Crimetown
True crime podcast review — 2026
"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
Pros
- +Rated "Must Listen" by our editorial team
- +Serialized format builds a compelling, sustained narrative arc across 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". The community has rated it 9.0/10 overall. 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.
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.
What podcasts are similar to Crimetown?
If you enjoy Crimetown, you might also like: American Scandal, Atlanta Monster, Over My Dead Body, A Million Other Choices. 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
- Country
- United States
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