Crime Writers On...

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...

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....

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...

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 q...

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 an...

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...

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 t...

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 R...

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...

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...

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....

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,...

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...

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 mo...

“ 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 ” lo...

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. 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.c...

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 investig...

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 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...

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. T...

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...

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...

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 wi...

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 r...

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...