Bear Brook
True crime fans fascinated by forensic science, DNA technology, and cold cases with a genuine scientific payoff.
Podcasts Like Bear Brook
If you loved Bear Brook, here are the best podcasts to try next. Matched by case type, storytelling style, and community ratings from our database of Cold Case, Murder, Missing Person, Forensic Science shows.
Why listeners love Bear Brook
Bear Brook is the rare true crime podcast that advances science as it tells its story — DNA genealogy was pioneered live to crack this case, making it both gripping and genuinely historic. With a binge factor of 9/10, it sits among the most compulsively listenable shows in the genre. It follows a serialized format — each season covers one case in depth, building suspense across episodes.
Binge Factor
9/10
Community-rated compulsive listenability
Format
Serialized
One story told across multiple episodes
Style
Serious, journalistic, hypnotic
Presentation approach
Episode Length
30-60 min per episode, 2 seasons, very bingeable backlog
Typical episode duration
Host Style
Solo narrator
Presentation format
Verdict
Must listen
Our editorial rating
Recommendations
12 podcasts like Bear Brook
In the Dark
Listeners who want journalism-grade investigation into wrongful convictions, systemic racism, and institutional failures — more 60 Minutes than true crime thriller.
Serial
Anyone interested in journalism, legal procedure, and deep investigative dives into morally ambiguous cases with no easy answers.
Your Own Backyard
Listeners who want investigative true crime with real-world consequence and single-minded, passionate focus from a creator who refused to let a case die.
Trace Evidence
True crime fans who prioritise research quality above all else; listeners frustrated by inaccuracies in mainstream true crime; those who want depth over speed.
Accused (Cincinnati Enquirer)
True crime fans who want newspaper-quality investigative journalism in podcast form; listeners who want real wrongful conviction advocacy from professional journalists with institutional backing.
Once Upon a Crime
True crime fans who appreciate beautifully told stories over rapid-fire case summaries; listeners who want to encounter cases they haven't already heard about.
Serial
Anyone interested in journalism, legal procedure, and deep investigative dives into morally ambiguous cases with no easy answers.
Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast
<p><em>Foggy</em> <em>gaslit</em> <em>streets.</em> <em>A</em> <em>quiet</em> <em>courtroom.</em> <em>And</em> <em>crimes</em> <em>that</em> <em>history</em> <em>tried</em> <em>to</em> <em>bury.</em><
Crime Next Door: The Beast of Birkenhead
BBC’s Olivia Graham revisits the 1986 Diane Sindall murder and the 2025 quashing of Peter Sullivan’s conviction. Sullivan quashed 13 May 2025; killer unknown.
The Trial of Erin Patterson
The Crime Desk's courtroom coverage of the Erin Patterson 'mushroom murders' trial — one of the biggest cases of the decade.
You Didn't See Nothin
Pulitzer Prize and Peabody Award-winning series in which Yohance Lacour revisits a violent Chicago incident from 25 years earlier that shaped his path into journalism.
Murdaugh Murders Podcast
Journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell broke the Murdaugh family saga before it became a national story, and kept reporting it deeper than anyone else.
How they compare
| Podcast | Format | Country | Binge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Brook (original) | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| In the Dark | Serialized | United States | 10/10 |
| Serial | Serialized | United States | 10/10 |
| Your Own Backyard | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| Trace Evidence | Episodic | United States | 5/10 |
| Accused (Cincinnati Enquirer) | Serialized | United States | 7/10 |
| Once Upon a Crime | Episodic | United States | 6/10 |
| Serial | Serialized | United States | 10/10 |
| Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast | — | — | — |
Newsletter
Get recommendations like this weekly
Curated picks, new reviews, and hidden gems. Find your next obsession.
You can unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently Asked Questions
What podcasts are similar to Bear Brook?
The best alternatives to Bear Brook are podcasts that share its Cold Case, Murder, Missing Person, Forensic Science focus and serialized format. Our editorial team has hand-picked the most similar shows based on content type, storytelling style, and community ratings.
Why do people love Bear Brook?
Bear Brook is known for its serious, journalistic, hypnotic approach to Cold Case and Murder. It scores 9/10 on our binge factor rating, reflecting how compulsively listenable listeners find it. It has earned a "Must Listen" rating from our editorial team.
How long are episodes of Bear Brook?
Episodes of Bear Brook are typically 30-60 min per episode, 2 seasons, very bingeable backlog long. It follows a serialized format, covering one story across multiple episodes.
Where can I listen to Bear Brook?
Bear Brook is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR. You can find it by searching the show name on any of those platforms.
What is the best episode of Bear Brook to start with?
New listeners are recommended to start with S1 Ep1 — Two Barrels — listen in order. As a serialized podcast, it's best to start from the beginning of a season.