Crime Writers On...

Breaking: Lara's cat has a super weird disease! For real.Some maybe-news about Serial Season 3 has us theorizing. Was Kevin super, duper wrong when he said Sarah Koenig would never do a true crime story again?Plus, we get a whole lot of listener email and tweets about what podcasts we should be listening to and talking about.One of the podcasts we’ve had pimped to us the most often lately is the hit show "Up and Vanished," an investigative podcast about the 2005 disappearance of Ocilla Georgia Beauty queen Tara Grinstead.But before we get into our discussion about Up and Vanished, we'll first listen in to Rebecca's conversation with someone who knows a little bit about that show - its host and creator Payne Lindsey. Even if you haven't heard the podcast, you should listen to this interview.And, Toby apologizes to a nation. And our Crime of the Week strikes pretty damn close to home.  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an

What do people want to talk about? World Series? Presidential election? Nope. The world wants to know what Lara Bricker got arrested for. (Hint: it wasn't election fraud.) Looks like her accomplices left her holding the bag...literally.In our audience feedback segment, the Crime Writers respond to a heartwarming email from a cancer survivor who's ready to take on the challenge of punching one of their least-favorite attorneys.Then, when it's time for business, the panel digs into the final episode of APM Reports' "In the Dark." Madeleine Baran didn't pull punches when it came to the police narrative that Danny Heinrich was just too good at covering his tracks for 25+ years. But is her conclusion too broad? Unfair? (Sometimes investigators know who did it, but can't get enough to make the arrest - as officials have told Rebecca & Kevin about the Stacey Burns "Mothers Day Murder" case.)Finally, Rebecca, Kevin, Lara, and Toby offer up their recommendations about what you should be listening to, reading, and

Heads up Baltimore City Court! Here comes Adnan Syed seeking a bail hearing. It's not your usual motion, written more like a campaign speech than a legal brief. The Crime Writers dig into the latest in the efforts of Serial's protagonist to get out of prison now that his conviction has been vacated. And a journalism conundrum: IF Sarah Koenig knew about Jay Wild's post-Adnan criminal history, should she have included it in Serial?Also, the panel hangs ten in Hawaii with the new podcast, "Offshore" from Honolulu Civil Beat and PRX. Can a white reporter do justice to a tale of Hawaiian culture and disenfranchisement? Related: Toby recommends reading this article from the New Yorker, "The American Raj," to learn more about Hawaiian history.In our Crime of the Week, the panel shakes the tree. But who goes undercover as a tree, anyway? (Kevin reported on a similar bank robbery story in NH. Watch the version filed by his colleagues.)Plus: mystery solved! Who bought the family-sized bucket of massage lotion? We fina

Things get back to normal in the Crime Writers' world. They discuss the perils of doing bad accents and explain why they can't do audiobook versions of their own books.A true crime update (add your own echo): Burke Ramsey has followed through on his threat to sue over the CBS special on his sister's murder. Looks like the case will focus on one comment from one person.Then the focus shifts to the new investigative podcast from Australia, "Phoebe's Fall." We know that Phoebe Handsjuk dropped 12 stories down a garbage chute, crawled out, only to bleed to death from injuries from the trash compactor. Was it a suicide attempt? Was it a drunken misadventure? Or was it something more nefarious? So far, the Crime Writers have mixed opinions. Footnote: for another strange how-did-she-get-into-that situation, check out the case of a 21-year-old Chinese tourist who drowned in a hotel water tank.Checking in with some of the other leading true crime podcasts, in "In The Dark"'s penultimate episode, the Sterns County sher

Oh no! We went there!The Crime Writers discuss the controversial Netflix doc "Amanda Knox." Why are we still intrigued by the murder case? Does any of the evidence add up? Is the motive believable? Is Knox herself credible? As she says, "Either I am a psychopath in sheep's clothing or I am you."Rebecca and Kevin welcome back Dr. Elizabeth Yardley to explain why the British have such a different (and more visceral) view of the case than Americans do. Could it be they were each seeing a different case in their papers and on their TV screens? Bigger question: how bad are the writers going to get trolled on Twitter for their views? Because it seems some people - not everyone, but some - feel really, really, REALLY strongly about this case and you better agree with them in 140 characters (or the 140 consecutive tweets with which they will flood your feed)! In Crime of the Week...a SWAT team takes out an 81-year-old woman for growing a single marijuana plant. Good thing she wasn't stealing cable TV...she'd probably

