The 12 Best True Crime Podcasts To Make You Feel Like A Real Detective

Serial

Serial is the G.O.A.T. of true crime podcasts. When the series premiered in 2014, it became an instant fan favorite for its fascinating investigation into the 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee, an 18-year-old student at Woodlawn High School in Baltimore. Since then, podcast host Sarah Koenig has received a Peabody Award for her work, as well as released two of Serial.

The second season focuses on Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, an American Army soldier who was held for five years by the Taliban, and then charged with desertion, while season 3 follows the cases within the Justice Center Complex in the Cleveland area. Season 1, however, has been the most popular. In 2019, HBO even released a docuseries based on the season 1 murder, titled, The Case Against Adnan Syed, which peeled back more layers to the investigation of Adnan Syed, Hae Min Lee’s ex-boyfriend who was charged with her murder.

Crime Junkie

In addition to Serial, Crime Junkie is perhaps the most well-known true crime podcast. The series, which is hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat, premiered in December 2017 and has more than 100 episodes. (Flowers was the host of a local Indianapolis radio station’s Murder Monday show, so you know she’s a pro at true crime.)

Unlike Serial, each Crime Junkie episode follows a different murder, missing person or crime. Once a month, there’s also a segment called the “Pruppet of the Month,” where Prawat tells stories about dogs who’ve been adopted as a pick-me-up.

Sleuth

Sleuth, which premiered in the summer of 2018, investigates the 2010 Southern California murder case involving Daniel Wozniak, who’s described in the podcast as a “real-life phantom of the opera.” The podcast follows the murder case, which alleges that Wozniak, a local theater actor, murdered two of his friends (one in the theater’s attic) before going on stage later that night. Hosted by Linda Sawyer, the podcast also investigates Wozniak’s girlfriend, Rachel Buffett, an actress and a Disneyland princess, who investigators believe was an accomplice to the murder.

The Teacher's Pet

This Australian podcast follows the 1982 disappearance of Lynette Dawson, the wife of a famous rugby player and a high school coach named Chris Dawson. The 16-episode series also investigates the misogynistic culture of Gold Coast Australia that created an environment where student-teacher relationships went unchecked.

The podcast also interviews a then-16-year-old student of Chris’ who moved into his home after his wife vanished. Chris later married his former student and made her the stepbrother to his young children, leading to speculation that he may have murdered his wife.

Over My Dead Body

This podcast chronicles the murder of Dan Markel, a Florida State University professor, who was shot to death in his car in 2014. Markel’s murder came amid his divorce and custody dispute with his then-wife, Wendi Adelson, a wealthy attorney.

Over My Dead Body follows the murder and how Adelson’s family, specifically her dentist brother, could’ve been involved in her ex-husband’s death. Though the FBI attempted to solve the murder with a sting operation, the case is still unsolved. The podcast provides updates on the investigation until as recently as 2019.

My Father The Murderer

Just how much of the story of ‘how you came to be’ makes up who you are? It’s not a question most people think about, but for Australian journalist, Nina Young, it’s a question she can’t avoid because she might not be here today if a woman hadn’t lost her life late one night in the bush in 1977. In this six-part podcast, she will finally let the skeletons out of her family closet and discover the truth. A truth that will take her back to the crime scene and face-to-face with some uncomfortable truths.

Dr. Death

Dr. Death is a podcast produced by Wondery that investigates the story of Dr. Christopher Duntsch, a neurosurgeon whose medical malpractice resulted in the deaths and maiming of numerous patients in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas.

The podcast examines the failures within the medical system that allowed Duntsch to continue practicing despite numerous complaints and warnings about his incompetence. It also highlights the stories of the victims and their families, as well as the efforts of prosecutors and journalists to bring Duntsch to justice.

Criminal

Each episode of Criminal delves into a different case, ranging from historical crimes to more contemporary mysteries. It’s “a show about people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle”—everything from heists, fraud, espionage, and yes, of course, there’s murder. Hosted by Phoebe Judge, the show is known for its high-quality storytelling and in-depth research, often shedding light on lesser-known cases or aspects of criminal history.

Up And Vanished

In The Midnight Sun is Up & Vanished‘s fourth season. This season investigates the 2020 disappearance of Alaska Native Florence Okpealuk. The previous seasons cover the case of missing South Georgia teacher, Tara Grinstead, which led to two arrests. Season 2 highlighted the disappearance of Kristal Reisinger, a young mother who disappeared from a remote Colorado mountain town. Season 3 looked into the North West Montana disappearance of Ashley Loring HeavyRunner, an indigenous woman who went missing from the Blackfeet Nation Indian Reservation.

My Favorite Murder

My Favorite Murder is a popular true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. The podcast features the hosts discussing their favorite murder cases, as well as listener-submitted hometown murder stories.

Karen and Georgia have a conversational and humorous approach to discussing true crime, often weaving personal anecdotes and pop culture references into their discussions. They cover a wide range of cases, from well-known historical crimes to more obscure and lesser-known mysteries.

Casefile

Casefile is a true crime podcast known for its meticulous research and detailed storytelling. Hosted by an anonymous Australian narrator known only as Casey, the podcast covers a wide range of criminal cases from around the world, including murders, disappearances, and other mysteries.

Each episode of Casefile typically focuses on a single case, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of the events, the investigation, and the eventual resolution (if any). The podcast often includes interviews with witnesses, experts, and law enforcement officials, as well as archival audio and primary source material.

Hell And Gone

Hell And Gone is a true crime podcast from iHeartPodcasts and School of Humans that follows journalist and private investigator Catherine Townsend as she investigates unsolved deaths. Now in its fifth season, Townsend has received countless emails and messages from families desperate for her help with unsolved murders and the answers to what happened to their loved ones.