Crime Writers On...True Crime Review

By day, Kevin Curtis was a janitor at a Mississippi hospital. By night, he was an Elvis impersonator, performing with his brother - who was also an Elvis impersonator. But after seeing something disturbing in the morgue, Kevin became consumed with conspiracies about illegal organ harvesting rings. Fueled by his paranoia, Kevin damaged personal relationships and crossed swords with powerful people in Tupelo. Then in 2013, when ricin-laced letters were sent to Kevin’s enemies - as well as the President - authorities homed in on him. Was the scheme the Elvis impersonator’s attempt to foil the body parts cabal once and for all…or was it a conspiracy to get rid of him? From the directors of “Wild Wild Country” comes Netflix’s “The Kings of Tupelo.” Filled with its twists and turns, and extensive access to the story’s colorful cast of characters, the series explores how one man’s obsession could leave a whole town - and the White House - all shook up. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE KINGS OF TUPELO" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE In Crime of the Week: Old love, new love. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon. Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

In 1974, Karen Silkwood wanted to blow the whistle on the nuclear fuel plant she worked at. Armed with documentation about insufficient safety measures, radiation leaks, and unaccounted plutonium, Silkwood drove to meet an investigative reporter. But on her way, she was killed when her car went off the road - an accident some believed was caused by the powerful company hoping to silence her. Though police said they believed Silkwood fell asleep at the wheel, the mysterious nature of her crash continues to fascinate the public and haunt her family. But now, two reporters who’ve spent decades covering the story believe they’ve discovered newly-revealed evidence that could shed light on what happened on State Highway 47. In “Radioactive: The Karen Silkwood Mystery” from ABC Audio and Standing Bear Entertainment, hosts Bob Sands and Mike Boettcher break down the story and use modern techniques to analyze the wreck for evidence her car was run off the road. They also reveal long-hidden audiotapes about those who may be responsible for the death of nuclear power’s most famous whistleblower. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "RADIOACTIVE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon. Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Thirty years after his involvement in the shooting of a cop, Todd Scott prepares for his sixth parole hearing and a chance to demonstrate his rehabilitation. Convicted at age 14 for killing another teen and a baby, Chad Campbell faces the parole board for the ninth time to argue for his release. But their lawyers fear the board will only ever consider one factor: the heinous nature of their original offenses. Because they can never go back and change the crime, they believe the inmates have no hope of ever receiving parole, despite their exemplary prison records and expressions of remorse. The HBO Original documentary “Nature of the Crime” takes us into the closed-door interviews with those seeking parole in New York. It explores how, for certain inmates convicted of high profile crimes, the hearings are foregone conclusions because of public pressure and the desires of politically-appointed board members to appear tough on crime. It also highlights a Connecticut program that focuses on the emotional growth of offenders who were juveniles when they committed their crimes. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "NATURE OF THE CRIME" BEGIN IN THE FINAL ELEVEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. In Crime of the Week: Santa's little Elphabas. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon. Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Her mother’s dying wish was that her daughter complete her memoir about her childhood in Nazi Germany. That’s how reporter Suzanne Rico learned a secret about her grandfather. Years before Robert Lusser was an American rocket designer, he was the German engineer who invented the V-1 flying bombs that rained down on London. Suzanne’s grandmother was killed when Allied planes dropped bombs on their secluded farmhouse, a revenge attack her elderly aunts believe was targeting Lusser. Suzanne and her sister headed to Germany to make sense of their family history, investigate the 1945 bombing, and confront the legacy of a grandfather who played such a deadly role in the Third Reich. “The Man Who Calculated Death” from Discount Sushi and Novel is part family memoir, part historical puzzle. We follow Suzanne’s journey to uncover the mystery of her grandmother’s death. And as she unearths more of her grandfather’s story, she ponders what responsibly her family bears today for the horror of Lusser’s flying bomb. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE MAN WHO CALCULATED DEATH" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon. Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

