Spiral: Murder in Detroit
True crime podcast review — 2026
Reviewed
"A murder case that becomes a lens on antisemitism and justice — one of the more politically charged true crime releases this year."
Who is this podcast for?
- ✓Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish
- ✓Fans of original investigative journalism over retold news
- ✓Binge listeners who want something they can't stop at one episode
Pros & cons
- +High binge factor — listeners consistently come back for more
- +Serialized format builds a compelling, sustained narrative arc across episodes
- −Must listen in order — cannot dip in and out between episodes
About this podcast
On October 21, 2023, beloved Detroit community leader Samantha Woll was found brutally stabbed to death outside her home, two weeks to the day after the October 7 attacks on Israel. Spiral: Murder in Detroit, from The Free Press, follows reporter Frannie Block as the case takes a turn that raises hard questions about antisemitism, race, and how justice gets applied.
Best episode to start with
Episode 1 — One of 36 Angels
Serialized format — listen from the beginning for the full experience
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Frequently Asked Questions about Spiral: Murder in Detroit
What is Spiral: Murder in Detroit about?
On October 21, 2023, beloved Detroit community leader Samantha Woll was found brutally stabbed to death outside her home, two weeks to the day after the October 7 attacks on Israel. Spiral: Murder in Detroit, from The Free Press, follows reporter Frannie Block as the case takes a turn that raises hard questions about antisemitism, race, and how justice gets applied.
Is Spiral: Murder in Detroit worth listening to?
Our editorial verdict is "Good if you want a case that gets more politically fraught the deeper it goes". It scores 8/10 on binge factor. The Free Press investigates the 2023 stabbing death of Detroit community leader Samantha Woll, and the fraught questions the case raised about antisemitism and justice.
Who is Spiral: Murder in Detroit for?
Spiral: Murder in Detroit is ideal for: Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish; Fans of original investigative journalism over retold news; Binge listeners who want something they can't stop at one episode.
What is the best episode of Spiral: Murder in Detroit to start with?
We recommend starting with Episode 1 — One of 36 Angels. As a serialized show, it's best to listen from the beginning of a season.
Where can I listen to Spiral: Murder in Detroit?
Spiral: Murder in Detroit is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify. Search for it by name on any of those apps.
What podcasts are similar to Spiral: Murder in Detroit?
If you enjoy Spiral: Murder in Detroit, you might also like: In the Dark, Serial, The Missing Cryptoqueen, Pipeline. See our full "Podcasts Like Spiral: Murder in Detroit" page for more recommendations.
Quick facts
- Format
- Serialized
- Host style
- Solo narrator
- Style
- Investigative, critical, revealing
- Episode length
- 35-45 min
- Episodes
- Season within The Free Press Investigates
- Binge factor
- 8/10
- Country
- United States
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