If you loved
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
What hooked you in S-Town was the way a singular, eccentric personality unspools the dark, buried secrets of a stagnant and insular community.
Books on the same thread
All the Colors of the Dark
Chris Whitaker · Book · 2024
Like S-Town, this novel explores the weight of small-town isolation and the haunting reality that deep-seated secrets and personal trauma can define an entire community for generations.
Bloody January
Alan Parks · Book · 2017
If you were drawn to the investigative grit of S-Town, you will appreciate how this procedural pulls back the curtain on systemic corruption and moral decay within a tight-knit environment.
A Fraction of the Whole
Steve Toltz · Book · 2008
This story mirrors the character-focused intensity of S-Town, centering on a complex, larger-than-life figure whose dysfunctional worldview and philosophical musings drive the narrative into unpredictable, tragicomic territory.
Sycamore Row (Jake Brigance)
John Grisham · Book · 2013
The Southern setting and the focus on how past grievances and inheritance shape a town's social fabric will resonate with anyone who found S-Town an immersive study of history.
Films on the same thread
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Rian Johnson · Film · 2025
This mystery captures the specific tension found in S-Town by examining how class conflict and moral ambiguity can turn a quiet, seemingly ordinary town into a hotbed of deception.
Blue Velvet
David Lynch · Film · 1986
The unsettling atmosphere of this film echoes the Southern gothic sensibilities of S-Town, showing how a disturbing discovery can shatter the facade of a small, quiet, and isolated town.
Rebel Ridge
Jeremy Saulnier · Film · 2024
Much like the investigation in S-Town, this film depicts a man struggling against a rigged system, exposing the deep-rooted corruption that flourishes in secluded, small-town settings.
Bad Day at Black Rock
John Sturges · Film · 1955
The experience of an outsider peeling back layers of local secrets in this film perfectly matches the investigative curiosity that drives the narrative momentum of S-Town.
Series on the same thread
The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst
Andrew Jarecki · Series · 2015
If you were fascinated by the profile of John in S-Town, you will be equally compelled by this examination of an eccentric, wealthy man evading the consequences of his actions.
Under the Banner of Heaven
Dustin Lance Black · Series · 2022
This series mirrors the investigative focus of S-Town, exploring how religious extremism and family secrets can tear apart a community and challenge the faith of those investigating the truth.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
Series · 2024
The drive to uncover the truth behind a tragic death in a small town echoes the central investigation of S-Town, emphasizing how past events continue to haunt the present.
RIPLEY
Steven Zaillian · Series · 2024
The obsession with a singular, complex personality and the web of lies they construct will feel familiar to anyone who followed the intricate character study presented in S-Town.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Who is the host of S-Town?
The podcast S-Town is hosted by Brian Reed. It is a production of Serial Productions, which is a company owned by The New York Times.
What is the premise of S-Town?
S-Town follows a man named John who hates his Alabama town and asks Brian Reed to investigate a wealthy man allegedly bragging about getting away with murder. The investigation eventually shifts when another person dies, leading to a complex and nasty feud.
Is S-Town produced by The New York Times?
Yes, S-Town is a podcast from Serial Productions, which is a New York Times company. The series is hosted by Brian Reed and focuses on a mysterious investigation in an Alabama town.
What triggers the investigation in S-Town?
The investigation in S-Town begins when a man named John asks Brian Reed to look into the son of a wealthy family. This man has allegedly been bragging about committing a murder, which sets off a chain of events involving a nasty feud.