Bad Education and The Innocence Files (Part 1)

School’s in! We’re looking at HBO’s new movie, “Bad Education.” Based on a true story, school superintendent Frank Tassone is on top of the world, but things begin to unravel when a high school journalist is assigned a story about the budget. Does it get a passing grade? (Note: This film is based on an outstanding New York Magazine article by Bob Kolker.)

FOR OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF “BAD EDUCATION,” GO TO 28:00

Then, a look at episodes 1-3 of Netflix’s ambitious series, “The Innocence Files.” Part one deals with a pair of rape-homicides of children in Mississippi. This case - and many others - revolves around an arrogant dentist whose application of bite mark analysis has led to wrongful convictions. 

FOR OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF “THE INNOCENCE FILES” ep 1-3, GO TO 54:00

In Crime of the Week: return to sender.

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Atlanta's Missing & Murdered, plus The Pale Horse

Are the crime writers eating well? Some of them are.

Leading off: A woman dies under mysterious circumstances with a list. Are they in danger? And does it have anything to do with a coven of witches in an English village? The two-part adaptation of “The Pale Horse” from BBC One and Amazon Prime veers from Agatha Christie’s novel, keeping its supernatural overtones but leaning more on domestic suspense than its murder-for-hire origins. 

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE PALE HORSE," GO TO 24:00

Up next: Atlanta was enjoying an economic and cultural resurgence, but in 1979 African American boys began disappearing from its streets. “Atlanta’s Missing & Murdered: The Lost Children” from HBO tugs at the threads of the Wayne Williams case. The series is part historical-and-cultural retrospective, part investigation into the system perhaps too quick to put the case behind them.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "ATLANTA'S MISSING & MURDERED," GO TO 54:00

In Crime of the Week: take one down, pass it around.

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Ozark & How to Fix a Drug Scandal

When Massachusetts State Police discover a chemist  has been tampering with evidence at the drug lab, it opens a legal Pandora's box. Netflix’s four-part “How to Fix a Drug Scandal” follows the lawyers seeking answers, the prosecutors who tried to cover it up, and the troubled life of one of the chemists whose personal addiction up-ended the scales of justice.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “HOW TO FIX A DRUG SCANDAL,” GO TO 29:00.

In season three of Netflix’s “Ozark,” a drug war in Mexico has put additional pressure on Marty and Wendy Byrde to launder money in their new casino. But complications ensue with new arrivals, like cartel lawyer Helen Pierce and Wendy’s brother, Ben. 

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “OZARK” SEASON THREE, GO TO 58:00.

In crime of the week, back end data.

Cool Mules and The Valhalla Murders

Our first review is “Cool Mules” from Canadaland. Vice Canada music editor Slava Pastukhov believed the only way to advance at the gonzo news outlet was through more extreme journalism. A mix of greed and ambition led him to orchestrate a drug trafficking ring to Australia. 

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF “COOL MULES” BEGINS IN MINUTE 34

Next is a look at Netflix’s foriegn-language series, “The Valhalla Murders.” This police procedural is the latest in the growing number of shows set in Iceland which try to capture their own version of Scandianivan noir. But does the story capture either that dark Scandi style...or the interest of streaming mystery lovers?

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF “THE VALHALLA MURDERS” BEGINS IN MINUTE 1:03

In Crime of the Week: please don’t rollover. 

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Our review of Tiger King!

A big announcement from Toby! His new 10-part podcast, "Strange Arrivals," is out March 31. Subscribe now!

Then the panel discusses the much-buzzed about documentary, "Tiger King." Expanding on the characters and themes of the recent "Joe Exotic" podcast, this Netflix doc dives even deeper into the world of big cats and the shady people who love them. No doubt it's entertaining, but does it handle the people and issues in a responsible way? 

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "TIGER KING" GO TO 1:03

In crime of the week, it makes my eyes burn.

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The Dating Game Killer and Lost Girls

The crime writers check in with updates on how they're dealing with self-isolation and ponder the world confronted by the coronavirus.

In the first review, the panel discusses "The Dating Game Killer" from Wondery and Hollywood & Crime. The docu-drama recalls the tale of serial killer/game show contestant Rodney Alcala. How will the team react to the podcast's style and substance?

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE DATING GAME KILLER," GO TO 29:00

Then the group gets into Netflix's film adaptation of "Lost Girls" staring Amy Ryan. Does this two-hour dramatization of Bob Kolker's excellent book live up to the expansive source material? 

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "LOST GIRLS," GO TO 54:30

Then in crime of the week: Cheese-us Christ.

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Down the Hill: The Delphi Murders and Verified

Leading off, the crime writers discuss the new podcast from HLN, “Down the Hill: The Delphi Murders.” The reporters attempt to shed light on a double killing with few publicly known facts. Can they advance the story?

