Show: Making a Serial Killer

A look inside the motivations behind serial killers and their murders

About Making a Serial Killer

How does someone become a serial killer? That’s the question that Making a Serial Killer asks, detailing the background, childhood, and family elements that influenced a person’s transformation into a serial killer.

This true crime show includes lesser-known serial killers, and murderers that may not really qualify, and describes their homicidal careers and eventual capture.

Investigators involved in the cases are joined by experts like psychologists, retired homicide detectives, and sociologists (Brian Frederick, Judy Ho, Carolyn Canville, Brian Harris, and Jooyoung Lee), who offer their opinions on the motivations and psychology behind the killers’ exploits.

The show profiles American and Canadian serial killers Don Miller, Jesse Matthew, Donna Perry, Sheila LaBarre, William Devin Howell, Todd Kohlhepp, Bruce McArthur, Willie Inmon, Anthony Shore, and Ronald Dominique.

True crime shows

The Show Elements

Seasons: 1 (2021)

Where to stream: Peacock, Tubi, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video

More shows like Making a Serial Killer: American Serial Killers: Portraits in Evil,
Becoming Evil: Serial Killers, Invisible Monsters: Serial Killers in America, Made for Murder, Mark of a Serial Killer, Murderous Minds: Inside Serial Killers

See also this list of true crime shows

✓ Police interviews
✘ Trial clips
✓ Narration
✓ Re-creations
✓ Experts
✓ Victims’ families and friends


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Show: Exhibit A: Secrets of Forensic Science

A showcase for forensics and Canadian true crime cases

About Exhibit A: Secrets of Forensic Science

Hosted and narrated by actor Graham Greene, this forensics-based true crime show emphasizes one item or mistake the killer made in a homicide case: exhibit A.

Not to be confused with Netflix’s Exhibit A, this series focuses on cases in Canada—murder, sexual assault, bombings, and otherwise. Its use of the Dutch angle camera technique and noir-ish saxophone music lends a ’90s style that dates the show, but some of the cases will draw you in, such as those that detail exonerations from DNA testing and an art forgery case.

Exhibit A includes re-creations (which tend to be on the cheesy side) and discussion of investigations by the detectives and forensic scientists involved in the cases, but it excludes archival footage. Very few episodes incorporate surviving victims or their family members and friends, and they change the victims’ names. Most episodes are about 22 minutes in length.

True crime shows

The Show Elements

Seasons: 5 (1997-2001)

Where to stream: Tubi, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, True Crime Network, The Roku Channel

More shows like Exhibit A: Secrets of Forensic Science: Forensic Factor, Forensic Files, Forensic Investigators, Forensic Justice, Forensics, The New Detectives, Solved: Extreme Forensics

See also this list of true crime shows

✘ Police interviews
✘ Trial clips
✓ Narration
✓ Re-creations
✘ Experts
✘ Victims’ families and friends


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Show: Secrets of the Morgue

Medical examiners take the lead in this true crime show

About Secrets of the Morgue

Secrets of the Morgue puts medical examiners, forensic pathologists, and forensic anthropologists at the center of each episode of the series, which emphasizes autopsy reports more than most true crime shows, while still relating the subsequent murder investigations.

In each episode, medical examiners describe the specific details of autopsies in all types of murder cases, their technical elements, and how this information helps them identify a body, find the cause of death, or figure out the weapon used in a homicide.

The show includes detectives and others involved in the cases, along with a stock group of experts specializing in sociology, violent crime, forensic pathology, and homicide investigation (Mark Mendelson, Jooyoung Lee, and Jane Turner), who weigh in on the psychology and investigative aspects of each case.

The show also includes interviews with victims’ loved ones, re-creations, and police interviews in select cases, but no trial clips.

True crime shows

The Show Elements

Seasons: 1 (2018-2019)

Where to stream: Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Discovery+

More shows like Secrets of the Morgue: Skeleton Stories, Autopsy,
The Coroner: I Speak for the Dead,
Exhumed: Killer Revealed,
Outback Coroner

See also this list of true crime shows

✓ Police interviews
✘ Trial clips
✓ Narration
✓ Re-creations
✓ Experts
✓ Victims’ families and friends


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Show: Someone You Thought You Knew

What if someone you love turns out to be a murderer?

About Someone You Thought You Knew

We all wonder if we truly know the people close to us—our partner, family members, friends. But what if we don’t really know someone at all, and they are, instead, a murderer? That’s the scary premise of Someone You Thought You Knew.

This true crime show consists of the usual elements—narration, re-creations, excerpts from police interviews, and testimonials from victims’ families and friends, who share their stories and reveal their surprise at finding out who their loved ones really are.

About half of the cases appear on other shows, such as Dateline, and the presentation is pretty typical of most true crime shows, so if you’re looking for something new and different, skip this one.

True crime shows

The Show Elements

Seasons: 2 (2018-2019)

Where to stream: Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Discovery+

More shows like Someone You Thought You Knew: Dateline, Meet Marry Murder, Snapped, 20/20

See also this list of true crime shows

✓ Police interviews
✘ Trial clips
✓ Narration
✓ Re-creations
✘ Experts
✓ Victims’ families and friends


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Show: Homicide Hunter

Retired homicide detective Joe Kenda shares stories from his 23-year career

(Note: This site contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)

About Homicide Hunter

A memoir of sorts, Homicide Hunter with Joe Kenda focuses on the murder cases and other investigations of one detective throughout his 23-year career: Joe Kenda of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Kenda boasts a 92% solve rate and provides a master class in investigation at a time before DNA testing. He recounts many of the hundreds of cases he has worked, solving murders of all types, during his career in Colorado Springs, like an uncle sharing war stories. Colleagues involved in the cases, and local reporters, also appear in the series.

