The Book of the Dead

Hosted by Courtney Liso, The Book of the Dead is a true crime podcast that focuses on the victims of lesser-known crimes. Each episode presents a deep dive into a case from around the world, dissecting the details to tell the whole story of who each victim was, in addition to what happened to them. Formerly hosted by a mother-daughter team, the podcast has evolved with one host, taking the care necessary to ensure each victim is honored as they should be. Join Courtney every Wednesday at 12am EST for a new chapter in The Book of the Dead.

The Book of the Dead is a history podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 175 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts The Book of the Dead, a history show with 175 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #150

  Chapter 150: Dead Men Tell No Tales-The Legend of the S.S. Ourang Medan

  Aug 11, 202633 min

  Was the Ourang Medan a real ghost ship—or one of the greatest maritime legends ever created? The crew of the Ourang Medan were reportedly found dead aboard their ship in the waters of the Strait of Malacca in the late 1940s. Their bodies were said to have been discovered sprawled across the ship, their faces frozen in expressions of terror, and then came the chilling message allegedly sent from the vessel: “I die.”Before anyone could uncover the truth, the Ourang Medan caught fire and exploded, sending the ship and its secrets to the bottom of the sea. But did the Ourang Medan really exist? Was the crew killed by toxic gas, a dangerous cargo, or something far more mysterious? And how much of the story is actually true? In this episode of The Book of the Dead, we dive into one of the most infamous maritime mysteries ever told: the legend of the Ourang Medan, the ghost ship of Southeast Asia. Connect with us on Social Media! You can find us at: Instagram: @bookofthedeadpod X: @bkofthedeadpod Facebook: The Book of the Dead Podcast TikTok: Bookofthedeadpod Or visit our website at www.botdpod.com Featuring a Promo for Murder Unscripted: Veteran true-crime producer, Ed (Forensic Files, Cold Case Files, City Confidential) and his crime encyclopedia gal pal, Melissa, bring you the most immersive podcast in the genre - breaking down the barrier between fan and creator. Listen Here Cover ups after the war . (n.d.). Pacific Atrocities Education . Gov, N. O. O. R. a. R. U. (n.d.). NITROGLYCERIN, DESENSITIZED, [LIQUID] | CAMEO Chemicals | NOAA . Hewitt, L. (2020, October 27). Tragedy on the S.S. Ourang Medan – Fact or Legend? Historic Mysteries. A, L. (2022, June 3). Unresolved: What Happened To The Ourang Medan — And Did It Exist At All? The Ghost in My Machine Ripley’s Believe It or Not. (2020, February 19). The Mysterious Tale Of The S.S. Ourang Medan Ghost Ship . Ripley’s Believe It or Not! The Associated Press. (1940, November 22). Crew dies in SOS mystery. The Daily Mirror , 11. The Shipyard. (2021, October 27). How to Sink a Ghost-Ship: The Story of the SS Ourang Medan . The SS Ourang Medan - the Philadelphia Experiment from A-Z . (2025, December 16). The Philadelphia Experiment From A-Z. Troutner, A. (2022, September 14). The Strange Tale of the Mysterious Dutch Ghost Ship Ourang Medan . HowStuffWorks. Unit 731 - Nuclear Museum . (n.d.). Nuclear Museum. If you enjoyed the episode, consider leaving a review or rating! It helps more than you know! If you have a case suggestion, or want attention brought to a loved one's case, email me at bookofthedeadpod@gmail.com with Case Suggestion in the subject line. Stay safe, stay curious, and stay vigilant.

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  Episode #149

  Chapter 149: The Body in the Garden-The Murder of John Sabine

  Aug 4, 202637 min

  For nearly two decades, John Sabine was simply gone. His wife, Leigh, had spent years telling elaborate stories about their lives, convincing friends and family that John had left and started over somewhere else. She was a gifted storyteller whose lies became more outrageous with time, and few people questioned them. But when Leigh died of cancer in 2015, those stories began to unravel. After two friends made a horrifying discovery in the garden of the couple's former home in Beddau, Wales, investigators were confronted by a body wrapped in plastic. After 18 years the remains of John Sabine, had been found. As they worked to find out what happened, police revealed years of manipulation, compulsive deception, and the couple's infamous decision to abandon their five young children before John's disappearance. Today, we'll trace the lies that concealed a murder for nearly two decades, examine the evidence that finally exposed the truth behind one woman's carefully constructed fiction. Connect with us on Social Media! You can find us at: Instagram: @bookofthedeadpod X: @bkofthedeadpod Facebook: The Book of the Dead Podcast TikTok: Bookofthedeadpod Or visit our website at www.botdpod.com Aroesti, R. (2024, August 11). The Body Next Door review – a jaw-droppingly addictive true-crime tale. The Guardian. BBC News. (2015, November 24). Beddau murder probe launched after remains found near flats. Beddau. (n.d.). RHONDDA CYNON TAF. Beddau murder: “I was screaming it’s a dead body.” (2016, January 6). [Video]. BBC News. Couple Found in Perth. (1970, May 9). Press, 1. Dewey, P. (2024, August 12). Sky’s The Body Next Door: True story behind man murdered with a stone frog and buried in Welsh garden. Wales Online. Guarino, B. (2016, May 20). For 18 years, no one believed the woman who said she killed her husband with a stone frog. Then they found the body. The Washington Post. Late wife suspected of killing husband. (2015, December 12). The Herald, M11. Mercer, R. (2024, August 12). The Body Next Door: How a skeleton prank led to a murder investigation. Morris, S. (2017, November 28). Woman who killed her husband and hid his body was never caught. The Guardian. Neumann, S. (2025, March 1). She Hid Her Husband’s Body for 18 Years — Then a Prank Went Wrong and Exposed the Chilling Truth. People. N.Z. Press Association. (1970, June 11). Deserted Children. Press, 7 Prime video: The body next door. (n.d.). Sabine charge dropped. (1985, February 9). Press, 4. Sander, R. (2019, November 5). A History of Cabaret: From Bounty to Bust to Blossom. Backstage. If you enjoyed the episode, consider leaving a review or rating! It helps more than you know! If you have a case suggestion, or want attention brought to a loved one's case, email me at bookofthedeadpod@gmail.com with Case Suggestion in the subject line. Stay safe, stay curious, and stay vigilant.

