
Crossing the Line is a true crime podcast revealing cold cases of the missing and murdered, told start-to-finish each week. Using the campfire storytelling style that made Paper Ghosts a #1 hit on Apple Podcasts, host/investigative journalist/New York Times bestselling true crime author M. William Phelps connects deeply with families touched by violent crime - he understands them, because he is on... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 215 | Founded | 5 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | True CrimeDocumentarySociety & Culture | |||

It's the 80s. The bogeyman, a scumbag named Frank Walls, is roaming about the day and night, killing random people along the beachside in Okaloosa County, Florida—a serial killer displaying some of the vilest behaviors imaginable.
As the bodies pil... more
A police commander's husband goes missing and law enforcement seems to think he might have taken off on his own. Then he is found murdered—and the case soon turns into a strange whodunit, with his wife at the center of the investigation. This, as ano... more
A serial rapist, Mitchell Gaff, is caught and jailed. Thinking he's getting out of prison many years later, the court sentences him to McNeil Island, where the worst sexual predators are kept from society. After decades, he is finally released. 50 ye... more
Five members of the Martin family--Kenneth, Barbara, and their three young children, Barbie, Susan and Virginia--head out one afternoon in 1958 for a Sunday drive in Oregon and never return. The only family member left behind, the oldest son, has som... more
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I'm a long time listener, and I've always appreciated how thorough and respectful towards the victims his podcasts are!
This is what a true journalist sounds like, everyone! I am a Paper Ghost listener who found my way over here, and I am so glad I did. This is the only podcast I could find with comprehensive and unbiased coverage of John O’Keefe’s death. Mr. Phelps is a great writer, the perfect amount of compassionate, and puts up with zero b.s. And hopefully approves of Oxford commas.
Great podcast. I am a faithful paper ghosts listener and these shorter stories are just as good. I love the independent, non biased perspective, that is hard to find now
Been listening for several years! Love his perspective.
Heard an ad for the show and knew he was a true crime author and gave it a spin. Got hooked and have been binging everything. Highly recommend.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #193 | |
Apple Podcasts | #61 | |
Apple Podcasts | #185 | |
Apple Podcasts | #224 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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This program features deeply reported, narrative-driven true crime stories that center on missing people and homicide cases, often with a long-form, case-focused approach. The host blends investigative detail, victim and family perspectives, and forensic context, while weaving in personal experience and occasional authorial notes. Episodes frequently highlight evolving technology, courtroom developments, and the human side of crime—preserving a respectful tone toward victims while unpacking complex investigations. A notable strength is the campfire-style storytelling that maintains momentum across long narratives, and the host's willingness to confront difficult truths and question official accounts. This mix makes it appealing to listeners... more
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These podcasts share a similar audience with Crossing the Line:
1. Paper Ghosts: The Texas Teen Murders
2. Hell and Gone
3. The Binge Crimes: Cut, Color, Kill
4. The Binge Cases: U R NEXT
5. Bone Valley
Crossing the Line launched 5 years ago and published 215 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Crossing the Line include:
1. Eugene Glegor
2. Thien Ho
3. Robyn Peery
4. Dr. Peter Vronsky
5. Brendan Cain
6. Jeffrey Smalldon
7. John Wayne Gacy
8. Aidan Kearney
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