Wicked Words
True crime podcast review — 2026
Reviewed · Updated
"Wicked Words explores the real criminal history behind famous crime fiction, connecting the literary world of crime writing to real cases and criminals that inspired them."
Who is this podcast for?
- ✓Listeners who prefer variety — a new case with every episode
Pros & cons
- +High binge factor — listeners consistently come back for more
- +Episodic format — great for both casual listeners and committed fans, start anywhere
- −Only available on Apple Podcasts — not accessible on all podcast apps
About the host
Piper Bayard, Jason Henry Evans
Host of Wicked Words.
About this podcast
Author Piper Bayard and author Jason Henry Evans cover the history of crime writers, the criminal cases that inspired them, and the true crimes behind famous fictional stories.
Best episode to start with
Browse for a case that interests you
Episodic format — episodes can generally be enjoyed in any order
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Frequently Asked Questions about Wicked Words
What is Wicked Words about?
Author Piper Bayard and author Jason Henry Evans cover the history of crime writers, the criminal cases that inspired them, and the true crimes behind famous fictional stories.
Is Wicked Words worth listening to?
Our editorial verdict is "Excellent for crime fiction fans and literary crime history enthusiasts". It scores 7/10 on binge factor. The criminal history behind famous crime fiction and the real cases that inspired it.
Who is Wicked Words for?
Wicked Words is ideal for: Listeners who prefer variety — a new case with every episode.
What is the best episode of Wicked Words to start with?
We recommend starting with Browse for a case that interests you. Episodes can generally be enjoyed in any order.
Where can I listen to Wicked Words?
Wicked Words is available on Apple Podcasts. Search for it by name on any of those apps.
What podcasts are similar to Wicked Words?
If you enjoy Wicked Words, you might also like: Last Seen, Morbid, Tenfold More Wicked, Unsolved Murders: True Crime Stories. See our full "Podcasts Like Wicked Words" page for more recommendations.
Quick facts
- Format
- Episodic
- Host style
- Dual host
- Style
- Conversational; casual
- Episode length
- 40-60 min
- Episodes
- 80+ episodes
- Binge factor
- 7/10
- Country
- United States
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