The first season of Serial sparked a true crime phenomenon in 2014. But where do listeners turn once they finish with Sarah Koenig's investigation into the death of Hae Min Lee? We’ve got your back. Here are 7 intriguing podcasts to jumpstart your next obsession.
Criminal
Criminal is a bit different than your average crime podcast, but gained its fame through the same suspenseful storytelling that got the Serial fanbase hooked. More than working step-by-step through the crime, Criminal walks alongside the people involved. Listeners follow the stories of people who have done wrong, been wronged and those who were caught somewhere in between.
Someone Knows Something
In 1964, Henry Dee and Charles Moore were found dead in the Mississippi river, but no one was convicted. The podcast kicks off 40 years later with the return of Charles’s brother Thomas to the town where the crime was committed. With the help of David Ridgen, Charles reopens the case, determined to track down the killer. Seasons 1 and 3 follow this case, while the second season investigated the disappearance of Sheryl Sheppard.
Undisclosed
Undisclosed takes a slightly different approach than many of the others on this list, but fans of Serial will recognize the edge-of-your-seat reaction to the truths that arise. Join the hosts as they investigate wrongful convictions, and dig a little deeper into the crime’s guilty party and the judicial system responsible for the conviction. Undisclosed works step-by-step through the crime, trial and conviction while simultaneously bringing attention to new evidence never before seen in court.
True Murder
This one is perfect for those true-crime book lovers out there. With each episode, Dan Zupansky sits down with a different crime author to discuss their inspiration, motivation and personal curiosity behind the notorious crimes in their books. If you were caught with your nose in Helter Skelter between episodes of Serial, check out this podcast.
Related: 12 True Crime Authors Who Will Hook You on the Genre
Crimetown
This newbie on the podcast market has already made its mark. Each season, the hosts investigate the comprehensive picture of crime in an American city. They will cover everything from unlikely alliances to betrayals, crooked cops, and strangely honest mobsters—ultimately, Crimetown tells a story where it’s hard to tell the good guys from the bad. In this stunning series, the line between the law and order is blurred.
In the Dark
Child abduction crimes are rare and usually solved. However, there is one that stands out among the rest. Jacob Wetterling went missing in rural Minnesota and despite the extensive search, they yielded no results. Host Madeleine Baran reveals how investigators mishandled one of the most well-known child abduction cases in the country and how the hysteria surrounding the disappearance led to the prominence of the phrase we’re all familiar with, “stranger danger.”
Sword and Scale
Just a heads-up: Sword and Scale is not afraid of the strange and unordinary. Covering a range of true crime stories, unsolved murders and missing persons cases, this juggernaut of a true crime podcast dives into the demented minds of the most grisly killers history has to offer. If Serial lured you in through the gruesome details, Sword and Scale is for you.
Featured still: CBC News / YouTube
