Hello. Welcome to my first blog post. This is just a short one to begin with, as I wanted to post this sooner rather than later. To help get us through these mad and scary times, and to stop myself from becoming a biscuit-crumb covered, retro gamer/couch potato, I have put together a list of recommendations to help alleviate the boredom, starting with podcasts. This lockdown is difficult for all of us and maybe more so for folk who aren’t used to spending so much time at home. Podcasts are great because they provide an immersive story told over a series of episodes, which can range in length from twenty minutes to an hour. I like to listen when I am doing housework, such as folding laundry. The next thing you know, everything will be folded and you’ll be hooked on a new case. Alternatively, you can download one to listen to when you’re out for your daily exercise. For whatever reason, I hope that you can use some of these suggestions and discover something new or enjoyable. Together, we are flattening the curve. Take care and stay safe.
Podcasts
‘Hardass and Wuss. We can fight crime!’
Phoebe Buffay
Please note, I listened to all of these on Apple podcasts. I know some but not all are available on Spotify but you can listen to some online. Google does podcasts and Stitcher has some too. Each of the suggested podcast titles in this list is a link to where you can listen to each one. I will also say something about each podcast but as there are many that I listened to a while ago, I might not say much. This is not because they weren’t good but simply because I have listened to so many since then. However, the ones that stood out to me will be obvious by the length or detail I go into. A warning, they are all true crime. They aren’t particularly cheery, but they are certainly distracting. I can’t help it, I just love a mystery, it’s my thing. I am solving crime, like J.B. Fletcher, and you can too.
From what I’ve read about Serial, this is the series that really made podcasts-not just true crime ones-take off. Although it’s not the first podcast I listened to, it is the first one I read about, and it is on every essential podcast list I’ve read. The murder of Hae Min Lee and subsequent investigation of Adnan Syed is probably one of the most complicated cases I’ve ever come across, and I still have no idea what I think. Please join me in obsessing about this case.
This is the first podcast I listened to and it is still one of my favourites. The presenter, David Ridgen, is so diplomatic and sympathetic. I only listened to season two about the missing person case of Sheryl Sheppard, and season five about the murder of Kerri Brown, both of which are utterly heart-breaking stories. However, David deals with the situations and the people he encounters calmly and with sensitivity. David even spent time at Christmas with one of the family members.
I listened to both seasons, which are well researched and easy to follow. I did prefer the first season, about the unsolved murder of Elizabeth Andes. I was unsure about the second season, in which she is helping a man who is a convicted rapist fight a different accusation of murder against him. I finished listening to it but I did question her assistance of him in his case.
Bardstown is an interesting and detailed investigation into not just one crime, but five in one small town in America, the question of whether any of the crimes were connected, and the stain it left on Bardstown and its residents. Prepare to fall down the rabbit-hole.
After the discovery of two unknown victims in Bear Brook Park, New Hampshire, this podcast investigates whom they were, what caused them to meet their unhappy ending, and the modern techniques used to advance the case. The series is well produced, presented and researched, and is a fascinating and sad tale told with care and compassion.
A rather horrible case from New Zealand in which an entire family was murdered bar one member. This is a fascinating listen but be warned, it’s an odd one.
Bowraville is an interesting case about a series of murders that took place in the Aboriginal community of Bowraville, Australia. Here we have an investigation that takes you through how the police handled the case, which ranges from incompetence to discrimination.
Casefile deals with individual cases and there is a lot to choose from with up to 140 so far. The host, who is anonymous, goes into great detail, and his calm and respectful manner add a sympathetic tone to the telling.
Delia D’Ambra, an investigative journalist, returns to Kill Devil Hills in North Carolina, the town where she grew up to go back over the details of a cold case that darkened her memories of how she saw her home.
An intriguing case about the discovery of the body of an unidentified woman found in the Ice Valley of Bergen, Norway, which quickly becomes far more complicated than you can imagine.
Down the Hill: The Delphi Murders
The small town of Delphi, Indiana has been torn apart by this very sad and mysterious case of two girls who go missing whilst out on a nature walk.
In the Dark might not be for everyone because it is about the abduction of a child, Jacob Wetterling. It is an interesting look into how the police and the media handle the investigation.
A sad case about the disappearance of Alissa Turney, this is well-presented podcast, in which Alissa’s own sister participates and is handled with care.
Both seasons deal with remarkable cases, those of Alberta Williams and Cleopatra Nicotine respectively but at times, I did find the host to be pushy and some of the things she does are questionable. However, if you aren’t already, everyone should be aware of the Sixties Scoop which happened in Canada. I wasn’t until I listened to this show.
An interesting case about the murder of Burke O’Brien in which neither the original detective nor the journalist who investigated were able to forget. Together, they go back over the details to see if the can solve the crime.
The case of Mary Boyle, who is both the youngest and longest missing persons case in Ireland. This case is very upsetting and baffling but it does raise awareness for Mary and her family, who undoubtedly deserve justice.
Ah, S-Town. I won’t say too much about this one except that it doesn’t go where you think it will and that it’s certainly worth a listen.
April Balascio comes to the realisation that her father, Edward Wayne Edwards, was a serial killer. This one is worth a listen simply to hear how she deals with the situation. April is an amazing woman with a complicated, emotional story to tell.
This one isn’t about murder but it is about true crime. Dr. Ruja Ignatova, resplendent in silk and diamonds, appeared on the business scene in 2014 to launch a new cryptocurrency, OneCoin. Quite a gripping story, I found myself binge listening to this one just to find out what happens next.
Jessica Boynton is found locked in a closet with an apparent gunshot wound. An investigation into a crime that seems simple enough at first, until it becomes clear that some of the details just don’t add up.
This is an interesting but frustrating case, which might have you shouting at your device when you hear some of the twists of this tale. The presenter is prone to repeating himself, and this could have been cut down to fewer episodes, but Lynette Dawson deserves to have her story heard.
This series currently has six seasons of cases, although I have only listened to the last two. Investigative reporter, Michelle Shephard, revisits a case that she has never been able to forget in season 5, which is about the disappearance of Sharmini Anadavel, who went missing from Toronto in 1999. Season 6 is about the satanic panic of the 1980s and about what happened when it reaches the Prairie town of Martensville, Saskatchewan.
Rabia and her team discuss other cases on this podcast but I only listened to the Adnan Syed episodes. In fact, there are so many episodes that I’m still working my way through them. This is worth listening to just for Susan Simpson, who came upon the Syed case herself, and couldn’t help but become involved.
Quick Mentions
A Killing On the Cape, Finding Tammy Jo, Maddie, Murder in Mauritius, Root of Evil, The Lighthouse, The Vanished
Looking Forward to Listening to…
Empire on Blood, Felonious Florida, Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez & Football Inc., Somebody, The Lady Vanishes, The Thing About Pam, Culpable
really deep thoughts 
I’m intrigued! Very much looking forward to trying all of these out 😀 Particularly interested by the S-Town podcast, hmmm…
Thank you very much for the suggestions!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for visiting and reading my first blog. I’m glad you can use some of the suggestions 😀
LikeLike