San Diego’s McKamey Manor drew fame as a boundary breaking, interactive haunted house - not one filled with ghosts and goblins - but one where visitors are tied up, waterboarded, or buried alive. Now located in Tennessee, attraction goers are saying the manor is going too far with its physical and mental abuse. Owner Russ McKamey disagrees, pointing to its rabid online following for his no charge, “extreme haunt” experience. But its murky waiver forms, military-grade stress techniques, and intimidation of visitors who want to leave the haunted house now have the authorities wondering if McKamey Manor is actually a torture chamber. In the podcast “Inside McKamey Manor” from Always True Crime, host Elizabeth McCafferty explores the controversial scare attraction, why people are drawn to it, and why it’s still in operation. She also talks to a variety of experts with insight into various aspects of the horror experience. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "INSIDE McKAMEY MANOR" BEGIN IN THE FINAL ELEVEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. In Crime of the Week: O brother, where art thou? For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon. Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Karen Falasca was the last person to see her sister Denise alive before she was murdered in 1969. Haunted by the tragedy, Karen spoke to podcaster Anthony Scalia about her five decade search for Denise’s unidentified killer. Scalia retraced Karen’s investigation into likely suspects. But the sister remained skeptical of the police’s findings. And as a terminal illness threatened to take her life, Karen made one request of Scalia: finish her work and learn the truth behind Denise’s murder. In the podcast “Denise Didn’t Come Home” from truth.media and Sony Music Entertainment, Scalia repeats Karen’s investigation and questions the person the cops say strangled the 15-year-old all those years ago. He also recounts Karen’s life story, their blossoming friendship, and explores whether her memories of that day hold up. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DENISE DIDN'T COME HOME" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon. Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

In 1971, Stanford psychologist Philip Zimbardo conducted an experiment with college students to evaluate behavior in a mock prison. Within days, the guards were abusing their power and mistreating the prisoners so badly the study was shut down early. The “Stanford Prison Experiment” was heralded in academia and in pop culture as a landmark study into the corrupting power of authority. But a re-examination of Zimbardo’s methods questions whether he manipulated the subjects into those behaviors, challenging whether its shocking results - and its legacy - should be discredited. The three-part series “The Stanford Prison Experiment: Unlocking the Truth,” is produced by Nat Geo and is available on several streaming services. It unearths Zimbardo’s scientifically dubious methods that steered the study toward its violent conclusion. It also reunites the former guards and prisoners - some for the first time - to explain what was really driving their actions. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. In Crime of the Week: If the shoe splits... For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon. Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

When researchers found that providing stimulants to hyperactive children improved their behavior in school, educators, pediatricians, and drug manufacturers helped build interest in identifying and treating a new condition: Attention Deficit Disorder. Some saw it as a breakthrough in treating learning disabilities. But the implications of medicating children drew a backlash from advocates. Plus, doctors could not agree on concrete tools for identifying ADHD, prompting suspicions of over-diagnosis. And Big Pharma’s attempts to expand the market has resulted in unintended consequences. “Backfired: Attention Deficit” is the latest season of the podcast from Prologue Projects and Audible Originals. Hosts Leon Neyfakh and Arielle Pardes explore the origins of ADHD, public reaction to its treatment, and the unforeseen outcomes of diversifying the customer base for stimulants first intended for children. OUR SPOILER-FREE EPISODES OF "BACKFIRED: SAY NOTHING" 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.

Speaking to an historian, Dolours Price discussed her life as a volunteer in the Provisional Irish Republican Army. Beginning in the 1970s, Dolours and her sister, Marian, convinced its operatives, including leader Gerry Adams, to let them fight in their guerilla war against British troops in Belfast. Throughout The Troubles, the sisters were part of a secret IRA unit whose missions included robbing banks, blowing up cars, and making traitors disappear. But decades later, as Adams negotiated an end to the conflict, Dolours became disillusioned about her past actions and the future of Northern Ireland. Based on the book by Patrick Radden Keefe, “Say Nothing” tells Price’s four-decade story as a young IRA soldier and her attempts later in life to set the record straight. The series by FX on Hulu also focuses on the search for the mother of ten children, whose 1972 disappearance threatens to take down some of modern day Ireland’s most powerful figures. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SAY NOTHING" BEGIN IN THE FINAL NINE MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. Crime of the Week: rat race. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon. Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Through her Facebook friends in the London Sikh community, Kirat Assi met a charming man named Bobby Jandu. Though a series of health problems and other entanglements kept him away from Great Britain, the two began a long term, online romance. But their virtual relationship took a turn as Bobby became more cruel and controlling. When Kirat learned he was back in the UK and living with his ex, her confrontation with him ended in confusion. In the Netflix documentary “Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare” Kirat, Jandu, and those close to them discuss the story in their own words. Based on the 2021 hit podcast of the same name, the film brings us inside the victim’s tale of credulity, coercion, and heartbreak. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SWEET BOBBY" 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.

