Shedunnit

Caroline Crampton's Shedunnit is the podcast that mystery lovers didn't know they needed until they found it. The show focuses on the Golden Age of detective fiction -- think Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Margery Allingham, Ngaio Marsh -- and explores the social history behind the stories with the kind of thoroughness that would impress the detectives themselves. Each episode runs about 25 to 30 minutes, which is the perfect length for the format. Crampton blends solo narration with guest interviews, weaving together literary analysis, historical context, and personal enthusiasm. One episode might explore why country houses became the default setting for murder mysteries; another looks at the real forensic science that informed Golden Age plots. The research is meticulous, but Crampton's delivery keeps things lively -- she clearly loves this material, and her excitement shows without tipping into breathlessness. With 193 episodes published biweekly since 2018, the archive is substantial. The show holds a remarkable 4.9-star rating from nearly 700 reviews, which puts it among the highest-rated book podcasts anywhere. The Green Penguin Book Club episodes add a communal reading element with guest discussions. Shedunnit occupies a very specific niche -- classic detective fiction and its cultural context -- and fills it brilliantly. If you've read your way through Christie and wondered about the world that produced those stories, Crampton has done the detective work for you.