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.
Podcasts Like Once Upon a Crime
If you loved Once Upon a Crime, here are the best podcasts to try next. Matched by case type, storytelling style, and community ratings from our database of Murder, Cold Case, Serial Killer, Organised Crime shows.
Why listeners love Once Upon a Crime
Once Upon a Crime brings a literary sensibility to true crime — Esther Ludlow writes and narrates cases with the precision of a novelist and the seriousness of a journalist.
Binge Factor
6/10
Community-rated compulsive listenability
Format
Episodic
New case with every episode
Style
Cinematic, serious, compelling
Presentation approach
Episode Length
~45-60 min per episode; large backlog; regular releases
Typical episode duration
Host Style
Solo narrator
Presentation format
Verdict
Good if niche interests you
Our editorial rating
Recommendations
12 podcasts like Once Upon a Crime
Bear Brook
True crime fans fascinated by forensic science, DNA technology, and cold cases with a genuine scientific payoff.
Casefile True Crime
Listeners who prefer documentary-style narration with high production standards and zero filler; purists who want the facts and nothing else.
Criminal
Listeners who appreciate literary storytelling and want true crime that feels more like Radio 4 documentary than sensational thriller; people who hate the mainstream true crime format.
FBI Retired Case File Review
Retired FBI agent interviews fellow FBI veterans about their most memorable cases and investigations.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx is Burning
Historical investigation into 1970s New York's darkest era - Son of Sam, arson and crime wave.
The Knife: A True Crime Podcast
Exactly Right's investigation of stabbing and knife crime cases with sharp focus.
American Monster
Investigates the psychology behind killers who hide in plain sight as ordinary community members.
Gone South
Narrative series about crime in the American South, now widening to other regions.
Son of a Hitman
Investigates hitman Charles Harrelson and the crimes linked to him.
A Million Other Choices
A Canadian-hosted, victim-centred true crime podcast covering murder and other criminal cases from around the world, with a particular interest in the Canadian justice system.
MURDERISH
Jami Rice tells real cases in full, from start to finish, with detailed research.
True Crime DEADLINE
Journalist Matt Johnson covers cold cases, unsolved mysteries and murders.
How they compare
| Podcast | Format | Country | Binge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Once Upon a Crime (original) | Episodic | United States | 6/10 |
| Bear Brook | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| Casefile True Crime | Episodic | Australia | 7/10 |
| Criminal | Episodic | United States | 7/10 |
| FBI Retired Case File Review | Episodic | United States | 8/10 |
| Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx is Burning | Serialised | United States | 7/10 |
| The Knife: A True Crime Podcast | Both | United States | 7/10 |
| American Monster | Serialised | United States | 8/10 |
| Gone South | Serialized | United States | — |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What podcasts are similar to Once Upon a Crime?
The best alternatives to Once Upon a Crime are podcasts that share its Murder, Cold Case, Serial Killer, Organised Crime focus and episodic format. Our editorial team has hand-picked the most similar shows based on content type, storytelling style, and community ratings.
Why do people love Once Upon a Crime?
Once Upon a Crime is known for its cinematic, serious, compelling approach to Murder and Cold Case. It scores 6/10 on our binge factor rating, reflecting how compulsively listenable listeners find it.
How long are episodes of Once Upon a Crime?
Episodes of Once Upon a Crime are typically ~45-60 min per episode; large backlog; regular releases long. It follows an episodic format, with each episode covering a different case.
Where can I listen to Once Upon a Crime?
Once Upon a Crime is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify. You can find it by searching the show name on any of those platforms.
What is the best episode of Once Upon a Crime to start with?
New listeners are recommended to start with Any episode is a good entry point — the storytelling format works standalone. Episodes can generally be listened to in any order.