American ambassador Kate Wyler believes the Prime Minister orchestrated a false flag operation to rally the nation and thwart a Scottish secession movement. As British forces hunt the Russian fixer behind the attacks, Kate takes a risk hiding a politician with inside knowledge of the plot. Kate sets aside her attraction to the Foreign Secretary to help expose the PM. Meanwhile, her politically-savvy husband, Hal, tries to convince his reluctant wife to embrace the offer to replace the sitting Vice President on the presidential ticket. Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell return for season two of Netflix’s Emmy-nominated political thriller “The Diplomat.” Kate and her staff navigate personal and professional relationships, all while trying to expose a conspiracy and ease geopolitical tensions. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "THE DIPLOMAT" SEASON TWO BEGIN IN THE FINAL 8 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. In Crime of the Week: bearly legal. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon. Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Set in a Chicago housing project, the 1992 horror movie “Candyman” features a deadly ghost who can be summoned by chanting in a bathroom mirror. But some plot points were inspired by a real life robbery homicide in which the killer broke into an apartment through a hole in the medicine cabinet. A reporter found the flawed design of the bathroom walls were a contributing factor into Ruthie Mae McCoy’s 1987 death. The exposé raised questions about City Hall’s indifference to violence in the projects and the dangers faced by its Black residents. By the time the supernatural retelling made it into theaters, the creature in the mirror did not reflect those systemic issues. From CBS News and 48 Hours Production comes the podcast “Candyman: The True Story Behind the Bathroom Mirror Murder.” Host Dometi Pongo explores not only McCoy’s homicide. He dives into the larger issues around race, safety in the projects, and the ways they shaped the Hollywood narrative. The series asks how a mainstream audience can find big screen horror in the hallmarks of poverty. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "CANDYMAN" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 12 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon. Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Just before the producers of “Grey’s Anatomy” could dismiss writer Elizabeth Finch for mediocre work, she revealed she had a rare form of cancer. Finch drew on her experience to write some powerful episodes for the medical drama. Finch crafted acclaimed storylines based on her own struggles with health, assault, sexual harassment and stalking. Hollywood was shocked when it was revealed Finch was faking. She’d taken other people’s real life trauma and claimed it for her own, stringing along those close to her for sympathy and attention for years. Peacock’s “Anatomy of Lies” recounts the writer’s elaborate ruse and how she parlayed other’s pain into personal and professional gain. It leans heavily into the perspective of Finch’s wife who worked to expose the woman who fooled so many. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "ANATOMY OF LIES" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. In Crime of the Week: R-O-T-T-O-G-O! For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon. Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

A white hat hacker provides journalist Carl Miller with backdoor access to a page on the dark web offering the services of a hit man. The site is just a scam, but the transactions identify more than 100 people who are in real life danger from someone motivated to harm them. Though the buyers are anonymous, Miller feels an obligation to find the targets and warn them someone is willing to pay to have them killed. Miller’s team is met with skepticism from the authorities, but many would-be victims realize who might be behind their threat. While Miller works to trip up the hitman-shoppers before they turn to real world violence, the team turns its attention to taking apart the website offering murder for hire. The podcast “Kill List” from Wondery and Novel follows Miller’s race against time to warn unsuspecting people around the world that their lives are in danger before the scammed buyers take matters into their own hands. It also covers Miller’s own ethical struggle of inserting himself into the story and the emotional toll his newsgathering takes. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "KILL LIST" 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.

