Apr 14, 2022

In February 1978, the car of five men with either mental health or intellectual disabilities was discovered on a high mountain road, far away from their anticipated destination. By the summer it became clear where the group had gone, but what happened to them in those months remains a troubling mystery.

The seven-episode podcast “Yuba County Five” from Mopac Audio recalls the missing persons case that still haunts Northern California. It asks the question of why the men took the detour and whether someone with bad intentions sent them into the wilderness to meet their fate.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "YUBA COUNTY FIVE" BEGIN AROUND MINUTE 19:00

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The Girl from Plainville Apr 11, 2022

After his suicide shocks his family, Conrad Roy’s mother learns he’d been having a virtual relationship with a girl in another town. But investigators combing their text messages discover instead of stopping him, Michelle Carter may have instructed him to take his own life.

Elle Fanning and Chloë Sevigny star in the Hulu docudrama “The Girl from Plainville.” The series captures the sadness of two teens who don’t fit in, their path to tragedy, and the agony of the adults piecing together why it happened.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE GIRL FROM PLAINVILLE" BEGINS AROUND MINUTE 38:00

In Crime of the Week: dirty talk.

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Phoenix Rising Apr 07, 2022

Teenage actress Evan Rachel Wood turned heads with her unlikely relationship with much-older shock-rocker Marilyn Manson. Behind the scenes, the musician’s love bombing morphed into physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. The two-part HBO documentary "Phoenix Rising" lets Wood tell her complete story for the first time. She recounts the evolution of a classically abusive relationship, elevated by a world of rock’n’roll excess and violence as an artform. It also shows in real-time her struggle with the legal system and threats from Marilyn Manson fans.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "PHOENIX RISING " BEGINS AROUND MINUTE 40:00.

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Undercurrent: The Disappearance of Kim Wall Apr 04, 2022

In 2017, two people set to sea in a homemade submarine. Only one returned. The two-part HBO documentary “Undercurrent: The Disappearance of Kim Wall” recounts the famous Nordic murder case, including its complicated investigation and motives around snuff-film sex fantasies. It also explores the life stories of a rising journalist and an eccentric inventor.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "UNDERCURRENT" BEGINS AROUND MINUTE 37:00

In Crime of the Week: smashed at the pub.

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Over My Dead Body: Joe Exotic Mar 28, 2022

This week, we rewind to our September 16, 2019 review of "Over My Dead Body: Joe Exotic."

Wondery’s “Over My Dead Body” returns for a second season with the story of Joe Exotic. Host Rob Moor introduces us to the charismatic and controversial exotic animal collector who claims to be a target for ruin at the hands of a woman whose husband vanished under mysterious circumstances.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "OVER MY DEAD BODY: JOE EXOTIC" GO TO THE 23rd MINUTE.

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Joe vs. Carole 🐯 Mar 21, 2022

Carole Baskin runs a Florida sanctuary for tigers with her doting husband. Her efforts to stop a traveling cub-petting operation sends her on a collision course with mercurial zookeeper Joe Exotic, who sees Carole as an existential threat to his livelihood.

Based on season two of the podcast “Over My Dead Body,” the eight-part Peacock series “Joe vs. Carole” stars Kate McKinnon and John Cameron Mitchell. While played for laughs in sections, the dramatized retelling regards its lead characters with more sympathy and depth than either "Tiger King" figure have previously received in popular culture.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "JOE VS. CAROLE" TO GO MINUTE 41:00

In Crime of the Week: fowl play.

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The Dropout on Hulu Mar 14, 2022

The crime writers welcome Ronald Young Jr. from the HBO Docs Club podcast to fill in for the vacationing Toby Ball!

In True Crime Update: MD prosecutors agree with Serial's Adnan Syed to test DNA on crime scene evidence not previously tested. What does it mean that the state supports re-testing and how might it affect Adnan's effort to win his release.

Then: high-achiever Elizabeth Holmes went to college with a vague dream to invent something that would change the face of medicine. She dropped out of school to start a company even though the experts told her the science behind her idea wouldn’t work. The eight-episode Hulu drama “The Dropout,” based on the ABC News podcast of the same name, stars Amanda Seyfried. She plays Elizabeth Holmes as an awkward yet driven idealist, so blinded by her vision she’d do anything - even faking results, lying to investors, and mistreating her workers.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE DROPOUT" GO TO MINUTE 42:00

In Crime of the Week: dispirited.

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Fireboys Mar 10, 2022

Juvenile detainees in the Golden State are given an opportunity for service: fighting wildfires in California. The documentary “Fireboys” on HBO Max is a coming-of-age tale of incarcerated youth given a chance to earn money, reduce their sentence, help their community, and build their self-esteem. But will the lessons learned on the fire line give them hope for the future or set them up for more disappointment?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "FIREBOYS" GO TO MINUTE 37:00

Note: Here's that Teen Vogue article about Pine Grove fire camp that Rebecca kept talking about!

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The Pink Moon Murders Mar 07, 2022

In April 2016, eight members of the Rhoden family were murdered in their Appalachian homes. Investigators were puzzled at why an entire family would be annihilated. Was it because of their illegal marijuana operation? Or was it a more personal motive? In “The Pink Moon Murders” from Cavalry Audio and iHeart, host David Raterman explores the Pike County shootings.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE PINK MOON MURDERS" GO TO MINUTE 42:00

Plus: an update on the Campside Media podcast "Wild Boys."

In Crime of the Week: your shit don't stink.

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Accused: The Impending Execution of Elwood Jones Mar 03, 2022

Since his conviction for murdering Rhoda Nathen in her hotel room, Elwood Jones has maintained his innocence. To believe him means to accept his argument that he was framed by the police.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer and USA Today comes season 4 of “Accused: The Impending Execution of Elwood Jones.” Host Amber Hunt looks at alternative suspects, shaky evidence, and investigators who spent a year resubmitting forensics until they finally found an expert to build their case.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "ACCUSED: THE IMPENDING EXECUTION OF ELWOOD JONES," GO TO MINUTE 42:00

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We Need to Talk About Cosby Feb 28, 2022

For decades, he was an A-list entertainer who projected an image of wholesomeness. But the public was shocked to learn of Bill Cosby’s dark double life - one in which the so-called “America’s Dad” was drugging and raping women for years.

The four-part Showtime series “We Need to Talk About Cosby” examines all aspects of Cosby’s life - both as a trailblazer and beloved entertainer and as a felon. W. Kamau Bell provides a platform for some of his many victims. He also turns the mirror on the Black community and those who grew up watching Cosby to ask why they have conflicted feelings about his legacy.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT COSBY," GO TO MINUTE 42:00

In Crime of the Week: prison break.

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Inventing Anna Feb 24, 2022

Anna Delvey was a twenty-something who posed as a young German heiress while living on the amenities of New York’s super rich. Magazine writer Viviant Kent sees Anna’s story as her shot at professional redemption. She struggles with her editors and with her subject to retell Anna’s path from Instagram darling to high society to incarceration.

Anna Chlumsky and Julia Garner star in “Inventing Anna,” a nine-episode, partly-fictionalized look at the Anna Delvey case. The docudrama recounts her long con as a poser who talked her way through big banks and luxury hotels, framed around a journalist’s efforts to untangle the web of deception.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "INVENTING ANNA" GO TO MINUTE 39:00

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The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window Feb 21, 2022

Anna is drowning the loss of her daughter and the end of her marriage in bottles of red wine. She’s taken by the kindness of the handsome widower and his daughter who’ve moved in across the street. Then one night, Anna peers across the way to see the man’s girlfriend get her throat slashed. When police say the girlfriend is safe in Seattle Anna sets off to confirm she’s not crazy, prove a murder happened, and discover who the killer in her quiet neighborhood is.

Kristen Bell stars in the mystery-spoof “The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window.” The Netflix series is a dry-but-cutting satire on domestic thrillers and cozy mysteries. Will Anna solve the case - one chicken casserole and bottle of cabernet at a time?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE WOMAN IN THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE GIRL IN THE WINDOW" GO TO MINUTE 36:00

In crime of the week: drilling in the ice.

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The Tinder Swindler 💔 Feb 17, 2022

Using a popular dating app, Cecilie connects with a caring playboy named Simon - the son of a rich diamond broker who wears designer clothes, dines at five-star restaurants, and flies her around Europe in a private jet. Though it seems like true love, their lives are upended when Simon goes on the run to escape his violent business rivals. Cut off from his fortune, he convinces her to borrow money so he can continue his extravagant lifestyle. But when the bills come due, Cecilie realizes Simon is not who he seems.

Three women share how they were bamboozled by Simon Leviev in the Netflix documentary “The Tinder Swindler.” Part catfish, part Ponzi-scheme, it explores his elaborate romantic con, his life of fraud, and his efforts to continue his grift today.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE TINDER SWINDLER" GO TO MINUTE 40:00

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The Trojan Horse Affair Feb 14, 2022

In 2014, a letter emerged detailing an elaborate plot by Islamic extremists to infiltrate schools in Birmingham, England. It became known as The Trojan Horse Affair. When journalism student Hamza Syed met podcaster Brian Reed, he told him about the scandal and the unexplored question of the author’s true motives. They teamed up to investigate where the ham-fisted letter came from in the first place - and if there was no extremist plot, what was the writer actually hoping to achieve?

From Serial Productions and The New York Times comes “The Trojan Horse Affair.” We follow Hamza and Brian’s frustrating journey to explore whether the letter was more about a labor dispute than an extremist conspiracy - and would proving its mundane origins upend the official narrative used as a pretext for a lasting, hardline government response?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVEIWS OF "THE TROJAN HORSE AFFAIR" GO TO THE 42:00 MINUTE MARK.

In Crime of the Week: thrown to the wolves.

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Chameleon: Wild Boys Feb 10, 2022

In 2003, a pair of teenage boys emerged from the woods around Vernon, British Columbia. They claimed to have lived their lives in the wilderness with no contact with civilization. As the town rallied behind them, the so-called “Bush Boys of B.C.” attracted international media attention - as well as the suspicions of the Mounties who wanted to know their true identities. From Campside Media, season three of Chameleon: “Wild Boys” looks back at the strange tale that gripped two nations.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WILD BOYS" GO TO THE APPROX. 38:00 MINUTE MARK

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Ozark season 4.1 Feb 07, 2022

Omar Navarro has offered Marty and Wendy Byrde a plan to finally walk away from their debt to the Mexican cartel. All they need to do is help the drug kingpin go legit and receive immunity from prosecution in America.

Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, and two-time Emmy winner Julia Garner return for season four-part one of “Ozark.” The series again finds the Byrdes dealing with complications large-and-small to protect their family and get out of the money laundering business.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS GO TO THE 43:00 MINUTE.

In Crime of the Week: torch song.

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Torched Feb 03, 2022

Just in time for the Winter Olympics, the podcast “Torched” from FilmNation Entertainment recalls some of the most controversial moments surrounding the games. Hosted by former skier and noted poker game runner Molly Bloom, this an anthology podcast looks at a different kind of human drama of athletic competition. Each episode features a story of scandal, disgrace - and sometimes - redemption.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "TORCHED" GO TO MINUTE 40:00

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The Puppet Master Jan 31, 2022

The Cliftons have not seen their mother in years. She ran off with David, the boyfriend who controlled her money and her life. What’s his connection to Rob, a supposed MI-5 agent who in 1996 took a trio of college kids into hiding, claiming they’d been targeted by IRA assassins?

From Netflix, “The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Con Man” looks back at the exploits of Robert Freegard - accused of controlling, conning, and fleecing several women. Told largely by his victims, the docuseries also looks at the present day and asks whether he’s up to his old tricks.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE PUPPET MASTER," GO TO MINUTE 34:00

In Crime of the Week: a clean getaway.

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Dig Deeper: The Disappearance of Birgit Meier Jan 27, 2022

In 1989, as she was preparing to divorce her husband, Birgit Meier vanished from her home in Lüneburg, Germany. Detectives began to focus on the neighbor’s gardener, a man with a violent past and a secret room filled with instruments of torture and kidnapping. The Netflix German import “Dig Deeper: The Disappearance of Birgit Meier” follows a group of experts as they attempt to do what police have refused to - name the killer and find Birgit's body.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "DIG DEEPER" GO TO MINUTE 46:00

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Families Who Kill: The Donut Shop Murders Jan 24, 2022

In 1971, Sherman McCrary and his son-in-law Carl Taylor went on a multistate spree of robberies, killing and raping doughnut shop employees along the way. “Families Who Kill: The Donut Shop Murders" examines their murderous run. Featuring commentary from police, professors, and other podcasters, the show also profiles a felonious family from the 1800s.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "FAMILIES WHO KILL: THE DONUT SHOP MURDERS" GO TO MINUTE 37:00

In Crime of the Week: ...and the Joker got away, hey!

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Strangeland Jan 20, 2022

In 2003, Charis Song was killed execution-style in her Koreatown apartment, along with her nanny and two-year-old son. Years later, a DNA sample from a former neighbor matched a latex glove from the crime scene. The podcast "Strangeland" from Western Sound revisits the Miracle Mile Murders and asks how much of the investigation was colored by cultural misunderstandings.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "STRANGELAND" GO TO MINUTE 42:00

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Yellowjackets 🐝 Jan 17, 2022

In 1996, an airplane carrying a high school girls soccer team crashed in the wilderness. The few who returned home kept quiet about how they survived 19 months alone in the woods. In Showtime's feminist-powered horror-mystery series "Yellowjackets," an aspiring politician, a bored housewife, a recovering drug addict, and an unstable nurse find themselves being blackmailed for their untold story of strange symbols, supernatural premonitions, tribal warfare, and teenage drama.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "YELLOWJACKETS," GO TO MINUTE 36:00

In Crime of the Week: hot dogg.

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The Slow Hustle Jan 13, 2022

After Baltimore homicide detective Sean Suiter was shot with his own gun in an alley, it was revealed he was about to testify before a grand jury about a group of dirty cops. The department determined the evidence pointed to the headshot being self-inflicted…but was it actually a hit to keep Suiter quiet? The HBO Max documentary “The Slow Hustle” examines the controversial investigation.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE SLOW HUSTLE" GO TO 35:00

In True Crime Update: a court settlement against a Baltimore homicide detective may have an impact on the Adnan Syed case.

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Hooked Jan 10, 2022

Tony Hathoway pulled off 30 hold-ups in the Seattle area in one year. But how did he go from being a successful aviation engineer to a prolific bank robber? His addiction to oxycontin. The Campside Media podcast “Hooked” is part crime memoir - part case study into the opioid crisis.

FOR OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEWS OF "HOOKED" GO TO MINUTE 35:30

In True Crime Update: a lawsuit in the case of Emanuel Fair from "Suspect."

In Crime of the Week: Barbie Crime House.

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Lost Hills: Dead in the Water Jan 06, 2022

In 1981, Fred Roehler’s family was anchored on their luxury yacht when he convinced his wife and stepson to venture on a dory to nearby Bird Rock. Roehler said the family dog lunged and swamped the boat, sending the trio into the water. At first, the deaths of Verna and Doug were ruled accidental. Police wanted to know more about the strange incident at sea…and more about what happened to Roehler’s first wife.

In season two of “Lost Hills: Dead in the Water,” host Dana Goodyear tells a story of swingers, money, and the Malibu vibe of the 1970s. It also re-examines the question of whether the deaths were a cold-water accident or a cold-blooded murder.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "LOST HILLS: DEAD IN THE WATER" GO TO MINUTE 48:00

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We dig into "Landscapers" on HBO Jan 03, 2022

On the first episode of CWO's new release schedule, the panel looks at HBO Max series "Landscapers." A mild-mannered British couple come to the attention of police after a pair of bodies are found buried in a garden. Oscar-winner Olivia Colman and David Thewlis star in this dramatized version of the domestic crime that shocked England.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "LANDSCAPERS" GO TO MINUTE 41:00

In Crime of the Week: shocking developments.

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The Best Podcasts of 2021! Dec 27, 2021

It's an all thumbs-up way-up episode! The crime writers each give their top 10 lists for the best podcasts of 2021.

In Crime of the Week: prattle royale.

Toby’s top 10 list

Fault Line: Dying for a Fight
I’m Not a Monster
Carrie Low VS
9/12
Suspect
Do You Know Mordecai?
Believe her
Stolen: The Search for Jermain
Through the Cracks
The Apology Line

Lara’s top 10 list

I Am Not a Monster
Suspect
9/12
Carrie Low VS
Believe Her
Murdaugh Murders
Do You Know Mordechai?
Welcome to Your Fantasy
Mississippi Goddam
The Line

Kevin’s top 10 list

Believe Her
Suspect
I'm Not a Monster
The Trials of Frank Carson
Do you know Mordechai?
Carrie Low VS
The Line
The Apology Line
9 / 12
Welcome to your Fantasy

Rebecca’s top 10 list

Suspect
Believe Her
Do You Know Mordechai?
Through the Cracks
Carrie Low VS
I’m Not A Monster
The Line
Suave
9/12
Stolen: The Search for Jermain

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Black and Missing & Hemingway's Picasso Dec 20, 2021

An aging drug runner passes his most prized possession to his son: a work created by an immortal artist owned by an immortal author. But is it real? In “Hemingway’s Picasso” from Somethin’ Else, host Leah Carroll takes us through Steve Kough’s swashbuckling life and its effects on his family. It also attempts to learn once and for all if the painted ceramic is a masterpiece…or the work of someone else.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "HEMINGWAY'S PISCASSO" GO TO MINUTE 24:00

The HBO Max four-part series “Black and Missing” takes a deep dive into the particular challenges to finding victims of color who’ve vanished - focusing on societal issues, policing, and publicity. It also tells riveting stories of missing persons cases - some with satisfying resolutions and some unsolved.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BLACK AND MISSING" GO TO MINUTE 1:04:00

In Crime of the Week: in cold blood.

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Sweet Bobby and Fruitcake Fraud Dec 13, 2021

A British DJ spent years in an online romance with a man she never met - but who was he? The podcast "Sweet Bobby" from Tortoise Media explores a complicated catfishing scheme and the motivations behind it.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "SWEET BOBBY" GO TO THE 34th MINUTE.

Collins Street Bakery was the most successful fruitcake baker in the world. So why was the company losing millions of dollars? "Fruitcake Fraud" from Discovery+ digs into a holiday-themed white collar crime.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "FRUITCAKE FRAUD" GO TO THE 61st MINUTE.

In Crime of the Week: psy-cat-pathic.

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The Thing About Helen & Olga and The Curse of Von Dutch Dec 06, 2021

Helen Golay and Olga Rutterschmidt were two seniors who helped the homeless in Los Angeles, but authorities became suspicious of their philanthropy after one of the men had been run over in an alley. Host Keith Morrison brings his unique style of self-aware cheesiness to “The Thing About Helen & Olga,” mined from the archives of Dateline NBC.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE THING ABOUT HELEN & OLGA" GO TO MINUTE 27:26

A collaboration between street toughs and a pop artist created Von Dutch, a clothing brand of rough denim, tight t-shirts, and trucker hats. As new business-savvy managers worked to force out the streetwise founders, bad feelings emerged. Hulu's three part "The Curse of Von Dutch: A Brand to Die For" shows in the world of high-priced fashion, things can get cutthroat.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE CURSE OF VON DUTCH" GO TO MINUTE 1:03:00

In Crime of the Week: I'll be home for Christmas.

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American Vandal Nov 29, 2021

In this week's CWO Classic rewind: a look back at the Sept 29, 2017 review of the Netflix comedy "American Vandal."

The unexpectedly savvy satire of everything we love about true crime. "American Vandal" may start as a lowbrow take-off on "Serial" or "Making a Murder," but the comedy is surprisingly meta, embracing all tropes of the podcasts and documentaries which have become ubiquitous. In the end, we still want to know, "Who drew the dicks?"

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Believe Her and The Shrink Next Door Nov 22, 2021

In True Crime Update: the latest on the murder of the rape defendant from "Carrie Low VS."

In 2017 Nikki Addimando shot her partner after a violent confrontation. Officials viewed her years of abuse not as a self-defense justification, but as her plan to commit murder. In Lemonada's podcast “Believe Her” host Justine van der Leun sheds light on a part of our justice system in which survival is criminalized.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BELIEVE HER" GO TO MINUTE 34:30

A man seeks out a psychiatrist to help him with his life...so the doctor takes over every aspect of it. Will Farrell and Paul Rudd star in the dramedy “The Shrink Next Door,” adapted by Apple TV+ from the hit podcast.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE SHRINK NEXT DOOR" GO TO MINUTE 1:06:00

In Crime of the Week: all you can't eat.

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Carrie Low VS and The Raincoat Killer Nov 15, 2021

The panel starts with a True Crime Update about those remains found in the NH mountains that are not connected to a famous cold case.

In 2003, police in Seoul were stumped by a serial killer who targeted elderly wealthy victims in their homes, then pivoted to dismembering sex workers. In the Netflix documentary “The Raincoat Killer: Chasing a Predator in Korea,” detectives, profilers, and crime techs recall the case that shocked a nation which believed serial killers were limited to the West.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE RAINCOAT KILLER" GO TO MINUTE 29:30

After being drugged and raped, Carrie Low sought help from police in Halifax, but officers failed to retrieve evidence, examine the crime scene, or follow many of their own procedures. She believed police had not just bungled her case; she suspected they were willfully ignoring it. The CBC podcast “Carrie Low VS” follows her search for justice against her assailants and the police department.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "CARRIE LOW VS" GO TO MINUTE 1:09:30

In Crime of the Week: tracks of my tears.

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American Vigilante and Found Nov 08, 2021

In the podcast "American Vigilante" a British journalist interviews a mercenary who travels the world to rescue children, capture fugitives, and avenge the innocent. But are his testosterone-fueled tales true?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "AMERICAN VIGILANTE" GO TO MINUTE 27:55

Using DNA tests, three girls adopted from China learn they're cousins. In "Found" from Netflix, they enlist the help of a Beijing researcher to find the birth parents who abandoned them because of the country's one-child Policy.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "FOUND" GO TO MINUTE 1:02:00

In Crime of the Week: the fish are biting.

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Mississippi Goddam and What Happened, Brittney Murphy? Nov 01, 2021

In 2008, high school football star Billey Joe Johnson was pulled over for speeding in Lucedale, Mississippi. Moments later, the officer radioed that the Black teen had killed himself with a shotgun. “Mississippi Goddam: The Ballad of Billey Joe” is an eight-part series of PRX's "Reveal" podcast. Host Al Letson pokes at the conclusion the teen’s death was an accident.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "MISSISSIPPI GODDAM" GO TO MINUTE 27.

The sudden death in 2009 of a rising star shocked Hollywood. The HBO Max two-part series “What Happened, Brittney Murphy?” recalls the actor’s Hollywood climb and subsequent fatal backslide during her marriage to a gold-digging Svengali.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WHAT HAPPENED, BRITTNEY MURPHY?" GO TO MINUTE 61.

In Crime of the Week: Don't be cruel.

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Dr. Death 3 and Wild Crime Oct 25, 2021

In season 3 of "Dr. Death," a news producer falls in love with a surgeon on the cutting edge of regenerative medicine. But dogged by questions about his research and his promises of a romantic life together, his con soon unravels.

FOR OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEWS OF "DR. DEATH: MEDICINE MAN," GO TO 30:00

In "Wild Crime," National Park Service investigators look at the death of a woman who plunged from a mountain side. Did Toni Henthorn fall...or was she pushed by her husband, Harold?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WILD CRIME," GO TO 1:01:52

In Crime of the Week: seeing Red (number 3).

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Murdaugh Murders and The Way Down Oct 18, 2021

Gwen Shamblin earned fame and fortune with a diet program heavy on religious devotion. The HBO Max series "The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin" shows when her religious dogma veered away from mainstream Christianity, her church took on the trappings of a cult.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE WAY DOWN" GO TO 34:30

They were a powerful name in South Carolina’s legal community. But after the double slaying of two family members, new scrutiny was paid to the Murdaughs’ past involvement in a series of deaths. "Murdaugh Murders" explores in real time the fast breaking story of homicide, obstruction, fraud, and influence in the Lowcountry.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "MURDAUGH MURDERS" GO TO 1:11:40

In Crime of the Week: tough day at The Office.

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Britney Vs Spears and Fault Line Oct 11, 2021

For years one of the world’s biggest pop stars was held captive to a conservatorship which controlled her money and her life. The Netflix documentary “Britney Vs Spears” reveals the undisclosed legal documents which trace how the singer’s father and a gaggle of lawyers leveraged the system to restrict her agency and make themselves rich.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BRITNEY VS SPEARS" GO TO 29:00

In October 2019, two men in a car ran over antifa protestor Sean Kealiher in Portland before fleeing. The podcast “Fault Line: Dying for a Fight” asks whether police won't solve the case because of the victim's left-wing, anti-law enforcement views.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "FAULT LINE" GO TO 1:07:00

In crime of the week: captivating review.

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Witnessed: Borderlands & The Women and the Murderer Oct 04, 2021

In the new podcast series “Witnessed: Borderlands” from Campside Media, host Rob D’Amico recalls the story of a drug runner and a crooked lawman who moved pot and cocaine through West Texas and how their alliance culminated in a botched billion dollar coke deal.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "WITNESSED: BORDERLANDS" GO TO 20:50

The Netflix French import “The Women and the Murderer” recalls the manhunt for a serial killer who terrorized Paris. It's told from the point of view of the female detectives, reporters, and lawyers involved in the case.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE WOMEN AND THE MURDERER" GO TO 54:30

In crime of the week: take the money and run.

Stitcher's True Crime Week

Crime Writers On is featured on Stitcher's second annual True Crime Week. You can listen to our show and all the other True Crime Week podcasts on the Stitcher app or at stitcher.com/discover.

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Suspect and John of God Sep 27, 2021

For years, the Brazilian faithful sought out psychic healer John of God, but the religious leader told young women their miracles were to be performed through other techniques. The Netflix import “John of God: The Crimes of a Spiritual Healer,” explores the case of a man who used his position to assault hundreds of women.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "JOHN OF GOD" GO TO 22:30

A murder in an apartment building left cops with two viable suspects, but not enough evidence for an arrest. Did they put too much faith in a questionable interpretation of the DNA? “Suspect” from Campside Media and Wondery slowly pulls back the layers of a case with dubious assumptions, racial bias, and junk science which likely put the wrong man behind bars.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "SUSPECT" GO TO 1:00:00

In crime of the week: naked grapes.

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Firebug and Laëtitia Sep 20, 2021

Southern California officials were dealing with a string of seemingly unrelated arsons. Then a manuscript turned up with a fictional account of the fire setter. Is the book a veiled confession by the author whose identity stuns investigators? The podcast "Firebug" explores that question.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "FIREBUG" GO TO 26:00

When a teenager's scooter is found abandoned in the road, police begin a desperate search. The six-part French language series “Laëtitia,” now on HBO, focuses on her troubled past, the effect on her twin sister, the hunt for evidence, and the leaders who used the crime for their own political ends.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "LAËTITIA" GO TO 56:00

In crime of the week: take a bite out of crime.

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9/12 and LuLaRich Sep 13, 2021

The memories of what happened on September 11th are burned clearly into our minds, but what happened afterward is often fuzzy. In "9/12," from Pineapple Street Studios, Wondery, and Amazon Music, host Dan Taberski goes beyond the usual retrospectives, and looks at how 9/11 stopped being a day and became an idea.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "9/12" GO TO 35:00

While leggings company LuLaRoe earned billions, the money came not from consumers - but from the tens of thousands of sales women purchasing substandard inventory too flimsy to sell. The Amazon Prime documentary “LuLaRich” dives into what officials have called a huge pyramid scheme.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "LULARICH" GO TO [+4].1:08:00

In crime of the week: no mate, proper whack.

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Only Murders in the Building and The Yellow Car Sep 06, 2021

In 1989, daycare provider Effie Entezari was shot in the parking lot of her Vancouver, Washington apartment complex. KGW and VAULT Studio's "The Yellow Car" follows Pooneh Gray's quest to clear her father’s name, questioning the ballistics, and struggling to test DNA from an alternative suspect.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE YELLOW CAR" GO TO 26:19

When a resident in their expensive New York apartment dies under suspicious circumstances, a former TV cop, a washed-up Broadway producer, and a mysterious young woman start their own true crime podcast. Hulu's "Only Murders in the Building," starring Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, is a comic send-up of true crime troupes, an old-fashioned whodunnit, and a character study about regret.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING" GO TO 59:40

In Crime of the Week: we all scream...

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Mommy Dead and Dearest Aug 30, 2021

For the final CWO Classic rewind of the summer, we look back at the panel's May 2017 review of the HBO documentary about the case of Dee Dee and Gypsy Rose Blanchard, "Mommy Dead and Dearest."

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The White Lotus and Pray Away Aug 23, 2021

With Toby away on vacation, the crime writers welcome actress and podcaster Janet Varney to the panel.

The Netflix documentary “Pray Away” looks back at the early-adopters of conversion therapy and the advocates who believed in its efficacy...until they didn’t. The film also follows an evangelical who renounced his trans identity and is organizing a political movement for those who identify as “ex-gay.”

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "PRAY AWAY" GO TO 35:00

Who was killed during their stay at this luxurious Hawaiian resort? Beneath the comedy in the HBO series “The White Lotus” there is a simmering tension and a commentary on the tedium of wealth, the indifference of privilege, and the specter of death.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE WHITE LOTUS" GO TO 1:13:00

In Crime of the Week: deal of a lifetime.

TO PRE-ORDER AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF LARA'S NEW BOOK, DEAD ON DEADLINE, CLICK HERE.

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Accused Aug 16, 2021

With the crime writers taking some more summer R&R, enjoy this classic rewind.

Every once in a while, other podcast comes along and seems like the heir to "Serial." Few live up to the anticipation. Is it possible that the Cincinnati Enquirer's "Accused" podcast has replicated the secret sauce: a truly compelling murder mystery and the transparent, obsessive reporting which goes into the story? It sure is.