Not every detective could carry an entire true crime series; Kenda succeeds. He often throws in what has become his catchphrase, “Well my, my, my,” upon an eye-opening discovery. Standout episodes include cases from his early career detailing what he learned and how he became a detective (see Season 4, Episode 14, “My First Case”), and he sometimes brings in the perspective of his wife and family, who show up in Season 8, Episode 19 (“Married to the Job”) and Season 9, Episode 20 (“The End”).

The show is a rare look into a lengthy investigative career, the stress of the job, the psychology behind interrogation, and personal aspects of being a detective, such as Kenda’s feelings at crime scenes and the toll his work took on his family.

Kenda also hosts two specials, Homicide Hunter: Never Give Up and Homicide Hunter: Devil in the Mountains, as well as American Detective with Joe Kenda, which brings in other detectives to share their cases.

True crime shows

The Show Elements

Seasons: 9 (2011-2020)

Where to stream: Hulu, Discovery+

More shows like Homicide Hunter: American Detective with Lt. Joe Kenda, The Case That Haunts Me, Detective, Detective Diaries, The Detectives Club: New Orleans, The Detectives: Murder on the Streets, Detectives: My Killer Case, Homicide Hunter: Devil in the Mountains, Homicide Hunter: Never Give Up, I Am Homicide, The Killer Closer, Murder Chose Me, Real Detective

See also this list of true crime shows

✘ Police interviews
✘ Trial clips
✓ Narration
✓ Re-creations
✘ Experts
✓ Victims’ families and friends

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Show: Bizarre Murders

A humorous look at strange murders, murderers, and evidence

(Note: This site contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.) 

About Bizarre Murders

For a lighter, comical take on murder cases, check out Bizarre Murders. Hosted by former FBI agent Steve Moore, this true crime show presents dramatized versions of strange murder cases and characters, through re-enactments and commentary on them. The show omits interviews with detectives, experts, or victims’ loved ones, choosing instead to present a semi-humorous version of a case, with some details changed. 

Moore provides sardonic and amusing asides to the often dumb mistakes killers make and adds his expert perspective on the cases. Episodes include weird situations like vampires, cannibalism, a murderer obsessed with Dexter, and nicotine poisoning. Sometimes the murder itself isn’t bizarre, but the people involved are (e.g., Mexican wrestlers), or the evidence is weird (hot dog bun, anyone?). Episodes are on the shorter side, approximately 22 minutes, great for brief bites when you’re jonesin’ for some true crime.

True crime shows

The Show Elements

Seasons: 1 (2018)

Where to stream: True Crime Network, Tubi, The Roku Channel

More shows like Bizarre Murders: Deadly Wives

See also this list of true crime shows

✘ Police interviews
✘ Trial clips
✓ Narration
✓ Re-creations
✘ Experts
✘ Victims’ families and friends


Latest Posts

Show: See No Evil

Video surveillance is a detective’s best friend, and a witness that doesn’t lie

About See No Evil

It’s easy to overlook the fact that we are watched almost everywhere we go, as silent surveillance cameras shadow our daily lives. Murderers forget this small fact, too, but cops are well aware.

Video surveillance is investigators’ key to catching killers in See No Evil, using this “witness that doesn’t lie.”

A sister show to Hear No Evil (which focuses on audio recordings), See No Evil features cases involving video recordings of events before, during, and after all kinds of murders, recordings from store surveillance videos, home security cameras, and other cameras. Some of the video is obvious—a killer disposing of evidence, a victim driving through the streets—while others are chilling scenes of a killer stalking their prey or getting rid of a car with a body hidden in the trunk.

The 10 seasons of this true crime show make for interesting and binge-able viewing. Episodes include narration, re-creation, police interviews, and detectives and victim’s loved ones talking about the cases. Some of the cases have been covered elsewhere, but See No Evil provides extra detail from the videos.

True crime shows

The Show Elements

Seasons: 13 (2014)

Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Discovery+

More shows like See No Evil: Hear No Evil, The Murder Tapes, Confessions of a Serial Killer, Lies, Crimes & Video

See also this list of true crime shows

✓ Police interviews
✘ Trial clips
✓ Narration
✓ Re-creations
✘ Experts
✓ Victims’ families and friends


Latest Posts

Show: Hear No Evil

Audio evidence is the key to solving murder cases in this chilling true crime show

About Hear No Evil

A snippet of audio is played. Graphic. Unsettling. You won’t know who the voice is—the victim or the killer—until almost the end of the episode. That’s how Hear No Evil compels you to watch and takes you on a twisty and suspenseful ride towards a big reveal.

It’s the type of true crime show that makes you think, this case could be a movie. Take “The Sound of Terror” (Season 1, Episode 5), for instance, which starts with Secret Service agents talking about a counterfeiting case and ends up in a place surprising to even the investigators.

A companion to See No Evil, Hear No Evil places audio recordings at the center of episodes, recordings of murders themselves, or events leading up to them, recordings that end up being the key to solving the case and often changing detectives’ initial impressions of the suspect. No need for narration here; the recordings and police interviews speak for themselves.

True crime shows

The Show Elements

Seasons: 1 (2017)

Where to stream: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Discovery+

More shows like Hear No Evil: See No Evil, The Murder Tapes, Confessions of a Serial Killer, Lies, Crimes & Video

See also this list of true crime shows

✓ Police interviews
✓ Trial clips
✘ Narration
✓ Re-creations
✘ Experts
✓ Victims’ families and friends


Latest Posts