A new podcast called Crime Adjacent is redefining the true crime genre with a weekly series that blends real investigative journalism and fictional storytelling.
Billed as a genre-busting show, Crime Adjacent takes true crime cases and overlays them with speculative narratives, creating an immersive and unsettling audio experience that asks listeners to question where reality ends, and fiction begins.
This season follows host Chase Patrick as he returns to his hometown of Ridgewood, California to re-examine a chilling series of murders by the so-called Rest Stop Killer. The murderer, who targeted young men throughout the 1990s before disappearing, resurfaced in 2023, which prompted the podcast’s latest investigation.
With meticulous research and emotional storytelling from victims, survivors, and family members, the series blends documentary reporting with psychological thriller elements.
Each season is tied together by a personal mission: Chase and producer Nikki Freeman’s pursuit of justice for their mother, a victim of an unsolved murder.
The podcast is created, written, and performed by Mike Adamick, a former crime reporter and NPR contributor, who draws on both professional experience and academic study to explore deeper themes around gender, violence, and society’s fascination with true crime.
Episodes are released every Wednesday from today, 4 June and available on major podcast platforms including Apple and Spotify.
