Serial
True crime podcast review — 2026
Reviewed · Updated
"The podcast that launched a thousand true crime shows — Serial's Season 1 remains the gold standard for investigative audio journalism, genuinely suspenseful right to the final episode."
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
Investigative journalism podcast devoting an entire season to one true story. Season 1 re-investigates the 1999 murder of teenager Hae Min Lee and whether her convicted killer, Adnan Syed, actually committed the crime.
Best episode to start with
S1 Ep1 — The Alibi
Serialized format — listen from the beginning for the full experience
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Frequently Asked Questions about Serial
What is Serial about?
Investigative journalism podcast devoting an entire season to one true story. Season 1 re-investigates the 1999 murder of teenager Hae Min Lee and whether her convicted killer, Adnan Syed, actually committed the crime.
Is Serial worth listening to?
Our editorial verdict is "Must listen". It scores 9/10 on binge factor. Anyone interested in journalism, legal procedure, and deep investigative dives into morally ambiguous cases with no easy answers.
Who is Serial for?
Serial 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 Serial to start with?
We recommend starting with S1 Ep1 — The Alibi. As a serialized show, it's best to listen from the beginning of a season.
Where can I listen to Serial?
Serial is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR. Search for it by name on any of those apps.
What podcasts are similar to Serial?
If you enjoy Serial, you might also like: Bear Brook, In the Dark, Your Own Backyard, The Thing About Pam. See our full "Podcasts Like Serial" page for more recommendations.
Quick facts
- Format
- Serialized
- Host style
- Solo narrator
- Style
- Serious, journalistic, thoughtful
- Episode length
- 4 seasons; Season 1 = 12 episodes ~45 min each; easily bingeable in a weekend
- Episodes
- 4 seasons
- Binge factor
- 9/10
- Country
- United States
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