West Cork
True crime podcast review — 2026
Reviewed · Updated
"West Cork is one of the finest true crime podcasts ever made — a meticulous, atmospheric investigation into a brutal murder that has divided a small Irish community and two nations for nearly 30 years."
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
- ✓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
13-episode Audible Original documentary by Sam Bungey and Jennifer Forde investigating the brutal 1996 murder of French filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier at her holiday home near Schull in West Cork, Ireland. Ian Bailey, a British journalist living locally, was the prime suspect — convicted in absentia in France in 2019 but never extradited from Ireland.
Best episode to start with
Episode 1 — must listen in order
Serialized format — listen from the beginning for the full experience
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Frequently Asked Questions about West Cork
What is West Cork about?
13-episode Audible Original documentary by Sam Bungey and Jennifer Forde investigating the brutal 1996 murder of French filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier at her holiday home near Schull in West Cork, Ireland. Ian Bailey, a British journalist living locally, was the prime suspect — convicted in absentia in France in 2019 but never extradited from Ireland.
Is West Cork worth listening to?
Our editorial verdict is "Must listen". It scores 9/10 on binge factor. True crime fans who love atmospheric investigative journalism, Anglo-Irish tensions, and cases that remain unresolved and fiercely contested decades later.
Who is West Cork for?
West Cork is ideal for: Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish; Cold case enthusiasts who love decades-old unsolved mysteries; Binge listeners who want something they can't stop at one episode.
What is the best episode of West Cork to start with?
We recommend starting with Episode 1 — must listen in order. As a serialized show, it's best to listen from the beginning of a season.
Where can I listen to West Cork?
West Cork is available on Audible, Apple Podcasts, Spotify. Search for it by name on any of those apps.
What podcasts are similar to West Cork?
If you enjoy West Cork, you might also like: Bear Brook, Death in Ice Valley, In the Dark, The Thing About Pam. See our full "Podcasts Like West Cork" page for more recommendations.
Quick facts
- Format
- Serialized
- Host style
- Co-hosted
- Style
- Slow-burn, atmospheric, journalistic
- Episode length
- 13 episodes ~40-60 min each; manageable binge across a weekend
- Episodes
- 13 episodes
- Binge factor
- 9/10
- Country
- Ireland
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