For twenty years, Tony Sales was Britain's biggest fraudster. From cloning credit cards and identities to emptying cash machines and being a confidence trickster, Tony knew how to make money.  In this first episode of the new series of Listening to the Dead, Lynda and Cass are joined by Tony and his colleague, former Head of the Fraud Squad Andy McDonald about fraud, to discuss fraud: how investigating it has evolved, the current threats, the impact on victims and the devastating iSpoof case...

The Listening to the Dead crew return to Crime Con in London for another live recording. In this episode the team are joined by renowned forensic podiatrist Haydn Kelly to discuss his remarkable career and the first use of forensic gait analysis as expert evidence in criminal law at The Old Bailey in the trial of jewellery thief John Saunders. From Shakespeare to the Usual Suspects, a person's gait is mentioned time and again. But how much can you really tell from a person's gait? More than...

In this final episode we’re discussing forensic searches: searches for bodies, searches for evidence, searches for criminals. Lynda and Cass focus on the tragic case of April Jones, the 5-year-old who went missing in Wales in 2012. The police search was one of the largest ever mounted. It lasted six months, and though an arrest was made, of Mark Bridger, April’s body was never found. In this episode we reunite two forensic search experts who worked in different capacities on this harrowing...

In 1996 the IRA were planning a major bombing campaign. Their targets were the electrical substations around Greater London. Had they been successful it would have crippled the electricity supply of south-east England. Fortunately, the police launched Operation Airlines, a covert investigation to foil the campaign and gather evidence to prosecute those planning it.   Forensic fibres expert Dr Ann Priston joins Lynda and Cass to discuss her memories of analysing the evidence that linked the...

The investigation into the murderer Colin Pitchfork is referenced in forensic courses around the world. Why? Because it was the first case where DNA screening was used. From the team responsible for this remarkable break-through, Lynda and Cass welcome Dr Tim Clayton. Tim discusses the cases of Colin Pitchfork, and later that of Colette Aram, and explains how they developed the DNA screening programme, its limitations and how it was refined into the crucial investigative tool it is...

Lynda and Cass are joined by Pippa Gregory – Behavioural Investigative Advisor – and one of only three criminal profilers working in the UK today. She discusses the infamous cases of Yvonne Killian and Rachel Nickell - two investigations where criminal profiling was testing and found wanting. The fallout from these two cases led to the practice of criminal profiling being questioned and mistrusted by the police and public for some years. While Pippa Gregory was not directly involved in...

We start Season 3 with an absolute cracker as Lynda, Cass and Jon discuss the forensics behind the Great Train Robbery with some of those who were involved. In a world first, Listening to the Dead brings together the son of the robbery's mastermind, Bruce Reynolds, with a fingerprint expert who worked on the case back in 1963. Sit back and enjoy a lively discussion about planted evidence, bungling robbers, the swinging Sixties, betrayal, distrust and life on the run. Jack Deans was just...

In October 1975, Peter Sutcliffe committed his first murder. Over the next five years he went on to become one of the UK’s worst serial killers. One of the main reasons the police took so long to find him was because they were sent off in the wrong direction by a series of hoax letters and a tape purporting to be from the killer.  Nicknamed Weirside Jack, the perpetrator was never identified at the time. It wasn’t until 25 years later that Chris Davies – a forensic document examiner – got his...

Here we go then - let's kick off Season 3 of Listening to the Dead as we once more peel back the curtain of crime and reveal the forensics that cracked some of Britain's most famous cases. From the Great Train Robbery to the Yorkshire Ripper, we speak to some of those involved and hear astonishing revelations about the crimes, investigations forensics and protagonists.  Join Lynda and Cass and get closer to crime! Subscribe now and don't miss the first episode on the Great Train Robbery out...

 CORRECTION! 2nd Dec 2021. Apologies listeners, we previously uploaded a part-edited version of this episode in error. This one is now the real deal. We hope you enjoy it.  Bonus episode recorded live at CrimeCon 2021 in London. Lynda and Cass look back at two seasons of Listening to the Dead and share more stories about the forensic experts and cases that have fascinated us most. 

Bonus episode recorded live at CrimeCon 2021 in London.

A bumper episode to end the season! In 15% of homicide cases involving a female victim, the cause of death is unknown. Despite the huge advances in post-mortem sciences, pathologists are still faced with cases of suspicious death where the cause of death cannot be conclusively proved.    In this episode the team talk to a former member of the Thames River Police, Robert Jeffries, who worked on numerous cases where the cause of death could not be immediately established. They are also joined...

A rarely seen method of murder today (outside of novels and state-sponsored assassination) but one of the most fascinating and challenging to investigate. A favourite of authors for generations, poisoning has appeared in some of the most famous crime novels as well as historic cases of murder and suicide. The team are joined by experienced toxicologist Victoria Jenkins from Forensic Access (www.forensic-access.co.uk) to discuss the using hair and nails to detect the presence of poison, and...

In this episode the team reveal how to tell the difference between strangulation and hanging during a post mortem, and where best to look for evidence that a suicide is not what it seems.

In this episode the team are joined by Firearms and Wound Ballistics expert, David Pryor, to discuss gunshot wounds.

From terrorist attacks to war zones, from earthquakes to floods, mass disasters are some of the most difficult and harrowing cases for police and forensic teams to investigate.

This episode we welcome back pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton to discuss his experiences in investigating blunt force homicide.

Get ready for Listening to the Dead Season 2!

In this bonus episode, Lynda and Cass are joined by former President of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences, Dr Ann Priston. A leading expert in forensic fibre analysis, Dr Priston visits Lynda at her home to discuss this fascinating science.

Perhaps the most well-known of all the forensic sciences it's the pathologists job to establish cause of death.

One of the fastest evolving forensic disciplines, this science of extracting evidence from phones and laptops has become a central part of police investigations. Lynda and Cass are joined by industry expert Dr Jan Collie.

What can a fly on the wall tell us about a crime scene? It can tell Dr Martin Hall a lot as Lynda and Cass discover in this episode exploring the fascinating world of forensic entomology.

Dr Peter Smith joins Lynda and Cass to unravel how the arrival of DNA analysis transformed forensics.

From towering infernos to destroying evidence, Lynda and Cass discover more about investigating arson with international fire expert Dr Peter Mansi.