Bone Valley
True crime podcast review — 2026
Reviewed · Updated
"Named the best true crime podcast of 2022 by The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and Slate — Bone Valley is a masterpiece that proves Pulitzer-level journalism can still come in podcast form."
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
- ✓Legal procedure enthusiasts and wrongful conviction advocates
- ✓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
Nine-episode podcast by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Gilbert King investigating the wrongful conviction of Leo Schofield for the 1987 murder of his wife Michelle — a case where the real killer's fingerprints were identified 15 years later but the justice system failed to act.
Best episode to start with
Episode 1 — must listen in order
Serialized format — listen from the beginning for the full experience
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Frequently Asked Questions about Bone Valley
What is Bone Valley about?
Nine-episode podcast by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Gilbert King investigating the wrongful conviction of Leo Schofield for the 1987 murder of his wife Michelle — a case where the real killer's fingerprints were identified 15 years later but the justice system failed to act.
Is Bone Valley worth listening to?
Our editorial verdict is "Must listen". It scores 9/10 on binge factor. True crime fans who care deeply about wrongful conviction, prosecutorial failure, and the fight to free innocent people; fans of In the Dark will find this essential.
Who is Bone Valley for?
Bone Valley is ideal for: Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish; Cold case enthusiasts who love decades-old unsolved mysteries; Legal procedure enthusiasts and wrongful conviction advocates; Binge listeners who want something they can't stop at one episode.
What is the best episode of Bone Valley to start with?
We recommend starting with Episode 1 — must listen in order. As a serialized show, it's best to listen from the beginning of a season.
Where can I listen to Bone Valley?
Bone Valley is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify. Search for it by name on any of those apps.
What podcasts are similar to Bone Valley?
If you enjoy Bone Valley, you might also like: Bear Brook, In the Dark, Wrongful Conviction, Crime Next Door: The Beast of Birkenhead. See our full "Podcasts Like Bone Valley" page for more recommendations.
Quick facts
- Format
- Serialized
- Host style
- Solo narrator
- Style
- Serious, measured, deeply disturbing
- Episode length
- 9 episodes ~60 min each; one or two weekends to complete
- Episodes
- 9 episodes
- Binge factor
- 9/10
- Country
- United States
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