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Peacock's Dr. Death and No Place Like Home Aug 09, 2021

In Oz, everyone wanted to get their hands on the ruby slippers. In Grand Rapids, someone did! The C13 Originals podcast “No Place Like Home” looks at the 2005 movie memorabilia heist and the hunt for the thieves.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "NO PLACE LIKE HOME" GO TO MINUTE 27:15

A pair of Dallas surgeons are alarmed by their new colleague. Dr. Christopher Duntsch leaves a trail of maimed, paralyzed, and dead patients - while hospital administrators look the other way. The Peacock Originals’ adaptation of “Dr. Death” is the medical-procedural soap-opera buddy-movie think-piece courtroom-drama of the summer.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "DR. DEATH" GO TO MINUTE 1:06:20

In Crime of the Week: pissed off.

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Dr. Death ☠ Aug 02, 2021

With the crime writers taking another week off, enjoy this rewind of a classic podcast review.

From September 2018, the panel digs into the hit "Dr. Death" from Wondery. Billed as the successor to "Dirty John," reporter Laura Beil recalls the case of a doctor who performed a string of botched surgeries while the system was unable - or unwilling - to stop him.

TO JUMP TO OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF DR. DEATH, FAST-FORWARD TO THE 25th MINUTE.

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Heist & Chameleon: High Rollers Jul 26, 2021

In season two of Campside Media’s “Chameleon: High Rollers,” host Trevor Aaronson takes listeners inside the FBI’s ill-fated Operation Botox. The podcast promises a tale of love triangles, gun runners, exotic dancers, wrongful prosecutions, and a pair of agents having too much fun undercover in Sin City.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "CHAMELEON: HIGH ROLLERS" GO TO MINUTE 32.

The Netflix series “Heist” looks at three colorful crimes perpetrated by somewhat ordinary people. Employing stylized re-creations and interviews with the amateur perpetrators, it explores the thrill, the dangers, and the fun behind each caper.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "HEIST" GO TO MINUTE 72.

In Crime of the Week: hell on wheels.

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Missing and Murdered: Finding Cleo Jul 19, 2021

As the team moves to its biweekly summer schedule, enjoy this rewind of a classic CWO review.

In season two of CBC’s Missing and Murdered: Finding Cleo, Connie Walker searches for a Cree girl who vanished after being adopted into an American family. Will she skillfully tie the tale to the heartbreaking story of Canada's "Sixties Scoop"? What did the crime writers think of it?

TO SKIP TO OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF FINDING CLEO, JUMP TO THE 34th MINUTE.

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Murder in Illinois and Murder By the Coast Jul 12, 2021

Christopher Vaughn was convicted for the 2007 killings of his wife and children in the family minivan. The iHeart podcast "Murder in Illinois" looks into whether someone else was responsible and an innocent man is in prison.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "MURDER IN ILLINOIS" GO TO MINUTE 29:00

The killing of a teen in a Spanish seaside village and the prosecution of a family friend for the slaying gripped the country. Netflix's "Murder By the Coast" describes how a subsequent crime would rock two nations.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "MURDER BY THE COAST" GO TO MINUTE 58:00

In crime of the week: dog fight.

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Un(re)solved and Sophie: A Murder in West Cork Jul 05, 2021

It took an act of Congress to compel the FBI to reinvestigate more than 100 civil rights-era murders. From FRONTLINE PBS comes the podcast “Un(re)solved,” a look at the attempt to close open cases of racially-motivated killings from five decades ago.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "UN(RE)SOLVED" GO TO MINUTE 28:00

In 1996, a French tourist was murdered outside her Irish vacation home. Suspicion in the death of Sophie Toscan du Plantier turned to a man already publicly involved in the investigation. Netflix’s three-part series “Sophie: A Murder in West Cork” revisits Ireland’s most infamous homicide.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "WEST CORK" GO TO MINUTE 1:05:00

In crime of the week: nacho average customer.

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Alligator Candy and Day X Jun 28, 2021

When journalist David Kushner was four-years-old, his older brother biked off to buy him his favorite gum. In "Alligator Candy" from UCP Audio, Kushner struggles to come to terms with the loss and the thought that his request led to tragedy.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "ALLIGATOR CANDY" GO TO MINUTE 28:15

The discovery of a handgun at an airport led authorities to a German soldier posing as a Syrian refugee and the possibility right-wing extremists had infiltrated the nation’s military. The New York Times podcast “Day X” looks at the rise of German extremists, the political figures they were targeting, and their crimes hidden in plain sight.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "DAY X" GO TO MINUTE 1:04:00

In Crime of the Week: Do not pass Go.

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Do You Know Mordechai? And Lupin (season 2) Jun 21, 2021

A stranger knocks on a woman's door and asks if she knows her ex-boyfriend, whom she learns was not who he said he was. In “Do You Know Mordechai” from UCP Audio and Antica Productions, host Kathleen Goldhar works on behalf of the bamboozled and brokenhearted to find a romantic con artist.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "DO YOU KNOW MORDECHAI" GO TO MINUTE 27:00

France’s favorite gentleman burglar is back in season two of Netflix's “Lupin.” Assane Diop employs disguises, high tech trickery, and pure brawn to get his revenge on the man who framed his father.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "LUPIN" GO TO 56:00

In Crime of the Week: how the cookie crumbles.

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The Vaping Fix and The Trials of Frank Carson Jun 14, 2021

Defense attorney Frank Carson was a rough courtroom brawler, unafraid to accuse police and prosecutors of corruption to win cases. But the disappearance of a small-time thief led investigators to focus on Carson. Was the criminal attorney as violent as his clients...or was it a vendetta by cops and lawyers to bring down their pugnacious foe?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE TRIALS OF FRANK CARSON" GO TO 30:00MINUTE.

Two Stanford students proposed a safer way to give smokers their hit of nicotine without the harmful carcinogens of cigarettes: a product that would eventually be called “Juul.” But a series of design flaws, marketing missteps, and a failure to anticipate unintended consequences only made the problem worse.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE VAPING FIX" GO TO 1:07:00

In crime of the week: and I've been working like a dog.

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Searching for Sheela and The Woman in the Window Jun 07, 2021

After her reclaimed fame in "Wild Wild Country," former cult leader Ma Anand Sheela went on a book tour of India. Netflix's follow-up "Searching for Sheela" shows her greeted by fans and reporters, projecting an image of a woman both enlightened by her experience and unrepentant of her past.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "SEARCHING FOR SHEELA" GO TO THE 27:00 MINUTE MARK.

An agoraphobic woman witnesses a crime across the street, but investigators believe the attack was a product of her medicated imagination. Amy Adams and Gary Oldman star in the thriller "The Woman in the Window."

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW" GO TO THE 1:02:00 MINUTE.

In Crime of the Week: moooving violation.

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Exit Scam and Nail Bomber: Manhunt May 31, 2021

The sudden death of Gerald Cotten left Bitcoin owners in the lurch, because no one else had the password that controlled the hundreds of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency. In the “Exit Scam,” host Aaron Lammer asks did this missing Crypto-King take a fortune to his grave...or take it on the run?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "EXIT SCAM" GO TO 35:30

A series of 1999 bombings rocked London’s Black and gay neighborhoods. Can a regular chap-turned-spy find the neo-Nazi behind the attacks? We’ll talk about Netflix’s “Nail Bomber: Manhunt.”

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "NAIL BOMBER: MANHUNT" GO TO 1:08:00

In crime of the week: I want my mullet back.

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Philly D.A. and The Lazarus Heist May 24, 2021

A North Korean cyber group made headlines when it hacked Sony Pictures, then stole a billion dollars from a Bangkok bank. The BBC World Service podcast “The Lazarus Heist” explains how the communist regime unleashed a gang of cybercriminals on the world. Are they in it for the thrill, for the politics, or for the money?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE LAZARUS HEIST" GO TO 30:00

In 2017, Larry Krasner was swept into the Philadelphia DA’s Office on a platform of systemic criminal justice reform. The PBS series "Philly D.A." provides an inside look at a man struggling to fix the system from the inside and those resistant to that change.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "PHILLY D.A." GO TO 1:11:00

In Crime of the Week: what's the buzz?

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Mare of Easttown and Camp Hell: Anneewakee May 17, 2021

It was founded on a curriculum of hard work, discipline, and emotional counseling for out-of-control adolescents. The iHeartRadio podcast “Camp Hell: Anneewakee” explores the sordid history of the Anneewakee Treatment Center, sold to parents as a solution for their children's problems, but was actually a breeding ground for sexual abuse.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "CAMP HELL: ANNEEWAKEE" GO TO 34:51

When a young mother is murdered, a small town detective's investigation threatens to upend her tiny community - and destroy her career and personal life. Starring Kate Winslet, HBO’s “Mare of Easttown” explores the dark side of a close community and examines how family and past tragedies can define our present.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "MARE OF EASTTOWN" GO TO 1:06:09

In Crime of the Week: 2 - 1 = 0.

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In God We Lust and Pray Obey Kill May 10, 2021

Wondery’s new series, “In God We Lust,” looks at the origins of the Jerry Falwell Jr pool boy scandal. It’s a tale of a famous Evangelical couple who preached against the sins of the flesh while all along indulging in them.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "IN GOD WE LUST" GO TO 29:20

A Swedish woman says she murdered her lover's wife after getting divine text messages. HBO's "Pray Obey Kill" looks at this religion/sex/murder case as a pair of journalists search for new evidence in the crime.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "PRAY OBEY KILL" GO TO 1:01

In Crime of the Week: hard knocks.

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Sasquatch and John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise May 03, 2021

A journalist investigates a 1993 murder in California’s marijuana country. Did it actually happen...and was Bigfoot the killer? We’ll talk about the Hulu true crime series “Sasquatch.”

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "SASQUATCH" GO TO 21:00

He murdered nearly three dozen teens and buried most in the crawlspace beneath his house. In “John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise” from Peacock, we hear from the killer himself, as well as those who think there's still more to the story.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "JOHN WAYNE GACY: DEVIL IN DISGUISE" GO TO 55:30

In Crime of the Week: turtle waxed!

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The Line and The Improvement Association Apr 26, 2021

His follow SEALS said while in Mosul, Eddie Gallagher stabbed to death a wounded, teenage ISIS prisoner, then posed with his corpse. In "The Line" host Dan Taberski brings his unique voice to a controversial tale of how the lines between duty and dishonor are blurred in Iraq’s Forever War.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE LINE" GO TO 31:35

“The Improvement Association,” from Serial Productions and The New York Times, looks into the effects of voter fraud allegations on a small community...even when there is none. Host Zoe Chace shows it doesn’t take lies about nationwide misconduct to destabilize the institution - that simple mistrust of a neighbor can do the same thing.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION" GO TO 1:06:30

In Crime of the Week: I do, I do, I do, I do.

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This Is A Robbery and West Cork Apr 19, 2021

In March 1990, two men dressed as Boston police officers entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, bound the guards, and made off with millions in fine art. Netflix’s “This Is A Robbery” takes an in-depth look at how the heist went down, the many colorful characters who could have pulled it off, and the likelihood these masterpieces will ever be recovered.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THIS IS A ROBBERY" GO TO 28:25

A woman is murdered in the west of Ireland and a local man flaunts his role as the lead suspect. Audible has finally released its 2018 true crime classic "West Cork" from behind the paywall, making it available on major podcast platforms for the first time.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WEST CORK" GO TO 1:02:00

In Crime of the Week: rabbit's afoot.

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The Serpent and MANslaughter Apr 12, 2021

A charming jeweler and party host traveled through Southeast Asia in the 1970s trading gems and killing tourists. Can a lone Dutch diplomat capture him? We’ll talk about the docudrama “The Serpent” from Netflix and BBC One.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE SERPENT" GO TO 29:30

In 1970, a Wisconsin lawman was shot to death in his bedroom. In Wondery's "MANslaughter," his niece explores whether the confessed shooter really pulled the trigger and whether there were other victims.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "MANslaughter" GO TO 1:05:30

In Crime of the Week: love canal.

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The Apology Line and The Followers Apr 05, 2021

In 1980, Allan Bridge created a phone line for New Yorkers to leave messages to friends or strangers apologizing for the wrongs they’ve done. Wondery's "The Apology Line" looks at the confessional forum for both the contrite and the criminal - and its effects on its creator.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE APOLOGY LINE" GO TO 29:00

A Florida woman contacts a cold case detective with information about the cult-like church she grew up in. “The Followers: House of Prayer” from UCP Audio tells the story of "Mother Anna" Young accused of abuse, neglect, and death nearly four decades ago.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE FOLLOWERS: HOUSE OF PRAYER" GO TO 1:01:00

In crime of the week: his goose is cooked.

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Lost Hills and Operation Varsity Blues Mar 29, 2021

Authorities in Malibu arrest a drifter for a campsite murder and a spree of sniper shootings, but right away questions emerge whether the evidence actually points to Anthony Rauda. The podcast "Lost Hills" offers investigators, families, as well as some of Malibu’s colorful locals in an attempt to pull back the curtain on the embattled L.A. County Sheriff’s Department and the city’s sunshine façade.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "LOST CITY" GO TO 38:00

Wealthy parents whose kids could not get into the elite school of their choice turned to Rick Singer. For the right price, he could get them admitted as fake collegiate athletes to low-profile sports programs at high-prestige universities. Netflix's “Operation Varsity Blues” is part-true crime documentary/part-dramatic re-creation, shining a light on the college admissions scandal.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "OPERATION VARSITY BLUES" GO TO 1:10:00.

In Crime of the Week: crap trap.

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Murder Among the Mormons and Suave Mar 22, 2021

In Netflix's "Murder Among the Mormons," a pair of deadly bombs in Salt Lake City appear connected to unearthed historical documents that could rock the Mormon church and make collectors rich...but only if they're authentic.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "MURDER AMONG THE MORMONS" GO TO 28:10.

An NPR reporter finds a source in a prisoner serving a life sentence. Their 20+ year relationship changes when he's unexpectedly released. In "Suave" from Futuro Media, the ex-con must navigate the challenges of being on parole while the journalist must confront her own objectivity when her subject becomes her close friend.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SUAVE" GO TO 1:03:00

In Crime of the Week: fishy alias.

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Allen v. Farrow and Evil by Design Mar 15, 2021

Wealthy Canadian fashion designer Peter Nygard threw lavish parties in the Bahamas that were just a pretext to lure and rape women. The CBC spent years trying to land the story of his decades of sexual assaults and intimidation in four countries. The podcast "Evil by Design" tells the stories of victims, advocates, and journalists in the Nygard case.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "EVIL BY DESIGN" GO TO 37:30

Despite Mia Farrow's claims Woody Allen molested their adopted daughter, the filmmaker spun a narrative about false accusations that preserved his career. HBO's "Allen v. Farrow" provides in-depth interviews, court documents, and other uncovered evidence to refute that narrative and generate a re-examination of this celebrity scandal.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "ALLEN V FARROW" GO TO 1:19:00

In Crime of the Week: hard feelings.

Note: we'll be discussing two stories about sexual abuse, but we will not be describing the assaults.

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Stolen: The Search for Jermain and Through the Cracks Mar 08, 2021

Jermain Charlo left a Missoula, Montana bar, walked down an alleyway, and vanished. In Gimlet’s new podcast “Stolen: The Search for Jermain,” host Connie Walker continues her work documenting crimes against Indigenous women.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "STOLEN: THE SEARCH FOR JERMAIN" GO TO 29:00

Eight-year-old Relisha Rudd had been missing from a Washington DC family shelter more than two weeks before anyone noticed. Police would find the shelter’s janitor and his wife dead, but never located child. In WAMU’s “Through the Cracks,” host Jonquilyn Hill explores how the system let the family down every step of the way.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THROUGH THE CRACKS" GO TO 1:03:00

In Crime of the Week: caught orange handed.

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Mommy Doomsday and The Investigation Mar 01, 2021

00In Dateline NBC’s newest podcast “Mommy Doomsday,” Keith Morrison picks up where he left off with “The Thing About Pam,” applying his unique reporting style to a true crime mystery. Where are Lori Vallow’s missing children? Why have so many people around her suddenly died? And does her religious cult focused on the apocalypse have anything to do with it?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "MOMMY DOOMSDAY" GO TO 27:00

In 2017, a Swedish journalist was last scene departing with a man in his homemade submarine. When the sub is scuttled and the man says he buried her at sea after an accident, police take on the impossible task of scouring the ocean to disprove the alibi. The six-part Danish-language series “The Investigation,” now on HBO, is a dramatic take on one of Scandinavia’s most bizarre crimes.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE INVESTIGATION" GO TO 56:00

In Crime of the Week: free flow of commerce.

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Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel and the finale of I'm Not a Monster Feb 22, 2021

When we left off with “I’m Not a Monster” from BBC Panorama and PBS Frontline, Samantha Elhassani was wanted by the FBI. In the final episodes, Josh Baker returns to Syria to fact-check her claims she was an ISIS prisoner, not an ISIS soldier.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF THE FINALE OF "I'M NOT A MONSTER" GO TO 37:30.

When a Canadian tourist disappeared from her downtown LA hotel, video of her on an elevator seem to show her hiding from someone. It was a critical clue for police and a source of wild speculation among online crime fans. Netflix's "Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel" explores the dark history of this Skid Row tourist trap.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "CRIME SCENE: THE VANISHING AT THE CECIL HOTEL," GO TO 1:11:30

In Crime of the Week: ☹.

A portion of this episode was recorded as part of a podcast-a-thon fundraiser for The Charley Project. Click here to donate to the cause.

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Welcome to Your Fantasy & The Lady and The Dale Feb 15, 2021

They were the famous male exotic dancers that made the ladies scream. But behind the scenes the story of Chippendales is filled with drugs, backstabbing, and even murder. We'll preview the new podcast "Welcome to Your Fantasy."

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WELCOME TO YOUR FANTASY" GO TO 34:40

In 1974 a new three-wheeled car promised to change the automotive industry. But both the car - and the high-profile businesswoman running the company - were not what they seemed. We’ll review the HBO documentary “The Lady and The Dale.”

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE LADY AND THE DALE" GO TO 1:08:00

In Crime of the Week: no bones about it.

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Norco 80 and The Little Things Feb 08, 2021

In 1980, California cops found themselves outgunned at a deadly bank robbery firefight. “Norco 80” from LAist Studios revisits the heist and chase which set law enforcement down the path to the modern militarized police force.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "NORCO 80" GO TO 30:00

In the new film "The Little Things," Deputy Sheriff John Deacon returns to his old homicide squad during a string of high-profile killings. Is their case related to the unsolved murders which derailed his career and marriage? That’s when a peculiar repairman with an unusual fascination with local crime captures their attention.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE LITTLE THINGS" GO TO 1:03:00

In crime of the week: dolled up.

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Chicano Squad and Netflix's Crack Feb 01, 2021

Rebecca returns to the host's chair in time to talk about “Chicano Squad” from Frequency Machine and the Vox Media Podcast Network. To deal with a crime spree in a Latino community that no longer trusts them, Houston police create a special unit of Spanish-speaking officers to solve its toughest cases.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "CHICANO SQUAD" GO TO 34:00

Then, the Netflix documentary “Crack: Cocaine, Corruption, and Conspiracy” shows the falling dominos from a burgeoning drug economy and its unchecked violence, to the societal backlash and a political movement whose legislation disproportionately affected communities of color.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "CRACK" GO TO 1:02:00

In crime of the week: half a roof is better than none.

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Night Stalker and Lupin Jan 25, 2021

After Rebecca calls in sick at the last minute, Kevin is pressed into hosting duties. He, Lara, and Toby talk about Netflix's new documentary, "Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer." The series largely removes the killer from the frame, focusing instead on the crimes and those affected by the case.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "NIGHT STALKER" GO TO 28:00

A lowly janitor at the Louvre concocts a plan to steal Marie Antoinette’s necklace, but this janitor is more than he seems. In Netflix’s surprise French-language hit “Lupin” we follow a gentleman thief, seeking revenge, who styles himself after a famous book character.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "LUPIN" GO TO 56:00

In crime of the week: here's Johnny!

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Heaven's Gate and Room 2806 Jan 18, 2021

The HBO Max documentary “Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults” traces the group’s founding in the 1970s through the Internet age to explain the origins of the largest mass suicide in US history. The four-part series takes a serious look at a religious group dismissed as space cadets.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "HEAVEN'S GATE: CULT OF CULTS" GO TO 30:00

When New York City police arrested Dominique Straus-Kahn for raping her in his hotel room, the story shook two continents. The Netflix series “Room 2806: The Accusation” looks at what happens when one of the world’s most powerful men must defend himself from a working-class woman of color.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "ROOM 2806: THE ACCUSATION" GO TO 58:00

In crime of the week: walk the walk.

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I'm Not a Monster and Baby God Jan 11, 2021

A foreign correspondent is pulled into the story of a Westerner whose account of joining ISIS is suspect. No, it’s not "Caliphate" - we’ll discuss “I'm Not a Monster” from BBC Panorama and Frontline PBS.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "I'M NOT A MONSTER" GO TO 37:00

Their father was a fertility doctor who used his own sperm for insemination. “Baby God” from HBO Documentaries follows some of his offspring as they come to terms with the truth of their conception and contemplate who they really are.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "BABY GOD" GO TO 1:06:00

In crime of the week: track meat.

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The Ripper & Bed of Lies Jan 04, 2021

In this episode, Kevin begins with a thank you to the listeners. THANK YOU. We love you a lot.

In 1975, West Yorkshire police discovered the body of a woman who’d been brutally murdered, the first in a series of killings that rocked Northern England. The British press could not resist the similarities between this criminal and London’s most famous killer. Netflix’s “The Ripper” explores the killing spree of Peter Sutcliff, dubbed “The Yorkshire Ripper.”

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE RIPPER" GO TO 33:00

Several female advocates for left-wing British causes find love among the men who’ve come to protest beside them. At the same time their relationships deepen, their groups’ political actions are increasingly foiled. “Bed of Lies” explores how far the government will go to keep tabs on political protesters.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "BED OF LIES" GO TO 1:04:00

In Crime of the Week: bird dog.

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Making a Murderer Dec 28, 2020

While the team enjoys the holiday vacation, here's a classic rewind of their original discussion from January 2016 of "Making a Murderer."

Lara loses her mind over the ethics of Dassey's defense, Toby is skeptical but sympathetic, Rebecca goes out on a limb, and Kevin gives his wife a terrible anniversary card. Plus, the Crime of the Week!

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Forgotten: Women of Juárez and Alabama Snake Dec 21, 2020

A string of femicides in a Mexican border town dating back to the 1990s has claimed the lives of hundreds of women. Were the women snatched by a serial killer...or by a network of people who knew they could get away with it? We review the podcast, “Forgotten: Women of Juárez.”

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "FORGOTTEN: WOMEN OF JUÁREZ," GO TO 32:00

In 1991, a woman claimed her jealous husband tried to kill her with the rattlesnakes he used in his Pentecostal church services. In the HBO Max documentary “Alabama Snake,” we see Glenn Summerford’s hard-knock, hard-drinking life leading up to him fashioning the serpents as weapons.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "ALABAMA SNAKE," GO TO 1:07:00

In Crime of the Week: license to ill.

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The Nobody Zone, The Flight Attendant, & Murder on Middle Beach's Finale Dec 14, 2020

With such a fantastic finale, the crime writers dig into episode four of "Murder on Middle Beach." Taken as a whole, this documentary exceeded expectations...by a lot!

After being arrested in 1983 for a petty theft in London, a homeless Irishman killed his cellmate for snoring too much. When grilled by detectives, Kieran Patrick Kelly unexpectedly confessed to a series of unsolved murders. The RTÉ podcast "The Nobody Zone" separates fact from fiction.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE NOBODY ZONE," GO TO 35:30

In "The Flight Attendant," hard partying Cassie Bowden wakes up next to a dead body and no memory of what happened. Can this hot-mess-turned-sleuth solve the case, elude the Feds, take down a mysterious cabal, and get her life under control?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT," GO TO 1:01:00

In Crime of the Week: golden ticket?

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Murder on Middle Beach and The Undoing Dec 07, 2020

In 2010, Barbara Beach Hamburg was bludgeoned to death outside her Connecticut home. In HBO’s four-part “Murder on Middle Beach,” Madison Hamburg offers an intimate look at his mother's killing, his troubled family, and his own painful search for answers.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "MURDER ON MIDDLE BEACH," GO TO 36:00

Grace Fraser’s life is upended when the mother of a student at her son’s Manhattan private school is brutally murdered. Is it possible the man she married is a cold-blooded killer? We'll review HBO's six-part thriller, "The Undoing."

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE UNDOING," GO TO 1:07:00

In crime of the week: get the f*** out of here.

PLUS...Lara reveals a new podcast episode with a special cat-famous celebrity. Kevin explains how listeners can get a personal phone call from one of the crime writers.

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The Jinx & The Staircase Nov 30, 2020

Though we took last week off for Thanksgiving, we didn't feel right about not putting anything in the feed this week. So we're offering up this classic rewind of our 2015 discussion of "The Jinx" and "The Staircase."

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Trial 4 and The Queen's Gambit Nov 23, 2020

As Lara gets closer to her pet detective graduation, the panel's got some great things from Netflix to talk about.

Sean Ellis won a new trial decades after being convicted of murdering a Boston policeman. What he didn’t know then was Detective John Mulligan was a dirty cop and his partners steered the investigation away from their own illegal activity. In “Trial 4,” Ellis prepares to go back to court and prove he was railroaded to close a case that would expose police corruption.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "TRIAL 4," GO TO 39:00

In "The Queen's Gambit," an orphan learns chess from the custodian and quickly climbs the ranks in a sport dominated by men. Beth Harmon focuses on beating the Cold War Soviet grandmasters, but the cocktail of pills and alcohol that fuel her strategic vision threaten to take over her life.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT," GO TO 1:12:00

In crime of the week: lakeside getaway.

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Dr. Death S2 and Crazy, Not Insane Nov 16, 2020

Doctor Farid Fata was Michigan’s go-to oncologist, but clinicians who got a closer look at the medicines he was administering became suspicious. Wondery's out with season two of the hit podcast "Dr. Death."

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "DR. DEATH" GO TO 22:00

Then, from famed documentarian Alex Gibney comes “Crazy Not Insane,” a look at Dr. Dorothy Otnow Lewis’s career and the controversy around violent offenders with dissociative identity disorders. Is it a breakthrough or junk science?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "CRAZY, NOT INSANE" GO TO 1:01

In Crime of the Week: Crap Full of Nuts.

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The Edge: Houston Astros & The Trial of the Chicago 7 Nov 09, 2020

WHAT A WEEK! Can you believe we had time to listen or watch anything?

It was considered a crime against the game. When the Houston Astros went from worst-to-first, the baseball world loved the story. Then it came out they’d been stealing the other team’s pitching signs. What does it all mean? We review the new podcast, "The Edge."

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE EDGE," GO TO 32:00

In 1969 the government charged some anti-war activists with inciting a riot outside the Democratic convention. Some of the so-called Chicago 7 sought to use the trial to make a statement about Vietnam, but only one appreciated their roles in the riots and the legal jeopardy they face. We discuss the movie "The Trial of the Chicago 7" from Netflix.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7," GO TO 1:03:00

In Crime of the Week: excuse note.

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Fiasco: Bush v. Gore and Netflix's Rebecca Nov 02, 2020

Guys! Lara is getting close to being a certified pet detective now that she's learned cat forensics.

Can't get enough of the election? Luminary has re-released for free “Fiasco: Bush v Gore.” Leon Neyfakh brings his signature style to butterfly ballots, hanging chads, and the Brooks Brothers Riot. Was the 2000 Florida recount a political anomaly or a blueprint for future electoral triumph?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "FIASCO" GO TO 39:00

A lady’s companion falls in love with rich widower Max de Winter. The new bride is whisked to his country estate, but the specter of her husband’s late wife covers all. We'll give our review of the Netflix remake of "Rebecca."

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "REBECCA" GO TO 1:05:00

In Crime of the Week: got a sinking feeling.

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Canary and The Murders at White House Farm Oct 26, 2020

The newspaper story of a woman who crusaded against her attacker's light sentence unveiled a secret about a different person in the courtroom. In “Canary” from the Washington Post, we follow a three-year effort to flesh out the long-ago accusation and its effect on those directly and indirectly involved.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "CANARY" GO TO 34:00

An English village was rocked in 1985 when a woman murdered her parents and twin sons before turning the gun on herself. Authorities are eager to close the case as a murder-suicide, but something about the findings inside the isolated farm house doesn’t sit right. We'll discuss "The Murders at White House Farm" from HBO Max and ITV.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE MURDERS AT WHITE HOUSE FARM" GO TO 1:00:00

In Crime of the Week: milk shake.

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Tom Brown's Body and Criminal:UK Oct 19, 2020

Stop, what's that sound? CWO reveals its new theme music (listen for the typewriter).

The 2016 disappearance of the senior class president divided a small Texas town. And when he turned up dead two years later it only added to the mystery. In the Texas Monthly podcast “Tom Brown’s Body” award winning journalist Skip Hollandsworth explores this unsolved case featuring a defensive sheriff, an offensive private eye, and a Panhandle town pointing fingers in every direction.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "TOM BROWN'S BODY" GO TO 35:00

Netflix’s “Criminal:UK” returns for a second season. Scotland Yard detectives conduct interrogations while their colleagues watch from a high-tech room on the other side of a two-way-mirror. This season's theme is misuse of the law, from investigators skirting a suspect’s rights, to a misguided vigilante, and an accusation made against a smarmy businessman played by Kit Harrington.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "CRIMINAL: UK" GO TO 57:30

In Crime of the Week: Big Bang!

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American Murder: The Family Next Door & Chameleon Oct 12, 2020

It was a scam that tricked film crew members to fly halfway around the world for a fake movie. But what was this con job really about? We’ll talk about the new podcast, "Chameleon: The Hollywood Con Queen."

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "CHAMELEON" GO TO 24:00

Netflix’s new documentary “American Murder: The Family Next Door” is told exclusively through texts, Facebook posts, police body cams and surveillance video. What results is an inside look at Shanann Watts family’s slow roll to tragedy that is compelling, voyeuristic, and indisputably unique.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "AMERICAN MURDER" GO TO 56:00

In Crime of the Week: shark bit.

VIEW THIS PODCAST EPISODE ON FACEBOOK WATCH!

