The hottest True Crime Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

What I'm reading about A.I. economic doom and Trump's War on Iran. Plus: a great twisty documentary and a good new crime thriller

Read Max • 447 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🎭️ Culture True Crime
  1. A high-profile A.I. report recently rattled markets and sparked intense debate about the economic risks and real-world consequences of advanced AI.
  2. A twisty, gripping true-crime documentary about fraud and confirmation bias is highlighted, and the director’s new crime thriller is also recommended.
  3. The newsletter curates books, films, and music, asks readers to take a short survey, and encourages subscriptions and reader recommendations.

Criminal Minds

Disaffected Newsletter • 759 implied HN points • 09 Sep 24
🎙 Podcasts True Crime
  1. Child abuse is a major factor in violent behavior, as suggested by the case of a young murderer. It's important to understand the home environment of troubled youth.
  2. Society is facing a decline with issues like street violence and controversial influences in media. These problems make it harder for people to feel safe.
  3. There's a mix of unusual news topics and merchandise being advertised. It reflects the unique and sometimes bizarre culture we are living in.

The Reiners’ Tragedy Without End

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1891 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture True Crime
  1. A beloved public-figure couple were murdered by their son, a shock that underscores the human cost of such family tragedies.
  2. A brilliant young man with schizophrenia once seemed to recover and even attracted media and Hollywood interest; after stopping his medication he spiraled into psychosis and killed his pregnant fiancée.
  3. Serious mental illness and addiction can lead to sudden, violent outcomes despite appearances of recovery, showing how fragile progress is and how inadequate interventions can be.
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The merchification of Luigi

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 2746 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture True Crime
  1. Merchandise related to controversial figures can quickly pop up online after significant events. For instance, items featuring Luigi Mangione appeared on various e-commerce platforms right after his arrest.
  2. The idea of walkouts in support of trends or individuals can easily go viral, but it's often just an internet joke rather than a real event. Observing trends in social media can help distinguish between what's genuine and what's a meme.
  3. America has a history of turning violent figures into pop culture items. Instead of ignoring this, it seems to be a long-standing part of society where people express fascination with notorious individuals.

The Season of the Scumbag

Look What You Made Me Do • 511 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture True Crime
  1. Powerful individuals are being exposed for behavior that surpasses standard norms.
  2. Scandals involving high-profile figures are prevalent, revealing misconduct and abuse of power.
  3. Public figures facing serious allegations are often embroiled in controversies related to sexual misconduct.

One of the best 'true-crime' books I've read in years, a gorgeous movie about sketchy archeologists, and four songs I like

Read Max • 658 implied HN points • 22 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture True Crime
  1. There is a remarkable true-crime book that explores the history of Los Angeles. It's not just a story; it dives deep into the culture and background of the city.
  2. A stunning movie featuring archeologists is recommended, highlighting their complex and sometimes shady lives. It has a beautiful and reflective style.
  3. Four songs have been highlighted that the writer enjoys. These songs are worth a listen for those looking for new music to explore.

Examining my (unhealthy) obsession with true crime

The Shift With Sam Baker • 99 implied HN points • 20 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture True Crime
  1. The author reflects on their fascination with true crime, which started at a young age and was influenced by real-life cases like the disappearance of Genette Tate.
  2. The author's obsession with true crime led to a fear and paranoia, especially fueled by notorious cases like the Yorkshire Ripper and other high-profile crimes in the late 70s.
  3. The lasting impact of these true crime stories led to the author developing nighttime rituals and a constant awareness of personal safety.

Social Inhibition and Isolation in the Digital World

Default Wisdom • 74 implied HN points • 31 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture True Crime
  1. Social media can lead to feelings of isolation, especially among young people. Engaging with online communities may fill a social void but can also prevent real-world connections.
  2. Some people may become intensely interested in niche topics, like true crime, to cope with loneliness. This can lead to deeper involvement in online discussions and communities.
  3. The transition from casual interest to active participation in online groups can have significant emotional impacts. It's important to explore how these experiences shape one's social life.

Who Killed Jeanette?

Marlene’s Newsletter • 4 implied HN points • 18 Jul 25
📰 News True Crime
  1. Jeanette DePalma went missing in 1972, and her body was found weeks later in a strange location with eerie signs surrounding it. This has led to many theories about her death, including links to Satanism.
  2. No clear cause of death was determined because of the condition of her body, but the investigation faced many challenges, including inconsistent tips and a lack of cooperation from local residents.
  3. Many years later, interest in the case remains because of its mysterious nature, and people are still curious about the possible occult connections and why the community was reluctant to talk about it.