Every couple of weeks, other podcast comes along and seems like the heir to "Serial." Few live up to the anticipation. Is it possible that the Cincinnati Enquirer's "Accused" podcast has replicated the secret sauce: a truly compelling murder mystery and the transparent, obsessive reporting which goes into the story? It sure is.Rebecca talks with Amber Hunt and Amanda Rossman about their year-long investigation into the 1978 Elizabeth Andes murder. If her acquitted boyfriend Bob Young didn't do it, than who did? Next, the Crime Writers dish on who was the biggest villain in the case: one of the four remaining suspects OR the prosecutor who dodged Amber for a year. (Spoiler alert: three quarters of the panel is REALLY down on Gmoser - and not just because the "G" is silent.)We get a TRUE CRIME UPDATE from Lara about the official Army findings in the Bowe Bergdahl case. Were any servicemen killed looking for Bergdahl? The answer appears to be no...but then again, we don't really know what we're talking about.Kev

The Crime Writers take on what's good - and what's not so good - about the The Case of JonBenet, the four-hour CBS special featuring profilers Jim Clemente and Laura Richards and an all-star cast of forensic investigators. We talk about the case, the show's WTF moments (THEY BUILT THE HOUSE??), and dive deep into the potential defamation of Burke Ramsey, who is (in the experts' opinions) a leading suspect in the cold case. We also chat with Ann Bartow, a law professor at UNH Law School and expert on all things defamation and internet speech, and tie that conversation in with issues raised in this week's episode of the excellent In The Dark podcast.  Finally, our crime of the week has Rebecca airing an old grudge with her favorite public radio host, Ira Glass. Episode sponsors are the Havenly app (use promo code "crime") and Modcloth (also use promo code "crime") - and yes, we sometimes flub the ads, as you'll hear in the outtakes.  Interstitial music by Blue Dot Sessions and Jahzzar. For exclusive podcasts an

Now that the crime writers are all back in their closet studios after their awesome live show, they tackle the newest high-quality true crime podcast, "In the Dark." It's like "Someone Knows Something"... if someone actually knew something. Rebecca begins by talking with Madeleine Baran, APM Reports journalist and host of "In The Dark." They chat about Madeleine's year-long investigation on what went wrong during the investigation into the 1989 kidnapping of Jacob Wetterling. Even though the podcast kicked off days after Danny Heinrich confessed to killing Jacob 27 years ago, is there still a compelling story to tell? The panel ponders if a true crime podcast can still achieve excellence without the benefit of suspense. Then the Crime of the Week is not child's play. Or is it? Someone needs to go to jail, go directly to jail.  For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about

Yup, the Crime Writers went all in with a live show taping - there was even a real-life audience there to hear it! We talked about our summer book club pick, Laura Lippman's Wilde Lake. Toby also read an epic items list, we answered audience questions.A couple of notes:- Special thanks to the Hatbox Theatre in Concord, NH- Rebecca talks to author Laura Lippman from the 8:08 mark to about 21:00- Interstitial music was by the Blue Dot Sessions- Some audience questions had to be edited out because of audio quality- Rebecca would like to apologize to her Mom. Stay tuned for the outtakes and you'll know whyClick here to get the Crime Writers On After Show, plus more exclusive content, on Patreon.: https://patreon.com/partnersincrimemedia For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We heard you missed us. But hey, we're back! After a semi-vacation over the summer, the crime writers are back weekly to talk about all things criminal - in real life and in pop culture. News on the Steven Avery case continues to break. The new lawyer for the "Making a Murderer" subject has filed a petition to have evidence re-tested using the most modern (and most expensive) analysis currently available. She says the results will definitively prove Avery's innocence (or, she concedes, his guilt). Is doubling down on the police conspiracy theory Avery's best play? Now that HBO's limited series "The Night Of" has signed off, what does the panel make of it? Did the show live up to the high expectations set by episode one? Who's the hero? What does the ending mean? And why did Stone's eczema come back? These are questions the public demands answers to. (PS: If you want to skip past the discussion to remain "unspoiled," skip from 35:47 to 58:36.) The Crime of the Week is a cream p