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF “DOWN THE HILL” BEGINS IN MINUTE 33.

Then, they jet to Italy for “Verified” from Witness Docs and Stitcher. This ten-part series looks at a group of women and their search for justice against the man who raped them when they answered his ad on couchsurfer.com. Is there blame to share?

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF “VERIFIED” BEGINS IN MINUTE 1:03.

In crime of the week, who run the world?

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The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez and a Recommendations Roundup!

After a week of reeling in the years, the Crime Writers are back discussing the hard-hitting Netflix documentary, “The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez.” Viewers learn the long trail of physical and emotional abuse suffered by Gabriel and the many missed opportunities to save his life. And it dives into the issues around the failings of law enforcement, social services, elected officials, and the System’s desire to protect itself at the expense of the children it’s supposed to help.

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF “THE TRIALS OF GABRIEL FERNANDEZ” BEGINS IN MINUTE 37.

Then, on a lighter note, the team offers their recommendations for content you should be consuming this spring.

Toby:

• Greatest of all Talk

• 36 From The Vault

• The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel

• Knives Out

Lara

• The Long Call by Ann Cleeves

• Locke and Key

• Outlander

• Dublin Murders

Kevin:

• Six

• Stumptown

• Dying for Sex

• Pod Save America

Rebecca:

• Joe Ide’s IQ book series

• Matt Goldman’s Nils Shapiro series

• Deep Water

• Reply All – “The Case of the Missing Hit”

In Crime of the Week: Tinder mercies.

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OUR 200th EPISODE SPECIAL!

This is our 200th episode, and to mark the occasion we’re going to look back at some of our favorite moments from Crime Writers On. We’ll revisit reviews from classic podcasts, games, milestones, things that made us cry with laughter, and shed other kinds of tears.

This week's cover art:

Top row

• Millie Bobby Brown from “Stranger Things”

• David Rudolf from “The Staircase”

• Bowe Bergdahl from “Serial”

• Michael Peterson from “The Staircase”

• Madeleine McCann from “The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann”

• Richard Simmons from “Missing Richard Simmons”

• Dan Taberski from “Headlong”

• Bill Cosby from “Chasing Cosby”

• Keith Morrison from “Dateline NBC”

• Andy from “The Legend of Cocaine Island”

• Adnan Syed from “Serial”

• Jonathan Groff from “Mindhunter”

• Merritt Weaver from “Unbelievable”

• Tyler Alvarez from “American Vandal”

• Bikram Choudhury from “Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator”

• Ian Bailey from “West Cork”

• Holt McCallany from “Mindhunter”

• Ear Hustle

• Sister Cathy Cesnik from “The Keepers”

Second row

• Jharrel Jerome from “When They See Us”

• Sarah Paulson from “The People vs OJ Simpson”

• Sterling K. Brown from “The People vs OJ Simpson”

• Eric Bana from “Dirty John”

• Payne Lindsey from “Up and Vanished”

• Matthew McConaughey from “True Detective”

• Woody Harrelson from “True Detective”

• Bob Broberg from “Abducted in Plain Sight”

• Charles Manson from “Young Charlie”

• Patrick Hines from “True Crime Obsessed”

• Colin Miller from “Undisclosed”

• Rabia Chaudry from “Undisclosed”

• Susan Simpson from “Undisclosed”

• Casey Anthony from “Casey Anthony: An American Murder Mystery”

• David Ridgen from “Someone Knowns Something”

Third row

• Doug Evans from “In the Dark”

• Steven Avery from “Making a Murderer”

• John Meehan from “Dirty John”

• John McLemore from “S-town”

• Brendan Dassey from “Making a Murderer”

• Ted Bundy from “The Bundy Tapes”

• Cleo Semaganis Nicotine from “Missing and Murdered”

• Ma Anand Sheela from “Wild Wild Country”

• Joseph Maldonado-Passage from “Joe Exotic”

• Amber Hunt from “Accused”

Front row

• Curtis Flowers from “In the Dark”

• Bill Rankin from “Breakdown”

• Ronan Farrow from “Catch and Kill”

• Madeline Baron from “In the Dark”

• Sarah Keonig from “Serial”

• Kevin Flynn

• Lara Bricker

• Rebeca Lavoie

• Toby Ball

• Debra Newell from “Dirty John”

• Rocksteady Freddie from the New York Ska Jazz Ensemble

Foreground

• Cat of the week

• Slenderman

• “The Staircase” owl

• Miracle Whip

• The crime writers typewriter

• The Brickter Scale

• The Habitat

McMillions and The Other Latif

As the crime writers prepare for their 200th episode special, Rebecca and Kevin have an invitation to London-based listeners.