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Two Minutes Past Nine & Motive Season 3 Oct 05, 2020

It's the feel bad episode of the season!

First, the Oklahoma City bombing opened America’s eyes to anti-government groups. In “Two Minutes Past Nine” from BBC Sounds, host Leah Sottile ("Bundyville") provides a primer on American extremism and draws a straight line between Timothy McVeigh and today's extremists.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "TWO MINUTES PAST NINE," GO TO 26:00

Then, in season 3 of “Motive” from WBEZ, host Odette Yousef explores how the White Supremacist movement recruited a new generation of followers by co-opting the style of the punk rock subculture known as “skinheads.”

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "MOTIVE," GO TO 1:01

In Crime of the Week: sugar loaf.

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Who Killed CJ Davis? and Bunga Bunga Sep 28, 2020

He was a troubled teen who fell into a gang before being gunned down in an East London park. Was CJ the actual target? Are his killers taunting his family in rap videos? We’ll review “Who Killed CJ Davis?”

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "WHO KILLED CJ DAVIS?" GO TO 33:00

It's the story of a womanizing real estate developer whose unconventional political movement propelled him to the highest elected office - in Italy! We’ll talk about Wondery’s Silvio Berlusconi podcast, “Bunga Bunga.”

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "BUNGA BUNGA" GO TO 56:00

In Crime of the Week: pass(word) interference.

VIEW THIS PODCAST EPISODE ON FACEBOOK WATCH!

Business time music is The Look by Nangdo.

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Fake Priest and Class Action Park Sep 21, 2020

His parishioners didn't learn Father Ryan Scott wasn't a priest until he'd already made off with their money. The crime writers share their thoughts on "Smoke Screen: Fake Priest."

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "SMOKE SCREEN: FAKE PRIEST," GO TO MINUTE 24:00

Then HBO Max's "Class Action Park" plays for laughs with its look back at a NJ water park with rides so ridiculously hazardous that no insurance company would cover it. Then things take a hard turn when we hear from the family one of the many guests who died there.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "CLASS ACTION PARK," GO TO MINUTE 54:30

In Crime of the Week: kids these days!

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The Vow & Unfinished: Deep South Sep 14, 2020

Lara announces she's combining her love of cats and investigative skills into a new career. Who knew you could?

Was the 1954 lynching of prominent Black businessman Isadore Banks solely an act of racism, or was there also a financial motive? We're discussing "Unfinished: Deep South” from Witness Docs.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "UNFINISHED" GO TO MINUTE 29:00

Then the panel gets a real-time inside look at the multilevel marketing/sex cult NXIVM with the people who were there. We’re talking about the HBO documentary: "The Vow."

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE VOW" GOT TO MINUTE 1:03:00

In Crime of the Week: divine intervention.

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BONUS: One on One with Madeleine Baran from "In The Dark" Sep 09, 2020

In this bonus episode of Crime Writers On, here is Rebecca's exclusive interview with Madeleine Baran, host of "In The Dark," with her reactions to news the state has dropped charges against Curtis Flowers.

Additional resources:

APM Reports: It's Over: Charges against Curtis Flowers are dropped
New York Times: After 6 Murder Trials and Nearly 24 Years, Charges Dropped Against Curtis Flowers
Motion to Dismiss
SCOTUS decision
Transcript of SCOTUS oral arguments

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The Sneak and Morally Indefensible Sep 07, 2020

Kevin kicks off the discussion with some excellent medical news.

In season two of "The Sneak: The Murders at Whiskey Creek," Jack Murphy was a champion surfer who captured headlines in 1964 as a cool jewel thief for stealing the world’s largest sapphire from a New York museum. But was the charming thief known as "Murph the Surf" more violent than his legacy portrays?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE SNEAK," GO TO 33:00

The relationship between a murderer and a journalist resulted in Fatal Vision, one of the most famous true crime books. But to what lengths was the author willing to go to get the story? We’ll review “Morally Indefensible.”

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "MORALLY INDEFENSIBLE," GO TO 1:04:00

In Crime of the Week: stuffed up nose.

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Relative Unknown and Fear City Aug 31, 2020

With Kevin taking a sick day, the rest of the panel gets to hear about Lara's new profession: pet detective. Plus, Toby's killer cat Little Foot is at it again.

In the podcast “Relative Unknown," host Jackee Taylor learns the man at the center of a double murder/homicide was actually her father, a former Hells Angel who took his family into Witness Protection and later disappeared from her life.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "RELATIVE UNKNOWN" GO TO MINUTE 23:00

In the 70s and 80s, the FBI was unable to make headway against the New York City mafia, until they used a new law to target the entire organization. Netflix's "Fear City" recounts the investigation that required bugging the city’s biggest mobsters and the case that took down the Five Families.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "FEAR CITY" GO TO MINUTE 46:00

In Crime of the Week: elephant strain.

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Nice White Parents and The Orange Tree Aug 17, 2020

Leading off...“The Orange Tree” revisits a crime which resonates with college students in Austin years later. What makes "The Orange Tree" different is the seven-part series is not the work of a major publishing house. It’s written and produced by students at the University of Texas.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE ORANGE TREE," GO TO 35:00

Then, from Serial Productions comes “Nice White Parents.” Host Chana Joffe-Walt looks at one Brooklyn majority-minority school where a new batch of white parents believe they are increasing opportunities for all, but are actually committing a kind of educational gentrification.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "NICE WHITE PARENTS," GO TO 1:07:00

In crime of the week: ham on the run.

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Guru and 30 for 30's Heavy Medals Aug 03, 2020

They thought they were on a vision quest retreat with a leading self-help teacher. In the end, three were killed in a make-shift sweat lodge. We learn what happened in Wondery’s new hit, “Guru.”

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "GURU" GO TO 34:00

The new 30 for 30 podcast “Heavy Medals” looks at the story of Bela and Martha Karolyi, who made champions through motivation, manipulation, and masochism. The famed coaches elevated American women’s gymnastics, then created the situation which has nearly destroyed it.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "HEAVY MEDALS" GO TO 1:06

In crime of the week: beware of the dark side.

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Perry Mason and Motive For Murder Jul 20, 2020

HBO is out with a reboot of “Perry Mason.” But this time, Mason is not a 1950s defense attorney. Instead, he’s a 1930s private eye, working for a lawyer and investigating the case of a kidnapping-gone-wrong. Will Mason find the answers in Hollywood’s underbelly...and will he get the case-clearing confession the character is known for?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "PERRY MASON" GO TO THE 29th MINUTE.

In 2012, Gelareh Bagherzadeh was shot in her car outside her home. Police were stumped not only as to who the killer was, but why someone would want the graduate student and political activist dead. Dateline and NBC News are back with the new podcast “Motive for Murder.”

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "MOTIVE FOR MURDER" GO TO THE 61st MINUTE.

In Crime of the Week, nobody in here except us chickens.

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Uncover: Dead Wrong and Quiz Jul 06, 2020

On this episode we introduce our podcast audience to our new Facebook Watch audience. Be sure to tune in and be a part of both CWO families.

His alibi was solid and the case went cold...until investigators put together a prosecution with bad evidence and dodgy witnesses. He was exonerated after two decades, but if Glen Assoun isn't Brenda Way's killer...was it the serial killer living a block away? We’re talking about season 7 of the CBC podcast "Uncover: Dead Wrong."

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF UNCOVER: DEAD WRONG, GO TO 32:00

Then, did a British couple cheat their way to a fortune on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” in 2001? When Charles Ingram goes from clueless contestant to game show champion, it doesn’t take long for executives to get suspicious. We'll review AMC's "Quiz."

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "QUIZ" GO TO 58:00

In crime of the week: take-out food.

Programming note: CWO will move to its biweekly schedule for the summer. The next episode will be July 20.

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I'll Be Gone in the Dark on HBO! Plus a review of Slow Burn: David Duke Jun 29, 2020

Here's a big announcement from the team. "Crime Writers On..." is now a video show on FACEBOOK WATCH. Just search for "Crime Writers On..." on Facebook Watch or on Facebook to see video from the podcast. DEBUTS JULY 7.

In the latest season of “Slow Burn” from Slate, host Josh Levin chronicles white supremacist David Duke’s methodical journey from fringe figure to mainstream politician, a journey not fully appreciated by the establishment until it was too late.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "SLOW BURN: DAVID DUKE," GO TO 27:00

Then, HBO’s six-part adaptation of Michelle McNamara's book, "I’ll Be Gone In The Dark," pulls together the narratives of the criminal’s many victims, the cops frustrated by the cold case, and the army of armchair detectives dabbling into the five-decade unsolved mystery of the Golden State Killer. But at the heart of the documentary is McNamara, who died before completing her manuscript.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "I'LL BE GONE IN THE DARK," GO TO 1:00:00

In crime of the week: pepperoni, sausage, extra cheese, and what?

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Killing Eve (Season 3) and 13th Jun 22, 2020

We begin with season three of the highly-acclaimed and much-loved comic-espionage drama "Killing Eve." Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer return as the rivals driven by equal measures of dangerous obsession and fatal attraction. Can Eve root out the spies and what will happen when she finally crosses paths with Villanelle?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "KILLING EVE" SEASON THREE GO TO 27:00.

Then, it's an important time to revisit Ava DuVerney's Oscar nominated "13th." The Netflix doc is timely and trending...touching on the politics, policies, financial influences, and systemic racism which causes the unequal application of justice in America.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "13TH" GO TO 52:00.

In crime of the week: sting operation.

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THE ALL BRODERICK EDITION: It Was Simple and Dirty John 2: The Betty Broderick Story Jun 15, 2020

It's the summer of Betty Broderick!

First, The LA Times is out with a four-part podcast called "It Was Simple: The Betty Broderick Murders." The series is more of a retrospective of the crime and its cultural effects.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "IT WAS SIMPLE" GO TO 33:00

Then season two of the "Dirty John" TV series (also with LA Times roots) is an eight-part television melodrama. "Dirty John 2: The Betty Broderick Story" features Amanda Peet as Betty, a woman unable to come to grips with the end of her marriage, vacillating between winning back her husband (Christian Slater) and making him feel her pain.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "DIRTY JOHN 2: THE BETTY BRODERICK STORY" GO TO 1:03

In crime of the week: took you long enough.

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Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich and The Imperfect Alibi Jun 08, 2020

He was the billionaire investor who hosted celebrities, politicians, and royalty. He was also a pedophile who used his enormous wealth to traffic young girls. Netflix’s four-part series “Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich,” goes deep into the people and events around his life and provides a platform for his many victims, who are not afraid to name names.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "FILTHY RICH" GO TO 32:00

The Atlanta Journal Constitution is out with a multi-media investigation into a 1985 double murder and whether the right man is in prison. In a YouTube documentary on the case, “The Imperfect Alibi,” reporter Joshua Sharpe picks up the trail which leads to an alternate suspect.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE IMPERFECT ALIBI" GO TO 53:00

In Crime of the Week, license to dill.

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Homecoming (Season 2) and The Lost Kids podcsat Jun 01, 2020

Why did 16 year old Daniel Yuen walk away from a school for "troubled teens" and where did he go? The podcast “The Lost Kids” explores the under-regulated industry of “tough love” programs and, in particular, the Southern California facility known as CEDU and its historical connections to a dangerous cult.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE LOST KIDS" GO TO :34

A woman wakes up in a canoe with no memory of how she got there. The trail leads her to the Geist corporation, the mysterious company behind those mind-erasing experiments on veterans. Prime's second season of "Homecoming" veers away from the podcast, with novel characters and new plan's for Geist's product.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "HOMECOMING" GO TO 1:03:00

In crime of the week: robocall me, maybe.

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Wind of Change and Son of a Hitman May 25, 2020

In this episode: two investigations that touch on spycraft and show business.

First, he was a professional gambler in-and-out of trouble with the law. He was also the father of future-actor Woody Harrelson. But in 1979, Charles Harrelson was charged with slaying a federal judge. The new podcast “Son of a Hitman,” explores Harrelson’s life of crime with the help of his son, Brett. Was he involved in the most famous assassination in history?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "SON OF A HITMAN," GO TO 26:00

Was the power ballad “Wind of Change” an artistic commentary on the end of the Cold War or western propaganda designed to weaken Soviet influence? The podcast “Wind of Change” investigates whether the CIA was responsible for The Scorpions’ iconic hit.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "WIND OF CHANGE," GO TO 56:00

Then in Crime of the Week, Mack truck and cheese.

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Trial by Media on Netflix May 18, 2020

Sweat pants? Has Kevin finally given up? Plus, does Toby know who anybody is? And why does it sound like he's recording this week's show in a public toilet?

The crime writers discuss “Trial by Media,” from Netflix. The six part series looks at a group of high-profile cases and how press coverage influenced their outcomes. Sometimes the intense media coverage and live television broadcasts were major factors. Sometimes, public opinion shifted and turned one-time heroes into villains. And in other instances, engaging the media was a deliberate defense strategy.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “TRIAL BY MEDIA,” GO TO 1:03

In crime of the week: caught red (wine) handed.

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Giri/Haji and Waco (Both on Netflix!) May 11, 2020

A murder in London sparks a gang war in Tokyo among rival Yakuza. Detective Kenzo Mori is told his brother, thought to be dead, may be living in the UK and central to the conflict. “Giri/Haji,” from BBC-2 and Netflix. is a bilingual drama that bends genres...plus it has an ending unlike anything we’ve seen.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "GIRI/HAJI" GO TO 25:00

Then we talk about the re-release of the Paramount Network’s miniseries “Waco.” It features a sanitized version of David Koresh as a thoughtful, spiritual leader offering enlightenment to his followers. We also follow an FBI hostage negotiator who fears the agency’s reliance on military tactics is the wrong direction.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WACO" GO TO 47:00

Then in crime of the week: baby driver.

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Run & The Innocence Files eps 4-7 May 04, 2020

After a rage-inducing opening act, the crime writers discuss the final two sections of Netflix's The Innocence Files. Each story is good on its own; how do they work stacked side-by-side?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE INNOCENCE FILES" EP 4-9, GO TO 33:00.

Then the panel hits the rails for HBO's romantic comedy, Run. Starring Emmy-winner Merritt Wever, we’re left to wonder where the reunited couple are going and what they’re leaving behind.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "RUN," GO TO 57:00

In crime of the week: a train crashes into a boat. For real.

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Bad Education and The Innocence Files (Part 1) Apr 27, 2020

School’s in! We’re looking at HBO’s new movie, “Bad Education.” Based on a true story, school superintendent Frank Tassone is on top of the world, but things begin to unravel when a high school journalist is assigned a story about the budget. Does it get a passing grade? (Note: Bad Education is based on this outstanding New York Magazine article by Bob Kolker.)

FOR OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF “BAD EDUCATION,” GO TO 28:00

Then, a look at episodes 1-3 of Netflix’s ambitious series, “The Innocence Files.” Part one deals with a pair of rape-homicides of children in Mississippi. This case - and many others - revolves around an arrogant dentist whose application of bite mark analysis has led to wrongful convictions.

FOR OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF “THE INNOCENCE FILES” ep 1-3, GO TO 54:00

In Crime of the Week: return to sender.

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Atlanta's Missing & Murdered, and The Pale Horse Apr 20, 2020

Are the crime writers eating well? Some of them are.

Leading off: A woman dies under mysterious circumstances with a list of names in her shoe. Are they in danger? And does it have anything to do with a coven of witches in an English village? The two-part adaptation of “The Pale Horse” from BBC One and Amazon Prime veers from Agatha Christie’s novel, keeping its supernatural overtones but leaning more on domestic suspense than its murder-for-hire origins.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE PALE HORSE," GO TO 24:00

Up next: Atlanta was enjoying an economic and cultural resurgence, but in 1979 African American boys began disappearing from its streets. “Atlanta’s Missing & Murdered: The Lost Children” from HBO tugs at the threads of the Wayne Williams case. The series is part historical-and-cultural retrospective, part investigation into the system perhaps too quick to put the case behind them.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "ATLANTA'S MISSING & MURDERED," GO TO 54:00

In Crime of the Week: take one down, pass it around.

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Ozark 3 & How to Fix a Drug Scandal Apr 13, 2020

When Massachusetts State Police discover a chemist has been tampering with evidence at the drug lab, it opens a legal Pandora's box. Netflix’s four-part “How to Fix a Drug Scandal” follows the lawyers seeking answers, the prosecutors who tried to cover it up, and the troubled life of one of the chemists whose personal addiction up-ended the scales of justice.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “HOW TO FIX A DRUG SCANDAL,” GO TO 29:00

In season three of Netflix’s “Ozark,” a drug war in Mexico has put additional pressure on Marty and Wendy Byrde to launder money in their new casino. But complications ensue with new arrivals, like cartel lawyer Helen Pierce and Wendy’s brother, Ben.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “OZARK” SEASON THREE, GO TO 58:00

In crime of the week, back end data.

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Cool Mules and The Valhalla Murders Apr 06, 2020

Our first review is “Cool Mules” from Canadaland. Vice Canada music editor Slava Pastukhov believed the only way to advance at the gonzo news outlet was through more extreme journalism. A mix of greed and ambition led him to orchestrate a drug trafficking ring to Australia.

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF “COOL MULES” BEGINS IN MINUTE 34

Next is a look at Netflix’s foreign-language series, “The Valhalla Murders.” This police procedural is the latest in the growing number of shows set in Iceland which try to capture their own version of Scandinavian noir. But does the story capture either that dark Scandi style...or the interest of streaming mystery lovers?

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF “THE VALHALLA MURDERS” BEGINS IN MINUTE 1:03

In Crime of the Week: please don’t rollover.

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Tiger King on Netflix Mar 30, 2020

The panel discusses the much-buzzed about documentary, "Tiger King." Expanding on the characters and themes of the recent "Joe Exotic" podcast, this Netflix doc dives even deeper into the world of big cats and the shady people who love them. No doubt it's entertaining, but does it handle the people and issues in a responsible way?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "TIGER KING" GO TO 1:03

PLUS: A big announcement from Toby! His new 10-part podcast, "Strange Arrivals," is out March 31. Subscribe now!

In crime of the week, it makes my eyes burn.

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The Dating Game Killer and Lost Girls Mar 23, 2020

The crime writers check in with updates on how they're dealing with self-isolation and ponder the world confronted by the coronavirus.

In the first review, the panel discusses "The Dating Game Killer" from Wondery and Hollywood & Crime. The docu-drama recalls the tale of serial killer/game show contestant Rodney Alcala. How will the team react to the podcast's style and substance?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE DATING GAME KILLER," GO TO 29:00

Then the group gets into Netflix's film adaptation of "Lost Girls" staring Amy Ryan. Does this two-hour dramatization of Bob Kolker's excellent book live up to the expansive source material?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "LOST GIRLS," GO TO 54:00

Then in crime of the week: Cheese-us Christ.

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Down the Hill: The Delphi Murders and Verified Mar 16, 2020

This week, Lara's son takes a very bad fall and Kevin has some professional news.

Leading off, the crime writers discuss the new podcast from HLN, “Down the Hill: The Delphi Murders.” The reporters attempt to shed light on a double killing with few publicly known facts. Can they advance the story?

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF “DOWN THE HILL” BEGINS IN MINUTE 33

Then, they jet to Italy for “Verified” from Witness Docs and Stitcher. This ten-part series looks at a group of women and their search for justice against the man who raped them when they answered his ad on couchsurfer.com. Is there blame to share?

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF “VERIFIED” BEGINS IN MINUTE 1:03

In crime of the week, who run the world?

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The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez and a recommendations roundup! Mar 09, 2020

After a week of reeling in the years, the Crime Writers are back discussing the hard-hitting Netflix documentary, “The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez.” Viewers learn the long trail of physical and emotional abuse suffered by Gabriel and the many missed opportunities to save his life. And it dives into the issues around the failings of law enforcement, social services, elected officials, and the System’s desire to protect itself at the expense of the children it’s supposed to help.

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF “THE TRIALS OF GABRIEL FERNANDEZ” BEGINS IN MINUTE 37.

Then, on a lighter note, the team offers their recommendations for content you should be consuming this spring.

Toby:

Greatest of all Talk:

36 From The Vault:

The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel

Knives Out

Lara:

The Long Call by Ann Cleeves-

Locke and Key

Outlander

Dublin Murders

Kevin:

Six

Stumptown

Dying for Sex

Pod Save America

Rebecca:

Joe Ide’s IQ book series
Matt Goldman’s Nils Shapiro series
Deep Water
Reply All – “The Case of the Missing Hit”

In Crime of the Week: Tinder mercies.

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200th EPISODE SPECIAL Mar 02, 2020

This is our 200th episode, and to mark the occasion we’re going to look back at some of our favorite moments from Crime Writers On. We’ll revisit reviews from classic podcasts, games, milestones, things that made us cry with laughter, and shed other kinds of tears.

For exclusive podcasts and more, go to patreon.com/partnersincrimemedia.

This week's special episode cover art:

Top row
- Millie Bobby Brown from “Stranger Things”
- David Rudolf from “The Staircase”
- Bowe Bergdahl from “Serial”
- Michael Peterson from “The Staircase”
- Madeleine McCann from “The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann”
- Richard Simmons from “Missing Richard Simmons”
- Dan Taberski from “Headlong”
- Bill Cosby from “Chasing Cosby”
- Keith Morrison from “Dateline NBC”
- Andy from “The Legend of Cocaine Island”
- Adnan Syed from “Serial”
- Jonathan Groff from “Mindhunter”
- Merritt Weaver from “Unbelievable”
- Tyler Alvarez from “American Vandal”
- Bikram Choudhury from “Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator”
- Ian Bailey from “West Cork”
- Holt McCallany from “Mindhunter”
- Ear Hustle
- Sister Cathy Cesnik from “The Keepers”
Second row
- Jharrel Jerome from “When They See Us”
- Sarah Paulson from “The People vs OJ Simpson”
- Sterling K. Brown from “The People vs OJ Simpson”
- Eric Bana from “Dirty John”
- Payne Lindsey from “Up and Vanished”
- Matthew McConaughey from “True Detective”
- Woody Harrelson from “True Detective”
- Bob Broberg from “Abducted in Plain Sight”
- Charles Manson from “Young Charlie”
- Patrick Hines from “True Crime Obsessed”
- Colin Miller from “Undisclosed”
- Rabia Chaudry from “Undisclosed”
- Susan Simpson from “Undisclosed”
- Casey Anthony from “Casey Anthony: An American Murder Mystery”
- David Ridgen from “Someone Knowns Something”
Third row
- Doug Evans from “In the Dark”
- Steven Avery from “Making a Murderer”
- John Meehan from “Dirty John”
- John McLemore from “S-town”
- Brendan Dassey from “Making a Murderer”
- Ted Bundy from “The Bundy Tapes”
- Cleo Semaganis Nicotine from “Missing and Murdered”
- Ma Anand Sheela from “Wild Wild Country”
- Joseph Maldonado-Passage from “Joe Exotic”
- Amber Hunt from “Accused”
Front row
- Curtis Flowers from “In the Dark”
- Bill Rankin from “Breakdown”
- Ronan Farrow from “Catch and Kill”
- Madeline Baron from “In the Dark”
- Sarah Keonig from “Serial”
- Kevin Flynn
- Lara Bricker
- Rebeca Lavoie
- Toby Ball
- Debra Newell from “Dirty John”
- Rocksteady Freddie from the New York Ska Jazz Ensemble

Foreground

Cat of the week
Slenderman
“The Staircase” owl
Miracle Whip
The crime writers typewriter
The Brickter Scale
The Habitat

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McMillions and The Other Latif Feb 24, 2020

As the crime writers prepare for their 200th episode special, Rebecca and Kevin have an invitation to London-based listeners.

First off, in “The Other Latif,” Latif Nasser learns a Moroccan native who shares his name has been held for years at Guantanamo accused of being a top military adviser to Osama bin Laden. This miniseries from RadioLab explores whether his namesake is as dangerous as the US says he is.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “RADIOLAB: THE OTHER LATIF” BEGINS IN THE 31st MINUTE.

Then: It’s the biggest fraud case you’ve never heard about. In HBO’s “McMillions,” a bored FBI agent stumbles on to a tip that McDonald’s million-dollar Monopoly game is fixed. This whodunnit, howdaydoit is lighthearted, intriguing, and – at times – moving.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “McMILLIONS” BEGINS IN THE 59th MINUTE.

In Crime of the Week: jack shit.

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The Pharmacist and Uncover: Satanic Panic Feb 17, 2020

After casting their votes in the New Hampshire Primary, the panel is ready to vote on two new true crime titles.

First, the crime writers discuss the new season of Uncover: Satanic Panic. Host Lisa Rundle brings us to a Saskatchewan town rocked in the 90s by an alleged pedophilia ring run by devil worshipers. The podcast recalls the mass hysteria and the lives forever changed by the charges.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “UNCOVER: SATANIC PANIC” STARTS IN THE 28 MINUTE OF THE SHOW.

Then, Netflix’s “The Pharmacist” tells the story of a mild-mannered Louisiana druggist whose life is turned upside down by the murder of his son. While working through his grief, Dan Schneider notices a pattern of healthy-looking people filling OxyContin prescriptions from a particular doctor.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “THE PHARMACIST” STARTS IN THE 55 MINUTE MARK OF THE SHOW.

Then in Crime of the Week, that’s nuts.

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Chasing Cosby and The Sneak Feb 10, 2020

Greetings from New Hampshire, where the Crime Writers will be among those casting their First in the Nation primary ballots. Hear them discuss the new text technology campaigns will be using to get your vote.

Leading off, USAToday Sports and For the Win is out with a podcast covering an unusual bank Heist. “The Sneak” tells us of a bizarre armored car holdup where a man disguised as a landscaper escaped down river on an inner tube. Host Nate Scott says there’s much more to the story.

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF “THE SNEAK” BEGINS IN THE 26 MINUTE MARK OF THE SHOW.

The LA Times’s new podcast looks into the events that took down one of America’s most beloved figures. In “Chasing Cosby”, host Nikki Weisensee Egan uses archival tape and new witness interviews to show the long, difficult road to justice against a rich, powerful celebrity and the unlikely events - and incredibly brave victims - that led to Bill Cosby’s arrest and conviction.

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF “CHASING COSBY” BEGINS IN THE 59 MINUTE MARK OF THE SHOW.

In Crime of the Week: drug reading dog.

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The Officer's Wife and Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez Feb 03, 2020

Mixed reviews this week from the crime writers. First, they explore "The Officer's Wife" from Vault Studios. Just as you think the story will be a typical by-the-numbers true crime tale...it offers a real plot twist. But does it leave too many listener questions unanswered?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE OFFICER'S WIFE" BEGINS AROUND THE 34 MINUTE MARK.

Then, Netflix has a new documentary tackling the life and crimes of the late NFL star Aaron Hernandez. Much like the 2018 podcast "Gladiator," “Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez” is also a revealing look at a troubling story of power, money, family, sexuality, visually elevated in the way only a documentary can.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "KILLER INSIDE" BEGINS AROUND THE 57 MINUTE MARK.

Then in Crime of the Week, little hellions.

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No Body Recovered and The Outsider Jan 27, 2020

The panel takes a moment to reflect on the premature demise of two of their favorite shows, HBO’s “Watchmen” and Netflix’s “Mindhunter.”

The Crime Writers follow BBC Radio to County Donegal for a look at Ireland’s longest unsolved missing child case. In season one of “No Body Recovered,” host Kevin Connolly explores the 1977 story of Mary Boyle, through the eyes of the family torn apart by her disappearance.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “NO BODY RECOVERED” BEGINS AROUND THE 36 MINUTE MARK.

Then, HBO and Stephen King team for their adaptation of “The Outsider.” How can a man accused of murder have been in two places at once? The all-star cast explores the paradox of this crime and the thought that supernatural forces may be at play.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “THE OUTSIDER” BEGINS AROUND THE 1:05 MINUTE MARK.

In Crime of the Week: Frostbite of the Iguana.

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The Dream 2 and Disorganized Crime Jan 20, 2020

In an episode that seems to go off the rails at times, the panel discusses season two of “The Dream.” Host Jane Marie tackles the wellness industry, covering everything from healing crystals and medicinal herbs to vitamins and natural childbirth. Are they coming after the thing YOU believe is saving you from illness?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “THE DREAM” BEGINS IN THE 29th MINUTE OF THE SHOW.

Then the crime writers review the long, strange trip in “Disorganized Crime: Smuggler’s Daughter.” Host “Rainbow Valentine” interviews her parents about their crazy double-life moving millions of dollars of marijuana across the country.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “DISORGANIZED CRIME” BEGINS IN THE 57th MINUTE OF THE SHOW.

In Crime of the Week: if I had a nickel for every stupid question…

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Dig and Midnight Son Jan 13, 2020

The panel discusses the new podcast/audiobook hybrid “Midnight Son” from Audible Originals. We’re taken to the Arctic to explore the crimes of an Alaska Native and to investigate his claim that while as a fugitive in the wilderness he was visited by mythic tribe thought only to exist in legend.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “MIDNIGHT SON,” GO TO THE 41 MINUTE MARK

Then, we’re off to Louisville for season one of “Dig” from the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting. Host Eleanor Klibanoff finds prosecutors in that community are declining to seek charges and close many sexual assault cases, in a policy that may protect conviction rates and crime statistics more than it protects victims.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “DIG,” GO TO THE 1:13 MINUTE MARK.

In crime of the week: Wakanda forever!

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Accused 3 and Don't F**k with Cats Jan 06, 2020

Rebecca and Kevin start by addressing some back-end tech changes that could affect listeners’ experience. There are shout-outs to our newest listener. And the panel solicits input from the audience for our upcoming 200th episode celebration.

The Crime Writers review the new season of “Accused.” The eight-part series is a story of corporate malfeasance, wrapped in a missing persons case filled with conspiracy theories, family secrets, and government lies.

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF “ACCUSED” CAN BE FOUND AROUND THE 33 MINUTE MARK.

Then they discuss Netflix’s "Don’t F**k With Cats: The Hunt for An Internet Killer." A gang of armchair detectives are looking for the person posting videos of animal cruelty. But before law enforcement takes the virtual manhunt seriously, the suspect turns his violent depravity on an unsuspecting man.