Another episode, another questionable murder conviction vacated. The panel reacts to the news that a federal magistrate has vacated the conviction of Brendan Dassey, the accused accomplice in the Steven Avery "Making a Murderer" documentary. Although the public went nuts over what many perceived to be a coerced confession, it was something else the detectives did to the intellectually-challenged teen that violated his Sixth Amendment rights. More true crime updates: why did a General burn letters related to "Serial" season 2 subject Bowe Bergdahl? And the man accused of killing Washington intern Chandra Levy is also walking out of prison. Is Naz breaking bad in "On the Night Of"? What is the audience supposed to think of main characters in the HBO limited series at this point? In the Crime of the Week: POOPACALYPSE! P.S. Don't forget about the first Crime Writers On live podcast on September 6 at the Hatbox Theater in Concord, NH. We'll wrap up our summer book club, plus other su

Just for fans of our show, here's a trailer for our spinoff, in which Kevin will talk with Rebecca and a special guest about their obsession with Law & Order, and break down the true crime cases behind ripped-from-the-headlines episodes of Law & Order, SVU, and Criminal IntentClick here to get the Crime Writers On After Show, plus more exclusive content, on Patreon.: https://patreon.com/partnersincrimemedia For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Well, it took more than one try, but the Crime Writers are getting it done with a well-rehearsed discussion on Netflix's newest breakout hit, "Stranger Things." It's like Stephen King and Steven Spielberg had a baby that was eight-episodes long. (Almost) no spoilers...except that it's freakin' awesome. We also debut a brand new segment: the TRUE CRIME ROUND-UP! We've got the latest on the Adnan Syed appeal and the Bowe Bergdahl court martial. The panel's sharp eyes turn back to HBO's "The Night Of." What was a straight murder mystery is now part prison story, part crime procedural. Half way through, is it losing focus or hitting its stride. ALSO: Watch for details on the first Crime Writers On live podcast. (Click here for a sort-of RSVP!) We'll wrap up our summer book club with an audience-participation discussion on Laura Lippman's Wilde Lake. We'll be at the the Hatbox Theater in Concord, NH September 6th. FREE ADMISSION. Surprises galore!Click here to get the Crime Writers On After

It's been more than ten days. What's the latest on whether the state will appeal Judge Welch's decision to vacate Adnan Syed's conviction? "The Night Of" is sure to be "the show of the summer." This moody, unsettling murder mystery is everything that "True Detective, Season 2" was not. The Crime Writers talk about what makes this show stand out, whether the cops are playing fair with Naz, and WTF is up with John Turturro's feet. You think juries can be swayed by faulty cell tower evidence, but how about something as sure-fire as DNA? We hear from science writer Chris Berdik about how DNA mixtures from a single sample are complicating the scientific process...and how the DNA used to convict some suspects is now being used to exonerate them. Winner, winner, chicken dinner! We'll announce which crime book you have chosen for the Crime Writers On first Summer Book Club. Use that Amazon link to buy your copy. We'll have a special interactive show to get your views and discuss our tho

Ever since Sarah talked to Asia the world wondered whether she was the key to getting Adnan Syed a new trial. In the end, it was a single sentence in a pile of thousands of documents. The result is in. Judge Welch has ruled Adnan's Sixth Amendment rights were violated and he'll get a new trial...if it ever gets that far. The Crime Writers pull apart the decision and discuss where the case may go from here. Does the state have any evidence left? How would 12 Baltimore jurors (who'd never listened to a podcast) size up Adnan? And why could it be years before he gets out of jail? The panel is joined by super-professor Colin Miller, who answers questions about the legal ins-and-outs of the ruling. Then the Crime Writers take your questions and voice memos. They also discuss the dilemma of the Alford plea: would you admit your guilt to a crime you didn't commit if it gets you out of prison? Also, WTF is a jury view like at the scene of a lumber theft? Here's something new: our first Crime Writers On Summer Boo

