Tonight’s story takes place on a dark, isolated island off the coast of New England. This is the story of the Smuttynose murders.

Victorian’s loved telling ghost stories at Christmas and I’m here to tell you one of their favorite tales. This is a story that was set in the 17th century and was passed along verbally, but really gained popularity in the 1830s when a song was written about the tale. You may have heard this tale told a little differently but I’m going to relay it to you as I first heard it, in honor of upholding the tradition of storytelling. This is the legend of Mistletoe Bough.

What we’re covering tonight is a highly publicized Victorian era sex scandal involving a hot-shot minister, a prominent author and abolitionist, and his high society wife. This is the story of the Beecher - Tilton Scandal.

Tonight’s story is a classic arsenic poisoning case… or was it? I think the answer is very clear, but you’ll have to let me know what you decide. This is the story of Eliza Fenning.

We’ve spent the last few episodes stateside, but for our story tonight we’re headed back to good old London, England for a classic Victorian lodging house scandal and murder. Plot twists and colorful characters abound in tonight’s case. This is the story of the Euston Square murder.

Tonight we’re going back to Fall River, Massachusetts, nearly 60 years before the infamous Lizzie Borden trial would take place. Before the murders of Abbey and Andrew Borden, the town played host to a scandalous case involving murder and a disgraced minister. This is the story of Sarah Maria Cornell.

Tonight we’re actually covering a Victorian-era adjacent story, of one of the most famous con men in history. And I bet a lot of you are familiar with this story, as I was myself when I first set out planning this episode. But through out my research, I was surprised to learn that I made a lot of assumptions about this person that turned out to be not true. I assumed this person was some criminal mastermind, who evaded authorities while hiding in plain sight… But no… they were just a common thief, who had no end game in sight, who was wheeling and dealing at breakneck speed, solely relying on their persuasive and charismatic personality to succeed and fool many, many people - and that is frankly even more fascinating to me. This is the story of Charles Ponzi.

Tonight’s case is about a strong, independent woman - who some might also describe as an enterprising young woman - who also became one of early America’s most prolific female serial killers. This is the story of Belle Gunness.

Tonight’s case is about an early American serial killer whose crimes and reign of terror rival that of Jack the Ripper. This is the story of the Texas Servant Girl Annihilator.

Tonight’s story is one where so much has changed in true crime since the Victorian era, but so much also stayed exactly the same. You’ll see what I mean. This is the story of Getter’s Island.

In this season opener we’re going to cover a case that encompasses something that I think is a lot of people’s worst fears. And if it isn’t a fear you already have, it might become one after hearing this case. Sometimes called Angels of mercy, or angels of death, this story is about what happens when someone trusted with the care of others, abandons their oath to “do no harm.” This is the story of Jane Toppan.

A Good Night for a Murder is back for season 2. Join me for season 2 where we’ll talk about vindictive house maids, black widow killers, wicked Victorian doctors, missing socialite scandals and more.

This episode was initially created only for Housekeeper and Butler tier Patreon subscribers as the bonus content for the Cassie Chadwick episode. I am adding it to the regular feed as a preview of the type of content posted for Patreon subscribers.

This episode revisited Victorian Society Tips from season 1 with reactions from host, Kim and guest, Hayley. This post includes links to where you can listen to the full episodes associated with each tip discussed in this compilation episode.

This episode was initially created only for Housekeeper and Butler tier Patreon subscribers as the bonus content for the Cassie Chadwick episode. I am adding it to the regular feed as a preview of the type of content posted for Patreon subscribers.

This episode revisited Victorian Society Tips from season 1 with reactions from host, Kim and guest, Hayley. This post includes links to where you can listen to the full episodes associated with each tip discussed in this compilation episode.

In a nod to the wrap up of Mardi Gras this week, we’re headed to New Orleans. This is the story of Madame Delphine LaLaurie.

Welcome to the the Valentine’s Day episode. We’re going to be talking about flowers, and chocolate, and murdering your lovers wife. This is the story of Cordelia Botkin.

To continue with the theme of Victorian true crime firsts in celebration of the new year, tonight’s story covers something that nowadays we just consider to be fact. But in the Victorian era, it was all brand new. And that something is fingerprinting. Tonight’s story is the first murder case solved by the use of fingerprint evidence. This is the story of the Stratton Brothers.

Seeing as it’s the first month of 2023, in this month’s episodes I’m covering two Victorian true crime firsts. Tonight’s episode is about the first murderer who was arrested with the aid of wireless telegraphy. This is the story of Dr. Crippen.