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF “DON’T F**K WITH CATS” CAN BE FOUND AROUND THE 1:22:00 MINUTE MARK

Then in Crime of the Week, shoulda called a cab.

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In the Dark update and The Confession Killer Dec 23, 2019

The crime writers marvel at Kevin’s encyclopedic knowledge of Dunkin Donuts locations in New Hampshire!

The team is blown away by the latest bonus episode of “In the Dark,” which covers Curtis Flowers’s bail hearing now that SCOTUS has overturned his conviction. If this were the final installment of the Peabody winning podcast, would it be the perfect ending?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “IN THE DARK” STARTS AT APPROXIMATELY 35:00

Then the panel looks at Netflix’s five-part series, “The Confession Killer.” Did Henry Lee Lucas fabricate his involvement in more than 360 murders? Why would law enforcement be so willing to believe Lucas and attack anyone who challenged the claims?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “THE CONFESSION KILLER” STARTS AT APPROXIMATELY 1:03:00

In crime of the week: Chicka, chicka-yeah, fake ID!

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The Catch and Kill Podcast & Detective Trapp Dec 16, 2019

Leading off, Ronan Farrow's “The Catch and Kill Podcast” is an inside look at one of the most important stories of the decade, giving a deeper dive into the downfall of one of the entertainment industry’s most powerful men. Is there still more to this story?

YOU CAN FIND OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "CATCH AND KILL" AROUND THE 34:38 MINUTE MARK.

The team behind “Dirty John” returns with “Detective Trapp.” Anaheim's only female homicide detective is assigned the case of an unidentified woman found in a garbage facility. Det. Trapp suspects the crime may be connected to others in Southern California.

YOU CAN FIND OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "DETECTIVE TRAPP" AROUND THE 1:10:00 MINUTE MARK.

In Crime of the Week: O Tannan-brawl.

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Broken Justice & Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator Dec 09, 2019

There arose such a clatter at Lara's town holiday celebration (fowl play). And Toby has been getting Twitter trolled by Dan Taberski!

PBS NewsHour has released a podcast examining the public defender system in the US entitled “Broken Justice.” Frank Carlson and Amna Nawaz look at the issue through the lens of the Missouri public defenders office, one in which attorneys are given more clients than they can ethically handle.

A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "BROKEN JUSTICE" CAN BE FOUND AT APPROXIMATELY 34:00.

Netflix's documentary “Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator” chronicles the rise of the self-made yoga-master-to-the-stars who founded the hot yoga movement.The film details how Bikram Chaudry used his position to prey on his students who had professional and financial pressures to please him.

A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "BIKRAM: YOGI, GURU, PREDATOR" CAN BE FOUND AT APPROXIMATELY 57:00.

In Crime of the Week: it's written all over your face.

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Hunting Warhead and The Devil Next Door Nov 25, 2019

Netflix’s “The Devil Next Door” recaps the legal battles of John Demjanjuk, a retired autoworker in Cleveland accused of being a Nazi prison camp guard known as "Ivan the Terrible." Featuring extensive film from the original trial as well as disturbing Holocaust images, "The Devil Next Door" challenges the viewer’s allegiances.

Then, CBC Podcasts and Norwegian newspaper VG have teamed up for a disturbing investigation into the digital world of child pornography. “Hunting Warhead” begins with an investigative reporter whose explorations of the dark web as he stumbles upon “Child’s Play,” a huge network of criminals around the world sharing images of child sexual abuse.

WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS DISCUSSION OF SEXUAL ABUSE THAT MIGHT NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL LISTENERS.

In Crime of the Week: Skelly's belly.

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Have You Seen This Man & Tell Me Who I Am Nov 18, 2019

This week, Lara is bitten by a tick (not on the podcast though), we squee about The Crown, and a person from a recent podcast sends an email to the crime writers.

ABC Audio’s new podcast "Have you Seen This Man" goes on the manhunt for a former-death row convict who walked away from an Ohio prison in 1973 and hasn't been seen since. Reporter Matthew Mosk follows US Marshals still hunting Lester Eubanks after five decades on the run.

Netflix’s “Tell Me Who I Am” documents one amnesia patient’s quest for answers about his life, answers his twin brother has refused to supply. The documentary poses tough questions about whether it’s better to confront one’s painful past or to remain blissfully ignorant of its destructive consequences.

In crime of the week: Helter Shelter

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Why you should watch Watchmen, plus Murder in Oregon Nov 11, 2019

“Murder in Oregon” explores one of that state’s most infamous homicides. Corrections Department Director Michael Francke was stabbed outside of his office in 1989. Was his killing tied to his investigation of corruption?

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF "MURDER IN OREGON" BEGINS IN THE 24th MINUTE.

HBO's “Watchmen” takes place in an alternative history where cops who hide behind masks for their own safety team with costumed vigilantes to fight crime and avoid a race war. Like the comic, "Watchmen" ponders what kind of heroes are needed in a world where truth and justice are in short supply.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "WATCHMEN" BEGINS IN THE 61st MINUTE.

In crime of the week: turn the other cheek.

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Dolly Parton's America & Bad Batch Nov 04, 2019

Leading off, the medical mystery behind Wondery's "Bad Batch" is not just who is responsible for contaminated stem cells that made patients sick. It also looks at the company’s claims that stem cells can treat virtually everything, when it’s only approved for blood disorders.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "BAD BATCH," BEGINS IN THE 28th MINUTE

Moving on, NYC Studios and OSM Audio are rolling out a nine-part series about an American icon. In “Dolly Parton’s America,” RadioLab host Jad Abumrad explores the over-sized cultural impact of the perhaps under-appreciated country music singer.

A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "DOLLY PARTON'S AMERICA," BEGINS IN THE 61st MINUTE.

In crime of the week: who'll start the rain?

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Limetown on Facebook Watch and The Undercovers Oct 28, 2019

First up, Facebook Watch is out with its own imagining of the podcast, "Limetown." As with the original, the story revolves around a public radio reporter investigating the sudden disappearance of hundreds of people from a tiny town and remote research facility years ago.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "LIMETOWN," BEGINS IN THE 28th MINUTE.

Moving on, “The Undercovers” is an audio dramatization of the life and career of a DEA agent and his exploits working to take down narco-terrorists from inside their organizations. It attempts to set itself apart in style and storytelling, with tough-guy dialogue to go along with the tough-guy action.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE UNDERCOVERS," BEGINS IN THE 59th MINUTE.

In Crime of the Week: blood bath.

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StartUp's final episodes and Motive from WBEZ Oct 21, 2019

We start with a look inside podcasting's biggest business deal: Spotify's acquisition of Gimlet. In "StartUp," Alex Blumberg and Matt Leiber reveal the behind-the-scenes tensions and pose the question: can a nine-figure paycheck mend this friendship?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "STARTUP" BEGINS IN THE 32nd MINUTE.

Next, "Motive" from the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ tells the case of teen exonerated for a murder, awarded millions, only to wide up in jail again. With its “Making a Murderer”-themes, “Motive” is a cautionary tale about the system failing the innocent and what happens when redemption is squandered.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "MOTIVE" BEGINS IN THE 60th MINUTE.

In crime of the week: these dogs have flees.

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The Mysterious Mr. Epstein & The Missing Cryptoqueen Oct 14, 2019

The Crime Writers get into about book covers. (Guess which one has the worst cover ever?)

In “The Mysterious Mr. Epstein,” host Linsey Graham hopes to fill in the blanks around the infamous investor-to-the-stars’s origin story and how he was able to lure and rape young women with no consequences for so long.

Our spoiler-free review of The Mysterious Mr. Epstein begins in the 32nd minute.

BBC Sounds presents an investigation into a multi-million dollar scam involving OneCoin and the disappearance of the cryptocurrency’s founder. Host Jamie Bartlett shows us that Dr. Ruja Ignatova turned her digital money venture into a cult-like phenom.

Our spoiler-free review of The Missing Cryptoqueen begins in the 66th minute.

In Crime of the Week: legal dream team.

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Criminal & Passenger List Oct 07, 2019

Although her dog is on her final legs, Rebecca pushes through to lead the discussion. Kevin gives a shout out to his Walk a Mile in Her Shoes supporters.

First up: Netflix’s new crime series is an anthology set in a police interview room and its adjacent observation post. In Criminal: UK, we see a specialized team try to get suspects to crack. In addition to Criminal: UK, the series also brings us to Spain, France, and Germany without ever leaving the set.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "CRIMINAL:UK" BEGINS IN THE 25th MINUTE.

Moving on, Radiotopia’s ambitious drama “Passenger List” follows a woman who seeks answers from friends and relatives of flier on ill-fated Atlantic 702. Is the airline lying about a bird strike taking down the plane? Was the airliner caught up in a global conspiracy?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "PASSENGER LIST" BEGINS IN THE 56th MINUTE.

Then in Crime of the Week: death, taxes, satellite TV.

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The Thing About Pam and Hit Man Sep 30, 2019

First off is a look at iHeartRadio's "Hit Man." The podcast follows the stories of the hit men - one who used music and one who used a gun - as well as a discussion about whether a book providing a step-by-step guide to getting away with murder is speech that ought to be protected.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "HIT MAN" BEGINS IN THE 24th MINUTE.

Moving on...in "The Thing About Pam" from Dateline, police zone in on Russ Feria for his wife's murder, pointed there by co-worker Pam Hupp. It’s not an open-and-shut case and the Dateline team gets dragged into the story. But mostly...this is about Keith Morrison.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE THING ABOUT PAM" BEGINS IN THE 53rd MINUTE.

In crime of the week: golden oldies.

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Unbelievable on Netflix is, well, unbelievable Sep 23, 2019

We're got a true crime podcast update from the team at "In the Dark." Also, Kevin will be doing a walkathon in high-heel shoes.

Netflix’s buzzed-about new series “Unbelievable” is a dramatic take on the true story of a serial rapist who escaped detection for years. The show follows two narrative timelines. The first focuses on a teenage victim who falsely recanted her story under pressure from investigators. The second thread takes place three years later and follows a pair of female detectives who realize the separate rape cases they’re working on may be connected.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "UNBELIEVABLE" BEGINS IN THE 63rd MINUTE.

In crime of the week: blowing through.

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Over My Dead Body: Joe Exotic & Happy Jail Sep 16, 2019

Rebecca gets around. Even as she’s laid up recovering from ankle surgery, our host will appear on other podcasts including "Undisclosed Addendum," "The JV Club," and bonus episodes of "In the Dark." Meantime, there’s a True Crime Podcast Update featuring everyone’s least-favorite prosecutor Doug Evans.

They were the Pilipino inmates who became a YouTube sensation with their “Thriller” dance. Netflix’s “Happy Jail” returns to that detention center. It follows former inmate-turned security consultant Marco Toral. As his fortunes fade, so do the fortunes of the prisoners.

FOR A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “HAPPY JAIL” GO TO 32nd minute

Moving on…Wondery’s “Over My Dead Body” returns for a second season with the story of Joe Exotic. Host Rob Moor introduces us to the charismatic and controversial exotic animal collector who claims to be a target for ruin at the hands of a woman whose husband vanished under mysterious circumstances.

FOR A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “OVER MY DEAD BODY: JOE EXOTIC” GO TO the 59th minute.

Then in Crime of the Week: fowl play.

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Bardstown & The Great Hack Sep 09, 2019

Kevin provides some good news in his battle with cancer. Also, Lara hired a murderer. (It's complicated.)

The panel talks about Netflix’s latest documentary, a deep dive into the scandal around Cambridge Analytica. “The Great Hack” is a think piece about how forces can harness our digital footprints to influence our voting behaviors and the way we look at the world.

FOR A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “THE GREAT HACK,” GO TO MINUTE 34

Moving on, Vault Studios and WHAS TV News have teamed for the new podcast “Bardstown.” The series examines five unsolved cases in a small Kentucky town over the past few years.

FOR A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “BARDSTOWN,” GO TO MINUTE 1:05:00.

In Crime of the Week: it takes a thief…

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Mindhunter returns! Plus, 30 for 30: The Sterling Affairs Sep 02, 2019

On the podcast, Kevin talks about being radioactive and Toby, where is thy sting?

In True Crime Update: even more about Dirty John.

The panel reviews the latest from 30 for 30 podcasts: The Sterling Affairs. It explores the downfall of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling in a whirlwind of sex, race, and sports...all caught on audiotape.

FOR A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE STERLING AFFAIRS," GO TO MINUTE 28.

Then, Netflix is out with season two of its triumphant “Mindhunter.” This time, Holden, Bill, and Wendy are taking their research on serial killers and attempt to apply it in the real-world.

FOR A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "MINDHUNTER," GO MINUTE 57.

In Crime of the Week: gotta go.

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Room 20 & Who Killed Garrett Phillips? Aug 19, 2019

Studio C has been relocated to accommodate Rebecca and Kevin's upcoming medical procedures. They give Lara and Toby health updates.

First on the double bill is HBO's "Who Killed Garrett Phillips." The 12-year-boy was strangled in his apartment after school and the perpetrator escaped from a third-floor window. Reminiscent of The Staircase, it's a look at race and justice in America.

FOR A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "WHO KILLED GARRETT PHILLIPS" GO TO MINUTE 34.

Then it's a review of top-ten podcast "Room 20" which looks at the strange case of an unidentified man who has been living in a vegetative state for 15 years. Host Joanne Faryon tries to learn the name of the patient known for all these years only as “Sixty-six Garage."

FOR A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "ROOM 20" GO TO MINUTE 59.

In Crime of the Week: how'd that get there?

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Bundyville: The Remnant and The Clearing Aug 05, 2019

As summer rolls on, so do the hot new podcasts. First, the panel revisits the Patriot Movement in the sequel to Bundyville: “The Remnant.” It’s a deep look at how a bomber who targeted a former co-worker may be tied to the larger anti-government movement.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “BUNDYVILLE: THE REMNANT,” GO TO MINUTE 26.

Then the crime writers dive into “The Clearing,” an investigation into serial killer Edward Wayne Edwards. A journalist and the killer’s daughter try to sort out what other crimes he committed…and which ones he didn’t.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “THE CLEARING,” GO TO MINUTE 56.

Then in crime of the week, do chickens have felons?

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I Love You, Now Die & Exhibit A Jul 22, 2019

We're back with a double review. First, HBO's “I Love You, Now Die,” exams the strange case of a teenager accused of ordering her boyfriend to commit suicide over text message. The documentary tells a deeper story than was presented on TV news, probing the troubled lives of both young people to offer more complex reasons Conrad Roy might have wanted to die and why Michelle Carter didn’t stop him.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “I LOVE YOU, NOW DIE,” GO TO MINUTE 34.

Next, Netflix's “Exhibit A” looks at four court cases in which questionable forensic science was used to secure otherwise shaky convictions. The documentary goes at the public’s blind trust in science, giving real-life examples of how it can be misused or misinterpreted. Our discussion of "Exhibit A" was recorded in front of a live audience at the True Crime Podcast Festival in Chicago.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “EXHIBIT A,” GO TO MINUTE 62.

Then in Crime of the Week: traffic cop-out.

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In the Dark Revelations and Atlantic Jul 08, 2019

Following the US Supreme Court striking down Curtis Flowers’ conviction, In The Dark has returned with what could be the final episode of season two. The Polk Award-winning podcast saved some of its most compelling journalism for its final hour, accomplishing more in 56 minutes than most podcasts do in their entire series.

FOR OUR THUMBS UP OR THUMBS WAY UP REVIEW OF THIS EP OF IN THE DARK, GO TO MINUTE 25.

The Irish Times’s podcast “Atlantic” examines the unsolved mystery of Peter Bergmann, a tourist found dead on a beach in County Sligo in 2009. The question remains - not how did he die - but why did he come to Ireland to disappear?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “ATLANTIC,” GO TO MINUTE 46

Then in Crime of the Week: burn, baby, burn.

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Big Little Lies and Slate's The Queen Jul 01, 2019

This week, the panel talks about Madeline Baron’s rapid response episode of “In the Dark” following the SCOTUS decision on Curtis Flowers. What was the response from residents in Winona…including prosecutor Doug Evans?

The crime writers review “The Queen,” a new podcast from Slate. It follows the story of Linda Taylor, the con woman whose brazen public assistance scam gave rise to the “welfare queen” narrative. The mixture of crime, politics, and dog-whistle racism has left a legacy which resonates today.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “THE QUEEN,” GO TO MINUTE 31.

HBO offers a second season of “Big Little Lies,” as we see the fallout from Perry’s death on the women who keep the secret. Relationships become more complicated and the stakes get higher.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “BIG LITTLE LIES,” GO TO MINUTE 60.

Then in Crime of the Week: you’re not the sauce of me.

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Double review: Confronting OJ and Man in the Window Jun 24, 2019

Lots of true crime podcast updates this week! The US Supreme Court has vacated the conviction of In The Dark S2 subject Curtis Flowers in a 7-2 decision. Will he be tried for a seventh time? There’s a shocking discovery in NPR’s White Lies podcast. We have a verdict in the Escaping NXIVM case and a new plea from the suspect in The Teacher’s Pet podcast.

After their hit Dirty John, the LA Times and Wondery have paired up again to tell the story of California’s most infamous serial killer. “Man in the Window” charts the evolution of the Golden State Killer. Will they capture lightning again or simply re-tread a significantly covered crime?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF MAN IN THE WINDOW, GO TO MINUTE 33.

“Confronting: OJ Simpson,” hosted by Kim Goldman, sister of murder victim Ron Goldman, revisits some of the primary and peripheral figures of the crime. Does it bring anything new to this well-known case?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF CONFRONTING: OJ SIMPSON, GO TO MINUTE 59.

Then in Crime of the Week: cat-astrophe.

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When They See Us & This Land Jun 17, 2019

In True Crime Update, a listener of the “Bear Brook” podcast solved a big part of the cold case. We hear from Rebecca’s colleague Jason Moon, as well as giving a plug for NHPR’s new podcast about parole, “Supervision.”

The panel offers a first-impressions review of Crooked Media’s “This Land.” It touches on a murder conviction from 2000, but the legal case has less to do about what happened and more to do about where it happened.

FOR A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “THIS LAND,” GO TO MINUTE 38.

Then the crime writers dig into Netflix’s “When They See Us.” It retells the 1989 story of the Central Park Five, showing how the five black teenagers falsely confessed to a rape they didn’t do and challenges they faced even after serving their sentences.

FOR A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “WHEN THEY SEE US,” GO TO MINUTE 65.

In Crime of the Week: Taco Hell.

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The Legend of Cocaine Island Jun 10, 2019

In a break from format, this episode was recorded before a live audience at PodX in Nashville!

The panel discusses the stylized, semi-serious Netflix documentary "The Legend of Cocaine Island." Is this story of buried treasure about the American Dream or about American excess?

TO HEAR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE LEGEND OF COCAINE ISLAND," GO TO MINUTE 25.

With the help of the audience, the team plays a few rounds of CRIME WRITERS AGAINST HUMANITY! Using cards from the very-adult, delightfully-offensive game, the panel answers podcast-specific questions in terribly naughty ways. The show ends with some Q&A from the crowd.

In Crime of the Week: a bat out of Dell!

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HBO's Chernobyl and Killing Eve season 2 Jun 03, 2019

Kevin makes his return from his latest surgery to sound that call: TRUE CRIME PODCAST UPDATE! From Paris, the trial of "West Cork" subject Ian Bailey is underway.

Call it the “feel-bad show of the summer.” HBO and Sky Atlantic have teamed for the five-part series “Chernobyl.” We know going in that “Chernobyl” will be scary and depressing...but will it also be entertaining?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "CHERNOBYL," GO TO MINUTE 30.

It was one of our favorite shows from 2018. BBC America’s "Killing Eve" just wrapped up its second season. Emmy winner Sandra Oh reprises her role as Eve Polastri, the MI-6 analyst obsessed with the delightfully-psychopathic assassin Villanelle, played by Julie Comer. Does the show work better when the frenemies are together or apart?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "KILLING EVE" S2, GO TO MINUTE 52.

In Crime of the Week - a clean getaway.

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White Lies and that Game of Thrones finale May 27, 2019

With Kevin taking a week off to recuperate from cancer surgery, Rebecca, Lara, and Toby nerd out on the series finale of Game of Thrones. (Bran the Broken? WTF?) Then the panel digs deep into NPR's new podcast, "White Lies." This look at the cover-up around a 1965 civil rights crime is just as resonant today.

FOR A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF THE GAME OF THRONES FINALE, GO TO MINUTE 27.

FOR A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF WHITE LIES, GO TO MINUTE 51.

In Crime of the Week: hey, it's that guy.

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That Zac Efron Bundy movie and The Last Days of August May 20, 2019

This week on the podcast: TWO REVIEWS!

The panel breaks down the latest film in the Ted Bundy canon: It's called Extremely Wicked Shockingly Evil and Vile and it's on Netflix.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "EXTREMELY WICKED SHOCKINGLY EVIL AND VILE, GO TO THE 27 MINUTE MARK.

Then, a review of Jon Ronson's latest take on the porn industry, the podcast The Last Days of August.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE LAST DAYS OF AUGUST" GO TO THE 6O MINUTE MARK.

Plus, a true crime update about the Madeleine McCann case.

In Crime of the Week: winner winner, chicken dinner.

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Double review of "Charged" and "At the Heart of Gold" May 13, 2019

The panel begins with some appearance announcements, plus the reveal of our PodX ticket giveaway winner. Then somehow we get on a tangent about the 1978-1981 TV series, "The White Shadow."

There's a new HBO documentary looking at the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal. "At the Heart of Gold" doesn’t have the amount of time the podcast "Believed" enjoyed, so it goes for breadth instead of depth.

TO HEAR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "AT THE HEART OF GOLD," GO TO THE 33 MINUTE MARK.

In "Slate Presents: Charged,” host Emily Bazelon spent two years examining New York’s special gun court for defendants of firearms charges. The series attempts to do what Serial season three could not...turn its longform investigation into a unified narrative about the justice system.

TO HEAR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "CHARGED," GO TO 70 MINUTE MARK.

Then in Crime of the Week: getting stiffed.

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Whatcha gonna do with our Running from COPS review? May 06, 2019

Kevin begins with a health update. Then the panel then wields their Valyrian steel and takes a stab at The Battle of Winterfell episode of Game of Thrones.

TO SKIP SPOILERS FROM EP 3 OF GoT, go to minute 18.

Moving on, the crime writers talk about the new series from Dan Taberski, "Running from COPS." It's a look at law enforcement reality TV and a contemplation on what it's doing for the public, the police, the suspects, and the system.

TO HEAR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "RUNNING FROM COPS," GO TO MINUTE 56.

In Crime of the Week: beat the rap.

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Netflix's Madeleine McCann doc and a Make-a-wish mystery podcast Apr 29, 2019

With Rebecca and Lara on school vacation, Kevin and Toby are joined by special guest Sarah D. Bunting from "The Blotter Presents...."

First off the panel reacts to the Maryland Court of Appeals' refusal to reconsider its recent decision reinstating Adnan Syed's conviction. Next Toby introduces us to an up-and-coming podcast, "What Happened to Holly Bartlett." This six-part series looks at the 2010 death of a blind woman from Halifax. Then we give a glowing review to the mystery podcast from five-year-old Make-a-Wish recipient Azka Sherief, "The Stealer of the Diamonds." It's the best five minutes you'll spend.

To listen to "The Stealer of the Diamonds," click here.

Netflix is offering up the eight-part series "The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann." After the three-year-old British girl vanished from her bedroom while on vacation in Portugal, the crime became an international media sensation.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MADELEINE McCANN, GO TO 58:20.

In crime of the week: That's why they call me Thumper.

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The Murder Squad! A Blackout podcast review! Apr 22, 2019

We take a quick look at “Murder Squad.” The concept of the podcast from journalist Billy Jensen and cold case investigator Paul Holes is to not only chat about crimes, but ask listeners to help solve them too.

Then, we review “Blackout,” which follows a northern NH disc jockey as he attempts to navigate a world suddenly without power,wondering whether there are nefarious actors bent on forcing modern society to revert to simpler times.

TO GET OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "BLACKOUT," GO TO 53:44.

In Crime of the Week: dog day afternoon.

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A double review! Uncover: The Village and The Ballad of Billy Balls! Apr 15, 2019

“Uncover: The Village,” investigates a series of murders in Toronto’s Gay Village. Despite a 2018 arrest, gay residents of The Village have been vanishing since the mid-70s with the police taking little notice.

TO HEAR OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF "UNCOVER: THE VILLAGE," GO TO MINUTE 30.

“Crimetown Presents” is back with a new series about true love and true crime. “The Ballad of Billy Balls” looks at the mysterious death of a New York punk-era musician, told mostly through the eyes of his long-devoted, troubled girlfriend.

TO HEAR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE BALLAD OF BILLY BALLS," GO TO MINUTE 62.

In crime of the week: Lions and rhinos and elephants, oh my!

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To Live and Die in LA - NOPE. Plus, an In The Dark SCOTUS update! Apr 08, 2019

In this episode, we review the podcast "To Live and Die in LA" from Tenderfoot TV. We also discuss the latest developments on the Curtis Flowers case.

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The Case Against Adnan Syed Part 4 - So what did we learn? Apr 01, 2019

The crime writers give some hot takes on SCOTUS oral arguments on the Curtis Flowers case. Which justices shocked the panel? Plus, we get a hilarious sneak-peek at Lara's new Patreon-exclusive podcast, The Brickter Scale Podcast.

The group gives their thoughts about the conclusion of HBO's "The Case Against Adnan Syed." The series has provided some emotional notes along with its revealing investigation. The documentary uncovers some explosive evidence on DNA...but would you even know it?

TO HEAR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF THE CASE AGAINST ADNAN SYED, GO TO MINUTE 67.

In crime of the week: won't you see my neighbor?

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The Case Against Adnan Syed Part 3 - Did we get that bombshell yet? Mar 25, 2019

After an announcement about Kevin's health, Rebecca gets straight to business with Colin Miller. Legal Siri himself discusses an error he discovered in the Court of Appeal's recent decision against Adnan Syed that could be grounds for reconsideration. Plus, he shares his thoughts on The Case Against Adnan Syed. Have the documentarians discovered the smoking gun which might turn it all around?

Then Rebecca, Kevin, Lara, & Toby dive into episode three of the HBO series. The audience finally learns of the biggest flaws in the state's case: the cell tower evidence. What do they make of the many narrative threads still loose heading into the final episode...and what about that email cliffhanger?

TO REMAIN SPOILER-FREE FOR EPISODE 3 OF THE CASE AGAINST ADNAN SYED, GO TO MINUTE 60.

In Crime of the Week: method acting.

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The Case Against Adnan Syed part 2 (on TV and in real life) Mar 18, 2019

Rebecca and Kevin discuss Adnan Syed’s recent legal setback with Rabia Chaudry. She also dishes on what’s missing from the HBO documentary (of which she is an executive producer).

Then the full panel weighs in on episode two of The Case Against Adnan Syed. Important witnesses are introduced, and the new investigators focus on grass. Are these developments going somewhere?

TO REMAIN SPOILER-FREE FOR EPISODE 2 OF THE CASE AGAINST ADNAN SYED, GO TO MINUTE 69.

In Crime of the Week, be cruel to your school.

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The Case Against Adnan Syed Part 1 & Leaving Neverland Mar 11, 2019

The crime writers give their take on part 1 of HBO's "The Case Against Adnan Syed." Like the movie version of a favorite book, the episode covers the story of Adnan and Hae's high school relationship, but adds to it in a way "Serial" did not. Note: this episode was recorded before Friday's decision in the case by the MD Court of Appeals.

TO REMAIN SPOILER-FREE FOR EPISODE ONE, GO TO MINUTE 40.

Then the panel wrestles with HBO's two-part "Leaving Neverland." The documentary - told simply and starkly - is the most powerful indictment of Michael Jackson's systematic abuse of star-struck children and their families. (Warning: discussion of this documentary may be triggering for some audience members.)

TO REMAIN SPOILER-FREE FOR LEAVING NEVERLAND, GO TO MINUTE 69.

In Crime of the Week: how the cookie crumbles.

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Over My Dead Body review, True Detective wrap, and a Steven Avery win Mar 04, 2019

A big week for Lara, as she broadcasts from the Great White North of New Hampshire, having traversed the area on a snowmobile. Rebecca also announces a new exclusive feature for Patreon supporters: the new CWO After Show. Get this exclusive podcast by joining us at patreon.com/partnersincrimemedia.

In True Crime Update, we hear about a win for Steven Avery in his bid to get a new trial. Then the panel gives final thoughts about True Detective season 3.

TO HEAR THE SPOILER-FREE DISCUSSION OF TRUE DETECTIVE, GO TO MINUTE 60.

Then Wondery unveils its new podcast series, “Over My Dead Body.” Season one is called “Tally” and looks at a strange murder in Tallahassee, Florida. Does Over My Dead Body share more with binge-worthy Dirty John and Dr. Death than it does with the other all-to-common crime podcasts?

TO REMAIN SPOILER-FREE, GO TO MINUTE 60 TO HEAR THE REVIEWS.

In crime of the week: claw and order.

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I am the Night! Reply All's The Founder! And an In The Dark update! Feb 25, 2019

Rebecca teases the upcoming supplemental episodes of In the Dark, Lara gets sick, Toby has further thoughts on Maura Murray, and Kevin explains his fear of being blown up by his snow blower.

The panel discuss "The Founder," the latest episode of Reply All in which we learn the incredible life of crime of Paul Le Roux. It's a good tale about the super-villain you’ve never heard of.

Then the Crime Writers talk about TNT's “I Am the Night,” a limited series based on the life story of Fauna Hodel and starring Chris Pine. The show sways between noir and surrealism, looking to tell Fauna’s unbelievable life story in a believable way.

TO HEAR THE SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "I AM THE NIGHT," GO TO 58:10..

In Crime of the Week: smoke 'em if you got 'em.

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A Conviction Podcast Review! And An (Informed) Maura Murray Case Update! Feb 18, 2019

Crime writers assemble! Lara gets to bitch about stuff she can’t hear them saying on “True Detective.” Toby discovers the “Crime Beat” podcast, which he predicts will go big. Rebecca talks to Maggie Freleng about new developments in the Maura Murray case. Kevin stifles a cough.

