Valley of Shadows
Pushkin traces how the 1998 disappearance of a deputy sheriff exposed the Mojave Desert's meth epidemic and a corrupt police force covering it up.
Podcasts Like Valley of Shadows
If you loved Valley of Shadows, here are the best podcasts to try next. Matched by case type, storytelling style, and community ratings from our database of Missing Person, Drug trafficking, Police misconduct shows.
Why listeners love Valley of Shadows
A missing-deputy case that opens into a much bigger story about corruption and drugs in the Mojave. It follows a serialized format — each season covers one case in depth, building suspense across episodes.
Binge Factor
8/10
Community-rated compulsive listenability
Format
Serialized
One story told across multiple episodes
Style
Investigative, sobering, community-focused
Presentation approach
Episode Length
35-45 min
Typical episode duration
Host Style
Solo narrator
Presentation format
Verdict
Must listen
Our editorial rating
Recommendations
12 podcasts like Valley of Shadows
Ireland Crimes and Mysteries
An Irish host retells crimes and mysteries from across Ireland.
And Then They Were Gone
Each week the hosts take one missing-person case and lay out what is known, hoping new information might help.
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.
Re-Solved Mysteries: An Unsolved Mysteries Podcast
Updates every segment from the 1990s Unsolved Mysteries TV show.
Already Gone Podcast
Lesser-known cases from Michigan and the Great Lakes.
Hands Off My Podcast: True Crime
Covers missing and murdered people from BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities.
Bear Brook
True crime fans fascinated by forensic science, DNA technology, and cold cases with a genuine scientific payoff.
The Deck Investigates
Audiochuck's deep investigation of cold case homicide victims featured on playing card decks distributed to prison inmates.
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.
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.
Spotlight: Snitch City
The Boston Globe Spotlight Team exposes one police department's rampant abuse of confidential informants — a top critical pick of 2025.
True Crime South Africa
South Africa's flagship true crime podcast, hosted by award-winning journalist Nicole Engelbrecht — the country's most popular true crime show even against international competition.
How they compare
| Podcast | Format | Country | Binge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley of Shadows (original) | Serialized | United States | 8/10 |
| Ireland Crimes and Mysteries | Serialized | Ireland | — |
| And Then They Were Gone | Episodic | United States | — |
| A Million Other Choices | Episodic | Canada | — |
| Re-Solved Mysteries: An Unsolved Mysteries Podcast | Episodic | United States | — |
| Already Gone Podcast | Episodic | United States | — |
| Hands Off My Podcast: True Crime | Episodic | United States | — |
| Bear Brook | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| The Deck Investigates | Both | United States | 9/10 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What podcasts are similar to Valley of Shadows?
The best alternatives to Valley of Shadows are podcasts that share its Missing Person, Drug trafficking, Police misconduct focus and serialized format. We've matched alternatives based on case types, storytelling format, and community ratings from our database.
Why do people love Valley of Shadows?
Valley of Shadows is known for its investigative, sobering, community-focused approach to Missing Person and Drug trafficking. It scores 8/10 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 Valley of Shadows?
Episodes of Valley of Shadows are typically 35-45 min long. It follows a serialized format, covering one story across multiple episodes.
Where can I listen to Valley of Shadows?
Valley of Shadows 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 Valley of Shadows to start with?
New listeners are recommended to start with Episode 1. As a serialized podcast, it's best to start from the beginning of a season.