2024 was a landmark year for true crime podcasting. Across the genre, hosts and journalists tackled some of the most haunting cases in criminal history — cold cases that refused to stay cold, killers whose methods defied comprehension, and victims whose stories finally received the attention they deserved. The ten episodes selected here represent the very best of what true crime audio storytelling had to offer in 2024: rigorous investigation, emotional honesty, and an unwavering commitment to the truth.
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1. Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
→ Harold David Haulman III and the Murder of Erica Gene Shultz — click to read about the episode
Crime Junkie remains one of the most reliable names in true crime podcasting, and this episode is a prime example of why. The hosts dig into the murder of Erica Gene Shultz and the case against Harold David Haulman III with their signature no-nonsense storytelling. The episode lays out the evidence methodically, keeping the victim at the center of the narrative while building a damning portrait of the man accused of taking her life.
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2. Morbid
Morbid
→ Dennis Nilsen and the Discovery of the Remains in the London Sewer — click to read about the episode
Morbid's deep-dive into Dennis Nilsen — one of Britain's most disturbing serial killers — is among the podcast's finest work. This episode focuses on the shocking discovery that brought Nilsen's crimes to light: human remains found blocking a London sewer drain. The hosts balance the gruesome details with genuine empathy for the victims, exploring how Nilsen evaded suspicion for years while committing murders in plain sight of ordinary London life.
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3. Something About Cari
Something About Cari
→ The Mysterious Disappearance of Cari Farver in Omaha — click to read about the episode
The disappearance of Cari Farver is one of the strangest and most unsettling cases in recent American true crime history, and Something About Cari handles it with exceptional care. This opening episode establishes the deeply bizarre circumstances surrounding Cari's vanishing from Omaha — including the digital ghost that seemed to speak in her name long after she was gone. It sets up a mystery that is as psychologically complex as it is heartbreaking.
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4. Bone Valley
Bone Valley
→ The Murder of Jessica Curran and the Verdict on Quincy Cross — click to read about the episode
Bone Valley became one of the most talked-about true crime podcasts of recent years, and this episode delivers on the series' promise of serious investigative journalism. Covering the murder of Jessica Curran and the consequential verdict on Quincy Cross, the episode grapples with questions of justice, evidence, and the possibility of wrongful conviction. It is the kind of true crime storytelling that has real-world consequences — and knows it.
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5. Serial
Serial
→ Sarah Koenig investigates the prison at Guantanamo Bay in season 4 — click to read about the episode
Serial's fourth season marked a bold departure for the podcast that invented the modern true crime format. Sarah Koenig turns her investigative lens on Guantanamo Bay, examining a detention system that operates in the shadows of American justice. The episode is meticulous, morally serious, and deeply reported — a reminder that Serial's ambition has never been to simply tell crime stories, but to interrogate the systems that surround them.
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6. In the Dark
In the Dark
→ Jeremy Bamber and the White House Farm Murders in Essex — click to read about the episode
In the Dark brings its trademark investigative intensity to one of Britain's most notorious criminal cases — the White House Farm murders and the conviction of Jeremy Bamber. This episode expertly reconstructs the events of a single night in Essex that left five people dead, and asks whether the right man is behind bars. With careful use of archive material and sharp analysis, it stands as essential listening for anyone interested in miscarriages of justice.
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7. Stakeknife
Stakeknife
→ Freddie Scappaticci and the British Army's Most Controversial Informant — click to read about the episode
Stakeknife explores one of the most explosive intelligence stories to emerge from the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Freddie Scappaticci was allegedly the British Army's most deeply embedded informant inside the IRA — and possibly also its most lethal operative. This episode unpacks the extraordinary double life Scappaticci is alleged to have led, raising profound questions about state-sanctioned violence, loyalty, and the hidden costs of covert operations.
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8. Bad Rap
Bad Rap
→ The Case Against Diddy: Sean Combs and Federal Charges of Sex Trafficking — click to read about the episode
No true crime story dominated 2024 headlines more than the federal case against Sean "Diddy" Combs, and Bad Rap was one of the podcasts that covered it with the most rigour and context. This episode examines the federal sex trafficking charges levelled against Combs, tracing the allegations, the accusers, and the fall of one of the music industry's most powerful figures. It is timely, carefully sourced, and essential context for understanding one of the year's defining legal stories.
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9. The Hand in the Window
The Hand in the Window
→ Shawn Grate and the Rescue of Jane Doe in Ohio — click to read about the episode
The Hand in the Window tells the chilling story of serial killer Shawn Grate, and this episode focuses on the dramatic rescue of a woman known only as Jane Doe — a survivor whose courage ultimately led to Grate's arrest. The podcast reconstructs the sequence of events with remarkable precision, giving voice to the victim while contextualising Grate's crimes within a broader pattern of predatory behaviour. It is tense, compassionate, and impeccably produced.
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10. Untold True Crime
Untold True Crime
→ Untold True Crime dykker ned i Zodiac Killer-mysteriet — click to read about the episode
The Zodiac Killer remains one of America's most enduring unsolved mysteries, and Untold True Crime revisits the case with fresh perspective and careful research. This episode dives deep into the Zodiac's crimes, the taunting letters sent to police and media, and the decades-long hunt for a killer who was never caught. It is a gripping return to a case that continues to fascinate — and frustrate — investigators and true crime enthusiasts alike.
