Truth Be Told follows journalist Poppy Parnell, who restarts her true-crime podcast in an attempt to solve various cases and put them on notice.
During the first season of Truth Be Told, Poppy revisits the murder case where she put the wrong man behind bars. At times, in order to get to the truth, she tries to understand the psychology of her subjects.
Apart from diving deep into cases like this, Truth Be Told also reflects on the drama that ensues at Poppy and her colleagues’ houses when cases start getting heated up and reach their doorstep.
Comprised of top-notch performances, a thrilling plot, compelling narratives, and questionable crimes, here are 8 shows like Truth Be Told you should watch.
1. How to Get Away with Murder (2014 – 2020)
Available on: Netflix
Cast: Viola Davis, Alfred Enoch, Jack Falahee, Aja Naomi King, Matt McGorry, Karla Souza
How to Get Away with Murder follows the story of a brilliant defense lawyer, Professor Annalise Keating, and five of her favorite young law students who start working for her.
Working with Keating turns out to be far more difficult, and eventually, the group, along with their professor, gets entangled in a murder case that could change their lives.
2. Defending Jacob (2020)
Available on: Apple TV+
Cast: Chris Evans, Michelle Dockery, Jaeden Martell, Cherry Jones, Pablo Schreiber, Betty Gabriel, Sakina Jaffrey
Based on the 2012 novel of the same name by William Landay, Defending Jacob follows the family of the assistant district attorney, Andy Barber, his wife, Laurie, and their 14-year-old son, Jacob.
The life of the well-respected family dwindles when Jacob gets accused of murdering a student. Andy and Laurie trust Jacob, who claims that he is innocent, but shocking revelations that surface during the investigation start telling a completely different story.
3. Sharp Objects (2018)
Available on: HBO Max
Cast: Amy Adams, Patricia Clarkson, Chris Messina, Eliza Scanlen
Crime reporter Camille Preaker returns to her hometown after being recently discharged from a psychiatric hospital to investigate the deaths of two preteen girls.
She finds herself connecting with the young victims while also facing her past demons as she tries to get comfortable at her childhood home and with her mother, Adora, and her half-sister, who she barely knows.
4. The Killing (2011 – 2014)
Available on: Hulu
Cast: Mireille Enos, Joel Kinnaman, Billy Campbell
Detective Sarah Linden is forced to delay her departure from the police department when the murder of a missing girl, Rosie Larsen, comes to light.
Amidst a mayoral campaign between candidates Lesley Adams and Darren Richmond, Rosie’s body is found locked in the trunk of a vehicle registered to the Richmond Campaign.
Sarah and her replacement, Detective Stephen Holder, join hands to solve the case, with the former hoping that it will take only a few days.
5. Fearless (2017)
Available on: Prime Video
Cast: Helen McCrory, Sam Swainsbury
Fearless follows human-rights lawyer Emma Banville, who specializes in uncovering the miscarriages of justice, on a quest to prove the innocence of Kevin Russell, who is convicted of killing a schoolgirl 14 years ago.
6. Mindhunter (2017 – 2019)
Available on: Netflix
Cast: Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, Anna Torv
Based on the 1996 book Mind Hunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit, written by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker, Mindhunter follows FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench as they attempt to understand the psychology of criminals.
Along with psychologist Wendy Carr, they launch a research program where they interview imprisoned criminals, try to understand the motives behind the crimes they committed, and apply their research to ongoing cases.
7. The Night Of (2016)
Available on: HBO Max
Cast: John Turturro, Riz Ahmed, Michael K. Williams, Bill Camp
Naz’s plans to attend a party in Manhattan change when he crosses paths with Andrea on his way, who is looking for a ride. Charmed by her beauty and story, he joins her for a night of drinks and drugs.
When Naz wakes up, he finds Andrea stabbed to death. With a strong case built against him, small-time lawyer John Stone convinces Naz to hire him and give him a chance to prove his innocence.
8. The Sinner (2017 – 2021)
Available on: Netflix
Cast: Bill Pullman, Jessica Biel, Jessica Hecht
The Sinner is an anthology series that follows Detective Harry Ambrose, who dives deep into the crimes committed by unlikely culprits. The very first season sees him investigating why Cora Tannetti stabbed a man named Frankie Belmont to death.
Cora Tannetti, on her side, has no memory of why she would kill him, leaving Ambrose to figure out a way to get to the bottom of the truth by looking into Cora’s troubled past.