Holmes' Helper

Marlene’s Newsletter • 4 implied HN points • 21 May 25
💾 History True Crime
  1. In the 1890s, gruesome discoveries were made at H. H. Holmes' building, where human remains were found buried. The sight shocked the community, revealing Holmes as a notorious murderer.
  2. Pat Quinlan, who claimed to be just a janitor, was suspected of knowing more about Holmes' crimes. His involvement with the hotel raised questions about what he really knew.
  3. Holmes was executed in 1896, but Quinlan struggled with guilt and fear afterward. He believed he was haunted by the ghosts of Holmes' victims, leading to his tragic end in 1914.

Ruthless Ruth Brown Snyder

Marlene’s Newsletter • 4 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
💾 History True Crime
  1. Ruth Snyder became the first woman to be executed at Sing Sing in 1928. Her crime was shocking and included her planning the murder of her husband with the help of her lover.
  2. She was unhappy in her marriage and had an affair that turned dark. The couple's plan involved murder and framing it as a robbery, but it quickly unraveled when police started investigating.
  3. Despite blaming each other during the trial, both Ruth and her lover were convicted and sentenced to death. Their story inspired the famous movie 'Double Indemnity', highlighting the consequences of greed and betrayal.

Voodoo Murder on Fleet Street

Marlene’s Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 06 Mar 26
💾 History True Crime
  1. In August 1949 Emma Kefalos, a respected Baltimore spiritualist, was found beaten, strangled, and bound in her Fleet Street séance room with her cat as the only witness.
  2. Police found voodoo paraphernalia, a prescription bottle with a paper figure, smeared fingerprints, threats by telephone, and several unidentified visitors, but despite questioning many people and chasing leads (even to Greece) they had no solid clues.
  3. Robbery seemed unlikely, so detectives and friends speculated motives like jealousy, a client’s revenge, or someone convinced she’d cursed them—possibly with mental illness—but the murder was never solved.

LEAKIN PARK: BALTIMORE'S OPEN AIR CEMETERY

Marlene’s Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
📰 News True Crime
  1. Leakin Park in Baltimore has a dark history of being a dumping ground for murder victims since the 1940s, with many bodies found mutilated.
  2. The park has been the scene of various heinous crimes, including the murders of four young boys in 1968 and the disappearance of high school student Hae Min Lee in 1999.
  3. Despite its infamous reputation and numerous bodies discovered, authorities believe there are still many more yet to be found in Leakin Park.

Scattered thoughts on Under the Banner of Heaven

Facsimile No. 2 • 0 implied HN points • 02 May 22
🎭️ Culture True Crime
  1. The dialogue in 'Under the Banner of Heaven' is often seen as overly dramatic and cheesy, reflecting the earnestness and uncoolness associated with Mormon culture.
  2. The show struggles to accurately capture the subtle ways in which Mormons communicate faithfulness or deviance, which may be illegible to outsiders by design.
  3. The series portrays Mormonism in a consistently dark and ominous light, missing the complexity and appeal that drew people in despite its darker aspects.

¿Por qué no?

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 05 Nov 22
🎭️ Culture True Crime
  1. Many Duolingo users are spending hours cheating just to earn points and climb leaderboards, leading to concerns about misuse and lack of real learning.
  2. The gamification features in Duolingo incentivize users to cheat and farm XP, with some even spending money on premium subscriptions and in-app purchases.
  3. Duolingo seems to be taking action against cheating tactics, but these actions align with its goal of boosting revenue and engagement, raising questions about the effectiveness of the platform for language learning.

One of these things is not like the others

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 03 Jun 22
🎭️ Culture True Crime
  1. The trial between Depp and Heard revealed the intense toxicity levels in various fandoms and the dangers of projecting personal biases onto public figures.
  2. The trial showcased how social media and platforms like TikTok can manipulate and distort reality for entertainment and viral content.
  3. The trial highlighted the issue of parasocial relationships between fans and celebrities, blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, leading to concerning behaviors.

A fortune-teller’s love potion

The Quack Doctor • 0 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
💾 History True Crime
  1. A fortune-teller claimed to have a magical substance called 'Zep' that could influence the future and reveal a person's future beloved.
  2. Two sisters spent their savings on this 'Zep' substance, hoping to find husbands, but ended up losing a significant amount of money and facing threats from the fortune-teller.
  3. The fortune-teller's past involved criminal activities and despite her claims, the magical substance did not work, leading to legal consequences for her and disappointment for the sisters.