First off, in “The Other Latif,” Latif Nasser learns a Moroccan native who shares his name has been held for years at Guantanamo accused of being a top military adviser to Osama bin Laden. This miniseries from RadioLab explores whether his namesake is as dangerous as the US says he is.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “RADIOLAB: THE OTHER LATIF” BEGINS IN THE 31st MINUTE.

Then: It’s the biggest fraud case you’ve never heard about. In HBO’s “McMillions,” a bored FBI agent stumbles on to a tip that McDonald’s million-dollar Monopoly game is fixed. This whodunnit, howdaydoit is lighthearted, intriguing, and – at times – moving.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “McMILLIONS” BEGINS IN THE 59th MINUTE.

In Crime of the Week: jack shit.

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The Pharmacist and Uncover: Satanic Panic

After casting their votes in the New Hampshire Primary, the panel is ready to vote on two new true crime titles.

First, the crime writers discuss the new season of Uncover: Satanic Panic. Host Lisa Rundle brings us to a Saskatchewan town rocked in the 90s by an alleged pedophilia ring run by devil worshipers. The podcast recalls the mass hysteria and the lives forever changed by the charges.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “UNCOVER: SATANIC PANIC” STARTS IN THE 28 MINUTE OF THE SHOW.

Then, Netflix’s “The Pharmacist” tells the story of a mild-mannered Louisiana druggist whose life is turned upside down by the murder of his son. While working through his grief, Dan Schneider notices a pattern of healthy-looking people filling OxyContin prescriptions from a particular doctor.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “THE PHARMACIST” STARTS IN THE 55 MINUTE MARK OF THE SHOW.

Then in Crime of the Week, that’s nuts.

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Chasing Cosby and The Sneak

Greetings from New Hampshire, where the Crime Writers will be among those casting their First in the Nation primary ballots. Hear them discuss the new text technology campaigns will be using to get your vote.

Leading off, USAToday Sports and For the Win is out with a podcast covering an unusual bank Heist. “The Sneak” tells us of a bizarre armored car holdup where a man disguised as a landscaper escaped down river on an inner tube. Host Nate Scott says there’s much more to the story.

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF “THE SNEAK” BEGINS IN THE 26 MINUTE MARK OF THE SHOW.

The LA Times’s new podcast looks into the events that took down one of America’s most beloved figures. In “Chasing Cosby”, host Nikki Weisensee Egan uses archival tape and new witness interviews to show the long, difficult road to justice against a rich, powerful celebrity and the unlikely events - and incredibly brave victims - that led to Bill Cosby’s arrest and conviction.

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF “CHASING COSBY” BEGINS IN THE 59 MINUTE MARK OF THE SHOW.

In Crime of the Week: drug reading dog.

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The Officer's Wife and Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez

Mixed reviews this week from the crime writers. First, they explore "The Officer's Wife" from Vault Studios. Just as you think the story will be a typical by-the-numbers true crime tale...it offers a real plot twist. But does it leave too many listener questions unanswered?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "THE OFFICER'S WIFE" BEGINS AROUND THE 34 MINUTE MARK. 

Then, Netflix has a new documentary tackling the life and crimes of the late NFL star Aaron Hernandez. Much like the 2018 podcast "Gladiator," “Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez” is also a revealing look at a troubling story of power, money, family, sexuality, visually elevated in the way only a documentary can.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "KILLER INSIDE" BEGINS AROUND THE 57 MINUTE MARK.

Then in Crime of the Week, little hellions. 

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No Body Recovered and The Outsider

The panel takes a moment to reflect on the premature demise of two of their favorite shows, HBO’s “Watchmen” and Netflix’s “Mindhunter.”

The Crime Writers follow BBC Radio to County Donegal for a look at Ireland’s longest unsolved missing child case. In season one of “No Body Recovered,” host Kevin Connolly explores the 1977 story of Mary Boyle, through the eyes of the family torn apart by her disappearance.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “NO BODY RECOVERED” BEGINS AROUND THE 36 MINUTE MARK.

Then, HBO and Stephen King team for their adaptation of “The Outsider.” How can a man accused of murder have been in two places at once? The all-star cast explores the paradox of this crime and the thought that supernatural forces may be at play.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “THE OUTSIDER” BEGINS AROUND THE 1:05 MINUTE MARK.

In Crime of the Week: Frostbite of the Iguana.

For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at patreon.com/partnersincrimemedia. 

The Dream and Disorganized Crime

In an episode that seems to go off the rails at times, the panel discusses season two of “The Dream.” Host Jane Marie tackles the wellness industry, covering everything from healing crystals and medicinal herbs to vitamins and natural childbirth. Are they coming after the thing YOU believe is saving you from illness?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “THE DREAM” BEGINS IN THE 29th MINUTE OF THE SHOW.

