White Lies (NPR)
True crime podcast review — 2026
Reviewed · Updated
"White Lies is 55-year-old justice pursued through seven impeccable episodes — NPR's journalists found a fourth man responsible for the death of a civil rights martyr and named him publicly for the first time."
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
- +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
Seven-episode NPR investigative series by native Alabamians Chip Brantley and Andrew Beck Grace investigating the 1965 murder of Reverend James Reeb — a white Unitarian minister and civil rights activist killed in Selma during the voting rights movement. Three men were tried and acquitted, and no one was held accountable for 55 years. The podcast uncovered a fourth suspect.
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 White Lies (NPR)
What is White Lies (NPR) about?
Seven-episode NPR investigative series by native Alabamians Chip Brantley and Andrew Beck Grace investigating the 1965 murder of Reverend James Reeb — a white Unitarian minister and civil rights activist killed in Selma during the voting rights movement. Three men were tried and acquitted, and no one was held accountable for 55 years. The podcast uncovered a fourth suspect.
Is White Lies (NPR) worth listening to?
Our editorial verdict is "Must listen". It scores 8/10 on binge factor. True crime fans interested in civil rights history; listeners who want journalism with genuine historical consequence; anyone who believes true crime must engage with political violence and institutional cover-up.
Who is White Lies (NPR) for?
White Lies (NPR) 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 White Lies (NPR) 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 White Lies (NPR)?
White Lies (NPR) is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR. Search for it by name on any of those apps.
What podcasts are similar to White Lies (NPR)?
If you enjoy White Lies (NPR), you might also like: Bone Valley, In the Dark, Suspect (NPR/Embedded), The Thing About Pam. See our full "Podcasts Like White Lies (NPR)" page for more recommendations.
Quick facts
- Format
- Serialized
- Host style
- Co-hosted
- Style
- Measured, deeply serious, historically important
- Episode length
- 7 episodes ~30-40 min each; bingeable in one weekend
- Binge factor
- 8/10
- Country
- United States
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