Bear Brook
True crime podcast review — 2026
Reviewed · Updated
"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."
Who is this podcast for?
- ✓Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish
- ✓Cold case enthusiasts who love decades-old unsolved mysteries
- ✓Anyone fascinated by missing persons investigations
- ✓Binge listeners who want something they can't stop at one episode
Pros & cons
- +Rated "Must Listen" by our editorial team — exceptional across all dimensions
- +Exceptional binge factor — near impossible to stop at one episode
- +Serialized format builds a compelling, sustained narrative arc across episodes
- −Must listen in order — cannot dip in and out between episodes
About this podcast
Four unidentified bodies found in barrels in a New Hampshire forest in 1985 — and how, decades later, the case was cracked using pioneering DNA genealogy techniques that changed forensic science forever. Stephen King called it 'the best true crime podcast I have ever heard.'
Best episode to start with
S1 Ep1 — Two Barrels — listen in order
Serialized format — listen from the beginning for the full experience
Rate this podcast
Community reviews
0 reviewsWrite a quick review
No reviews yet. Be the first!
Frequently Asked Questions about Bear Brook
What is Bear Brook about?
Four unidentified bodies found in barrels in a New Hampshire forest in 1985 — and how, decades later, the case was cracked using pioneering DNA genealogy techniques that changed forensic science forever. Stephen King called it 'the best true crime podcast I have ever heard.'
Is Bear Brook worth listening to?
Our editorial verdict is "Must listen". It scores 9/10 on binge factor. True crime fans fascinated by forensic science, DNA technology, and cold cases with a genuine scientific payoff.
Who is Bear Brook for?
Bear Brook is ideal for: Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish; Cold case enthusiasts who love decades-old unsolved mysteries; Anyone fascinated by missing persons investigations; Binge listeners who want something they can't stop at one episode.
What is the best episode of Bear Brook to start with?
We recommend starting with S1 Ep1 — Two Barrels — listen in order. As a serialized show, it's best to listen from the beginning of a season.
Where can I listen to Bear Brook?
Bear Brook is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR. Search for it by name on any of those apps.
What podcasts are similar to Bear Brook?
If you enjoy Bear Brook, you might also like: In the Dark, Serial, Your Own Backyard, The Thing About Pam. See our full "Podcasts Like Bear Brook" page for more recommendations.
Quick facts
- Format
- Serialized
- Host style
- Solo narrator
- Style
- Serious, journalistic, hypnotic
- Episode length
- 30-60 min per episode, 2 seasons, very bingeable backlog
- Episodes
- 2 seasons
- Binge factor
- 9/10
- Country
- United States
Listen on
Browse category
Newsletter
Get weekly recommendations
Curated picks, new reviews, hidden gems.
If you liked this, try…
See all alternatives
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.
The Thing About Pam
True crime fans who want jaw-dropping courthouse drama; anyone who likes watching a case unravel in real time as new evidence emerges; fans of courtroom true crime with an extraordinary villain at its centre.
Casefile True Crime
Listeners who prefer documentary-style narration with high production standards and zero filler; purists who want the facts and nothing else.
The Lady Vanishes
A journalist and a daughter search for answers about a missing Australian schoolteacher
Explore more in these categories: