AD Favorites: Investigative fiction

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(This, too, is a repost of my journal entry from 2019)

In addition to the radio show genre and found footage, investigative shows are one of the cornerstones of podcasting. When you're dealing with audio only, it's sort of simple to fall into the "There's this thing I'm really into and I'm gonna interview people for it" wagon, but when it's done well, it's super good. Of course, the inspiration for these is Serial, one of the shows everyone, their grandmother, and their blind cat know about.

*****

You can't talk about investigative audiodrama without Limetown. It's one of the most famous ones out there and it paved the way to a lot of other shows. It's a story about a strange small, closed town in Tennessee and how over three hundred men, women and children disappeared, never to be heard from again. The show became so popular it's been turned into a TV-series and a novel, and for a pretty good reason. Season 2 is out now.

Arden is a delightful take on the trope, a story of unraveling a 10 years old disappearing case. It's well written and acted, the story is solid and the ending believable, but what really makes this such a gem to me are the ads. I mean, I fully understand why podcasts need ads but after some while, listening to the same mattress, sock, underwear, grocery delivery, and stamp ads, it gets really old and annoying. So, while the Arden crew treat the main story seriously, the ad section is a whole another game. Let's just say that I didn't even dream about jumping over them!

After Limetown, The Black Tapes Podcast is another well-known investigative journalism audiodrama. A preppy young journalist wants to dig information about an elusive sceptic but falls head over heels into the world of supernatural and strange occurrences. I don't recommend listening more than two seasons but... well. I've written about the Terry Miles collection more in here, but don't take just my word on it. Take a listen and decide for yourself.

Other good investigative shows you should check: Passage, The Message and Life/After, Homecoming, Alice Isn't Dead, Olive Hill, Rose Drive, and Tunnels.


see also:
AD Favorites: Immersive fiction

Comments

[thatjustwontbreak]

Grateful for the recs! I haven't listened to any of these.

[shipperslist]

You're welcome

[merrileemakes]

Thanks for sharing! I agree with your rec about The Black Tapes, the show does loose its way in latter seasons. But a very solid and intriguing start.

[shipperslist]

It's a bit of a shame because Terry Miles knows how to make a good show but stumbles repeatedly on the worst and most overused cliches imaginable.