Crime Writers On...True Crime Review

• Showtime's Happy Face

  TV make-up artist Melissa Reed is trying to keep a family secret: her father is the infamous Happy Face Killer. But Keith Hunter Jesperson lures her back into his life with a startling confession: a man in Texas is about to be executed for a murder he committed.  Melissa and a TV producer look for evidence Jesperson killed Heather Richmond to exonerate her boyfriend, Elijah. While those around the Reed family grow increasingly fascinated by their ties to a serial killer, Melissa struggles with what the crimes of her father say about her.Annaleigh Ashford and Dennis Quaid star in “Happy Face” from Showtime and Paramount +. The series is inspired by the podcast of the same name, but takes its reimagined characters into a fictional murder mystery. It also attempts to make a statement about our attraction to true crime and the lingering trauma of victims and their families.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF SHOWTIME'S "HAPPY FACE" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 9 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: I'm a sucker for you. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

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• Lucky Boy

  When he was 14, “Gareth” began a sexual relationship with his attractive science teacher at his North London school. Students spread rumors and adults minimized the gravity of the relationship, saying Gareth had lived out every teen’s fantasy of sleeping with an older woman. After struggling with his emotions and mental health for thirty-five years, Gareth came to realize Sally-Anne Bowen wasn’t his girlfriend - she was his abuser. But his quest to get justice is hampered by those who don't view him as the victim of teen sexual abuse, but as a lucky boy.The four-part podcast “Lucky Boy” from Tortoise Media explores how the explicit encounters began, the consequences of their discovery, and Gareth’s attempts to make sense of his life. Host Chloe Hadjimatheou searches for other victims of Bowen while asking why our perception of sexual abuse is different when the perpetrator is an alluring woman and the victim is an adolescent boy. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "LUCKY BOY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL NINE MINUTES OF THE PODCAST. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

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• Good American Family

  The Barnett family agrees to a hasty adoption of a seven-year-old girl from Ukraine who has dwarfism and other disabilities. But her paperwork is suspiciously incomplete, and Kristine and Michael grow worried about Natalia Grace’s menacing behavior. They come to a shocking conclusion: she’s really an adult impersonating a child. After a court “re-ages” her, the Barnett’s move Natalia into her own apartment where she seems ill-equipped to live on her own. Then a cop suspects the real scammers may be the Barnetts, who found an elaborate way to dump a special needs child they didn’t want to care for.   Ellen Pompeo, Mark Duplass, and Imogen Faith Reid star in Hulu’s “Good American Family,” inspired by the story behind the documentary “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace.” The scripted series shifts from quasi-horror film to emotional drama, leaving viewers to ponder the motives of who is lying about Natalia’s true identity and the horrifying implications of that lie for the people involved. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "GOOD AMERICAN FAMILY" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: Baby, you can steal my car. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

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• Bad Rap: The Case Against Diddy

  The celebrity event of the year was the White Party, where stars would gather at the East Hampton mansion of hip hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. But when most of the crowd went home, others would stay for what Combs called the “freak-off,” a drug-fueled sex party secretly filmed for the musician’s benefit. When his longtime girlfriend, the singer Cassie, sued him for rape, Diddy quickly settled the case. But details in the filings piqued the interest of authorities, who began to investigate whether his many private parties were consensual soirees or illegal sex trafficking.From 20/20 and ABC Audio comes “Bad Rap: The Case Against Diddy.” Host Brian Buckmire recounts how Combs went from hip hop star to defendant. The six episodes is a prologue to the podcast’s plans for twice a week episodes once Combs goes on trial for sex trafficking, kidnapping, bribery, and arson. OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "BAD RAP" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 10 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

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• Don't Cross Kat

  While living in Canada, Desirrê becomes a follower of Kat Torres, a fellow Brazilian and online life coach. The social media star says she has mystical powers and dispenses advice to her audience. But as Kat’s influence over Desirrê grows, her friend Paty notices changes in her behavior. Years later, Paty learns Desirrê is among several women who’ve left their life behind to move to the US with Kat. And as the influencer’s behavior grows more bizarre, she forces Desirrê and others around her into prostitution. Season two of the Wondery podcast “Guru: Don’t Cross Kat” recounts the rise and fall of Kat Torres, from model to life coach to international sex trafficker. Brazilian journalist Chico Felitti updates his Portuguese language podcast on the case, interviewing people on two continents to explain how one glamorous influencer could go so far to control her followers.  OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "DON'T CROSS KAT" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 14 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: coming around the home stretch. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.

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