Rebecca and Kevin give their quick thoughts on the breaking news of Adnan's Syed's being granted a new trial. We'll be talking about the case in our episode dropping July 9th, so we're asking you to send your questions, comments, and thoughts in an email or a voice memo to crimewriterson@gmail.com. You can learn how to send a voice memo on the blog section of our website, http://www.crimewriterson.com/Click here to get the Crime Writers On After Show, plus more exclusive content, on Patreon.: https://patreon.com/partnersincrimemedia For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We've spent a lot of time with the boob tube (ahem) so far this summer. This episode, the Crime Writers take out their ear buds and tune in to some of the season's most talked about television. The Adnan Syed case finally gets the prime-time treatment on Investigation Discovery. For crime fans who can't figure out how to download a podcast, or those who only know the tale from hearing it at the water cooler, this hour-long special provides an overview of Serial's season one case. But for those who've spent hours and hours devouring minutia about the crime (I'm looking at you cell tower L689!), is there anything in this show for us? AND - Though you'd think we'd all have had enough of that former Bills running back, especially after the superior drama "The People vs OJ Simpson," ESPN's ambitious documentary may prove you can't get enough of a good thing - if it's a good thing. And "OJ: Made In America" is 450 minutes of a good thing. Race, sex, celebrity...this is why it was the Crime of

Who thought we'd see Serial reborn in a podcast about the internet? Reply All's Sruthi Pinnamaneni brings us a four-part story about an inmate, his blog, the shifty characters associated with his crime, a flimsy evidence and nutty trial, and then - woah! - that final jailhouse interview! It's the podcast that has everyone asking, "Who the eff is King Diamond?" In this episode, we'll hear from Sruthi about what went into creating the world's latest must-listen-to podcast. Then the panel will give their two-cents on the case and whether Sruthi is the one who finally stuck the landing. There's also a correction or two. The song says "Don't you forget about me," but we might have forgotten about them. Finally, you'll be repeating the Crime of the Week over and over again. Also...can't get enough wisdom and insight from the incarcerated? Here are some blogs written by inmates, for future inmates (...if you're not careful). On the Inside - Paul Modrowski's blog, edited by his mother, that s

Why the heck would mega TV and movie star Jon Cryer agree to be on our little podcast? Because he's a fan, dammit! It also turns out that he's a HUGE fan of true crime, including many of the podcasts we've talked about, like Serial and Undisclosed. But does the artist formerly known as Duckie qualify as a crime writer? YES! (Sort of.) He's got a hilarious memoir, So That Happened, in which he explains his crime scene-rich formative years, including the shooting of his hooker-loving, soup-making next door neighbor. So yeah, that happened. We talked to Jon Cryer. And yes, he DID spill the beans on being in Pretty in Pink, the weird antics of Charlie Sheen, and serving on jury duty (more than once!) Plus, our Crime of the Week tackles the question...of all the child/teen actors you used to love, which one does the panel most which would make a comeback?Click here to get the Crime Writers On After Show, plus more exclusive content, on Patreon.: https://patreon.com/partnersincrimemedia For exclusive podcasts an

This week, the panel talks about Bowraville, the true crime podcast created by The Australian newspaper. (Scroll down to listen!) Rebecca also connects with Dan Box, the Brit-turned-Aussie who reported the story, and asks, why is your newspaper being called the "unlikely hero" of this never-solved serial murder case? (A hint...it has a little something to do with Rupert Murdoch!) Also, we tackle some listener queries, and play a voice memo simply because one of you asked us to. As for the crime of the week? Let's just say it puts a new twist on the trustworthiness of babysitters.Click here to get the Crime Writers On After Show, plus more exclusive content, on Patreon.: https://patreon.com/partnersincrimemedia For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.