Valley of Shadows
True crime podcast review — 2026
"A missing-deputy case that opens into a much bigger story about corruption and drugs in the Mojave."
Who is this podcast for?
- ✓Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish
- ✓Anyone fascinated by missing persons investigations
Pros
- +Rated "Must Listen" by our editorial team
- +Serialized format builds a compelling, sustained narrative arc across episodes
About this podcast
On June 11, 1998, a Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy vanished in Devil's Punchbowl. Valley of Shadows, from Pushkin Industries, follows how the search for him uncovered the Mojave Desert's meth epidemic, the outlaw bikers supplying it, and a police force more interested in covering it up than solving it.
Best episode to start with
Episode 1
Serialized format — listen from the beginning for the full experience
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Frequently Asked Questions about Valley of Shadows
What is Valley of Shadows about?
On June 11, 1998, a Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy vanished in Devil's Punchbowl. Valley of Shadows, from Pushkin Industries, follows how the search for him uncovered the Mojave Desert's meth epidemic, the outlaw bikers supplying it, and a police force more interested in covering it up than solving it.
Is Valley of Shadows worth listening to?
Our editorial verdict is "Must listen". Pushkin traces how the 1998 disappearance of a deputy sheriff exposed the Mojave Desert's meth epidemic and a corrupt police force covering it up.
Who is Valley of Shadows for?
Valley of Shadows is ideal for: Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish; Anyone fascinated by missing persons investigations.
What is the best episode of Valley of Shadows to start with?
We recommend starting with Episode 1. As a serialized show, it's best to listen from the beginning of a season.
What podcasts are similar to Valley of Shadows?
If you enjoy Valley of Shadows, you might also like: Already Gone Podcast, Re-Solved Mysteries: An Unsolved Mysteries Podcast, Ireland Crimes and Mysteries, A Million Other Choices. See our full "Podcasts Like Valley of Shadows" page for more recommendations.
Quick facts
- Format
- Serialized
- Host style
- Solo narrator
- Style
- Investigative, sobering, community-focused
- Episode length
- 35-45 min
- Episodes
- 9 episodes
- Country
- United States
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