Crime Writers On...True Crime Review

In 2004, Dateline NBC rolled out a new segment. “To Catch a Predator" was a bait-and-switch operation where producers chatted online with men looking for sex with a minor, then lured them to a home where reporter Chris Hansen would confront them on camera. The undercover segments were billed as helpful to both police and victims, as America watched the would-be predators squirm in shame before getting arrested. But its legacy is complicated, as the show faced scrutiny for aggressive tactics, murky ethics, and entertainment masquerading as justice.Now airing on Paramount+, “Predators” looks at “To Catch a Predator"'s impact on due process, actual benefits to deterrence, and effect on those ensnared. It also looks at the new generation of vigilantes who entrap suspected pedophiles. Director David Osit questions whether the TV show’s goal was - as host Chris Hansen would claim - to understand why the men did what they did…or whether the goal was to humiliate them on national television.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "PREDATORS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.This show was recorded in The Caitlin Rogers Project Studio. Click to find out more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In 2016, Truman State University was rocked when two fraternity members died by suicide within weeks of each other. But officials were troubled that both students had close ties to Brandon Grossheim, the person who found each of their bodies. Grossheim called himself “The Peacemaker,” someone students could turn to in times of crisis. But as more deaths occurred, and his behavior grew more peculiar, those around him wondered if Grossheim had been steering his classmates away from self-harm…or encouraging it.The podcast “The Peacemaker” from Coolfire Studios and iHeartPodcasts explores a tragic suicide cluster and the one man connected to all the deaths. Host Ben Westhoff and producer Ryan Krull drill down into the unanswered circumstances around each incident, as well as Grossheim’s proximity and preoccupation with death. It seeks to answer whether his actions were unsuccessful attempts to counsel people already in crisis or whether he nudged them along a path to self-harm.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE PEACEMAKER" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: Whoville are you? For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.This show was recorded in The Caitlin Rogers Project Studio. Click to find out more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Financier Marissa Irvine discovers her son’s playdate was just an elaborate kidnapping. With the search underway, Marissa faces judgement from family and the press for Milo’s disappearance. Meanwhile, Jenny Kaminski struggles with her guilt for hiring the nanny who abducted the child. While police search for the nanny, tensions within the Irvine family grow, as secrets and resentments come to the surface. And loved ones turn on each other as they wonder what role they played in setting the crime in motion.Golden Globe nominee Sarah Snook and Dakota Fanning star in “All Her Fault” on Peacock. The domestic thriller pivots between the missing person’s case and commentary on the societal pressures placed on women. In a race against time, the show exposes how fear, blame, and buried truths can shatter even the closest bonds.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "ALL HER FAULT" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.This show was recorded in The Caitlin Rogers Project Studio. Click to find out more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jeremy Bamber was convicted of killing his parents, sister, and nephews in 1985. The Whitehouse Farm murders became England’s most sinister case, cementing Bamber as the nation’s most infamous criminal. And to this day, many remain convinced he is the cold‑blooded killer behind the massacre. But New Yorker reporter Heidi Blake looked into why police turned away from their original theory that the deaths were a murder-suicide at the hands of Bamber’s schizophrenic sister. The investigative reporter found Bamber’s relatives may have manipulated evidence, detectives altered the scene, and authorities may have suppressed evidence in an effort to get and maintain a conviction.From the team at In the Dark and The New Yorker comes “Blood Relatives.” The series reopens one of the country’s darkest chapters with fresh scrutiny. Blake topples popular belief that Jeremy Bamber slaughtered his family by uncovering new evidence, including an interview with a dispatch operator who says his report about that night was forged.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "IN THE DARK: BLOOD RELATIVES" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: party animal. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.This show was recorded in The Caitlin Rogers Project Studio. Click to find out more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There was something for everyone on TV in 2025. Some shows shattered conventions, others re‑examined true crime classics as dramatic adaptations, and still others were returning favorites. But which TV shows and documentaries we reviewed truly stood out? We’ll hear from crime writers as they share their top ten picks for 2025. Lara's picks for best TV of 2025AdolescenceThe QuiltersShiny Happy People: A Teenage Holy WarUnknown Number Catfishing scam-Dept. QThe Diplomat season 3Only Murders in the Building season 5TaskThe Perfect NeighborThe Hunting Wives Toby's picks for the best TV of 2025Shiny Happy People: A Teenage Holy WarAdolescenceThe LowdownThe Diplomat season 3White LotusThe Perfect NeighborThe Yogurt Shop MurdersOnly Murders In the Building season 5CHAOS – The Manson MurdersThe Fox Hollow Murders Kevin's picks for the best TV of 2025AdolescenceThe White Lotus season 3Good American FamilyUnknown Number: A High School CatfishTaskShiny Happy People: A Teenage Holy WarThe Fox Hollow MurdersSurviving Ohio StateThe Perfect NeighborThe Bunker Rebecca's picks for the best TV of 2025The Diplomat season 3AdolescenceThe White Lotus season 3Shiny Happy People: A Teenage Holy WarThe Beast in MeThe Perfect NeighborUnknown NumberQuiltersOnly Murders In the Building season 5Murdaugh: Death in the Family The Crime Writers On Best of 2025 true crime documentariesShiny Happy People: A Teenage Holy War (Prime)Unknown Number: A High School Catfish (Netflix)The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix)The Quilters (Netflix)The Fox Hollow Murders (ABC News Studios)The Yogurt Shop Murders (HBO)Surviving Ohio State (HBO)CHAOS - The Manson Murders (Netflix)The Bunker (Viaplay)A Deadly American Marriage (Netflix)  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.This show was recorded in The Caitlin Rogers Project Studio. Click to find out more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

