Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast
Historical true crime. Seasonal investigations.
Hosted by Shane Waters & Wendy Cee
303 episodesSerial
About Foul Play: A Historical True Crime Podcast
Foggy gaslit streets. A quiet courtroom. And crimes that history tried to bury.
Foul Play is a historical true crime podcast that investigates the most chilling murder cases from the 1800s and early 1900s across the United States and the United Kingdom. Hosted by investigative crime journalists Shane Waters — who pioneered crime podcasting in 2008 — and Wendy Cee, each season unravels one complete criminal case through original research, court records, and primary source material.
This isn't sensationalized true crime. Every season of Foul Play puts victims first — their names, their stories, their humanity — before examining how murder investigations unfolded in an era before modern forensics, when justice was far from guaranteed.
From Victorian poisoners in London to Gilded Age killers in America, Foul Play brings historical true crime to life with cinematic storytelling and relentless accuracy. Every fact is verified. Every claim is sourced. Every story is told with the gravity it deserves.
New seasons of this historical true crime podcast release throughout the year, with episodes dropping weekly on Tuesdays.
Hello, friend. Welcome to Foul Play.
What Listeners Are Saying
“Great host and superb episodes!”
Truecrimeobssed11 · Apple Podcasts
“I love the podcast and am intrigued by your new case. The research has clearly been done well.”
HistoryAndCrime · Apple Podcasts
“Shane Waters is fantastic, with such an amazing voice and passion for telling really interesting and meaningful stories.”
Apple Podcasts Listener · Apple Podcasts
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Current Series: 39
2 episodes
Recent Series
Series 38 — The Rugeley Poisoner
3 episodes · February 10, 2026
The chilling case of Dr. William Palmer — Victorian England's most prolific poisoner, who used his medical knowledge to murder for insurance money in the Staffordshire town of Rugeley.
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Series 38 — The Rugeley Poisoner
3 episodes · February 10, 2026
The chilling case of Dr. William Palmer — Victorian England's most prolific poisoner, who used his medical knowledge to murder for insurance money in the Staffordshire town of Rugeley.
Series 37 — The Road Hill House Murder
4 episodes · January 13, 2026
A four-part investigation into Victorian England's most notorious family murder — the 1860 killing of three-year-old Francis Saville Kent and the case that birthed modern detective fiction.
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Series 37 — The Road Hill House Murder
4 episodes · January 13, 2026
A four-part investigation into Victorian England's most notorious family murder — the 1860 killing of three-year-old Francis Saville Kent and the case that birthed modern detective fiction.
Series 36 — Serial Killers in History
13 episodes · June 5, 2025
From Locusta of ancient Rome to the Marrakesh Shoemaker, tracing the world's most notorious serial killers across centuries and continents.
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Series 36 — Serial Killers in History
13 episodes · June 5, 2025
From Locusta of ancient Rome to the Marrakesh Shoemaker, tracing the world's most notorious serial killers across centuries and continents.
Classic Foul Play Archive
247 episodes across 34 series
Series 35
4 episodes · February 5, 2025
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Series 35
4 episodes · February 5, 2025
Series 34
10 episodes · October 10, 2024
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Series 34
10 episodes · October 10, 2024
Series 33
25 episodes · March 6, 2024
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Series 33
25 episodes · March 6, 2024
Series 32
3 episodes · February 14, 2024
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Series 32
3 episodes · February 14, 2024
Series 31
2 episodes · January 31, 2024
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Series 31
2 episodes · January 31, 2024
Series 30
1 episodes · January 10, 2024
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Series 30
1 episodes · January 10, 2024
Series 28
3 episodes · November 15, 2023
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Series 28
3 episodes · November 15, 2023
Series 27
2 episodes · November 1, 2023
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Series 27
2 episodes · November 1, 2023
Series 26
3 episodes · October 4, 2023
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Series 26
3 episodes · October 4, 2023
Series 25
2 episodes · September 13, 2023
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Series 25
2 episodes · September 13, 2023
Series 24
2 episodes · August 23, 2023
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Series 24
2 episodes · August 23, 2023
Series 23
2 episodes · August 2, 2023
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Series 23
2 episodes · August 2, 2023
Series 22
3 episodes · July 5, 2023
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Series 22
3 episodes · July 5, 2023
Series 21
2 episodes · June 13, 2023
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Series 21
2 episodes · June 13, 2023
Series 20
4 episodes · May 17, 2023
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Series 20
4 episodes · May 17, 2023
Series 19
3 episodes · April 12, 2023
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Series 19
3 episodes · April 12, 2023
Series 18
3 episodes · March 22, 2023
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Series 18
3 episodes · March 22, 2023
Series 17
3 episodes · March 1, 2023
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Series 17
3 episodes · March 1, 2023
Series 16
3 episodes · February 1, 2023
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Series 16
3 episodes · February 1, 2023
Series 15
6 episodes · December 4, 2022
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Series 15
6 episodes · December 4, 2022
Series 14
3 episodes · November 2, 2022
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Series 14
3 episodes · November 2, 2022
Series 13
5 episodes · September 28, 2022
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Series 13
5 episodes · September 28, 2022
Series 12
4 episodes · August 31, 2022
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Series 12
4 episodes · August 31, 2022
Series 11
4 episodes · July 6, 2022
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Series 11
4 episodes · July 6, 2022
Series 10
3 episodes · May 25, 2022
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Series 10
3 episodes · May 25, 2022
Series 9
4 episodes · April 13, 2022
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Series 9
4 episodes · April 13, 2022
Series 8
3 episodes · April 1, 2022
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Series 8
3 episodes · April 1, 2022
Series 7
3 episodes · February 2, 2022
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Series 7
3 episodes · February 2, 2022
Series 6
5 episodes · April 25, 2021
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Series 6
5 episodes · April 25, 2021
Series 5
4 episodes · February 24, 2021
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Series 5
4 episodes · February 24, 2021
Series 4
2 episodes · January 13, 2021
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Series 4
2 episodes · January 13, 2021
Series 3
20 episodes · April 7, 2020
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Series 3
20 episodes · April 7, 2020
Series 2
92 episodes · September 17, 2018
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Series 2
92 episodes · September 17, 2018
Series 1
9 episodes · January 2, 2014
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Series 1
9 episodes · January 2, 2014
Specials & Bonus Episodes
34 episodes
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Specials & Bonus Episodes
34 episodes
Meet the Hosts
Shane Waters
Founder & Host
Investigative crime journalist who pioneered crime podcasting in 2008. Shane brings nearly two decades of storytelling experience and a deep commitment to giving victims' stories the rigor and respect they deserve.
Wendy Cee
Co-Host
Wendy's personal experience as a family member of a murdered victim allows her to complement her sharp commentary with emotional depth in her storytelling.
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