Looking to get a break in show business, struggling actress Sheryl Bradshaw appears on “The Dating Game.” The first two bachelors are either shallow or lascivious, but bachelor number three has an easy charm that makes him the clear favorite. But Rodney Alcala is more than a smooth-talking photographer looking for love. He’s spent the past decade murdering unsuspecting women and eluding detection. How could Sheryl - or the TV audience - know she was about to go on a date with a serial killer? The Netflix thriller “Woman of the Hour” dramatizes Sheryl’s real life encounter with a predator. Lead actress and director Anna Kendrick ratchets up the tension with a character resigned to 1970s misogyny and its lurking menace, all while showing us in parallel what Rodney is capable of. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WOMAN OF THE HOUR" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 11 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. In Crime of the Week: ice to see you. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon. Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

A Hollywood studio courts Charles, Oliver, and Mabel to make a star-studded movie based on their hit podcast. But Charles is shaken by another murder in the building: his longtime stunt double, Sazz, was killed in his apartment by a sniper, and her body burned in the incinerator. Before she died, Sazz had been poking into something about the first season of the podcast. The fatal shot came from the west side of the Arconia, occupied by an odd collection of residents with a secret to hide. Writers, directors, executives and stuntmen also make up the suspect list. Now the podcasters are on a new case: what bombshell did Sazz uncover and who was willing to kill to keep it quiet? Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez return for season four of “Only Murders in the Building.” This time, the Emmy Award-winning series deconstructs the murder mystery through the lens of film. The movie forces Mabel to ponder how the world views her, and leads Oliver to re-examine his relationship with Loretta. Meanwhile, Charles is racked with guilt that his old friend may have died because of him. As usual, “Only Murders” delivers sly humor, a touch of pathos, and crackling performances by the leads and many guest stars. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING" SEASON FOUR BEGIN IN THE FINAL [ XX ] MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon. Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Comedian Gary Vider had a great childhood story about him and his father sneaking into scores of games at Madison Square Garden posing as a reporter for Sports Illustrated Kids. But the charming tale belied a deeper truth. Manny Vider was a prolific con artist, with a never ending stream of business scams, insurance fraud, and other schemes that eventually tore his family apart. Twenty-four years later, now a father himself, Gary set out on a quest to locate Manny. His goal was to process the effects of his estranged dad’s actions on his life and family. He also wanted to learn whether the unrepentant conman has changed his ways. From iHeartMedia and Big Money Players Network comes “#1 Dad.” Vider talks to relatives, partners, his own therapist, and fellow comedians about Manny’s many swindles - both personal and professional. Can he convince his father to meet and confront their past? And will the son get the truth from a man who’s spent his life spinning lies? OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "#1 DAD" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. In Crime of the Week: techno pop. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon. Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Filmmakers follow officers in a troubled Michigan city to confront the challenges of policing, race relations, politics, and what it means to be a community. We’ll go back to our 2018 review of the documentary series “Flint Town.” For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon. Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

Former prosecutor Paul Bergrin made a name for himself as an aggressive defense attorney, handling difficult cases involving celebrities and hardened criminals in New Jersey. But as his reputation grew, so did suspicions about the lengths he’d go to get his clients off the hook. An FBI investigation found that Bergrin wasn’t just representing his unsavory clients; he was directing their criminal activities. They learned the lawyer was overseeing drug trafficking, directing an escort service, and involved in money laundering and witness intimidation. It left agents wondering how far Bergrin would go to get an acquittal. From Wondery comes the podcast “Criminal Attorney.” Host Brandon “Jinx” Jenkins introduces us to the voices of those who knew Bergrin, those who investigated him, and those affected by his actions. Why would an accomplished lawyer risk everything and find himself - and not his clients - pleading his case before a jury? OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "CRIMINAL ATTORNEY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL TEN MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. In Crime of the Week: Whopper copper. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon. Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

In 1992, relatively stable patients at the VA hospital in Columbia, Missouri were dying on one ward’s overnight shift at an alarming rate. A review of the charts showed nurse Richard Williams had been present for most of the Code Blues, but he denied being responsible for the deaths. Whistleblowers accused VA administrators of keeping the situation quiet and retaliating against staff who tried to stop it. Even the FBI seemed to slow-walk the investigation, leaving grieving families to wonder whether anyone will be held accountable for the deaths of up to 50 ill veterans. In the latest installment of the podcast from Sony Music Entertainment and Campside Media, “Witnessed: Night Shift” reinvestigates the Columbia VA deaths. Who did it? Why did the hospital try to cover them up? Author Jake Adelstein interviews doctors - including his own father - who fought the government to identify one of the most prolific serial killers to roam a hospital. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "WITNESSED: NIGHT SHIFT" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 8 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon. Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.