The panel reviews “Conviction” from Gimlet Media. It’s a profile of a brash, self-assured private investigator who will go to any length to prove his client was set up by a crooked cop. Is he a champion of justice or a detrimental showboat?

TO HEAR THE SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF CONVICTION, GO TO 1:08:31

In crime of the week: put a tiger in your toke.

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The Ted Bundy Tapes, The Dropout, and it's coming...The Case Against Adnan Syed Feb 11, 2019

Rebecca and Kevin announce a new benefit for Patreon supporters. You’ll now be able to get Married with Podcast, their exclusive marriage & parenting advice show. Check out www.patreon.com/partnersincrimemedia for more details.

In True Crime Update, HBO will soon air its post-Serial documentary, “The Case Against Adnan Syed.” A press release promises “new discoveries, as well as groundbreaking revelations that challenge the state's case.”

The panel does a mini-review of “The Dropout” from ABC Radio and ABC News Nightline. This investigation into a self-made billionaire and her massive biotech shell game is a compelling story of corporate true crime.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE DROPOUT" GO TO 32:18.

Finally, the Crime Writers talk about Netflix’s “Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes.” With a prolific amount of contemporaneous film and personal audio recordings, this reexamination into the serial killer’s daring and deadly life of crime is enlightening.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE TED BUNDY TAPES" GO TO 1:02:46

In Crime of the Week: the pursuit of happiness.

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Is True Detective back? (Plus, Gimlet's new true crime project and Sheela's big screen potential!) Feb 04, 2019

Lara is hopped up on chocolate-covered espresso beans…so hold on to your hats, people. The panel talks about Hollywood’s plans for a dramatized retelling of the “Wild Wild Country” story. Rebecca poses the question of whether “Conviction” and Gimlet’s other testosterone-fueled true crime offers are “a little too bro.” Then the crime writers discuss whether the sensibility and narrative certitude of true crime publishing has a place in the broken system/unsolved case popularity of modern podcasts.

The group tackles the new season of HBO’s True Detective. It replicates season 1’s neo-gothic settings, stylized cinematography, shifting timelines, unreliable narrators, and its all-star cast. But does the latest installment return True Detective to its once-revered reputation?

WE’LL BE DISCUSSING PLOT POINTS TO TRUE DETECTIVE, SO TO STAY SPOILER-FREE FAST-FORWARD TO OUR REVIEWS AT 1:01:06

Then in crime of the week: kill ‘em with Kindness.

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Abducted in Plain Sight....is bananas Jan 28, 2019

It's a breakfast-hour recording for the panel after a basement flooding emergency threw off the schedule (not to fear...Studio C is undamaged). Also, the dog's weird behavior has a medical explanation.

The Crime Writers do a quick take on the new installment of "Done Disappeared." After a shaky sophomore season, the podcast parody seems to be back to peak form.

Then the team gives their thoughts (and they have a lot of them) about the new doc from Netflix, "Abducted in Plain Sight." The story of a girl kidnapped by her neighbor - twice - is filled with a ton of WTF moments, but does that alone make for a good documentary?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "ABDUCTED IN PLAIN SIGHT" GO TO 54:59

In crime of the week: $10,000,000 finders keepers.

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Monster: The Zodiac Killer - Is it a podcast worth listening to? Jan 21, 2019

The crime writers discuss the finer points of hate mail. Toby gives a shout out to a little-known but important local podcast called 2nd Read, Rebecca and Kevin plug their appearance on Netflix's "You Can't Make This Up" podcast, and Lara has wine come out her nose.

The panel reviews Monster, which explores the sinister ciphers and random slayings of the Zodiac Killer that gripped California in 1969. Documentary or exposé, is it possible they’ll put forth a theory which has yet to be made after a half-century of investigation?

TO HEAR THE SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "MONSTER," SKIP TO 54:54.

Then in crime of the week: purloined purple penguin.

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Broken Harts broke our hearts (and not in a good way) Jan 14, 2019

Two true crime updates this week. The "hot sheriff" from Murder Mountain issues a rebuttal of-sorts to the Netflix doc. Meantime, based on a recent court decision favorable to his case, Adnan Syed's legal team has submitted a supplemental filing in his appeal. Then there's a special cameo from this month's guest on Toby Ball's Deep Dive podcast.

Next the crime writers talk about the hit podcast "Broken Harts." This collaboration between HowStuffWorks and Glamour magazine looks at the case of a family killed when their van was intentional driven over an ocean cliff. The background of the Harts is compelling, but does the pod do a good job presenting any of these issues?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "BROKEN HARTS," GO TO 57:09.

In crime of the week: open sesame.

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Murder Mountain and Bandersnatch and Chill Jan 07, 2019

It’s 2019 and the Crime Writers resolve to bring it in the new year.

The panel clicks its way through "Bandersnatch," Netflix’s hot interactive TV show. Toby thinks it meshes gimmick with good story, Kevin likes its meta themes, and Lara is still trying to figure out her Roku. Meanwhile, Rebecca finally finishes her summer reading.

The Crime Writers catch the 4:20 to “Murder Mountain,” the new Netflix doc about the outlaw California region where black market marijuana is cultivated. Does the six-part series effectively weave the story of an unsolved(?) murder with its look at the past and future of the region now that legalization has uprooted the industry?

TO HEAR THE SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "MURDER MOUNTAIN" GO TO 59:22.

Then in Crime of the Week: And to all a good fight.

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The Innocent Man on Netflix, a Making a Murderer lawsuit, and a Monster podcast trailer Dec 24, 2018

Is it an early Christmas present, or a justified lawsuit? We weigh in on the news that one of the maybe-corrupt law enforcement officers featured in Making A Murderer has filed suit against Netflix and the filmmakers. Plus, one of the Bundy clan is walking away from the movement we heard about in the excellent podcast Bundyville. Why? The answer might surprise you.

And yes, a much-maligned podcast gets a follow up as we break down what we heard in the new trailer for Monster: The Zodiac Killer.

Then, in our main event review, we break down and review the latest entry from Netflix in the true crime documentary genre. It’s called The Innocent Man, and it’s based on a book from an author better known for campy courtroom novels. Do we love it? Find out!

TO HEAR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF THE INNOCENT MAN, FAST-FORWARD TO 1:01:33.

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A big break, a Cold review and the Best of 2018 Dec 17, 2018

OH SNAP! Rebecca describes her misadventure in the woods. We make an announcement about PodX. In true crime update, Curtis Flowers's defense hopes to turn the tables on Doug Evans.

We review Cold, the new podcast from KSL examining the Susan Powell case. A thorough examination of the lives of the Powells through recovered computer files, audio diaries, videotape, and dramatic readings, we ask how much is too much?

TO HEAR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF COLD, FAST-FORWARD TO 32:58.

We look back 2018 with our recommendations of the best things to watch, read, and listen to. What's everyone's pick for the best podcast of the year?

Rebecca's picks:

The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz
Tom Bouman’s Dry Bones In The Valley
TV series Scott and Bailey
The CB Strike series by Robert Galbraith AKA the unknown author JK rowling
The Faroe Island series by Chris Ould
This crazy ass season of Law and Order SVU
The Logan McRae series by Stuart McBride
Getting Curious podcast by Jonathan Van Ness
The Will Trent series by Karin Slaughter

Kevin's picks

The documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel on Amazon Prime
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend on the CW
The Most Perfect Album from the More Perfect podcast
The podcast Bag Man from MSNBC
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

Lara's picks

The Marvelous Ms. Maisel Season 2 is now available!
Wild Thing, podcast about Big Foot Believers
From Katherine Howe, the upcoming The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs.
Bear Brook from NHPR
Jack Ryan on Amazon Prime

Toby's picks

Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin
The Wake by Paul Kingsnorth
Decoder Ring episode The Incunabula Papers
The TV show Babylon Berlin
A Legacy of Spies by John LeCarre
The movie The Witch

Then in Crime of the Week: Viva Nun Vegas!

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A Teacher's Pet update, HBO's The Sentence and Headlong: Surviving Y2K Dec 10, 2018

IRL Rebecca renders a verdict...and gets to check something off her bucket list. There's a true crime update out of Australia with an arrest in the Teacher's Pet case. Should we reconsider the quality of a podcast story poorly told, yet effective at solving the crime?

HBO brings us to tears with The Sentence, a look at one woman's 15-year mandatory-minimum sentence and its effects on her young children. Can a documentary about a single family speak to a larger institutional issue?

TO HERE OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE SENTENCE" GO TO 33:01.

Then Dan Taberski returns with Headlong: Surviving Y2K. This look at global disaster averted weaves stories about eager doomsday preppers, bank robbers, dissident journalists, mothers in labor, and Taberski's own story of coming out to his wife. Let's party like it's 1999.

TO HEAR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "SURVIVING Y2K" GO TO 1:11:53.

Then in Crime of the Week: there arose such a clatter.

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Dirty John on TV, an Ear Hustle update, and our review of The City Dec 03, 2018

Good news/bad news in our true crime podcast updates. He’s podcasting’s second most-famous inmate. Now someone is leaving Ear Hustle…for a great reason. Also, a return trip to Winona by Madeline Baron and In the Dark gins up more CWO anger. Was that recent fire a coincidence or payback for supporting Curtis Flowers?

A microchip has solved the mystery of the stray cat taken in by Lara. Seems she soon after had an awkward conversation with a neighbor.

Bravo’s Dirty John is the first true crime podcast to get a scripted TV adaptation. How well is the Connie Britton/Eric Bana-led show telling the story? And does it matter if we already know how it ends?

Then we take a longer look at USA Today’s ten-part series The City. It’s a giant heap of garbage…we mean, the story is about a giant heap of garbage which turns up overnight in a depressed Chicago neighborhood. Does the examination of city politics, corruption, and environmental racism adequately fill the time the podcast’s been given?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE CITY," FAST-FORWARD TO 57:34.

Then in crime of the week: that didn’t last long.

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Serial Season 3 is over! And is Homecoming worth a watch? Nov 19, 2018

Serial wraps up season 3 with more from Joshua behind bars (should the whole season have been him?). We leave some notes in the suggestion box for Sarah Koenig about how S3 could have pulled together the many themes touched on: overcharging, racial inequality, police misconduct, and the indifference to improving the system.

Then we binge Amazon Prime's "Homecoming," the first major TV adaptation of a hit podcast. It has its own visual and musical style and a plot that suddenly veers from the source material. Is there enough different about the TV series to keep fans of the podcast engaged?

TO HEAR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "HOMECOMING" FAST-FORWARD TO 1:09:34.

Then in crime of the week: doughnut make my brown eyes blue?

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Serial Episode 8 & Believed (the podcast about Larry Nassar) Nov 12, 2018

Sarah Koenig talking to a man behind bars who got done-wrong by the system. Wait, what season of Serial is this? We're talking about "A Madman's Vacation" with its revealing look at the Cleveland juvenile justice system.

Then we talk about the powerful series from Michigan Radio and NPR, "Believed." This podcast takes a hard look at the crimes of gymnastics trainer Larry Nassar who was convicted of sexually assaulting more than 200 girls. Believed tells the tale through the stories of his victims and tries to examine how Nassar got away with it for so long. And our CWO discussion gets personal.

NOTE: THIS PART OF OUR DISCUSSION MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME LISTENERS. TO SKIP PAST IT, OR JUST STAY SPOILER-FREE, FAST-FORWARD TO THE 1:06:11 MARK.

Then in crime of the week: the spirit within her.

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Making a Murderer Season 2 - Our breakdown and review! Nov 05, 2018

Killers or conspiracy? Justice or just desserts?

We dedicate our entire episode to the much-awaited sequel to 2016's breakout hit and cultural phenomenon: Netflix's Making a Murderer 2. Our review takes two paths. First the panel discusses the Brendan Dassey story line. Did it capture the drama of his reversed reversal of fortune? Then on to the tale of Steven Avery's attorney Kathrine Zellner. Does her investigation create more doubt about Avery's conviction? Or is it more of (a different kind of) the same.

WE ARE DOING ALL THE SPOILERS, SO TO STAY SPOILER-FREE JUMP TO 1:07:26.

In crime of the week: pooper star!

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Serial Episode 7 and Gladiator from Wondery Oct 29, 2018

In Serial episode 7, "Snowball Effect," we see the negative after-effects of Erimius's and Jesse's cases. What were once two men with the moral high ground against police misconduct are now spiraling into self-sabotage.

Then we look at Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football, Inc. This podcast from the Boston Globe Spotlight team examines how football and his environment contributed to Hernandez going from NFL tight end to having three murder charges. A must-listen, even for non-sports fans.

Want to skip our spoilers and just get to the thumbs-up or thumbs-down review? Go to 1:00:18

In crime of the week: swift justice.

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Serial Episode 6 and Happy Face (A hot mess review!) Oct 22, 2018

It's the return for the Brickter Scale. In Serial episode 6, "You in the Red Shirt," Sarah and Emmanuel get into the story of a man beaten by East Cleveland police who seems to get justice in the court but continues to pay for it on the street.

Then we talk about "Happy Face" AKA "My dad, the serial killer." This podcast of a daughter's take on her secretly-homicidal father has everything: truckers, bunk beds, prison correspondence...bears. But does it have a point? (Spoiler alert: Nope!)

FOR A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "HAPPY FACE" FAST-FORWARD TO 57:35.

In Crime of the Week: skin diver.

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Serial Episode 5 & The Dream (Yup, that podcast about MLMs!) Oct 15, 2018

In Serial episode 5, Pleas Baby Pleas, Sarah brings us inside the prosecutor’s office, giving us a view of what it’s like to be one of too-few prosecutors in a system with too many felonies to prosecute, with some decisions made for justice and some for expediency. But does this episode live up to Serial's promise? The panel is split 3-1.

Then, we review The Dream, a new podcast from Stitcher that looks at the unsavory world of multi-level marketing companies, and the reasons some people get sucked in.

For our review without spoilers, skip to: 1:06:41.

In Crime of the Week: Apple, peaches, pumpkin pie. Who's not ready, holler "I."

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Serial Episode 4 & American Vandal (Season Number Two!) Oct 07, 2018

For Serial season 3 episode 4, "A Bird in Jail is Worth Two on the Street," Sarah introduces us to man charged with shooting of an infant in a car before the state dropped the charges. Could this have been avoided? We learn that a snitch in time could have saved him a year in jail.

Then...American Vandal is back with number two. Netflix's smart, Peabody Award winning, true crime satire returns with Pete and Sam looking for the Turd Burglar. Call the police, because DeMarcus steals the show.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "AMERICAN VANDAL," JUMP AHEAD TO 59:25.

Then in Crime of the Week - golden goats.

Kevin wishes to thank the following folks for donating to the Walk A Mile in Her Shoes walk-a-thon. Krista Correa, Rachel Harrison, Rebecca Epstein, Ben & Noel Bruening, Claire Cantwell, Kylie McElveen, Jennifer Rubenstein, Nikki Mans, Jessica McEachern, Emiliano Diaz de Leon, Katy Veprauskas, Anne Rogers, Carol Coello, Leah & Susan Kosior, Kimberly Hoefling, Wendy Martin, Lisa Miller, Melissa Huenefeldt, Bonnie West, Moira MacLellan, Courtney Castaneda, Sarah O’Reilly, Rebecca Lavoie Flynn, and “Anonymous.”

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Serial Season 3: Episode 3 & Uncover: Escaping NXIVM Oct 01, 2018

In Serial episode 3, "Misdemeanor, Meet Mr. Lawsuit," Sarah looks into the issue of how the police interact with the African-American population in their communities. A large topic writ small through the story of one arrest in a hallway. Which one of the crime writers says this is the best single episode of Serial ever?

Then the panel discuss the new CBC podcast Uncover: Escaping NXIVM. The distinctive Canadian presentation style takes on an alleged sex cult. (Want to skip to our spoiler-free review? The time code is 1:04:06)

In Crime of the Week: game over. (Thanks to listener Kevin Carroll for contributing this COTW!)

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Serial Season 3: Episode 1 and 2 - Our breakdown and review! Sep 24, 2018

Get ready for the best discussion and analysis of the Serial podcast. Sarah Koenig is back for season 3 (finally!) - Along with Emmanuel Dzotsi, Sarah gives us a year in the life of the Cleveland Justice Center.

For episode one, "A Bar Fight Walks into the Justice Center," the crime writers discuss whether the lesson is about prosecutorial discretion...or about race?

In episode two, "You've Got Some Gauls," we can't even with Judge Gaul. But does he have a point? (Spoiler alert - he does not.)

Also, we give our take on the Curtiss Flowers update episode of "In the Dark." The more things change, the more they stay the same.

In crime of the week: whale fail. See the dumpster snafu here and the classic exploding whale incident here.

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Dr. Death, Ozark Season 2, and Serial Season 3 is almost here! Sep 13, 2018

Weekly episodes of "Crime Writers On" have returned! And so has "Serial!" For season 3, Sarah K and Co. will look at the justice system from the inside: embedding themselves in a criminal courthouse in Cleveland.

Note: for the duration of Serial's run, episodes of CWO will drop on Mondays instead of Fridays.

Netflix’s hit crime show "Ozark" is back with a second season. The drama starring Jason Bateman and Laura Linney combines white collar crime and redneck gothic. Is it as good as its debut season?

TO HEAR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF OZARK, SKIP AHEAD TO 31:44

The panel digs into the new hit "Dr. Death" from Wondery. Billed as the successor to "Dirty John," reporter Laura Beil recalls the case of a doctor who performed a string of botched surgeries while the system was unable - or unwilling - to stop him.

TO JUMP AHEAD TO OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF DR. DEATH, FAST-FORWARD TO 56:45

Then in crime of the week: felonious food fight.

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This episode has IT ALL: Up and Vanished, Sharp Objects, Pam Smart, Kim Kardashian and MORE! Aug 31, 2018

Wow, we've got more true crime than you can shake a stick at! This time out we talk about Kim Kardashian's new-found love of "Serial," the latest court filings in Adnan Syed's appeal, and the Facebook meltdown over "My Favorite Murder." The panel give first takes and final thoughts on shows like "Sharp Objects," "Up and Vanished," and "Fatal Voyage." And there's cool stuff to look forward to with TV debuts of "My Dad Wrote a Porno" and "American Vandal" season two.

TO AVOID SPOILERS FOR "SHARP OBJECTS," JUMP TO TIME CODE 35:42

The crime writers look at the new miniseries from Investigation Discovery, "Pamela Smart: An American Murder Mystery." As NH-based writers & journalists, there's not a lot about the case the panel doesn't already know. Does the show add anything for those who've seen one of the movies or read one of the many books on this case?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "PAMELA SMART: AMERICAN MURDER MYSTERY," GO TO 1:06:33.

In Crime of the Week, felony bang bang!

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A Double-Bill Review: Slow Burn and Castle Rock! Aug 16, 2018

In the world of true crime updates, Irish authorities have issued a new report on police conduct in the West Cork case. Speaking of podcasts from Audible, what's happened to their podcast division? Rebecca gives a plug for her new project, Bear Brook, which will be debuting from NHPR next month. Also, has horror author Joe Hill solved the 1974 mystery of the "Woman in the Dunes" by watching "Jaws"?

Speaking of Joe Hill, his father (Stephen King) has a new show on Hulu. Castle Rock is the creepy tale of a unidentified inmate discovered in an old prison, and of the lawyer with a haunted past returning to his hometown in Maine where evil lurks. It's the most Stephen King thing to ever Stephen King.

FOR A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "CASTLE ROCK," GO TO 35:05.

The sophomore season of Slow Burn is out, this time focusing on the impeachment of President Clinton. Slate's podcast attempts to tell the story of the building crisis and how it affected the lives of the scandal’s supporting characters. As Leon Neyfawk says, it's crazier than we remember it.

FOR A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "SLOW BURN," GO TO 59:20.

In Crime of the Week: Friendly, neighborhood bar, Spider-Man.

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A Bundyville review! A Dark Tourist debate! And Rebecca gets called for jury duty! Aug 03, 2018

On our off week, the Crime Writers got together face-to-face for the first time in ages. We're back with lots to talk about. This includes the latest "In the Dark"-related court filings in the Curtis Flowers case, the passing of a troubled ex-prosecutor featured in "The Staircase," and one of the panelists gets called for jury duty.

We go globetrotting on the new Netflix series, "Dark Tourist." Journalist David Farrier, who wowed us with his documentary “Tickled,” shows us some of the most bizarre, macabre, and dangerous travel destinations around.

Moving on...the new podcast "Bundyville" examines the story-behind-the-story of Cliven Bundy and his anti-government standoff that transfixed the nation. The seven-part series explores the seeds of Bundy’s discontent as sewn by federal grazing rights, court cases, nuclear testing, Mormon oppression, and a religious prophecy.

FOR A SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF "BUNDYVILLE," JUMP TO 59:30

In Crime of the Week: Bigfoot whips it out. (And in this week's outtake - so does one of us.)

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An S-Town lawsuit, an In The Dark tragedy, and a Sharp Objects Review Jul 20, 2018

While Toby broadcasts from a beautiful island lake house, the rest of the panel sweats it out to bring you another episode of Crime Writers On with a brand new logo!

There are true crime updates galore:

We talk about the MD Court of Appeals granting cert in the continuing post-conviction struggles of Serial's Adnan Syed.

Curtis Flower's mother passed away and we reflect on the meaning of injustice within injustice.

Plus, the "estate" of John McLemore is suing "S-town" for violating his privacy. Legally, morally, ethically - do they have a leg to stand on?

We talk about HBO's new prestige drama "Sharp Objects." As much a character study as it is a crime mystery, will the star-driven adaptation of Gillian Flynn's novel thrill fans like “Gone Girl” or leave them disappointed like “True Detective" season 2?

Plus, we give the Granite State some summer tourism plugs this week with shout-outs to Story Land, Santa's Village, and Clark's Trading Post (with the dancing bears and the Wolfman who shoots a gun at you).

TO HEAR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "SHARP OBJECTS," FAST-FOWARD TO 1:14:47

Then in crime of the week: blow it up your ass.

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Rewinding The RFK Tapes and In The Dark's triumphant finale Jul 06, 2018

Kevin is recording in his underwear and Stephen King has come to live at Lara's house. It must be time for the summer edition of Crime Writers On.

In the first part of the podcast we'll review The RFK Tapes from the team behind Crimetown. Robert Kennedy was assassinated at point blank range in a room full of people...so why do some believe there was another shooter? We're not buying the conspiracy, but the tale isn't so bad.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF THE RFK TAPES, FAST-FOWARD TO 33:12.

Then we'll muster up as much rage and praise as possible for the season finale of In The Dark. An undisclosed alternate suspect! An uncatalogued gun! A hidden-in-plain-sight tunnel! The debate isn't about whether In The Dark gets a thumbs up - it's about whether it's the best podcast of all time.

Then in crime of the week: I'm not dead yet.

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Has In The Dark surpassed Serial? Plus, Adnan Syed gets a timeline, and Flint Town gets our review. Jun 22, 2018

Is In The Dark a better podcast than Serial season one? Or would it not even exist were it not for Serial?

The Crime Writers take on that debate as we check in with the latest installment of In The Dark's investigation into the investigation that left Curtiss Flowers stranded on death row.

Plus, Adnan Syed gets a new timeline for a legal decision, Brendan Dassey's case maybe gets a SCOTUS look, and in the biggest crime of all, Rebecca and Kevin make jokes about their sex life. Also, Toby WINS the Candace from The Staircase debate.

The crew then digs into Flint Town, a fascinating Netflix docu-series that gives an inside look at one of the most challenged police forces (and cities) in the country. What do cops in Flint think about policing, race relations, politics, and what it means to be a community?

WANT TO SKIP TO THE THUMBS UP OR DOWN REVIEW OF FLINT TOWN? SKIP TO 1:06:33

Then in Crime of the Week, taco libre!

SPONSORS THIS EPISODE

Kind Snacks - enjoy 50% off and free shipping on your first Snack Pack at kindsnacks.com/crime

Betabrand Dress Pant Yoga Pants - use code CRIME for 20% off your first pants order at betabrand.com

Firstleaf - get 3 bottles of wine for only $15, plus free shipping, and an extra $10 off your next box at TRYFirstleaf.com/crime.

Daily Harvest - go to daily-harvest.com use code CRIME to get three free cups in your first box

Hangman, a new novel by Jack Heath

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Those new eps of The Staircase! An S-Town movie? And In The Dark has us like... Jun 15, 2018

What a bad week for Lara. First she loses the chowder contest, then she had to listen to that enraging interview with DA Doug Evans from "In the Dark" (of which Rebecca genuinely worried for Lara's health). Everyone has thoughts about a proposed "S-town" movie. And Kevin makes some Canadian friends.

The panel runs up and down "The Staircase's" three new episodes. The original true crime doc about Michael Peterson was a seminal work. Does this final coda contain the same power?

TO HEAR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF THE FINAL THREE EPISODES OF "THE STAIRCASE," FAST FORWARD TO 1:13:41.

This episode's Crime of the Week is truly eye-popping.

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'In the Dark' outrages, 'Killing Eve' slays, and what really happened to Maura Murray Jun 08, 2018

Lara hits the roof after hearing the latest installment of "In the Dark." We knew the court was rough on the defendant - but the jurors too?!

Kevin gives a plug for the June 8-9 Toronto True Crime Film Festival. He'll be there Saturday for a panel discussion. More at torontotruecrimefilmfestival.com.

Toby gets another chance to roll his eyes about "The Staircase" owl theory.

Rebecca leads the discussion on Killing Eve. An American-bred Brit goes from desk jockey to head of a secret unit tracking a skilled assassin striking throughout Europe. This cat-and-mouse thriller that bounces around the continent is both suspenseful and playful, with compelling characters and crackling dialogue.

TO HERE OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "KILLING EVE," JUMP AHEAD TO 1:00:49

In Crime in Week: dangerous moves.

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A hot review of 30 for 30's "Bikram," Adnan Syed responds, and an "In the Dark" recantation Jun 01, 2018

More paper pasted this week in the Adnan Syed case. The defense has filed its conditional cross-petition. It basically says, "Hey state supreme court, don't take this case. But if you do, we got some stuff over here we want to talk about."

This week's "In the Dark" buries the needle on the Brickter-scale. Listen how Cookie's story crumbles.

The crime writers break out the leotards and sweatbands for the hot hot-yoga docu-pod "30 for 30: Bikram." Julia Lowrey Henderson tells the rise of Bikram Choudhury, peels back the veneer of his self-created myth, and gets into the many allegations of sexual misconduct.

TO HEAR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF BIKRAM, FAST-FOWARD TO 58:17.

In Crime of the Week: done and dusted.

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Dismissing Adnan's charges? The Handmaids return! An In The Dark Update! And Grading The Teacher's Pet! May 25, 2018

Could it be? Could the next Baltimore State's Attorney be willing to drop charges against Adnan Syed? Well..he's gotta win first. How about them Handmaids - the feel-bad tv show of the year? Lara's Rage-o-meter buries the needle when she hears this week's episode of In the Dark (oh Cookie!),

TO SKIP OUR TALK ABOUT "IN THE DARK," JUMP AHEAD TO 29:50.

Then from Australia we’ll review “The Teacher’s Pet”: a podcast about a professional athlete, his missing wife, and his teenage lover. Does this cold case story from Down Under stack up against the best podcasts out there?

TO JUMP PAST OUR DISCUSSION ON "THE TEACHER'S PET," GO TO OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW AT 51:26.

Then in Crime of the Week: I could read it all over your face.

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Evil Genius! That HBO Adnan Syed Documentary! Miracle Whip! And More In the Dark! May 18, 2018

There are TWO true crime updates this week in the Adnan Syed case. First, prosecutors have decided to ask Maryland's highest court to review the previous rulings granting Adnan a new trial. Second, HBO has announced a documentary about the case is in the works. They promise new information and the first interviews with Adnan since "Serial."

We discuss episode four of "In the Dark." Something's fishy about those jailhouse confessions, and Lara's head might explode.

Speaking of confessions, Kevin admits he's always wanted to try the tangy taste of Miracle Whip. With three naysayers listening on, he takes his first bites.

Moving on...the crime writers go over the Netflix documentary "Evil Genius." A man robs a bank with a bomb locked around his neck. Who was the mastermind beyond the elaborate plot? Does the series give short shrift to the characters' mental illnesses? And does the story maintain the momentum of it's compelling beginning?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW, GO TO 1:02:26.

Then a vintage crime of the week: step right up.

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In The Dark - A Great True Crime Podcast Returns! May 11, 2018

This week the Crime Writers look at the second season of "In the Dark" from APM Reports. Madeline Baron and her team investigate the case of Curtis Flowers, a man who’s been tried six times for the same crime. Is the sophomore season of the Peabody Award winning pod delivering the goods?

TO JUMP TO THE SPOILER-FREE REVIEW, FAST-FORWARD TO 1:00:00.

Kevin announces his appearance at the Toronto True Crime Film Festival June 8-9, Lara gets a fan mail slap down, and Toby gets sexually harassed.

In Crime of the Week: Rescue vs. room service.

Also mentioned: the Omni Mount Washington Resort and the More Perfect podcast episode Object Anyway.

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The clock's ticking on Adnan Syed's case! Done Disappeared is back! And our Caliphate podcast review! May 04, 2018

Lara makes her triumphant return, promising to bring her A game.

We give an update on the COSA appeal in favor of Adnan Syed: why the next 15 days are important. Speaking of triumphant returns, John David Booter is back with season two of Done Disappeared. It seems crimes against water fowl are more common than John David Booter realized. (With John David Booter.) Plus, a fake astronaut claps back on The Habitat, the podcast from Gimlet we reviewed last week.

Next, we take a close look at the New York Times podcast Caliphate. Journalist Rukmimi Callimachi pulls back the curtain on how the terror group draws people to the cause, and life as a war correspondent, all in an attempt to answer the question, “Who are we fighting?”

FOR A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF CALIPHATE, GO TO 48:28:40

In Crime of the Week: if it bleeds, it leads.

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Is The Habitat a terrible podcast? Is the Golden State Killer caught??! And Westworld returns! Apr 27, 2018

Lara picked the wrong week to go on vacation...