2025 was a solid year for podcasts. There were multiple investigative series, retrospectives on the history you thought you knew, and even some light‑hearted fare that was quirky and entertaining. But which titles truly stood out? We’ll hear from crime writers as they share their top 10 podcasts we reviewed in 2025. Lara's top 10 podcasts:Spotlight: Snitch CityLiberty Lost  The PreventionistThe Retrievals season 2Not a Very Good MurdererWisecrackBreakdown: Three Days in MayUncover: Sea of Lies  Scam FactoryBone Valley Season 3 | Graves County Toby's top 10 podcasts:Bone Valley Season 3 | Graves CountyScam FactoryFinal Thoughts: Jerry SpringerBreakdown: Three Days in MayUncover: Sea of LiesNot a Very Good MurdererWisecrackStakeknifeDirtbag ClimberLords of Death Kevin's top 10 podcasts:WisecrackSpotlight: Snitch CityStakeknifeFinal Thoughts: Jerry SpringerThe Copernic AffairNot a Very Good MurdererThe Retrievals season 2Bone Valley Season 3 | Graves CountyDeath County, PAThe Preventionist Rebecca's top 10 podcasts:WisecrackBone Valley Season 3 | Graves CountySpotlight: Snitch CityStakeknifeThe Retrievals season 2Not a Very Good MurdererDirtbag ClimberDeath County PAFinal Thoughts: Jerry SpringerLiberty Lost The Crime Writers On Best of 2025 Podcast ListWisecrackSpotlight: Snitch CityBone Valley Season 3 | Graves CountyNot a Very Good MurdererStakeknifeThe Retrievals season 2Final Thoughts: Jerry SpringerBreakdown: Three Days in MayScam FactoryLiberty Lost  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.This show was recorded in The Caitlin Rogers Project Studio. Click to find out more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When the body of 18-year-old Sarah Zuber was found outside her home in 2019, the evidence suggested a variety of competing theories. Was it a murder, a hit and run, or Sarah’s own intoxicated misadventure?  Her parents believed authorities bungled the case and are hiding information. Community members organized on Facebook pages and in action groups, spouting their own theories and suspects. The Zuber case also spawned a political movement targeting a mayor and the sheriff. But as answers to what actually happened still elude us, questions remain whether the attention has benefitted the case - or benefitted the people demanding results.Season two of the podcast from Oregon Public Broadcasting “Hush: Love Thy Neighbor” focuses on the Sarah Zuber case and why the available evidence supports the contrary conclusions of those throughout Columbia County. Host Leah Sottile and producer Ryan Haas examine how true crime culture and changes in media have altered how a case like this is consumed. They also leave listeners to wonder if the motives of Sarah’s greatest champions are completely altruistic.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "HUSH: LOVE THY NEIGHBOR" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.This show was recorded in The Caitlin Rogers Project Studio. Click to find out more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alex Murdaugh was part of a South Carolina legal dynasty, but the attorney was hiding secrets. He had been embezzling from his family’s law firm to maintain a lavish lifestyle and his addiction to pills. Things start to unravel when his younger son Paul is involved in a fatal boating accident. A reporter turns up evidence of suspicious deaths and apparent corruption by members of the Murdaugh family. As his marriage falls apart and a civil lawsuit will surely expose his financial crimes, Alex Murdaugh contemplates drastic measures to avoid the consequences.  Hulu’s “Murdaugh: Death in the Family” stars Jason Clarke and Patricia Arquette. Adapted from the “Murdaugh Murders Podcast,” the miniseries focuses on Alex's financial scams, Maggie’s unhappy marriage, Paul’s boating crash, and Buster’s connection to a cold case. It mines the emotional consequences of the characters' actions, all leading up to a double murder on the family’s property.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "MURDAUGH: DEATH IN THE FAMILY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: grizzly bear. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.This show was recorded in The Caitlin Rogers Project Studio. Click to find out more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Author Aggie Wiggs finds herself at odds with her new neighbor: wealthy property developer Nile Jarvis, who’s been living under suspicion since the disappearance of his first wife. But when the man who killed Aggie’s son in a drunk driving accident also vanishes, she wonders if Jarvis had a hand in it. Desperate for cash and encouraged by Jarvis, Aggie agrees to write about him. As he gives her more access into his life, Aggie is drawn into her mercurial subject’s mind games and fears what he is actually capable of.Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys star in the Netflix series “The Beast In Me.” The thriller features a cat-and-mouse game between the famous author and the infamous real estate scion. Aggie struggles with personal demons, her uneasy relationship with her rich neighbor, and whether the truths of the past could destroy them both.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE BEAST IN ME" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.This show was recorded in The Caitlin Rogers Project Studio. Click to find out more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Straight-A student Paul Fisher dropped out of college to try his hand as a male gigolo in L.A. After a chance encounter with a mobster flush with cash, Fisher moved to New York and opened his own modeling agency to compete with the titans of the industry. The so-called “model war” changed the way stars are born in the fashion industry. But along the way, Fisher struggled with the excesses of the 80s, pushback from the old guard, and the shady figures who backed his agency.  The podcast “Model Wars” from Campside Media and iHeartPodcasts looks at the improbable rise and fall of a self-made libertine and the characters around him who disrupted the industry. Host Vanessa Grigoriadis lets Fisher tell his own story of making stars, making money, and making trouble in the world of high fashion during the 1980s.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "MODEL WARS" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: Should have seen that coming.Our special fill-in guest is Ronald Young Jr. from the podcast "Weight for It." For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.This show was recorded in The Caitlin Rogers Project Studio. Click to find out more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.