Crimetown
True crime podcast review — 2026
Reviewed · Updated
"Crimetown is the closest podcasting has come to The Wire — a sprawling, character-driven investigation into one city's organised crime that will ruin you for lesser true crime."
Who is this podcast for?
- ✓Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish
- ✓Fans of financial crime and corporate misconduct stories
- ✓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
Gimlet Media's landmark true crime anthology, created by Zac Stuart-Pontier and Marc Smerling (creators of The Jinx). Season 1 chronicles the astonishing world of organised crime in Providence, Rhode Island — from the Patriarca mob to corrupt mayor Buddy Cianci — across three decades. The New York Times compared it to The Wire.
Best episode to start with
Season 1 Episode 1 — 'Welcome to Providence' — listen in order
Serialized format — listen from the beginning for the full experience
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Frequently Asked Questions about Crimetown
What is Crimetown about?
Gimlet Media's landmark true crime anthology, created by Zac Stuart-Pontier and Marc Smerling (creators of The Jinx). Season 1 chronicles the astonishing world of organised crime in Providence, Rhode Island — from the Patriarca mob to corrupt mayor Buddy Cianci — across three decades. The New York Times compared it to The Wire.
Is Crimetown worth listening to?
Our editorial verdict is "Must listen". It scores 9/10 on binge factor. True crime fans who want novelistic, character-driven storytelling about organised crime and institutional corruption; listeners who want something that feels as much like great drama as documentary.
Who is Crimetown for?
Crimetown is ideal for: Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish; Fans of financial crime and corporate misconduct stories; Binge listeners who want something they can't stop at one episode.
What is the best episode of Crimetown to start with?
We recommend starting with Season 1 Episode 1 — 'Welcome to Providence' — listen in order. As a serialized show, it's best to listen from the beginning of a season.
Where can I listen to Crimetown?
Crimetown is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify. Search for it by name on any of those apps.
What podcasts are similar to Crimetown?
If you enjoy Crimetown, you might also like: American Scandal, Atlanta Monster, Over My Dead Body, The Thing About Pam. See our full "Podcasts Like Crimetown" page for more recommendations.
Quick facts
- Format
- Serialized
- Host style
- Solo narrator
- Style
- Novelistic, immersive, compelling
- Episode length
- ~30-45 min per episode; 2 seasons; Season 1 is 20 episodes
- Episodes
- 2 seasons
- Binge factor
- 9/10
- Country
- United States
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