The panel gives their reaction to the capture of the alleged Golden State Killer. Did Michelle McNamara's I'll Be Gone in the Dark play a role in the arrest or is it too soon to tell?

Rebecca provides Toby an abridged update on Death In Ice Valley. Then the team offers their first impressions of season two of HBO's "Westworld."

The main event: Gimlet’s new hit podcast The Habitat. This series follows six volunteers simulating a Mars mission by being cooped up together in one small shelter for a year. Is the podcast a look at the human failings inherent in a long-term space mission? Or is it NASA's version of "The Real World"?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW, JUMP TO 58:05.

In Crime of the Week: frugivorous felons.

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Death in Ice Valley! And our review of Unforgotten (on PBS!) Apr 20, 2018

Internet fame is bestowed upon one of the crime writers (thanks to The Daily podcast and interpretive dancing). News from West Cork...Ian Bailey is going to have to pay a lot of money. And the panel wants to know more about what a "taint team" is.

The crime writers give their first impressions of a new podcast collaboration from the BBC World Service and NRK called, “Death in Ice Valley.” The colder the rain, the colder the case.

Masterpiece on PBS is now airing the limited British crime series, “Unforgotten.” The show follows police as they try to solve the decade’s old mystery of a skeleton found in a clay basement. The investigation involves a diverse group of characters who may have had a hand in the crime, then went on with their lives. Is "Unforgotten" worth remembering?

FOR A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW, FAST FORWARD TO 52:30.

The crime of the week - breaking balls.

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Marcia Clark Investigates! And is Felonious Florida a felonious podcast? Apr 13, 2018

This episode Toby announces the title and guest panel for his next Patreon book club podcast (name of podcast still TBD). The Peabody Award nominations are out, and true crime is well represented. And Rebecca reveals her new (sort of) friendship with Alison Sweeney from Days of Our Lives and The Biggest Loser, who turns out to be a HUGE fan of true crime podcasts.

The panel talks about the new A&E series “Marcia Clark Investigates the First 48.” This new show (and companion podcast) is a mashup of the First 48’s format of highlighting the importance of the first 48 hours of an investigation, along with the OJ prosecutor taking a second look at a famous case.

Then the crime writers discuss ”Felonious Florida,” the new podcast from Wondery and the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Can this newspaper-sources and -staffed pod achieve the success of its predecessors? Or will it just make Rebecca's head explode?

OUR DISCUSSION IS SPOILER-FREE, BUT TO SKIP AHEAD TO THE REVIEW GO TO 57:13.

In Crime of the Week: blow.

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A legal victory for Serial's Adnan Syed & A review of Empire on Blood Apr 06, 2018

This episode we breakdown the recent COSA decision affirming Adnan Syed's right to a new trial. Kevin asks Undisclosed's Colin Miller (aka Legal Siri) about how the winning and losing arguments were flipped, Adnan's chances on bail, and the local politics infused into the appeals process.

Toby talks about his new Patreon-exclusive book club podcast. He, Rebecca, Rabia Chaudry, and Patrick Hines discussed Michelle McNamara's I'll be Gone in the Dark. Also, there's some news about the TV adaptation of Dirty John (they have their John).

Moving on, Panoply is out with a seven-part podcast called Empire on Blood. It’s magazine writer Steve Fishman’s seven-year relationship with crack dealer Calvin Buari, in jail for more than twenty years for a double homicide. To tell the story of Cal’s search for justice, Fishman meets Cal’s drug dealing frienamy; a prosecutor who rescues turtles; a cop who’s too good at getting confessions; and a private eye who carries a Bible, a gun, and a bottle of wine.

TO SKIP PAST THE SPOILERS AND GO STRAIGHT TO THE REVIEWS, FAST-FORWARD TO 1:13:36.

In Crime of the Week - bird is the word.

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Wild Wild Country, Moon over New Mexico, and We are the Champions Mar 30, 2018

We said we had to win the whole damn thing - and we did! THANKS TO LISTENERS LIKE YOU we won Podcast Madness, vanquishing This American Life in the championship bracket. Now we take a victory lap!

We return to normal programming with news from the Dirty John TV show. Plus, there's a "cheeky" news story out of Albuquerque that must win all the awards.

"Wild Wild Country" is the topic of a wild wild panel discussion. It's the Netflix documentary about the times, town, and troubles created by a group of Rajneeshee followers who flocked to Oregon in the 1980s. The material covered is a mile wide and an inch deep. For the original Oregonian expose on the Rajneeshees, click here.

TO GET OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF WILD WILD COUNTRY, SKIP AHEAD TO 1:01:52.

And in Crime of the Week - rotten eggs.

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Missing and Murdered: Finding Cleo, The Staircase returns, and an Atlanta Monster take-down Mar 23, 2018

IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP! Crime Writers On is facing off against This American Life for a chance to win DiscoverPods's PODCAST MADNESS. We are one win away from SHOCKING THE WORLD! Let's get it done: vote now at discoverpods.com.

The panel tackles quite a bit this week: more "Staircase" episodes coming, the "Black Tapes" fake out, a scathing reviewin Slate on "Atlanta Monster," books that stay with us, and a special announcement for our Patreon supporters(it involves Toby).

Moving on, season two of CBC’s Missing and Murdered: Finding Cleo looks at the case of a girl both murdered and now missing. Will Connie Walker find the Cree girl adopted into some American family? Will she skillfully tie the tale to the heartbreaking story of Canada's "Sixties Scoop"? What do the crime writers think of it?

TO SKIP TO OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF FINDING CLEO, JUMP TO 1:03:49

Then in crime of the week- ready player one.

(Wanna see that "human looking dog?" Click here.)

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O.J. Confessed? Atlanta Monster revisited? Seven Seconds Reviewed! (And more!) Mar 16, 2018

This episode the panel blitzes through a bunch of topics. Who knew Stormy Daniels was an accomplished equestrian? That $500m lottery winner gets to remain anonymous. Why did Claire Foy (Queen Elizabeth) get paid less than Matt Smith (Prince Philip) on "The Crown"? Toby finished Atlanta Monster and has some further thoughts. Did OJ Simpson really confess on that Fox special...or did he REALLY confess? And what's on the Scientology TV Network tonight?

Then the crime writers talk about the new Netflix series "Seven Seconds." The drama explores the effect of a covered-up hit-and-run on the victim's parents, the driver and his crooked police partners, and the alcoholic DA assigned to the case. And can someone explain why everyone's car is so dirty?

TO REMAIN SPOILER-FREE AND SKIP TO OUR REVIEWS OF SEVEN SECONDS, JUMP AHEAD TO 1:00:56

In Crime of the Week - the hits keep on coming.

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A McMafia Review, An EPIC Rant & "I'll be Gone in the Dark" Mar 09, 2018

The panel talks about updates from "The Pope's Long Con" and "Mommy Dead & Dearest." We listen to a profanity-laden rant from "Crime in Sports" about self-important podcasters. And we talk about the gripping new book, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, published posthumously after crime writer Michelle McNamara's tragic 2016 death.

Our main event: "McMafia," the new organized crime series from BBC and AMC. This good-guy-dragged-in-bad-deeds tale is expensive and extravagant, but will audiences like its high-finance meets underworld story?

In Crime of the Week - deadly deodorant.

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Disgraceland reviewed, the Pope's final con, & Dassey's SCOTUS appeal Feb 23, 2018

Before we take a week off for school vacation (thank you, children) we'll circle back to some important True Crime Updates. The election to fill the statehouse seat of the late Danny Ray Johnson, subject of the "The Pope's Long Con," was this week...and it wasn't even close. "Making a Murderer"'s Branden Dassey has asked SCOTUS for a Writ of Cert (we'll explain what that means).

The headliner for this show is the rock'n'roll-themed "Disgraceland." No interviews. No investigations. No audio tape. Not even the artists' music. Just a host spinning tales of musicians behaving very badly. Does this new chart-topper hit all the right notes?

In Crime of the Week, it's one thumb down.

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HBO's Mosaic, lottery woes, and a brief return to West Cork Feb 16, 2018

This week we ponder the problems of winning $550 million in the lottery and keeping a low profile. We get a love letter from Ireland and circle back to "West Cork" with a spoiler-full discussion about the prime suspect.

IF YOU STILL WANT TO REMAIN SPOILER-FREE ON WEST CORK, SKIP AHEAD TO 33:16.

Then we'll have an up-close look at "Mosaic," Stephen Soderbergh's multi-platform storytelling experience. The six-part HBO limited series deals with the murder of a famous children’s book writer. While the concept is ambitious, does "Mosaic" deliver the goods?

TO SKIP PAST SPOILER-FILLED DISCUSSION OF MOSAIC, JUMP AHEAD TO 1:02:24

And this week's Crime of the Week is grrrrrrrreat!

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Double Take: The Onion's 'A Very Fatal Murder' and our (spoiler free) 'West Cork' review Feb 09, 2018

Not even a blizzard can stop the Crime Writers from their appointed rounds (though it may crackle the connection once in a while).

We get skeeved out by the latest accusations of "Making a Murderer" defense-lawyer-now-judge Len Kachinsky (cue your own cat noises). There's a notable cameo in "Sword & Scale." And we toss around our thoughts on the Onion's new true crime parody podcast, "A Very Fatal Murder." Does a send up of the crime podcast world seem like it's about three months too late?

Then a no-blarney, spoiler-free review of Audible's new 13-part series, "West Cork." The famous1996 murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier is relatively unknown to American listeners. Not since "Serial" have we had such access to a prime suspect. We'll tell you whether you should make time for this one.

Our review is truly spoiler-free, but if you still want to skip right to our verdicts, go to the 53rd minute.

Then in Crime of Week, how else are you going to carry all that dough around?

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A Done Disappeared encore, Slow Burn’s next story, The Walk’s big idea, The Alienist reviewed Feb 02, 2018

A Done Disappeared encore, Slow Burn’s next story, The Walk’s big idea, and an Alienist review

The Crime Writers take on a trio of True Crime Podcast Updates as Slow Burn wraps up season one and teases a *fantastic* follow-up, Dirty John lands a scripted series, and our best friend John David Booter tries to raise funds (click here to help him!) for a second season in which he’ll appropriate all things 1980’s.

Then, our take on The Walk, the hit podcast from Panoply. This show is trying to do something completely different with a story that puts the listener in the middle of the action. But does it work? Or is it just the prototype for a future, better iteration of the format?

And, a review of the TNT adaptation of the smash bestselling book The Alienist. (If you want to skip any and all potential spoilers and just hear the review, go to 51:04.)

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In which we review "Dark" from Netflix and retract our criticism of a maligned media figure Jan 25, 2018

This week we unveil the new name for Studio C (it's a mouthful), learn Toby's actually the nice one, and get freaked out by what this drug can make you do in your sleep.

The Crime Writers eat some humble pie and admit they were too quick to dismiss one of America's most underappreciated media figures last week - Keith Morrison from Dateline NBC. Some special podcasters will join the discussion - and you can find their awesome show A Date With Dateline right here.

The main focus shifts to the new Netflix series, "Dark." This German-language "Stranger Things"-meets-"Lost" has everything: caves, dead birds, surprisingly depressing school plays...and a cast of characters dripping in Teutonic angst. (Try this link to see the Dark family trees.)

TO JUMP OVER THE SPOILERS AND GO STRAIGHT TO OUR REVIEWS, FAST FORWARD TO TIME CODE 59:59

Then in crime of the week: I love you. You love me. But it's going to cost you $350.

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Atlanta Monster gets our review! And Dirty John gets the prime time treatment! Jan 19, 2018

It was one of 2017's biggest podcasts. Now the tale of "Dirty John" gets the treatment from Dateline NBC. Does a 42 minute TV episode add anything to a story already told over five hours in podcast form? Maybe just some pictures of how hunky John Meehan really was.

The main event: we breakdown the first installments in "Atlanta Monster," the new podcast from Payne Lindsey's Tenderfoot TV and HowStuffWorks. This look back at the 1980s Atlanta child murders is billed as "an investigative podcast," but where is it taking us? Does Lindsey repeat the best parts (or the worst parts) of his hit debut "Up and Vanished"?

(Want to skip to our thumbs up or down review of Atlanta Monster? Go to 1:03:20)

And in the Crime of the Week: Gesundheit!

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WTF Wormwood? At least we still have Slow Burn... Jan 12, 2018

"We are not crooks." This episode we'll circle back to Slate's excellent Watergate-based series, "Slow Burn." Look what happens when those who believe in conspiracies learn those conspiracies are actual conspiracies. (And no, Toby still doesn't believe in conspiracies!)

Speaking of conspiracies within conspiracies, we ponder Netflix's "Wormwood." The genre-blending documentary about a secret CIA LSD-induced suicide is only the first layer in a trippy, troubling tale from Oscar winner director Errol Morris. Points for using Hollywood actors Peter Sarsgaard and Molly Parker to dramatize the back story, but did this unconventional series deliver the goods?

Then in Crime of the Week, a little bit of pot goes a long way when deciding who to arrest.

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The Pope's Long Con and Done Disappeared finale! (And by the time you hear this we might all be dead.) Jan 05, 2018

The Crime Writers might be from New Hampshire, but the shizz that's been going down with our weather has been BANANAS. Seriously, by the time you hear this, we might all be dead.

BUT - we're not dead yet, so we responded to some sassy listener emails, talked about OUTSTANDING finale of John David Booter's podcast Done Disappeared, and reviewed The Pope's Long Con, a pretty great podcast from the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting. (To skip to the review, go to 56:10)

Then, our Crime of the Week put's Rebecca in the spotlight. Yes, she IS a psychopath.

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A Godless Review, Adnan Syed's Witness, & A New Jinx Lead? Dec 22, 2017

In our last installment of 2017, we have an exclusive interview with Undisclosed’s Rabia Chaudry. She’ll be talking about a defense alibi witness for Adnan Syed, whose recent arrest again points to prosecutors looking the other way when it came to witnesses in Adnan's case. Also, is there a new lead in the mystery of Robert Durst's missing wife?

Then we shoot it out about Netflix’s new limited series “Godless.” In an Old West town where the men have been killed in a mining accident, the women are left to fend for themselves. When an outlaw fleeing his former gang seeks refuge, you know trouble will follow. Do we think “Godless” lives up to its feminist premise?

TO MISS ANY "GODLESS" SPOILERS, FAST FORWARD TO TIME CODE 1:00:04.

Stick around for Crime of the Week. We’ve got an amateur Facebook Live “reporter” who solves an arson in the most hilarious, profane way.

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Dassey Hopes Dashed, Done Disappeared Does Us, and a Voyeur Review Dec 15, 2017

Well, lookie lookie here. We've got the latest disappointing news for Brendan Dassey's hopes of a new trial, get to spread some podcast love to both Amber Hunt and Bill Rankin, and take the hit from Done Disappeared's wicked send up, "Crime Writers Off." (Spoiler alert: Bobby Tall needs to count to ten and cool off).

Then we look through the peephole at Netflix's "Voyeur." This odd tale pivots from its subject - a motel owner who spied on guests for years - to the famous journalist so enamored with the story he becomes blind to its many red flags. (Want to skip the discussion and just hear the thumbs up or down review? Go to 59:58.)

In the Crime of the Week, one bank robber learns why it's important to clear your browser history.

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Slow Burn Podcast Review, Making A Murderer Misstep & A Cow Named Lara Dec 08, 2017

The Crime Writers dig in to the problem with sending flowers to a judge, even when said judge has just ruled the way you wanted her to in the Steven Avery case.

Also, a cow named Lara? Toby's daughter is a star? And only Rebecca swears too much?

Then, we respond to some ire around our mixed review of the Netflix show Alias Grace.

Finally, a review of the (spoiler alert) OUTSTANDING new podcast from Slate about Watergate. It's called Slow Burn, and if you want to hear our spoiler-free recommendation, you'll want to skip to the 55:44 mark.

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Done Disappeared, Alias Grace on Netflix and More Dec 01, 2017

OMG - We can't get enough of Done Disappeared, the amazing parody true crime podcast by the unparalleled talent that IS John David Booter. We review that show and try to figure out the mystery of just what happened to missing 1987 woman Clara Pockets.

Then, a more earnest review of the Netflix series Alias Grace. Based on a Margaret Atwood novel, does this show resonate? Or does it's less-than-Handmaid's Tale production values take away from what could have been a compelling view of a fascinating true crime?

NOTE: IF YOU WANT TO SKIP THE DISCUSSION AND JUST HEAR THE REVIEW, GO TO 50:41

Finally, the Crime of the Week tackles a whole lot of nudity and a whole lot of kidnapping.

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Manson, Long Shot, and our Must-Listen Podcast Recommendations Nov 22, 2017

It's our 100th episode and we're celebrating by...doing what we always do.

We'll look at the times and crimes of the late Charles Manson. The panel offers holiday travelers some recommendations of podcasts and TV shows that will make Thanksgiving bearable.

The crime writers dig into "Long Shot," the new Netflix documentary. It tells the story of how an innocent man stayed off of death row because of the Los Angeles Dodgers and HBO's Larry David comedy of manners, "Curb Your Enthusiasm."

FOR THOSE LOOKING TO AVOID SPOILERS, JUMP PAST THE DISCUSSION TO THE 59-MINUTE MARK.

In Crime of the Week, it's Father Christmas vs. Santa Claus.

CRIME WRITERS' RECOMMENDATIONS

Toby: Polybius Conspiracy from Showcase; The Dollup; Open Floor from SI

Lara: Deadly Manners

Rebecca: Done Disappeared; Powerline

Kevin: More Perfect, Crazy Ex-girlfriend

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A CWO Gameshow! Some Up and Vanished News, and Elizabeth Smart on A&E Nov 17, 2017

Watch out - this episode is punchy! The Crime Writers settle a beef, play a couple of games, and yes, talk about Payne Lindsey's new TV deal AND his YouTube music video alter ego.

Then, a look at the Elizabeth Smart case through the lens of the new A&E 2-part documentary, the super confusingly named Biography Presents: Elizabeth Smart Autobiography.

Plus, our Crime of the Week cuts the cheese!

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Stranger Things 2 Reviewed, Maura Murray Disputed, Bowe Bergdahl Sentenced Nov 10, 2017

The Crime Writers complain about Rebecca's jet lag and a certain crappy airline, and Lara is LITERALLY about to become a crazy cat lady. Plus, Toby's book is classy AF.

Then, a trio of True Crime Updates: Bowe Bergdahl's been sentenced! That Maura Murray TV show made a crazy claim! And Making a Murderer's Steven Avery still has a filing-happy lawyer who seems to love accusing every single one of his relatives of something.

The panel does a deep dive review of Stranger Things 2 - and gives a pretty great explanation of why episode 7 is the most disappointing thing to ever happen in history of forever.

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Heaven's Gate, Toby's Cult of Personality, & Stranger Things 2 First Impressions Nov 03, 2017

No more Amazon list??? Yup, the behemoth site kicked us out of their affiliate program, so we'll have to find something else for Toby to do...

The Crime Writers open up the hit podcast Heaven's Gate, and, KNOWLEDGE ALERT, one of the panel is kind of an expert on the cult phenomenon.

Plus, the panel will dive into Stranger Things 2 in full next week, but isn't shy about sharing first impressions. And no, Toby STILL hasn't seen Goonies! Also, an update from the courtroom in the Serial Season 2 subject Bowe Bergdahl's sentencing, and our Crime of the Week climbs to 30,000 feet for some felonious hanky panky.

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Mindhunter from Netflix, Making a Murderer's Paper Trail, and an Ode to Stampy Oct 27, 2017

The Crime Writers dive in to Mindhunter - a series from Netflix about FBI profilers that even Rebecca can get behind.

Plus, Stampy died! Lara does a little PSA every pet lover should listen to.

DONATE TO CATS 1ST, THE RESCUE ORGANIZATION THAT GAVE STAMPY A CHANCE

And, yet another filing in the never-ending paper trail for Making a Murderer's Steven Avery. Is his lawyer Kathleen Zellner a genius? Or is she a little cuckoo?

Finally, our Crime of the Week asks a critical question...what would *you* do if you came home from the thrift shop with a dead person in your purchase?

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Accused Season 2 and BIG Serial and S-Town legal news Oct 20, 2017

The Crime Writers review the second season of Rebecca's favorite true crime podcast from last year, Accused by the Cincinnati Enquirer. Will the story of the unsolved murder of Retha Welch stand up to the success of season one? (Spoiler alert: one of us has issues!)

In a pair of true crime podcast updates, we talk about the surprising plea deal made by S-Town subject Tyler Goodson, as well as the maybe-surprising plea in Bowe Bergdahl's case.

Our crime of the week will make you high...especially if donuts are your drug of choice.

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Dirty John (and Debra!), a Sarah Koenig encounter, and a (maybe) deal for Serial's Bowe Bergdhal Oct 13, 2017

Rebecca met Sarah Koenig!! She fills us in on that awkward encounter.

What's the latest with Serial season two subject Bowe Bergdahl? Seems he's made some kind of deal with the government. We invite back retired USMC Lt Col James Weirick of the Military Justice podcast to explain why he thinks some of the early media reports are wrong and what a plea for a lighter sentence might look like.

Then the panel digs into the new hit podcast from the LA Times, Dirty John.

TO SKIP PAST THE SPOILERS AND JUST HEAR OUR REVIEW, GO TO TIME CODE: 1:03:25

This six-part true crime profile looks at grifter John Meehan and the trouble he wreaked on Debra Newell and her family. Judging by your Twitter and Facebook questions, you seemed just as amazed by Debra's willingness to forgive the gold digger as you are in Dirty John's evil designs.

In Crime of the Week, how many Facebook likes would you need before your turned yourself into the police?

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Law & Order does the Menendez Brothers, Scott Peterson's guilt in question, Steven Avery gets dealt a blow Oct 06, 2017

The Crime Writers review the totally not Law & Order take on a famous case: Law & Order: The Menendez murders. Plus, a big setback for Stephen Avery has the panel revisiting our opinions on the Making a Murderer protagonist's guilt. Also in question...the guilt of Scott Peterson. Yeah, we know.

In the Crime of the Week, things go wrong when a school administrator tries to pull a silly prank

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American Vandal, The Confession Tapes, and a Making a Murderer update Sep 29, 2017

Did Brendan Dassey's dubious confession on "Making a Murderer" make your skin crawl? The Chief Circuit Judge in his ongoing appeal said it did. But the other two federal judges may be leaning the other way.

In podcast news: "Accused" will roll out a new season next month. Also, the teams behind HowStuffWorks and Up & Vanished are getting together to re-investigate a series of child murders in Atlanta that were solved in 1981.

This week's podcast focuses on two very different series from Netflix. "The Confession Tapes" shows a series of cases in which the police used questionable techniques to get suspects to confess. Were they falsely given? Were they merely aggressive or provocative ways to get a killer to admit to their crimes?

Next, the unexpectedly savvy satire of everything we love about true crime. "American Vandal" may start as a lowbrow take-off on "Serial" or "Making a Murder," but the comedy is surprisingly meta, embracing all tropes of the podcasts and documentaries which have become ubiquitous. In the end, we still want to know, "Who drew the dicks?"

In the Crime of the Week - the FBI really shouldn't tell the Internet to ask them anything.

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The Deuce review, updates on Slenderman, S-Town and Unabomber and SO much more Sep 22, 2017

The Crime Writers change the way we do business because someone told us to. We dive into a bunch of updates on cases surrounding the S-Town podcast and the super-creepy stabbing at the center of the HBO documentary "Beware the Slenderman," plus Kevin holds Rebecca hostage and forces her to watch the rest of that ridiculous Unabomber show.

Speaking of being held hostage, will the team force Kevin to listen to even more Someone Knows Something? (Yeah, we hope get to do that!)

We then dig in to The Deuce, the latest in prestige TV from HBO and David Simon, the creator of the show that white people LOVE to talk about loving: The Wire.

In our crime of the week, a jogger takes a big ol' poop on someone's lawn. No, that really is a thing.

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We review Hanging AND catch-up on Laci, Scientology, Slenderman & more! Sep 15, 2017

Weekly episodes have returned (no more goldbricking for Bricker - no more laying about for Lavoie)! The Crime Writers revisit some of the content they've recently discussed and give final verdicts on Homecoming, The Murder of Laci Peterson, and updates in the Slenderman case. Toby offers a preview of next week's topic: HBO's The Deuce. And the blowback about the Payne Lyndsey - Up and Vanished controversy is deafening...not.

The panel dives into the new podcast from the Mercury News, "Hanging: The mysterious case of the boy in the barn."

In Crime of the Week, how much Liquid Plumber can we get to London?

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That Laci Peterson series, a Bowe Bergdahl update, and a podcaster controversy Sep 01, 2017

Red-eyed and jet-lagged, Rebecca and Kevin are back from Podcast Movement in Anaheim with stories of their exploits with your (and their) favorite podcasters. They'll spill some tea over what caused some controversy a big name - "NOT a podcaster" Payne Lindsey from Up & Vanished - made an audacious, self-congratulatory presentation...and how some even bigger names in the room reacted.

Plus, a true crime podcast update! A hungover R&K met up with old friend Lt Col James Weirick for an update on Bowe Bergdahl's court martial and the defense's move that could bode well for the disgraced former POW. (Audio of the full discussion can be found on our website - and beware, it's unedited and was literally recorded in a hotel hallway.)

Back in the confines of Square Egg Studio, Lara & Toby chime in on A&E's new limited series, "The Murder of Laci Peterson." So far, the show seems to be playing the story down the middle, not sensationalizing its retrospective of the crime, and is of surprisingly high quality for a basic cable show.

Then in Crime of the Week: our house is a very very very moldy house.

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Casting Call, Black Hands & Ozark Binge Aug 18, 2017

We're ready for our close ups! Our listeners asked and answered the hypothetical question, "If there were a movie about the Crime Writers, who would be cast to play them?" The results are in from #crimewriterscasting. Let's say three out of the four of us are satisfied with the picks.

We grapple with "Black Hands" (see the play on words there?) - a true crime podcast about New Zealand's Bain family murders. Rather than a re-investigation or reexamination of the case, the ten-part series is a deep, DEEP dive into David Bain's second trial with narrator Martin van Beynen's ultimate argument that the jury got it wrong.

Then we stream our way through Netflix's new series, "Ozark." With its comparisons to "Breaking Bad," how does this normal-guy-caught-in-a-web-of-criminal-enterprise TV show stand on its own? Have we seen this before? Or is it a fresh take on the emerging genre?

In the Crime of the Week: the suggestion box is stuffed with requests to do something about the dead people piling up in the break room.

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Manhunt: Unabomber, A Profiler Debate, & Homecoming Season 2 Review Aug 04, 2017

The Crime Writers tackle a pair of hot media properties this week with a look at the Discovery Channel's latest foray into crime with Manhunt: The Unabomber. This leads to a heated debate about how FBI profilers are portrayed in crime drama...and Rebecca joins #TeamToby for the first time!

Then, a review of the second season of Homecoming, the dramatized podcast with a stellar cast from Gimlet Media. Is the show in a second season slump? Will Rebecca ever stop calling David Schwimmer "Ross from Friends?" We'll answer those questions and a whole lot more.

Finally, our Crime of the Week gives the panel a chance to relish Toby's response.

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OJ Gets Out, Game of Thrones Groans, Breakdown Returns, A Trace Review Jul 21, 2017

So that happened...OJ Simpson got early release for his 2007 Las Vegas robbery conviction. After watching the "Parole Hearing of the Century," what do the Crime Writers think? Should the parole board have considered his past arrest in that infamous double murder case when making their decision?

Since every other podcast is talking about Game of Thrones this week, we ask Toby to give his take on HBO's swords-and-sex mega-hit. Only problem is...he hasn't watched the first six seasons, so his WTF perspective is completely fresh.

Let's travel below The Gnat Line with the new season of "Breakdown." Bill Rankin is back with a new tale of systemic breakdowns in the GA legal system. Episode one laid out the case of Devonia Inman. Are we intrigued enough to keep listening?

Next we take a deep dive in the four-part podcast from the Australian Broadcast Company, "Trace." It's "Accused" meets "The Keepers." A woman was killed in her bookstore in 1980. The parish priests, one of whom molested her disabled son, were publicly hostile toward her. The panel weighs in on whether his cold case miniseries has enough "there" there to hold our interest.

In the Crime of the Week - manscaping could have prevented this tragedy.

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Dassey Hopes Dashed, More Ear Hustling, & Making a Mogul Jul 07, 2017

As David Lee Roth said, "I heard you missed us. We're back."

A one-week break gives us plenty of time to listen to stuff. And catch up on the latest news from the world of true crime.

We circle back for a listen to the sophomore installment of "Ear Hustle." Thank you again to Lt. Sam Robinson for approving this story.

Lara reports on the whirling dervish that is the Brendan Dassey appeal. He wins. He loses. He loses again. The "Making a Murderer" supporting player isn't going anywhere soon. Will the state give him is court-ordered re-trial or just appeal to higher and higher courts? (Sound familiar, Adnan?)

Next we look at Gimlet's new podcast, "Mogul." It tells the story of hip-hop executive Chris Lighty - the most important musical figure you've never heard of. The podcast is part biography/part hip-hop history lesson. Is Lighty's life story strong enough to carry this series and can the podcast appeal to listeners unfamiliar with his music?

In Crime of the Week: A Florida man sits on a gun and then exactly what you'd guess happens.

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True Crime & Wine, Disappointing Verdicts, & Raccoon Badassery Jun 23, 2017

Love mail galore as listeners weigh in on Ear Hustle, Toby's dog-like voice, and listening to our show during the most important moments of their lives (really!). Then, our take on the not-so surprising (but still upsetting) verdicts in the trials of Bill Cosby and Jeronimo Yanez, the cop that killed Philando Castille.
In the back half, we look at a documentary that even Lara Bricker's fire chief husband enjoyed, Sour Grapes on Netflix. This tale of a high-end wine con man had us asking - do we give a crap when a smart guy bilks a Koch brother out of millions of dollars?
And in our Crime of the Week, a Maine woman is more badass than we could ever hope to be.

