Root of Evil
True crime fans fascinated by generational trauma, unsolved cold cases, and the extraordinary experience of investigating your own family's potential crimes.
Podcasts Like Root of Evil
If you loved Root of Evil, here are the best podcasts to try next. Matched by case type, storytelling style, and community ratings from our database of Cold Case, Murder, Historical Crime shows.
Why listeners love Root of Evil
Root of Evil is a uniquely personal true crime story — two women bravely investigate whether their own great-grandfather was America's most infamous unsolved killer. Listeners rate its binge factor at 7/10. It follows a serialized format — each season covers one case in depth, building suspense across episodes.
Binge Factor
7/10
Community-rated compulsive listenability
Format
Serialized
One story told across multiple episodes
Style
Reflective, investigative, personal
Presentation approach
Episode Length
8 episodes; bingeable in a weekend
Typical episode duration
Host Style
Co-hosted
Presentation format
Verdict
Must listen
Our editorial rating
Recommendations
12 podcasts like Root of Evil
Bear Brook
True crime fans fascinated by forensic science, DNA technology, and cold cases with a genuine scientific payoff.
Dirty John
True crime fans who love psychological manipulation, con artists, and domestic crime stories with high personal stakes.
In the Dark
Listeners who want journalism-grade investigation into wrongful convictions, systemic racism, and institutional failures — more 60 Minutes than true crime thriller.
The Girlfriends
True crime fans interested in the psychology of women connected to violent men; listeners who want to understand the role of gender in criminal relationships.
Monster: BTK
Dennis Rader murdered 10 people across 30 years while serving as a church council president — the Monster series examines one of history's most chilling cases of a killer hiding in plain sight.
Happy Face
True crime fans interested in the impact of crime on perpetrators' families; listeners who want to understand the psychology of survival and the ripple effects that extend far beyond the killers themselves.
The Lighthouse Murder
Investigation into an 1896 lighthouse murder in Washington State, one of the Pacific Northwest's oldest cold cases.
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.
Serial
Anyone interested in journalism, legal procedure, and deep investigative dives into morally ambiguous cases with no easy answers.
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.
The Teacher's Pet
True crime fans who like journalism-driven investigations with massive real-world impact; anyone fascinated by domestic crime and institutional failure.
How they compare
| Podcast | Format | Country | Binge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root of Evil (original) | Serialized | United States | 7/10 |
| Bear Brook | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| Dirty John | Serialized | United States | 8/10 |
| In the Dark | Serialized | United States | 10/10 |
| The Girlfriends | Serialized | United States | 6/10 |
| Monster: BTK | Serialised | United States | 7/10 |
| Happy Face | Serialized | United States | 6/10 |
| The Lighthouse Murder | Serialised | United States | 7/10 |
| Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast | — | — | — |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What podcasts are similar to Root of Evil?
The best alternatives to Root of Evil are podcasts that share its Cold Case, Murder, Historical Crime 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 Root of Evil?
Root of Evil is known for its reflective, investigative, personal approach to Cold Case and Murder. It scores 7/10 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 Root of Evil?
Episodes of Root of Evil are typically 8 episodes; bingeable in a weekend long. It follows a serialized format, covering one story across multiple episodes.
Where can I listen to Root of Evil?
Root of Evil 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 Root of Evil to start with?
New listeners are recommended to start with Episode 1 — start from beginning. As a serialized podcast, it's best to start from the beginning of a season.