Then the crime writers review the long, strange trip in “Disorganized Crime: Smuggler’s Daughter.” Host “Rainbow Valentine” interviews her parents about their crazy double-life moving millions of dollars of marijuana across the country.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “DISORGANIZED CRIME” BEGINS IN THE 57th MINUTE OF THE SHOW.

In Crime of the Week: if I had a nickel for every stupid question…

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Dig and Midnight Son

The panel discusses the new podcast/audiobook hybrid “Midnight Son” from Audible Originals. We’re taken to the Arctic to explore the crimes of an Alaska Native and to investigate his claim that while as a fugitive in the wilderness he was visited by mythic tribe thought only to exist in legend.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “MIDNIGHT SON,” GO TO THE 41 MINUTE MARK

Dog(s) of the week porn

Then, we’re off to Louisville for season one of “Dig” from the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting. Host Eleanor Klibanoff finds prosecutors in that community are declining to seek charges and close many sexual assault cases, in a policy that may protect conviction rates and crime statistics more than it protects victims.

FOR OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “DIG,” GO TO THE 1:13 MINUTE MARK.

In crime of the week: Wakanda forever!

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Accused and Don't F**k with Cats

Rebecca and Kevin start by addressing some back-end tech changes that could affect listeners’ experience. There are shout-outs to our newest listener. And the panel solicits input from the audience for our upcoming 200th episode celebration.

The Crime Writers review the new season of “Accused.” The eight-part series is a story of corporate malfeasance, wrapped in a missing persons case filled with conspiracy theories, family secrets, and government lies.

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF “ACCUSED” CAN BE FOUND AROUND THE 33 MINUTE MARK.

Then they discuss Netflix’s "Don’t F**k With Cats: The Hunt for An Internet Killer." A gang of armchair detectives are looking for the person posting videos of animal cruelty. But before law enforcement takes the virtual manhunt seriously, the suspect turns his violent depravity on an unsuspecting man.

OUR SPOILER FREE REVIEW OF “DON’T F**K WITH CATS” CAN BE FOUND AROUND THE 1:22 MINUTE MARK

Then in Crime of the Week, shoulda called a cab.

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In the Dark update and The Confession Killer on Netflix

The crime writers marvel at Kevin’s encyclopedic knowledge of Dunkin Donuts locations in New Hampshire!

The team is blown away by the latest bonus episode of “In the Dark,” which covers Curtis Flowers’s bail hearing now that SCOTUS has overturned his conviction. If this were the final installment of the Peabody winning podcast, would it be the perfect ending?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “IN THE DARK” STARTS AT APPROXIMATELY 34:53

Then the panel looks at Netflix’s five-part series, “The Confession Killer.” Did Henry Lee Lucas fabricate his involvement in more than 360 murders? Why would law enforcement be so willing to believe Lucas and attack anyone who challenged the claims?

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF “THE CONFESSION KILLER” STARTS AT APPROXIMATELY 1:03:00

In crime of the week: Chicka, chicka-yeah, fake ID!

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Catch and Kill, plus Detective Trapp

Leading off, Ronan Farrow's “The Catch and Kill Podcast” is an inside look at one of the most important stories of the decade, giving a deeper dive into the downfall of one of the entertainment industry’s most powerful men. Is there still more to this story?

YOU CAN FIND OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "CATCH AND KILL" AROUND THE 34:38 MINUTE MARK. 

The team behind “Dirty John” returns with “Detective Trapp.” Anaheim's only female homicide detective is assigned the case of an unidentified woman found in a garbage facility. Det. Trapp suspects the crime may be connected to others in Southern California.

YOU CAN FIND OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "DETECTIVE TRAPP" AROUND THE 1:09:18 MINUTE MARK.

In Crime of the Week: O Tannan-brawl.

Breaking down Broken Justice and a hot take on Bikram

There arose such a clatter at Lara's town holiday celebration (fowl play). And Toby has been getting Twitter trolled by Dan Taberski. 

PBS NewsHour has released a podcast examining the public defender system in the US entitled “Broken Justice.” Frank Carlson and Amna Nawaz look at the issue through the lens of the Missouri public defenders office, one in which attorneys are given more clients than they can ethically handle.

A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "BROKEN JUSTICE" CAN BE FOUND AT APPROXIMATELY 33:00.

Netflix's documentary “Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator” chronicles the rise of the self-made yoga-master-to-the-stars who founded the hot yoga movement.The film details how Bikram Chaudry used his position to prey on his students who had professional and financial pressures to please him. 

A SPOILER-FREE REVIEW OF "BIKRAM: YOGI, GURU, PREDATOR" CAN BE FOUND AT APPROXIMATELY 53:00.

In Crime of the Week: it's written all over your face. 

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