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Ear Hustle Crushes It! Adnan's Judges Get It! & Another S-Town Twist Jun 15, 2017

What should Toby's standard karaoke song be? THE WORLD IS WEIGHING IN.
Rebecca heard something in this week's Undisclosed episode on Adnan Syed's cross appeal proceeding that she REALLY wants you to hear. The judges really seem to get it...we think?
S-Town is making SO much news as the trial of Tyler Goodson will now incorporate his part in the podcast as evidence. Should Brian Reed have used tape that put Tyler in legal peril? The panel is split. (Note: This episode was recorded before news of Tyler's arrest for animal cruelty.)
Ear Hustle is finally here, and - spoiler alert - it's AWESOME. But we review it anyway.
In our crime of the week, Florida Man is back! And he REALLY loves Hooters.

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Adnan Syed & Steven Avery Updates, The Keepers (Wrapped in Newspaper!) Detail & 74 Seconds Jun 09, 2017

The State of Maryland got its bite at the apple, asking a three judge panel to reinstate Adnan Syed's conviction. The hour-long hearing dove more into Asia McClain and not-so-much into fax cover sheets. What's next for the "Serial" season one subject?
We also talk about the latest epic filing in the Steven Avery case. Will "brain fingerprinting" save the day for the man at the middle of Making a Murderer? And what's up with Brendan Dassey's case?
Did we forget to mention the CRAZIEST thing that came out of "The Keepers"? Like a particular body part wrapped in newspaper and thrown on the table during the interrogation of a priest? We're backing the train up so we can unwrap (sorry) that one.
The Crime Writers spend more than 74 seconds discussing the podcast "74 Seconds" from Minnesota Public Radio. This look at the fatal shooting of a motorist by a cop (live-streamed on Facebook) tackles the familiar themes of race, violence, and law enforcement training. With some episodes exploring the back story of the players in the shooting - and other episodes providing real-time updates from the court house - 74 Seconds feels like two separate podcasts. What's working? What's not? We'll give our review
In Crime of the Week: Some wanted men just can't stop the music. How karaoke landed a fugitive in jail.

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Jeepers! Netflix's The Keepers, Tiger Woods' Fall, and Dede Revisited Jun 02, 2017

We start with a pat on the back for Kevin, as our spin-off podcast "...These Are Their Stories" has been nominated for Best TV/Film Podcast by the Academy of Podcasting. No one know how or why the show was picked, but they needed 10 to fill out the category, so...
Thanks to the many listeners who helped fill in some of the narrative holes left by "Mommy Dead and Dearest." Among the questions answered from last week include facts about feeding tubes, Dede's medical knowledge, and reasons why she was able to fool physicians into thinking Gypsy was chronically ill.
Rebecca comments on the media coverage of the DUI arrest of Tiger Woods. Is it the typical case of a hero plummeting to Earth, or is race playing a role in the negative coverage?
Then...the show you've been waiting for...Netflix's "The Keepers." The documentary seemed to have everything: murder, sex trafficking, cover-ups. Despite the great source material, did the filmmakers really make the most of the story that was there?
In Crime of the Week, two teachers come to blows fighting over a man. The students can't even...

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She can walk?!!! A 'Mommy Dead and Dearest' review - Is it PEAK true crime? May 26, 2017

The crime writers take on the super weird and (sort of) satisfying HBO film Mommy Dead and Dearest. Plus, we explain why we talk about some podcasts and not others, Rebecca asks our listeners for a HUGE favor, and a listener schools the panel on how to pronounce a certain city in Maine.
Then, in the crime of the week, we make a BIG decision about doody.

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Serial Justice, Podcast Crushes, And A Big Hand For The Handmaid's Tale May 18, 2017

First: More listener-driven shenanigans
Next: The panel makes recommendations for podcasts you should be downloading.
Further: Undisclosed just dropped a special pre-appeal episode about the Adnan Syed case. In it, Rabia poses the question of whether justice is served when the appellate judges know less about the case than the general public.
The main event: The crime writers discuss Hulu's adaptation of "The Handmaid's Tale." Is the story about a nation of subjugated woman - forced either into servitude, exile, or procreation - a feminist manifesto? From costuming, cinematography, and color schemes, there's much to ponder.
In crime of the week: is it wrong that a topless cleaning lady would be arrested for stealing underwear?

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Richard Simmons Strikes Back, 'Trigger Warning' Debate, and Casting JonBenet May 12, 2017

We open up the mail bag and let you weigh in on our discussions about "13 Reasons Why" and the former-profiler-turned-podcaster who's caused a bit of a dust-up among our fans.
Richard Simmons may have lost touch with many people, but his lawyers aren't among them. The now-reclusive fitness guru is suing the National Enquirer for a story saying he's had a sex change operation. He also says he's being blackmailed by (say it ain't so!) former companion Mauro. If the stories are false, we think it should be easy to demonstrate so ("Your honor, we submit exhibit D.").
Then we explore the most original entrant in the JonBenet Ramsey look-back-a-thon. Netflix's non-investigation "Casting JonBenet" features average Coloradoans who think they're auditioning for a movie on the case. In reality, the auditions are an excuse to get them to candidly share their thoughts and observations about the crime. And we get to see kids smash watermelons with flashlights for good measure.
In the Crime of the Week, what did the drunk driver know and when did she know it?

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Real-Crime Profile of S-Town, 13 Reasons Why & The War on Twitter May 05, 2017

We needed that week off. Seems like everyone's got a podcast side gig now. Toby's hosting Radio Free Dystopia, Kevin's making an appearance on Jed Bartlet is My President, and Rebecca is a new permanent panelist on Slate's Mom and Dad Are Fighting.
Rebecca didn't get verified on Twitter and she's PISSED!
In a true crime podcast update podcast update, we'll give our take on how the experts from Real Crime Profile used their profiling skills on John B. McLemore from S-town. For a character who's so beloved, the enumeration of his less-than-desirable traits has stirred lots of feelings.
At the intersection of entertainment and suicide lies Netflix's "13 Reasons Why," the most controversial series of the year. Great acting, interesting plot, but is possible to tackle teen suicide in a way that doesn't make the problem worse? Despite earnest intentions to make the show a conversation-starter, there remain legit concerns that the series irreparably sends the wrong message. In essence, everything that makes 13 Reason great are what also what makes it dangerous.

In the crime of the week: beware the sniper cat.

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Richard Simmons Emerges! Adnan Syed Update! And Casey Anthony...WTF? Apr 20, 2017

Did Missing Richard Simmons flush out our favorite fitness guru? The Crime Writers give their take. Plus, Kevin reaches out to Legal Siri (AKA Colin Miller of Undisclosed) to get the latest scoop on the never-ending Adnan Syed appeal.
Then, WTF was up with that three-part Investigation Discovery special Casey Anthony: An American Murder Mystery? Do *any* of the Crime Writers think this case is a mystery? And how does Toby feel about the first I.D. show he's ever been forced to watch? Much less having to talk about it TWICE?? (Listen to Toby on The Blotter Presents with Sarah D. Bunting.)

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S-Town by Serial: Group Therapy on a Post-Podcast Couch Apr 14, 2017

The Crime Writers are taking you to church (er...not that church) as we share your love for and criticisms of S-Town (and your criticisms of our criticisms).
Were we made to sympathize with racist characters? Did we miss a deeper significance in episode six? How does the horology metaphor hold up upon further review? Is CWO not intellectual enough for our listeners? Was John manipulating Brian and the other people in his life with a variety of false promises? Would any of this story have been told if John hadn't died? What's it look like inside Tyler's house? (Like this.)
In our crime of the week: how NOT to dress for a DWI.

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S-Town by Serial - Episodes 5-7 recap Apr 05, 2017

The crime writers review chapters 5, 6, and 7 of S-Town, the new podcast series from Serial and This American Life. This discussion gets a little deep, covering some of the criticism S-Town has faced in recent days.
Want to hear our recaps of episodes 1-4? Go back in your feed a little bit.

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S-Town by Serial - Episodes 2-4 Recap & Review Mar 31, 2017

The Crime Writers jump into chapters two through four of "S-town," the new podcast series from Serial and This American Life. Watch your feed for recap shows reviewing episode 1 and episodes 5-7.

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S-Town by Serial - Episode 1 Recap & Review Mar 29, 2017

The Crime Writers review episode one of S-Town - the new podcast series from the folks behind Serial and This American Life.
Watch your feed for recap shows reviewing episodes 2-4 and 5-7.

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Missing Richard Simmons Finale Review, Tickled Shocker, And A Breakdown Breakdown? Mar 24, 2017

After recommending people watch the documentary "Tickled," the response from our listeners was an overwhelming, "What the F did I just watch"? Then a shocker: David D'amato, a key figure in the investigation, "died suddenly" this week according to the New York Times.
"Breakdown" from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution returned with a brand new, er, sound. Season three is hosted by investigative reporter Johnny Edwards and focuses on a doctor who continued to practice medicine despite a series of sexual abuse investigations. Can the podcast thrive without the home-spun voice of legal analyst Bill Rankin?
With the conclusion of the runaway "Missing Richard Simmons" podcast, the crime writers look back on the six-part series. What did we ultimately learn about Simmons, host Dan Taberski, and about the feelings we project on celebrities? We'll give our review.
In Crime of the Week, being assaulted - literally - by a tweet. (Yes, the actually tweet.)

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Intrigued by S-Town ! Disturbed by Tickled ! And the Owl Theory takes flight! Mar 17, 2017

What do you do in the middle of blizzard? Record a podcast, of course.
First, the trailer for the new Serial spin-off "S-town" dropped! What will the seven episode series be about? We don't know, but Sarah Koenig's crew gave us an interesting taste and OF COURSE we had to talk about it.
Plus, despite taking an Alford plea last month, the Michael Peterson case is not quite over. The subject of the exceptional miniseries "The Staircase" is looking into the theory that his wife was actually killed in the stairwell during an owl attack. The claim had been downplayed by Peterson's defense team, and was the focus of episode 1 of the podcast "Criminal," but now they want experts to examine the feathers found with Kathleen's body. At this point does Peterson have anything to lose...or anything to win?
Then it's probably the most unusual documentary ever discussed on the podcast. "Tickled," a journalist's look into videos of the sport of "competitive endurance tickling," is NOT the lighthearted romp the title might imply. Instead, the doc takes dark and unexpected turns as the reporter tries to uncover who is behind this secretive video empire and the attempt to ruin all foes in their way.
In the Crime of the Week: Moms + school dropoff lane + maybe too much "Big Little Lies" = gun play. Time to send the parents to time out.

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A Richard Simmons Slump! An Adnan Syed Tidbit! And A Review Of Time: The Kalief Browder Story Mar 10, 2017

The panel is at full strength now that Lara managed to talk her way out of an arrest by the railroad police (yes, there is such a thing).
We begin with some voice messages from listeners wondering what the "Up and Vanished" serendipitous conclusion means for the realm of true crime podcasting.
We return again to the white hot podcast "Missing Richard Simmons." Are the crime writers still committed to seeing (hearing) this journey through?
Then we turn our attention to Spike TV's six-part doc "Time: The Kalief Browder Story." It's a heavy look at the true story of a black teen who spent 800 days in solitary confinement on Rikers Island while awaiting trial of a flimsy robbery charge. Is it perhaps too heavy to enjoy...or too important to ignore?
The Crime of Week deals with a politician whose resume is all sizzle and no steak.

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State v Adnan Syed (AGAIN), MORE Missing Richard Simmons & HBO's Big Little Lies Mar 04, 2017

It's another paper dump in the ongoing appeals around Adnan Syed from Serial season one. Kevin takes a look at yet another news-making turn in the case, and Rebecca gives it a big old eye roll (cute the hate mail!).
And, episode 3 of Missing Richard Simmons was CRAY. From witchcraft to bitchcraft, we learned Richard's closest confidants f'ing HATE each other. How can we not revisit a podcast that brings up black magic? Yeah...we're SO gonna do that.
Then, the Crime Writers examine HBO's newest murder mystery mini-series, "Big Little Lies." Does an A-list cast + domestic noir = another hit? And should the producers stay keep the same killer/victim as the book, or make it fresh for the whole audience?

Plus, what we learned in this Crime of the Week: if you live to be 100 you might get a lap dance from your nurse.

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We Talk About 'Missing Richard Simmons' AND That 'Up and Vanished' True Crime Update! Feb 25, 2017

Can you feel the love tonight? The Crime Writers can.
Plus, the gang dives in to the breaking news about an arrest in the Tara Grinstead case - that's the one featured in the "Up and Vanished" podcast.
At the time of our recording, it was unclear what role the podcast played in Ryan Duke's arrest, but did Payne Linsey's grandmother actually know more than the cops did?
Next, Rebecca interviews Missing Richard Simmons creator Dan Taberski about why he was drawn to the vanishing of everyone's favorite flamboyant exercise guru.
Then the Crime Writers review the podcast: Is it ethical to chronicle someone's withdrawal from public life? What makes Simmons's story so uniquely compelling? Why did someone who gave support to so many individuals seemingly turn his back on them? Also, Kevin recalls his own professional interactions with Richard Simmons.
In the Crime of the Week: a squirrel plays guard dog by going spider monkey on a cat burglar.

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Out Like A Serial Flynn, Etan's Legacy, & Netlix's Shadow Of Truth Feb 17, 2017

In a jam-packed episode, the panel drinks the hater-aid as they read some of their correspondence. Rebecca name drops her fill-in gig on Slate's "Mom & Dad Are Fighting" podcast - which, ironically, is what the Lavoie-Flynn kids call "Crime Writers On!"
A figure from Serial Season 2 makes a cameo, a certain general who made the adamant assertion that any soldier wounded in Afghanistan can be linked to Bowe Bergdahl's rescue mission.
And, after waiting almost 40 years for a conviction, the crime writers take a thoughtful dive into the famous Etan Patz kidnapping case. It was more than just the crime that put kids' faces on milk cartons - it was the social turning point in how parents perceived the safety of their children.
In our review segment, the crew goes around the horn on whether or not you should check out the Israeli documentary "Shadow of Truth," now available on Netflix. This four-part subtitled mini-series looks at the sensational murder of a teenage girl, the questionable investigation into the convicted killer, and the rabid public fanbase that trolls the Internet seeking alternative suspects. (Kind of sounds like a certain American podcast we've listened to...)
Then, in the Crime of the Week, the cops give a fugitive a tumble...and a spin.

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The Staircase/Michael Peterson Owl Theory, Alford Pleas & A Stranglers Podcast Review Feb 11, 2017

The panel tackles a HUGE true crime update - the Alford plea taken by Michael Peterson, the novelist and suspected murder featured in The Staircase - a documentary Rebecca contends is the Citizen Kane of true crime. As a bonus, our very own Legal Siri (AKA legal professor and Undisclosed genius Colin Miller) educates us on WTH Alford pleas actually are.
Then the Crime Writers argue about an alternative theory posed in the Peterson case...was his wife Kathleen actually killed by an owl? That was the theory posed in the amazing pilot episode of the podcast Criminal - but Toby's not exactly buying it. (Shocking, we know.)
Then, in our regular segment about whether you should watch/listen to/read the latest big thing in crime media, we review Stranglers, the podcast by Earwolf that takes a deep ol' dive into the Boston Strangler case. (Warning: This segment features a quasi-mansplain meltdown and Kevin Flynn doing a pretty convincing trashy Boston accent.)
Finally, our Crime of the Week features one of Rebecca's favorite big box stores, a sex crime, and scabies.

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Beware the Slenderman! YUGE Serial News! And the Bear Brook Murders...solved? Feb 04, 2017

The first Serial spinoff, "S-town," will be dropping in March. And we do mean "dropping." Serial Productions says it will release all of its episodes at once...making it one of the first major podcasts to invite fans to binge listen. Will you listen? Of course you will. And so will we.
Rebecca brings in reporter Jason Moon to discuss the decade's old case of four unidentified bodies found in two barrels in Allenstown NH's Bear Brook Park. A seemingly unrelated murder on the other side of the country may have revealed a serial killer...but no one knows who he actually is.
Then the panel goes into the scary, provocative HBO documentary, "Beware the Slenderman." It looks at the case of two young girls who stabbed their friend to appease a modern-day internet boogeyman. So, should you watch the movie?? The panel is split but agrees on one thing: don't watch this one in the dark.
Then in Crime of the Week, the only way to foil high-tech crooks is to go old school.

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No Serial Pardon, Bowe Bergdahl's Trump Problem & The Myth Of Kitty Genovese Jan 28, 2017

Pardon us. Please. We're looking into the latest twist in the court martial of Serial season two protagonist Bowe Bergdahl. We're joined by friend-of-the-show USMC Judge Advocate James Weirick (ret), host of the Military Justice podcast. Now that former-President Obama declined to pardon Bergdahl, his lawyers say he can't get a fair trial with President Trump as Commander-in-Chief. Weirick will explain the arguments in the docket, why they submitted a video presentation, and he'll also provide some insight into the clemency granted to Pvt. Chelsea Manning.
Also, Lara gives a quick review of the new true crime podcast, Gone at 21. One of her positives: "it's short."
Then we'll talk about a documentary premiering on PBS's Independent Lens, "The Witness" (also available on Netflix). It reexamines the infamous 1964 murder of Kitty Genovese, the NY woman killed as 38 neighbors alleg edly watched but did nothing. Fifty years later Kitty's brother, Bill, digs into a crime he (and we) don't really know the truth about...including the myth that so many bystanders did nothing.
And in the Crime of the Week, one Florida man makes a big mistake when seeking his own presidential pardon.

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Serial Appeal Stumble, Journalism Bullies & Suspect Convictions Jan 21, 2017

Toby's back...just in time to weigh in on the newest true crime podcast fill our ears.

But first - the state of Maryland has won the latest round in Adnan Syed's quest to get out of prison now that his conviction has been overturned. What does it mean that they've been granted a "Leave to Appeal" and how much closer are we to a new trial for the Serial season one protagonist?
Then, we talk about something a little bit weird that happened during the latest episode of one of our favorite podcasters, Amber Hunt of the Cincinnati Enquirer's Accused podcast.
Then we'll get into "Suspect Convictions," and break down what's good, not good, and controversial (among the panel) about this true crime podcast from WVIK.
In the Crime of the Week, we're getting frisky in the Granite State - and it's got some goopy consequences!

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Serial Snobbery? A JonBenet Lawsuit! And Scientology & The Aftermath Jan 14, 2017

When Toby's away, the mice will play...AND talk about all sorts of great stuff.
Special guest panelist Amelia McDonnell-Parry gives us a lowdown on what she saw at Adnan Syed's PCR hearing, and why she thinks Sarah Koenig isn't doing the right thing by ignoring new evidence dug up by other podcasters.
Plus, our true crime update takes on that $750 MILLION dollar lawsuit filed by Burke Ramsey after a CBS special pointed to him as the murderer of his sister, JonBenet. The panel has some strong feelings about that.
And then, Scientology doesn't freak Kevin out, but talking about it does. Nonetheless, we give an overview of the incredible docuseries created by Queen of Queens (and Queen of Nails) Leah Remini, A&E's Scientology & the Aftermath.
After our crime of the week airs, one upstate New York man may try to buy every copy of this podcast

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Adnan Syed's Setback, Serial's Audio Boo-Boo, and a Homecoming Podcast Review Dec 30, 2016

After a holiday break, we're back. And so much has happened again.
In the land of true crime podcast updates, Adnan Syed has been denied bail while he awaits a new trial. The panel talks about that decision.
In other Serial news, we learned Sarah Koenig & co made a big boo-boo when putting together season one. Namely: using courtroom audio that was prohibited from broadcast. This time, justice was merciful.
Kevin responds to listener reaction to his criticism of "Someone Knows Something." Again, it's another feisty split decision.
In this week's installment of "Should You Listen?" the panel weighs in on Gimlet's star-powered "Homecoming." Is this the latest Gimlet podcast to break the mold?
In the Crime of the Week, an FBI sting operation on Capitol Hill! The target - no, not corrupt politicians - a bootleg DVD ring.
Related: In this episode, Rebecca talks about a news station covering a trial with puppets. Here's a link.

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A FEISTY Split Decision: Should You Listen to This True Crime Podcast? Dec 16, 2016

The CBC's Someone Knows Something is back with a second season.
So should you listen? That's the question the crime writers will try to answer. Spoiler: it's a split decision, with at least one of the panelists (ahem, Kevin) expressing a very passionate opinion.
WILL CANADA EVER FORGIVE US? We hope so.
The good news: host David Ridgen is back for his second interview with Rebecca, and he's really, really awesome. The bad news: after the interview, Kevin Flynn has a meltdown over how much he hates the podcast. It's kind of epic, but at least he feels a little bit bad about it.
Also, we eliminate homework for our listeners...especially for those of you who never do it!
In the Crime of the Week, a Santa-lookalike is kicked out of Six Flags. Grinch move or totes justified?

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Crimetown & Westworld Have Us Like Whoa!! Dec 09, 2016

This week we dive in to two format-smashing shows: one the up-ends the conventions of podcast storytelling, and one that challenges the concept of story telling itself.
The panel examines "Crimetown." This podcast from Gimlet sounds like nothing we've heard before. Are they setting a new bar for the traditional first-person investigative podcast or are they creating a completely new genre?
Also, the crime writers give their take on HBO's dizzying & dazzling "Westworld." Was the western-tinged sci-fi series about man's inhumanity, a study on free will, or a contemplation of on the power of story? Or just a bunch of cowboys shooting and having sex with robots?
Plus, Toby checks his Amazon Christmas list (is your gift on it?). We'll hear from a listener who offers her two cents on the Justin Ross Harris verdict (and then we offer her ours).
The Crime of the Week looks at the War on Christmas...by beavers.

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Serial Scoop? Breakdown Conviction! Undisclosed Up Close! And Missing & Murdered Dec 03, 2016

So many gifts for true crime fans this holiday season, as a new batch of podcasts are hitting the charts. Where to begin...where to begin?

First, the panel drops a ton of true crime updates. These include a last-minute order keeping Brendan Dassey in prison, a verdict in Breakdown's Justin Ross Harris case, and a newspaper editorial calling for a pardon for Bowe Bergdahl. Plus, Rebecca parties-hearty with the team from Undisclosed and Addendum.
The most exciting news comes from "Serial" co-creator Julie Snyder who says their team will be dropping a new seven-week podcast in March. No, it's not Serial season three, but it sounds like a compelling story nonetheless - and Rebecca's got a decent theory as to who will be telling it.
Then we dive into the CBC's investigation of the Alberta Williams case, "Missing & Murdered." Set on an island fishing town off the coast of British Columbia, this podcast looks at a cold case from 1989, and the cop (and reporter) who's not afraid to name names. Bonus: Rebecca interviews host Connie Walker about making the podcast!
Finally, we go all "Hidden Tiger, Crouching Dragon" in the Crime of the Week.

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Writing Crime, Podcasting and More: A Special Live Show Nov 19, 2016

A Serial spinoff?! A verdict in the Breakdown / Justin Ross Harris case! Brendan Dassey can go home, and then he can't!
All great topics to talk about, right?
Sorry to say we're not going to get to any of those this week. That's because we pre-recorded this episode at the New England Crime Bake, a convention for crime & mystery writers, on Saturday. Who would have thought all this good stuff would happen after we wrapped?
("So you'll get to it next week, right guys? The week of Thanksgiving?" Well, about that...)
In this live recording, the podcasting crime writers tell a room of nonpodcasting crime writers about Lara's cat's chlamydia, how we got started writing, and answer some listener emails and tweets. (Kevin's a hater? Says who?)
Later, we pluck a writer from the crowd. We ask Maureen Milliken her about her work and boy, does she deliver!
And this week's Crime of the Week is awwwww-ful.
Sponsors for this episode include
Madison Reed - use code WRITERS to save 10% at checkout
Stranglers podcast from Earwolf

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Serial Season 3 News? Sort Of. And What's Different About Up And Vanished? Nov 11, 2016

Breaking: Lara's cat has a super weird disease! For real.
Some maybe-news about Serial Season 3 has us theorizing. Was Kevin super, duper wrong when he said Sarah Koenig would never do a true crime story again?
Plus, we get a whole lot of listener email and tweets about what podcasts we should be listening to and talking about.
One of the podcasts we’ve had pimped to us the most often lately is the hit show "Up and Vanished," an investigative podcast about the 2005 disappearance of Ocilla Georgia Beauty queen Tara Grinstead.
But before we get into our discussion about Up and Vanished, we'll first listen in to Rebecca's conversation with someone who knows a little bit about that show - its host and creator Payne Lindsey. Even if you haven't heard the podcast, you should listen to this interview.
And, Toby apologizes to a nation. And our Crime of the Week strikes pretty damn close to home.

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Was In the Dark Better Than Serial? Plus Our Book, TV & Podcast Picks Nov 05, 2016

What do people want to talk about? World Series? Presidential election? Nope. The world wants to know what Lara Bricker got arrested for. (Hint: it wasn't election fraud.) Looks like her accomplices left her holding the bag...literally.

In our audience feedback segment, the Crime Writers respond to a heartwarming email from a cancer survivor who's ready to take on the challenge of punching one of their least-favorite attorneys.

Then, when it's time for business, the panel digs into the final episode of APM Reports' "In the Dark." Madeleine Baran didn't pull punches when it came to the police narrative that Danny Heinrich was just too good at covering his tracks for 25+ years. But is her conclusion too broad? Unfair? (Sometimes investigators know who did it, but can't get enough to make the arrest - as officials have told Rebecca & Kevin about the Stacey Burns "Mothers Day Murder" case.)

Finally, Rebecca, Kevin, Lara, and Toby offer up their recommendations about what you should be listening to, reading, and watching right now.
Crime of the Week: When it comes to Halloween candy, someone can give you a break - you're just not supposed to steal it.

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Adnan Syed's Bail Motion, Sarah Koenig's Serial Choices, Offshore's Big Splash Oct 28, 2016

Heads up Baltimore City Court! Here comes Adnan Syed seeking a bail hearing. It's not your usual motion, written more like a campaign speech than a legal brief.
The Crime Writers dig into the latest in the efforts of Serial's protagonist to get out of prison now that his conviction has been vacated.
And a journalism conundrum: IF Sarah Koenig knew about Jay Wild's post-Adnan criminal history, should she have included it in Serial?
Also, the panel hangs ten in Hawaii with the new podcast, "Offshore" from Honolulu Civil Beat and PRX. Can a white reporter do justice to a tale of Hawaiian culture and disenfranchisement?
Related: Toby recommends reading this article from the New Yorker, "The American Raj," to learn more about Hawaiian history.
In our Crime of the Week, the panel shakes the tree. But who goes undercover as a tree, anyway? (Kevin reported on a similar bank robbery story in NH. Watch the version filed by his colleagues.)
Plus: mystery solved! Who bought the family-sized bucket of massage lotion? We finally know. Finally.

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A Triple True Crime Podcast Bonanza - Phoebe's Fall, Breakdown & In The Dark Oct 21, 2016

Things get back to normal in the Crime Writers' world. They discuss the perils of doing bad accents and explain why they can't do audiobook versions of their own books.
A true crime update (add your own echo): Burke Ramsey has followed through on his threat to sue over the CBS special on his sister's murder. Looks like the case will focus on one comment from one person.
Then the focus shifts to the new investigative podcast from Australia, "Phoebe's Fall." We know that Phoebe Handsjuk dropped 12 stories down a garbage chute, crawled out, only to bleed to death from injuries from the trash compactor. Was it a suicide attempt? Was it a drunken misadventure? Or was it something more nefarious? So far, the Crime Writers have mixed opinions.
Footnote: for another strange how-did-she-get-into-that situation, check out the case of a 21-year-old Chinese tourist who drowned in a hotel water tank.
Checking in with some of the other leading true crime podcasts, in "In The Dark"'s penultimate episode, the Sterns County sheriff is confronted with their pitiful clearance rate. And the trial of Justin Ross Harris is finally underway in "Breakdown."
In the Crime of the Week, don't block a driveway in Australia...even if it's your own.

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Amanda Knox - The Documentary And Case That Divides Us All Oct 15, 2016

Oh no! We went there!
The Crime Writers discuss the controversial Netflix doc "Amanda Knox." Why are we still intrigued by the murder case? Does any of the evidence add up? Is the motive believable? Is Knox herself credible? As she says, "Either I am a psychopath in sheep's clothing or I am you."
Rebecca and Kevin welcome back Dr. Elizabeth Yardley to explain why the British have such a different (and more visceral) view of the case than Americans do. Could it be they were each seeing a different case in their papers and on their TV screens?
Bigger question: how bad are the writers going to get trolled on Twitter for their views?
Because it seems some people - not everyone, but some - feel really, really, REALLY strongly about this case and you better agree with them in 140 characters (or the 140 consecutive tweets with which they will flood your feed)!
In Crime of the Week...a SWAT team takes out an 81-year-old woman for growing a single marijuana plant. Good thing she wasn't stealing cable TV...she'd probably be dead.

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We Stand Accused ...of Loving the Podcast 'Accused' Oct 08, 2016

Every couple of weeks, other podcast comes along and seems like the heir to "Serial." Few live up to the anticipation. Is it possible that the Cincinnati Enquirer's "Accused" podcast has replicated the secret sauce: a truly compelling murder mystery and the transparent, obsessive reporting which goes into the story? It sure is.
Rebecca talks with Amber Hunt and Amanda Rossman about their year-long investigation into the 1978 Elizabeth Andes murder. If her acquitted boyfriend Bob Young didn't do it, than who did?
Next, the Crime Writers dish on who was the biggest villain in the case: one of the four remaining suspects OR the prosecutor who dodged Amber for a year. (Spoiler alert: three quarters of the panel is REALLY down on Gmoser - and not just because the "G" is silent.)
We get a TRUE CRIME UPDATE from Lara about the official Army findings in the Bowe Bergdahl case. Were any servicemen killed looking for Bergdahl? The answer appears to be no...but then again, we don't really know what we're talking about.
Kevin sends out love to all who sponsored his Walk-a-Mile In her Shoes event; yes, he finally completed that mile-long course in high-heeled shoes.
In the Crime of the Week: A bucket list wish unlike any other. Grandma, Grandma, whatcha gonna do when they come for you?
Interstitial music by Uncanny Valleys.

