A new true crime podcast, An Appointment with Murder, examines cases where those in trusted medical roles committed murder.
Hosted by Dr Andrew Johns and Dr Harry Brünjes, the series looks into the psychology and patterns behind medical killers, with the presenters bringing decades of forensic and clinical experience.
Dr Johns is one of the UK’s leading forensic psychiatrists and has testified in more than 100 murder trials, while Dr Brünjes worked for sixteen years as a clinician and police surgeon.
The pair met as students at Guy’s Hospital and now reunite to present this detailed exploration of when medicine turns deadly.
The series opens with the case of Dr John Bodkin Adams, a doctor who charmed the British elite, only to rob them of life and legacy. From a troubled childhood to a cellar filled with stolen treasure, his case remains one of Britain’s most chilling.
They will also explore the case of Harold Shipman and how this once modest GP became the most prolific serial killer in UK history. The episode hears from previous colleagues of Shipman’s and provides a deep forensic dive into his psyche, drug addiction, and the system that failed to catch him sooner.
The hosts explore the systemic failures that allowed these crimes to go undetected for so long and the psychological traits that many medical killers share. Cases range from Victorian poisoners to modern-day offenders, with each episode focusing on a different figure in medical crime history.
An Appointment with Murder launches today, Wednesday 28 May, with episodes released weekly on Apple and Spotify. Subscribers to The Crime Desk can access the full series immediately, along with ad-free listening and bonus content from other crime shows, including The Trial.
