Rated 5 out of 5 by Jrico from Different perspectives add depth I really appreciated how this had different professionals looking at the evidence. They were all great, and any one of them would have done a great job with this course, but it was neat to see their different perspectives on each case. I would love to see more of these collaborative courses.

Date published: 2025-09-10

Rated 2 out of 5 by Simi Phil from Episode 3: The Black Dahlia Short and superficial. The presenter was evidently not familiar with the 2003 book by retired LAPD detective Steve Hodel, in which he makes a very compelling case that his father, Dr George Hodel, committed the Black Dahlia murder. A current Assistant DA in Los Angeles reviewed Mr Hodel’s investigation and said that , as far as he’s concerned, “the case is closed!” Yet, the presenter only mentioned George Hodel in passing, as though it was just one of many theories. I don’t think the presenter was very well informed.

Date published: 2025-07-18

Rated 2 out of 5 by NVMC from Interesting "documentary" This series while interesting in topic did not live up to the standards of Great Courses. The series failed to provide enough information to be considered educational, opting instead for a news-story presentation style.

Date published: 2025-05-04

Rated 1 out of 5 by Magyar from One Glaring Error was Enough I watched about half of the Western episode. Ms. Burns stated that "Missouri was a territory, and was for some years after" the James Brothers were active. Missouri became a state in 1821 as a result of the Missouri Compromise of 1820. Such disregard of basic facts makes me question the rest of the series. If this is the Plus in Great Courses, I am not interested. And if more duh courses are offered instead of quality ones, I will have to eventually rethink my subscription.

Date published: 2024-09-25

Rated 2 out of 5 by Knowledge Hound from A documentary; not a Great Course I have finished over 250 Great Courses, and have watched lectures in many others. A “Great” Course, in my opinion, gives the viewer new knowledge and a coherent framework for understanding a topic. True Crime is really what I would expect from a television documentary. It deals with sensational unsolved crimes, giving lots of salacious tidbits, and no real substance other than simply the facts of the crime and speculation about who the perpetrator might have been. It justifies itself as a “course” by including references to how these crimes might have been solved with current forensic techniques and discussion of how the evidence at the time was poorly handled or poorly curated. I loved Elizabeth Murray’s “Trails of Evidence” course, but her involvement here does not do her justice as the brilliant forensic specialist I believe she is. For television level entertainment, watch it; but if you want real knowledge and insights, don’t waste your time.

Date published: 2024-09-06

Rated 5 out of 5 by traymuse from Interesting details I really got a kick out of the takes that the experts had on these cases. Their viewpoints seemed generally meant simply to enlarge upon the ideas surrounding the cases and their investigations. I learned a good bit, and I'm a true crime fanatic.

Date published: 2024-03-15

Rated 2 out of 5 by GreatFan from Too sensational and dramatic We borrowed this from the library. My husband and I did wade through it but cringed at the dramatic presentation of the material. We don't care that the Ice Man was murdered as there is no way his killer would be found and brought to justice. That was par for the course in all of these cases. Bodies were exhumed to prove a point but we could only think of the wasted man hours and money on crimes that happened so long ago. We did not like this course and would not recommend it.

Date published: 2023-06-27

Rated 3 out of 5 by Garyst from Just a simple overview and not worthwhile I've an interest (along with a million other people) in investigating evidence to discover the what, where, why, when, who, and how of a crime. Having read or heard about the crimes listed in this course I was excited. However, with no disrespect for the lecturers, this was more like a news blurb you might see on television with a talking head trying to tell you the story in a two-minute time frame rather than an insightful and detailed examination in a 30 minute format. I realize that all the CSI style tv shows get it horribly wrong, so I'm not comparing this course to them, but at the same time, each lecture left me feeling gyped.

Date published: 2023-05-05

Trailer

01: Jack the Ripper

One of the most infamous serial killer cases in history, the Jack the Ripper murders in London’s East End continue to fascinate professional investigators and enthusiastic amateurs alike. Who was Jack the Ripper? And who were his victims? Why have these murders lived on in our imaginations since 1888? Examine these questions and more.

29 min

02: The Coldest Cases

Here, your experts discuss several cold cases, ranging from prehistoric murder to medieval regicide to identifying casualties of the first World War. Consider the difficulties of examining evidence long after the crime was committed and discover the advantages and limitations of modern forensic science.

28 min

03: The Black Dahlia

In the summer of 1947, a young woman named Elizabeth Short was discovered brutally murdered in a vacant lot. Her case is one of the most famous unsolved murders in America, yet most don’t know her real name. Take a closer look at what we know about the death of the woman known as the Black Dahlia.

25 min

04: Death in Tinseltown

The death of producer and director William Desmond Taylor helped fuel the mystique surrounding the seedier side of Hollywood success. As you will see, there were many suspects with varying motives but no final answers to the mystery of his death. Are some crimes truly unsolvable?

22 min

05: Zodiac: A Cult of One

The serial murders committed by the Zodiac Killer in the late 60s and early 70s were defined by the way the killer(s) left intentional puzzles and clues. Despite the evidence, the case remains unsolved—but certainly not for lack of trying. Look at what is known about this case and consider possible theories.

25 min

06: Weird Weapons

What happens when creativity is mixed with malice? Sometimes, the result is murder. Examine several instances of crimes committed with dangerous substances and see why solving these cases is especially difficult. And you may be surprised by how common some of these “weapons” are.

22 min

07: Recovering the Romanovs

Separating truth from myth is especially difficult when examining the assassination of the Romanov royal family in 1917. There has been decades of speculation and more than a few pretenders claiming to be surviving members of the family. What do we really know about the murders that ended the Romanov dynasty?

27 min

08: Death in the Old West

Tales of the Old West are often larger than life and full of improbable adventure, yet a few stories are actually stranger than fiction. Whether it’s the murder of a famous outlaw or the mysterious deaths of a group of prospectors, see why these cases continue to fascinate and confound us over a century later.

28 min