True crime is one of the world’s fastest-growing entertainment genres, but should Christians think differently about what they watch? Writer Sophie Dianne explores the appeal of true crime, the ethical questions it raises and how believers can engage with the genre with wisdom, discernment and compassion.
According to Psychology Today, women make up nearly 70 per cent of the true crime audience. The publication suggests that many engage with the genre to relax and decompress. True crime is also used as a protective strategy, referred to as “defensive vigilance”. This concept allows women to recognise the warning signs of potential predators from a secure distance.
Before settling into the world of women’s storytelling, I often thought about investigative journalism, so, as you can imagine, I am one of those 17.5 million women who enjoys true crime.
With its growing popularity, true crime is now available on most streaming platforms, as podcasts and across social media. Likewise, the publishing world has taken a slice of the pie by producing thousands of true crime books, with shops like Waterstones carrying well over 2,000 titles. (Other booksellers are available.)
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When I think about my own consumption, it comes down to morbid curiosity.
When I think about my own consumption, it comes down to morbid curiosity. Hearing stories about ordinary people in extreme situations has always fascinated me, mainly from a criminal psychology perspective.
It’s all about decoding the “why”. I want to understand the motivations behind a perpetrator’s actions. Firstly, do they have a history of trauma? Secondly, do they have a mental health disorder? Or, thirdly, are they simply what society would deem evil? In layman’s terms, it’s about understanding how minds seemingly devoid of empathy operate. I could even argue that my passion for justice has fuelled my interest in true crime.
As Christians, however, we are taught not to conform to secular ideals and that we must reject darkness before it hinders our faith. In Proverbs 4:23, we are told to guard our hearts and minds in favour of purity. Yet true crime is deeply attractive because it satisfies our innate psychological instincts. We seek the adrenaline rush and the opportunity to understand human nature—it’s a puzzle that often stymies us.
What I’ve come to realise is that it comes down to balance. Having a healthy approach to true crime relies heavily on discernment. Content becomes harmful if it breeds fear or hatred; therefore, we should never treat real-life human tragedy as cheap entertainment. I do firmly believe that true crime can be beneficial and, in some cases, raise awareness of difficult issues.
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Part-funded by BBC Learning, Murdered by My Boyfriend (2014) is a true crime drama that tells the tragic story of Ashley Jones, who was brutally beaten to death by her boyfriend.
Part-funded by BBC Learning, Murdered by My Boyfriend (2014) is a true crime drama that tells the tragic story of Ashley Jones, who was brutally beaten to death by her boyfriend. Selected scenes were shown in schools and colleges in an attempt to spark discussion about domestic abuse.
The project specifically targeted 16- to 24-year-olds, who are statistically more vulnerable to relationship abuse. The aim was to teach them how to differentiate between healthy love and toxic possession. Screenwriter Regina Moriarty hoped that the programme would get young people talking: “I want them to discuss the different graduations of abuse; when does something become abuse, what should you do? These are difficult questions, but just talking about it is a starting point.”
Murdered by My Boyfriend went on to win a BAFTA and an RTS Television Award. I accept it was a difficult watch, but it made a real impact. Following the show’s broadcast, UK domestic abuse charity Refuge reported a huge influx of young women contacting its services. Many explicitly stated that seeing Ashley’s story helped them recognise the red flags in their partners’ behaviour.
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Elsewhere, my mum recently watched The Murder of Rachel Nickell. As an Early Years education professional of more than 20 years, she was interested in the safeguarding failures and the intense psychological practices that prioritised the police investigation over children’s trauma recovery.
Though it is framed differently from mainstream entertainment, Christian media outlets do produce true crime content. Rather than focusing on sensationalism or gruesome details, faith-based platforms use the genre to highlight themes of justice and spiritual redemption. The film Priceless and the podcasts Christian True Crime Junkies and Cold-Case Christianity are just a few examples.
In the Bible there are numerous stories that could make the true crime list, so it would be hard to separate ourselves entirely from the genre, especially in a world that is so broken. I think the key is to ensure that true crime turns consumption into intercession and that we prioritise empathy over entertainment. In doing so, Christians can seek justice while keeping compassion at the heart of what they watch.
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