I’ll be the first to admit, I’m a RomCom kind of girl. I’m in awe of my friends who find comfort in true crime podcasts. In fact, so many of my girlfriends will jump at the slightest noise or have insane nightmares, but if you tell them they’re going to solve a 25-year-old cold case in six one-hour episodes, they are adhered to their sofas like magnets.
So I asked my friends who fancy themselves amateur sleuths some of their favorite true crime classics.
The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, HBO (2015) The life of real estate heir Robert Durst has been shrouded in controversy for decades. In this six-part series, the filmmakers dive into a trio of disaparreances and murders with Durst at the center. The final moments are sure to leave you with your jaw on the floor.
Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel, Netflix (2021) After 21-year-old Elisa Lam was found dead in a cistern on top of a notorious hotel in downtown Los Angeles, authorities were left with a million questions. But it was the bizarre video footage of Elisa in the hotel’s elevator that set the Internet ablaze.
Making a Murderer, Netflix (2015-2018) Guilty or framed? That’s the question at hand in this series following two Wisconsin men — Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey — who are accused of murdering Teresa Halbach in 2007. Filled with small-town drama, this is one whodunnit sure to spark some debate.
Evil Genius: the True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist, Netflix (2018) Pizza delivery driver Brian Wells was probably the last person anyone in Erie, Pennsylvania thought would rob a bank. When it was revealed he did so with a bomb strapped around his neck, the case went from bad to worse, with a surprising villain.
The Devil Next Door, Netflix (2019) When an elderly grandfather living in Cleveland is accused of being Nazi death camp guard Ivan the Terrible, his community and family are left in shock. Follow the sensational and heartbreaking trial on both sides of the Atlantic in this limited series.
The Keepers, Netflix (2017) Cold cases are such fascinating (and tragic) puzzles. The murder of nun Catherine Cesnik in 1969 is at the heart of this series, which dives sinto corruption and abuse at an all-girls’ school in Baltimore. It was full of twists and turns you won’t see coming.
Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer, Netflix (2019) Ignore the name — there’s nothing funny about this story. After a disturbing video of a man killing two kittens starts making the rounds online, a group of strangers from all over the world decide it’s time to find out who this madman is and take him down.
The Vow, HBO (2020) You may forget how to pronounce NXIVM sometimes, but the story of this cult will stay with you forever. In this nine-part series, you’ll meet the men and women (some who may be familiar) who pledged their lives to leader Keith Raniere and paid the price.
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, HBO (2020) Late writer Michelle McNamara made it her mission to uncover the identity of the Golden State Killer. Unfortunately, her life would be tragically cut short before she could finish the job. This series is both a mystery and a touching tribute to a talent gone too soon.
The Staircase, Netflix (2004-2018) What happens when a crime writer is accused of murdering his wife? Filmed over more than a decade, this series follows the investigation into Michael Peterson, prime suspect in a grisly murder with some wild theories. And by wild, I mean owls. You’ll see.
Do you consider yourself an armchair detective, too? Which true crime miniseries were you hooked on? Share your favorites to binge in the comments.
