Two years ago you'd probably never even heard of Steven Avery. But when we all came back to work/school/university/the pub after Christmas in 2016, he was the name on everyone's lips, because the holidays had given us all the chance to binge on Netflix's astonishing Making A Murderer. Ever since then, it still feels like true crime is all anyone can talk about.
So if you're eyeing up another binge watch, you could do worse than checking these shows out:
1. MAKING A MURDERER
Where can I watch it? Netflix
If you've somehow managed to miss Making A Murderer up to this point, then you should probably make it your mission to catch up now. The utterly compelling investigation into the case of Steven Avery – wrongly convicted of rape and then accused of murder after he was released – is painstakingly researched and will have you gripped. The show has already had real-life consequences, with Avery's nephew Brendan Dassey currently waiting to find out if the State of Winsconsin will uphold his release (ordered by the Court of Appeals to the 7th Circuit) or demand a retrial.
And with a sequel of sorts coming, following Avery's new lawyer as she presents new evidence and attempts to get his conviction overturned, there's even more exploration to be done. (Oh, and when you're not spitting with rage watching the show, you'll fall in love with lawyers Dean Strang and Jerry Buting. Don't fight it.)
2. THE JINX
Where can I watch it? Amazon Instant Video
When filmmaker Andrew Jarecki made a movie based on the life of Robert Durst (All Good Things, starring Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst), he probably didn't expect Durst himself to get in touch and offer him an interview. Jarecki went on to document his chats with Durst and his investigation into the disappearances of women close to the businessman.
We can't say too much without spoiling it, but you won't believe the shocking paths that the show ends up taking, and the finale – hell, the final scene – proves that the truth really is stranger than fiction. You'll probably feel uncomfortable about some of the decisions the team on the show make, but this is still a real must-see.
3. THE STAIRCASE
Where can I watch it? YouTube
Before Making a Murderer and before The Jinx, there was The Staircase. The 2004 series – about the investigation into Michael Peterson, accused of murdering his wife Kathleen – is another deep dive into a case, complete with heaps of evidence to pore over. And as the filmmakers are there from the beginning, we see lawyer David Rudolf working on the case, complete with a trip to Germany to examine an unexpected and shocking twist to the tale.
The Staircase has launched a thousand theories (including, genuinely, an actually quite believable suggestion that an owl did it). And you won't be able to watch without coming up with some of your own (and incessantly Googling the others).
4. THE INVESTIGATOR: A BRITISH CRIME STORY
Where can I watch it? YouTube
Even Simon Cowell is getting in on the true crime action – this ITV series, which aired last year, was produced by Simon's company Syco. It saw investigative journalist Mark Williams-Thomas attempting to find out what really happened to Carole Packman, a 40-year-old woman who disappeared back in 1985.
With her daughter Sam desperate to find out the true story behind her mum's vanishing – and her father Russell Causley serving time for her murder, with no body ever found – it's a hard task involving lies, deceptions and shocking moments… especially when Russell begins to write from his cell. If you missed the show on ITV, it now seems to be available on YouTube.
5. UNSOLVED: THE BOY WHO DISAPPEARED
Where can I watch it? BBC Three
BBC Three is certainly making the most of its move online, with Unsolved making the most of the space it has on the internet. We're not talking about overlong, clunky episodes – in fact, the instalments are truly bitesize, lasting around 15 minutes each.
Following the true story of Damian Nettles, a 16-year-old who disappeared from the Isle of Wight 20 years ago, journalists Bronagh Munro and Alys Harte visit the scene to interview people involved in the case including Damian's mother, who has been left frustrated by the case. But being online, fans can also explore interactive maps, examine the evidence and get further information on the people affected by Damian's disappearance.
6. CONVICTION: MURDER AT THE STATION
Where can I watch it? YouTube
This BBC documentary might only be a two-parter and so not exactly a true binge watch, but it received huge praise when it aired earlier this year. The films follow producer Louise Shorter as she investigated the murder of Paula Poolton in 2008. Paula's on-off lover Roger Kearney was accused of the crime, but his daughter contacted the Inside Justice group for help so… Did he do it or not? Just when you think you know where you stand watching Conviction, you're tipped over and wrong-footed.
7. FORENSIC FILES
Where can I watch it? Netflix or YouTube
Previously shown on Channel 5 as Murder Detectives, Forensic Files is – funnily enough – all about how forensic science can be used to solve crimes. It's been on telly for yonks, but Netflix has collected together 40 of the half-hour episodes for your viewing pleasure (in other words, it's perfect binge viewing).
If science sounds boring to you, you might be pleasantly surprised by Forensic Files, which shows all the surprising ways (other than your classic DNA and fingerprints) that detectives use evidence to bring people to justice. And it's not always crimes – sometimes, it's used to figure out how big accidents happened. Basically the inspiration for CSI, Forensic Files even includes its own dramatic re-enactments.
8 KILLING FIELDS
Where can I watch it? Discovery Go
Killing Fields is all available to watch on the Discovery website, and if true crime is your thing, this is one you're probably going to want to investigate. The series sounds like a drama, as detective Rodie Sanchez comes out of retirement to investigate a cold case that still haunts him from 18 years ago.
Never able to solve the murder of Eugenie Boisfontaine in Louisiana back in 1997, Sanchez is determined to figure out what happened – and the events all unfold in real time as he tries to do just that. It's been compared to a real-life True Detective, which tells you all you need to know.
9. OJ: MADE IN AMERICA
Where can I watch it? DVD/Blu-ray
OJ: Made in America was shown on BT Sport and later on iPlayer but now you'll have to shell out for it on disc. It's worth it, though – this is a seriously deep dive into the OJ Simpson case, examining the person behind the fame, the cultural and social conditions surrounding that most famous of murder trials, and – naturally – the case itself.
It might be long (each episode lasts 90 minutes), but not a minute is wasted and you won't be able to look away from the screen. It will be your new obsession, and you'll soon start scorning the dramatised People vs OJ: American Crime Story which gripped us all last year.