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That JonBenet Ramsey Special - Yup, We Went There Sep 30, 2016

The Crime Writers take on what's good - and what's not so good - about the The Case of JonBenet, the four-hour CBS special featuring profilers Jim Clemente and Laura Richards and an all-star cast of forensic investigators. We talk about the case, the show's WTF moments (THEY BUILT THE HOUSE??), and dive deep into the potential defamation of Burke Ramsey, who is (in the experts' opinions) a leading suspect in the cold case.

We also chat with Ann Bartow, a law professor at UNH Law School and expert on all things defamation and internet speech, and tie that conversation in with issues raised in this week's episode of the excellent In The Dark podcast.

Finally, our crime of the week has Rebecca airing an old grudge with her favorite public radio host, Ira Glass.

Episode sponsors are the Havenly app (use promo code "crime") and Modcloth (also use promo code "crime") - and yes, we sometimes flub the ads, as you'll hear in the outtakes.

Interstitial music by Blue Dot Sessions and Jahzzar.

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In The Dark...as Usual Sep 24, 2016

Now that the crime writers are all back in their closet studios after their awesome live show, they tackle the newest high-quality true crime podcast, "In the Dark." It's like "Someone Knows Something"... if someone actually knew something.

Rebecca begins by talking with Madeleine Baran, APM Reports journalist and host of "In The Dark." They chat about Madeleine's year-long investigation on what went wrong during the investigation into the 1989 kidnapping of Jacob Wetterling.

Even though the podcast kicked off days after Danny Heinrich confessed to killing Jacob 27 years ago, is there still a compelling story to tell? The panel ponders if a true crime podcast can still achieve excellence without the benefit of suspense.

Then the Crime of the Week is not child's play. Or is it? Someone needs to go to jail, go directly to jail.

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Live From The Mall: The Crime Writers Book Club Special Sep 16, 2016

Yup, the Crime Writers went all in with a live show taping - there was even a real-life audience there to hear it! We talked about our summer book club pick, Laura Lippman's Wilde Lake. Toby also read an epic items list, we answered audience questions.
A couple of notes:
- Special thanks to the Hatbox Theatre in Concord, NH
- Rebecca talks to author Laura Lippman from the 8:08 mark to about 21:00
- Interstitial music was by the Blue Dot Sessions
- Some audience questions had to be edited out because of audio quality
- Rebecca would like to apologize to her Mom. Stay tuned for the outtakes and you'll know why

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New Evidence in the 'Making A Murderer' Case? And Last Call for 'The Night Of' Sep 09, 2016

We heard you missed us. But hey, we're back!
After a semi-vacation over the summer, the crime writers are back weekly to talk about all things criminal - in real life and in pop culture.
News on the Steven Avery case continues to break. The new lawyer for the "Making a Murderer" subject has filed a petition to have evidence re-tested using the most modern (and most expensive) analysis currently available. She says the results will definitively prove Avery's innocence (or, she concedes, his guilt). Is doubling down on the police conspiracy theory Avery's best play?
Now that HBO's limited series "The Night Of" has signed off, what does the panel make of it? Did the show live up to the high expectations set by episode one? Who's the hero? What does the ending mean? And why did Stone's eczema come back? These are questions the public demands answers to. (PS: If you want to skip past the discussion to remain "unspoiled," skip from 35:47 to 58:36.)
The Crime of the Week is a cream pie to the face. Who's responsible for all the creepy-looking clowns popping up in neighborhoods throughout the Carolinas? Is it a sick criminal perpetrator or just a scary joke?

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Making a Murderer Brendan Dassey SHOCKER! Plus, Bergdahl Update & The Night Of Predictions Aug 20, 2016

Another episode, another questionable murder conviction vacated.
The panel reacts to the news that a federal magistrate has vacated the conviction of Brendan Dassey, the accused accomplice in the Steven Avery "Making a Murderer" documentary.
Although the public went nuts over what many perceived to be a coerced confession, it was something else the detectives did to the intellectually-challenged teen that violated his Sixth Amendment rights.
More true crime updates: why did a General burn letters related to "Serial" season 2 subject Bowe Bergdahl? And the man accused of killing Washington intern Chandra Levy is also walking out of prison.
Is Naz breaking bad in "On the Night Of"? What is the audience supposed to think of main characters in the HBO limited series at this point?
In the Crime of the Week: POOPACALYPSE!
P.S. Don't forget about the first Crime Writers On live podcast on September 6 at the Hatbox Theater in Concord, NH. We'll wrap up our summer book club, plus other surprises. (It's free to get in, but click here for so we can have an accurate head count!)
P.P.S. What should Lara's Parrothead nickname be? If you have an idea, send us an email or email us a voice memo!

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Sneak Preview - These Are Their Stories: A Law & Order Podcast Aug 12, 2016

Just for fans of our show, here's a trailer for our spinoff, in which Kevin will talk with Rebecca and a special guest about their obsession with Law & Order, and break down the true crime cases behind ripped-from-the-headlines episodes of Law & Order, SVU, and Criminal Intent

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Stranger Things, Serial Update(s) & Omar on The Night Of Aug 05, 2016

Well, it took more than one try, but the Crime Writers are getting it done with a well-rehearsed discussion on Netflix's newest breakout hit, "Stranger Things." It's like Stephen King and Steven Spielberg had a baby that was eight-episodes long. (Almost) no spoilers...except that it's freakin' awesome.
We also debut a brand new segment: the TRUE CRIME ROUND-UP!
We've got the latest on the Adnan Syed appeal and the Bowe Bergdahl court martial.
The panel's sharp eyes turn back to HBO's "The Night Of." What was a straight murder mystery is now part prison story, part crime procedural. Half way through, is it losing focus or hitting its stride.
ALSO: Watch for details on the first Crime Writers On live podcast. (Click here for a sort-of RSVP!)
We'll wrap up our summer book club with an audience-participation discussion on Laura Lippman's Wilde Lake. We'll be at the the Hatbox Theater in Concord, NH September 6th. FREE ADMISSION. Surprises galore!

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HBO's The Night Of, DNA Shenanigans, A Serial Update & Rebecca's Big Win Jul 23, 2016

It's been more than ten days. What's the latest on whether the state will appeal Judge Welch's decision to vacate Adnan Syed's conviction?
"The Night Of" is sure to be "the show of the summer." This moody, unsettling murder mystery is everything that "True Detective, Season 2" was not.
The Crime Writers talk about what makes this show stand out, whether the cops are playing fair with Naz, and WTF is up with John Turturro's feet.
You think juries can be swayed by faulty cell tower evidence, but how about something as sure-fire as DNA? We hear from science writer Chris Berdik about how DNA mixtures from a single sample are complicating the scientific process...and how the DNA used to convict some suspects is now being used to exonerate them.
Winner, winner, chicken dinner! We'll announce which crime book you have chosen for the Crime Writers On first Summer Book Club. Use that Amazon link to buy your copy. We'll have a special interactive show to get your views and discuss our thoughts (bring your own white wine).
Grab your smartphone for the Crime of the Week. People our out in the real world hunting for Pokémon and some are finding more than just Pikachus!

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Serial Epilogue: Adnan Syed Gets a New Trial...Maybe Jul 09, 2016

Ever since Sarah talked to Asia the world wondered whether she was the key to getting Adnan Syed a new trial. In the end, it was a single sentence in a pile of thousands of documents.
The result is in. Judge Welch has ruled Adnan's Sixth Amendment rights were violated and he'll get a new trial...if it ever gets that far. The Crime Writers pull apart the decision and discuss where the case may go from here. Does the state have any evidence left? How would 12 Baltimore jurors (who'd never listened to a podcast) size up Adnan? And why could it be years before he gets out of jail?
The panel is joined by super-professor Colin Miller, who answers questions about the legal ins-and-outs of the ruling. Then the Crime Writers take your questions and voice memos. They also discuss the dilemma of the Alford plea: would you admit your guilt to a crime you didn't commit if it gets you out of prison? Also, WTF is a jury view like at the scene of a lumber theft?
Here's something new: our first Crime Writers On Summer Book Club show. Each writer has nominated a book. You vote online, then we'll all read and share (bring your own white wine). The nominees are If I Did It by OJ Simpson, I am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes, People Who Eat Darkness by Richard Lloyd Parry, and Wilde Lake by Laura Lippman.
In the Crime of the Week, one of our listeners makes a marital confession...
#Serial #SerialSeasonOne #AdnanSyed #Undisclosed

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Quick Tease: Serial Subject Adnan Syed Gets a New Trial Jun 30, 2016

Rebecca and Kevin give their quick thoughts on the breaking news of Adnan's Syed's being granted a new trial. We'll be talking about the case in our episode dropping July 9th, so we're asking you to send your questions, comments, and thoughts in an email or a voice memo to crimewriterson@gmail.com. You can learn how to send a voice memo on the blog section of our website, http://www.crimewriterson.com/

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OJ: Made in America, Adnan Syed: Made for TV Jun 24, 2016

We've spent a lot of time with the boob tube (ahem) so far this summer. This episode, the Crime Writers take out their ear buds and tune in to some of the season's most talked about television.
The Adnan Syed case finally gets the prime-time treatment on Investigation Discovery. For crime fans who can't figure out how to download a podcast, or those who only know the tale from hearing it at the water cooler, this hour-long special provides an overview of Serial's season one case. But for those who've spent hours and hours devouring minutia about the crime (I'm looking at you cell tower L689!), is there anything in this show for us?
AND - Though you'd think we'd all have had enough of that former Bills running back, especially after the superior drama "The People vs OJ Simpson," ESPN's ambitious documentary may prove you can't get enough of a good thing - if it's a good thing. And "OJ: Made In America" is 450 minutes of a good thing. Race, sex, celebrity...this is why it was the Crime of the Century - and the Crime Writers dive right in.
Also - did the crime writers make the same mistake with "Reply All" that the jury made with Paul Modrowski? And we're going for the gold with the Crime of the Week.
#Serial #AdnanSyed #OJMadeInAmerica

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Reply All Does True Crime & Shines Bright Like King Diamond Jun 11, 2016

Who thought we'd see Serial reborn in a podcast about the internet? Reply All's Sruthi Pinnamaneni brings us a four-part story about an inmate, his blog, the shifty characters associated with his crime, a flimsy evidence and nutty trial, and then - woah! - that final jailhouse interview! It's the podcast that has everyone asking, "Who the eff is King Diamond?"
In this episode, we'll hear from Sruthi about what went into creating the world's latest must-listen-to podcast. Then the panel will give their two-cents on the case and whether Sruthi is the one who finally stuck the landing.
There's also a correction or two. The song says "Don't you forget about me," but we might have forgotten about them.
Finally, you'll be repeating the Crime of the Week over and over again.
Also...can't get enough wisdom and insight from the incarcerated? Here are some blogs written by inmates, for future inmates (...if you're not careful).
On the Inside - Paul Modrowski's blog, edited by his mother, that started Reply All's four-episode profile of Paul and his case.
Between the Bars - a blog platform for prisoners in the US without internet access, done through MIT.
Live from Lockdown - a blog written by various inmates in the federal prison system, including highly influential gang-leaders and those held in solitary confinement.
Ben's Prison Blog - written by Ben Gunn, imprisoned in Sudbury (HM Prison), Derbyshire, England, 2009–2012. Since his release, Ben has continued his blog.
Lastly, for those looking for deeper meaning, here's King Diamond's song, "No Presents for Christmas."
Additional music this episode provided by Uncanny Valleys.

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Two And A Half Crime Writers (AKA The One Where We Chat With Jon Cryer!) May 28, 2016

Why the heck would mega TV and movie star Jon Cryer agree to be on our little podcast? Because he's a fan, dammit! It also turns out that he's a HUGE fan of true crime, including many of the podcasts we've talked about, like Serial and Undisclosed.
But does the artist formerly known as Duckie qualify as a crime writer? YES! (Sort of.) He's got a hilarious memoir, So That Happened, in which he explains his crime scene-rich formative years, including the shooting of his hooker-loving, soup-making next door neighbor.
So yeah, that happened. We talked to Jon Cryer. And yes, he DID spill the beans on being in Pretty in Pink, the weird antics of Charlie Sheen, and serving on jury duty (more than once!)
Plus, our Crime of the Week tackles the question...of all the child/teen actors you used to love, which one does the panel most which would make a comeback?

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Bowraville - The Podcast From A Land Down Under May 21, 2016

This week, the panel talks about Bowraville, the true crime podcast created by The Australian newspaper. (Scroll down to listen!) Rebecca also connects with Dan Box, the Brit-turned-Aussie who reported the story, and asks, why is your newspaper being called the "unlikely hero" of this never-solved serial murder case? (A hint...it has a little something to do with Rupert Murdoch!)
Also, we tackle some listener queries, and play a voice memo simply because one of you asked us to. As for the crime of the week? Let's just say it puts a new twist on the trustworthiness of babysitters.

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Bowe Bergdahl's Court Win & The SWAT Team Controversy May 14, 2016

When news broke last week that Bowe Bergdahl's legal team had scored a victory in his case, we weren't sure we understood exactly what happened. So, Kevin reached out to our trusty military legal eagle James Weirick for a quick run-down. As a bonus, we get confirmation that Weirick is, in fact, the manliest man to ever man-up.
Also, the PBS documentary Peace Officer hooked us in but also left us with some questions. As we tackle those, we also wonder, WTF is our local PD doing with a tank?
(BTW, you can find out what we're going to be talking about before our episodes drop if you sign up for our newsletter! You can do that right here.)
Plus, Lara gets corrected correctly, we answer a couple of listener inquiries, and the Crime of the Week posits...is it EVER too late to hand out some justice?
LINKS:
"The Coldest Cut" article by Kevin & Rebecca
Radley Balko's Washington Post blog: The Watch
AMC/Netflix's crime drama "The Killing"
Crime of the Week: 71 year old fugitive caught 50 years after his escape.

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Breakdown's Breakdown and British Crime's Dark Side May 07, 2016

Just when we were getting ready to see how Justin Ross Harris's trial in the baby-in-the-hot-car homicide would play out, a twist no one saw coming. This means an unexpected hiatus for the "Breakdown" podcast and questions about media influence on the justice system.
We get to know Dr. Elizabeth Yardley, a criminologist at Birmingham City University in England. She's studied how Serial fans used Reddit to interact with Hae's and Adnan's families, as well as look at the digital fingerprints criminals are leaving on social media. Plus, we talk about what British audiences like when it comes to crime drama.
We should have seeing the signs in the Crime of the Week. One NY mayor helped his village's street department out by taking home some "office supplies" from this day job.

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These Are Their Stories: A Very Special Law & Order Special Apr 30, 2016

Kevin and Rebecca are joined by two very special guests to discuss Law & Order: "Original Recipe," AKA, the first series in the juggernaut franchise that's been on the air for nearly three decades.
The panel talks about what makes Law & Order so compelling, their favorite characters, the weird writing tropes of the Law & Order universe, and a lightning round that pits Jerry Orbach against Dennis Farina, and Jill Hennessy against Angie Harmon.
Episode links at CrimeWritersOn.com:
Meet our brand new special guest panelist Brady Carlson and read his book, Dead Presidents
Rebecca talked about a study that looked at views of law enforcement through the lens of Law & Order. Here's an article about that.
And, you can see Brady Carlson's Happy Birthday photo signed by Jerry Orbach,

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S2 Ep 13: Endings are Important! Plus, Our Podcast & Media Picks Apr 23, 2016

The crime writers respond to a listener's very British rant about the critical nature of endings in a good story, talk about what TV shows totally failed at the end, and settle a long-term marital dispute that's been tearing Kevin and Rebecca apart.
Plus, the Crime of the Week delves in to Australia's long national nightmare and reveals that there's a killer living with one of the panel! Watch out, Toby!!!
For a list of media picks links, visit our episode page at crimewriterson.com

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S2 Ep 12: Does Someone Know Something? Damned if We Know. Apr 16, 2016

The Crime Writers talk about another true crime podcast, Someone Knows Something, the Canadian-crafted cold case show that's holding firm on the charts. Rebecca also checks in with the show's creator and host, David Ridgen.
Also, we talk about the kerfluffle over Asia McClain's book announcement, find out what celebrity Toby most resembles and ask him, "Why oh why did you leave your sister hanging?"
Then, the gang answers a few listener questions before going on to the Crime of the Week which delves into the gang's vanity...and crippling insecurity.

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S2 Ep 11.5: The People Vs. Serial Season 2 - Was OJ The Better-Told Story? Apr 09, 2016

The Crime Writers welcome very special guest Lt. Col (R) James Weirick on board to talk about the art of storytelling, and whether Serial delivered on the big promises it made in season 2.
We also take apart the storycraft behind The People Vs. OJ Simpson, and how the cast, the plot frame, and even the casting of Ross as Robert Kardashian affected that show's arc.
Plus, we listen to some pithy listener voice memos and tackle a juvenile crime of the week.
A special thanks to classy-voiced British journalist Emma Finamore for reading some of the items our listeners from across the pond purchased on Amazon UK!
Links on crimewriterson.com :
Here's the article Toby mentioned in which the courtroom sketch artist compares the actors' portrayals to the real people in the OJ Simpson case.
What's on Weirick's Netflix list? Here you go:
1. Bronson
2. H.H. Holmes, America's First Serial Killer
3. Carl Panzram, The Spirit of Hatred and Vengeance
4. Punch-Drunk Love
5. Mirage Men
Crime of the Week link:
Read the Orange Street News, the greatest newspaper ever written by a kid.

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S2 Ep 11: Reporting For The End (of Serial Season 2) Apr 02, 2016

After eleven episodes, Sarah and team tapped out of season two. In "Present for Duty," the Serial squad does some solid enterprise reporting into whether anyone was actually killed or wounded in efforts to recover Bowe.
While saving judgement on the season as a whole until next week, the panel breaks down the series finale. Did Ken Wolf's declaration make a difference in the minds of those who want the maximum punishment for Bowe Bergdahl? Do the fates of Jimmy Hatch and Matt Allen make it harder to forgive Bowe for his actions?
The Crime of Week is a shocker! A NC man gets arrested because of an overdue video rental. Please be kind and rewind. Links:
Here's more on the case that Lara mentioned of the guy who gave a whole of people Hepatitis
And here are two links (one and two) about the research into brain wiring of liberals and conservatives - something Rebecca mentioned in the show

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S2 Ep 10.5: JAGged Little Pill, Your Questions, & A People Vs. OJ Breakdown Mar 26, 2016

It's yet another a super long episode! (Sorry about that.)
But hey, at least there are t-shirts you guys can buy. Here's the link to those.
For civilians, is there something about Serial Season 2 that neither we nor Sarah fundamentally get?
Rebecca and Kevin have a talk with JAG Lt Col James Weirick (ret), one of the hosts of the Task and Purpose Radio podcast. Weirick shares his take on Bowe, how the legal case against him is playing out, and what military listeners are saying about Serial Season 2. He also confesses to stalking Sarah Keonig in a "non-criminal" way.
We also answer a few listener questions (including one from Michael Jackson's old house!) and Kevin makes yet another terrible transition into our sponsor's ads. There's also a meaty discussion about our latest TV obsession, "The People vs OJ Simpson." What started as a cheesy, escapist miniseries has become a riveting character study - and maybe a feminist manifesto?.
So a guy walks into a sushi bar with a giant snake. And he says, "This sounds like it could be the Crime of Week." Let the good times maki roll.
James Weirick's webpage
Task & Purpose website (podcast)

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S2 Ep 10: We Never Promised You A Rose Garden - Serial Season 2 Mar 19, 2016

The Crime Writers dissect almost every aspect of Serial, Season 2, Episode 10, "Thorny Politics." It gets so deep that Rebecca feels the need to include extra out-takes for comic relief.
Plus, Kevin explains what a "news fixer" is and makes a better-than-last-week transition into our ads, Rebecca asks whether or not public radio reporters are SO committed to journalistic neutrality that they only talk to Republicans, we hear what a traffic report in New Hampshire would have sounded like a decade ago, and the panel discusses a Crime of the Week designed for the twenty-five percent.
Related:
Here's the New York Times article that gets mentioned about twelve times during this episode
An Atlantic story about news fixers and how they manipulate which crimes you actually hear about on network TV
Rebecca mentioned this reddit thread in which a user made a comment about Sarah Koenig's use of sources and reporters' fears of being seen as "liberal shills"

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S2 Ep 9.5: Ruff Week, Trumping Bowe, OJ on the Side, & Downton's Downturn Mar 12, 2016

The Crime Writers talk about why it's not a good idea to say you think someone committed a murder in public and also cover some new developments around Bowe Bergdahl media projects and his lawyer's request to interview Donald Trump.
Plus, there are some silly ads, and after those, a discussion about The People Versus O.J. Simpson and that Downton Abbey finale, which Toby has a whole lot of opinions about.
Also, the Crime of the Week gives Kevin a case of the 'Green Apple Splatters.'

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S2 Ep 9: Trade...Ahem...Secrets - Serial Season 2 Mar 05, 2016

The Crime Writers zoom all around a huge episode of Serial in which Sarah unpacks the attempts at diplomacy that led (and didn't lead) to Bowe Bergdahl's release.
Also, we talk about that mysterious throat clearing incident, beg our listeners to start watching The Grinder, and frame a whole episode around what you thought we should talk about. Plus, THAT KNIFE FOUND AT OJ SIMPSON'S HOUSE!!!
#serial #serialseason2 #OJSimpson

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S2 Ep 8.5: Bowe's Brain, Loose Story Threads, & Listener Questions - Serial Season 2 Feb 27, 2016

The Crime Writers pick at some loose threads from Serial's recent episodes, and talk with an actual expert on about how Bowe's personality disorder may have led to his walking away but also helped him cope with five years in captivity. Plus, Toby's away! But we have an able-bodied PT Stud sitting in his place, reporter and Outside/In podcast host Sam Evans-Brown. Also, the Crime of the Week puts the Crime Writers on the spot when it comes to internet sleuthing.

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S2 Ep7/8: Hindsight, in Two Episodes - Serial Season 2 Feb 20, 2016

The Crime Writers dissect the most interesting aspects of this week's 2-part Serial Season 2 release, 'Hindsight.' Highlights include Rebecca's unprecedented disagreement with Sarah Koenig, Toby's astute analysis of "slippery slope," the over-use of the word "hippie," and the beginning of a feline face-off.
Plus, the Crime of the Week - and a special surprise we've all been waiting for right in the middle of the episode. #Serial

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S2 Ep 6.5 Megasode: Making a Murderer's 'Silver Fox', Adnan Syed's PCR Wrap, Bowe's Brain, & The People Vs. O.J. Simpson Feb 13, 2016

Rebecca's dream comes true as she gets the chance to chat with Making a Murderer's breakout press-pool guy Aaron Keller. Well, it would have been her dream come true if Kevin hadn't tagged along.
Anyway, the Crime Writers also talk about how Adnan Syed's PCR hearing wrapped up, dive into reactions about their Bowe Bergdahl Autism speculations, talk about their initial impressions of 'The People v. OJ Simpson' on FX, and tackle yet another compelling Crime of the Week. Plus, a listener clears up a mystery sparked by Toby's misread of one of those Amazon items.
BOOK LAUNCH: Kevin and Rebecca are having a book launch party for their newest title, Dark Heart, on March 3, 2016. They'd like you to join them at Gibson's Bookstore, S Main St, Concord NH at 5:30.

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S2 Ep6: Adnan's Hearing & Bowe's 5 O'Clock Shadow - Serial Season 2 (and 1!) Feb 06, 2016

The Crime Writers take on Sarah Koenig's phoned-in updates on Adnan Syed's PCR hearing and try to solve the mystery of why she's staying in a hotel that provides animal-print bathrobes. Plus, we dissect Serial Season 2 Episode 6: 5 O'Clock Shadow, tell our best NH Primary stories, and dig in to the Crime of the Week.

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S2 Ep 5.5 Mega Show: Kratz's Book, Your Questions, & The Black Tapes - Tanis Guys Jan 30, 2016

The Crime Writers discuss Ken Kratz's book and Making a Murderer fatigue. answer listener questions and give their own podcast and TV recommendations. Also, Rebecca talks to the guys who make Tanis and The Black Tapes Podcast! It's pretty epic.

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S2 Ep5: We Zoomed! To Tampa! - Serial Season 2 Jan 23, 2016

We talk all about Serial's episode 'Meanwhile, In Tampa.' We also get the lowdown on how Lara would commit murder, hear more on why Rebecca's convinced Obama might show up on Serial, and find out why Toby can relate to a Super Soldier. Plus, Kevin gives an inappropriate response to the Crime of the Week.

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S2 Ep4.5: Sarah Pauses, Colin Ponders, & Nancy Interrupts Jan 16, 2016

We talk about Sarah Koenig's big announcement about Serial going biweekly and return to our dissection of the Netflix series "Making a Murderer." Colin Miller makes an appearance, and Toby watches Nancy Grace for the first time - it's pretty traumatic. Plus, we answer some listener questions and talk about the Crime of the Week!

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S2 Ep4: Making a Murderer is Still Our Captor...So is Serial Season 2 Jan 09, 2016

The gang talks some more about the Netflix hit documentary series "Making a Murderer," and then chats about Serial's "Captors." Also, Rebecca makes the case for "Poorfluenza," Jon Cryer humiliates Kevin, someone barely tolerates Toby, and Lara learns about the supernatural powers of asparagus.

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S2 Ep3.5: Bonus - We Talk About 'Making a Murderer' from Netflix Jan 02, 2016

The Crime Writers talk about the 10-part true crime series "Making a Murderer" from Netflix. Lara loses her mind over the ethics of Dassey's defense, Toby is skeptical but sympathetic, Rebecca goes out on a limb, and Kevin gives his wife a terrible anniversary card. Plus, the Crime of the Week!

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S2 Ep3: The Escaping Clause - Serial Season 2 Dec 27, 2015

The Crime Writers discuss every aspect of Episode 3 of Serial, including Bowe Bergdahl's twin escape attempts, those propaganda videos, and Bowe's cool affect when recounting his captivity. Also, Lara has a big theory, Toby talks about Mad Dog 20/20, and Kevin makes a confession. Plus, the Crime of the Week!

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S2 Ep2: Why Did the Golden Chicken Cross the Road? - Serial Season 2 Dec 20, 2015

The Crime Writers dissect every aspect of Serial Season 2 Episode 2, "The Golden Chicken," and it gets pretty heated. Also, Rebecca is afraid of being accidentally racist, Toby and Kevin disagree on a bunch of stuff, and Lara didn't bring cheesecake. But harmony is restored by our Crime of the Week.

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S2 Ep1: DUSTWUN in the Wind - Serial Season 2 Dec 12, 2015

The Crime Writers dissect every aspect of Serial Season 2's first episode and bring back Rebecca's favorite part of the show, the Crime of the Week. Also, Kevin forgets something pretty important!

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Season 2 Teaser - Serial's Back...And We Are, Too! Dec 10, 2015

Rebecca reveals the details behind the premiere of Crime Writers On... Season 2.

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Serial Season 2, Limetown, Dishing Maura Murray Oct 04, 2015

Rebecca, Kevin, Toby and Laura talk about the possibility of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's story as the focus of season two of Serial. Rebecca also interviews the guys behind Missing Maura Murray, a podcast that has the rest of the panel up in arms. Plus, the Crime Writers dish on the surprise hit Limetown and dissect the latest 'Crime of the Week.'

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WTF, True Detective? Plus, We Answer Your Questions! Aug 05, 2015

We get the world (and TV series) we deserve.
In this episode, we ask if "Undisclosed" has anything left to disclose and whether the new season of "True Detective" has lived up to the hype (spoiler alert: it hasn't). Is Sarah Koenig taking notes on how disappointing a second season can be?
We also take your email, Facebook and Twitter questions - and Kevin explains the difference between "a nice deal" and just "a deal."
We also make some awesome TV recommendations, and Toby's has the rest of us doing a spit-take.
Plus...the latest installment of the Crime of the Week!

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Lividity, Brian Williams, and Book Picks Jun 19, 2015

Rebecca and the panel talk about the possibilities for Serial seasons two and three. Will Sarah K. and company have the same success without a murder mystery to solve?
Next, with Rebecca lending technical assistance to the "Undisclosed" podcast, Kevin takes over and quizzes Lara and Toby about developments on that show. Forget "tap, tap, tap"...isn't the livdity evidence the biggest reveal?
The crime writers give their summer reading picks in the areas of true crime, mystery, and seasonal must-read. They also talk about journalism, including Brian Williams' dubious comeback.
And our monthly "Crime of the Week" (see what we did there?) tracks down those daring escapees from that NY prison. Note to convicts: don't go to Lara's aunt's house.
Crime Writers On...Summer Reading:Rebecca:
true crime: Lost Girls by Robert Kolker
mystery/thriller: Dare Me and The Fever both by Megan Abbot
other: The Vaults by Toby Ball (who's that?)
Kevin:
true crime: The Onion Field by Joseph Wambaugh
Mystery/thriller: Drizzled with Death by Jessie Crockett
Other: Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
Lara:
true crime: The Corpse Had a Familiar Face by Edna Buchnan
mystery/thriller: The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian
other: Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
Toby:
true crime: People Who Eat Darkness by Richard Lloyd Parry
mystery/thriller: A Place of Execution by Val McDermid
other: The Financial Lives of Poets by Jess Walter

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Podcastception! Full Disclosure On 'Undisclosed.' May 14, 2015

Rebecca and the panel talk about the podcast 'Undisclosed,' which features Rabia Chaudry, Colin Miller, and Susan Simpson talking about the evidence and developments in Adnan's case.
After that, Rebecca asks Lara to intervene in a spousal writing spat, Toby gets WAY personal, and Kevin defends his hero. There's also a question from an awesomely fanatic listener (scroll down to see it!)
Rebecca also forces the panel to continue her ridiculous "Crime of the Week" segment.

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House of Rabia and Scientology Apr 03, 2015

Rebecca talks with Rabia Chaudry, the person who started this whole thing by bringing Adnan's case to Sarah Koenig.
After that, Rebecca and Kevin, along with fellow crime writers Lara Bricker and Toby Ball, talk about the interview and about the HBO Scientology documentary Going Clear.
Rebecca also forces the panel to continue her ridiculous "Crime of the Week" segment.

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