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  Episode #148

  Chapter 148: The Crime That Changed Brisbane-The Murder of Betty Shanks

  Jul 22, 202631 min

  In September 1952, Betty Shanks left work in Brisbane, Australia, and began the journey home.She never made it.What followed was one of Brisbane’s most disturbing and enduring unsolved murder cases. Betty was found brutally murdered, and despite an extensive investigation, numerous theories, and decades of speculation, the person responsible was never definitively identified. Was her murder a random attack, or did the killer know more about her movements than investigators ever realized? More than 70 years later, Betty’s murder remains one of Australia’s most haunting cold cases. If there’s anyone out there that could have any information regarding the murder of Betty shanks, you can contact crime stoppers at 1800 333 000. Connect with us on Social Media! You can find us at: Instagram: @bookofthedeadpod X: @bkofthedeadpod Facebook: The Book of the Dead Podcast TikTok: Bookofthedeadpod Or visit our website at www.botdpod.com Featuring a promo for Love and Murder: What drives people to hurt the ones they love? Every week on Love and Murder: Heartbreak to Homicide, we’ll go on a journey, together, through true crime relationship stories that were doomed bonds from the start. Listen here. 57 days of torture for murdered girl’s parents. (1952, November 16). Truth , 5. Admin, J. (2020, August 6). Unsolved murder of Betty Shanks - 60th anniversary. State Library of Queensland . Betty Shanks murder recalled. (1953, July 31). The Evening Advocate , 1. Clear another man in Wilston murder case. (1952, October 11). The Courier-Mail , 1 Coates, W. (1953, February 8). Betty Shanks’ mother to speak. The Sunday Mail . Jones, C. (2024, September 18). The murder of Betty Shanks has haunted Brisbane for decades. After 72 years, it still remains unsolved . ABC News. Lloyd, P., & Coates, W. (1952, September 21). Murder manhunt goes on all night. The Sunday Mail , 1–2. Man with blood on his face hired cab, coroner told. (1953, February 11). The Courier-Mail , 3. Moore, T. (2012, September 20). Betty Shanks: An enduring mystery. Brisbane Times . More clues in Wilston check. (1952, October 23). The Courier-Mail , 1. No tougher murder case. (1952, October 5). The Sunday Mail , 2. Our Police Roundsman. (1952, October 18). Life that slayer destroyed was a happy one. Brisbane Telegraph , 18. Polic expect arrest in sex murders. (1952, December 30). Warwick Daily News , 1. Police describe man sought in murder inquiry. (1952, December 29). The Sun , 2. Police make murder appeal. (1952, September 22). The Courier-Mail , 1. Police tell of wide Wilston death check. (1953, February 27). The Courier-Mail , 5. Queensland Police Service. (2026, January 7). FROM THE VAULT- UNSOLVED The Murder of Betty Shanks – September 19, 1952 . Museum. Search dead man’s past for clues to 3 murders. (1953, October 4). The Sunday Mail , 3. Shanks Murder Turn. (1952, December 1). Brisbane Telegraph , 1. Two murder leads new turn in probes. (1952, December 28). Truth , 1. If you enjoyed the episode, consider leaving a review or rating! It helps more than you know! If you have a case suggestion, or want attention brought to a loved one's case, email me at bookofthedeadpod@gmail.com with Case Suggestion in the subject line. Stay safe, stay curious, and stay vigilant.

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  Episode #147

  Chapter 147: Japan's Most Wanted-The Murder of Lindsay Hawker

  Jul 7, 202637 min

  In 2007, 22-year-old Lindsay Hawker left England for Japan to pursue her dream of teaching English and experiencing life abroad. Kind, adventurous, and passionate about helping others, she had no idea that one persistent stranger would change the course of her life forever.After repeatedly seeking her attention and convincing her to give him private English lessons, the man followed Lindsay home. When she failed to arrive at work, concern quickly turned into a missing persons investigation that shocked Japan.Her killer fled before he could be arrested, sparking one of the country's largest manhunts. For more than two years, he evaded capture, even undergoing plastic surgery in an attempt to change his appearance and disappear forever. Connect with us on Social Media! You can find us at: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookofthedeadpod/ X: https://twitter.com/Bkofthedeadpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550490186243 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebookofthedeadpod Or visit our website at http://botdpod.com/ Featuring a promo for Mountain Murders: Mountain Murders is a true crime improv comedy podcast hosted by two Appalachians with questionable judgment and strong opinions. Join Heather & Dylan as they dive into bizarre murders, infamous killers, and small-town mayhem—armed with dark humor, off-the-rails commentary, and just enough research to be dangerous. https://open.spotify.com/show/40g9BcUDirt3cqirkSvLgd?si=1cfeea01228a4ab0 https://www.business-live.co.uk/economic-development/profile-timeline-lindsay-hawkers-spirit-3919725 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-14010308g. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-14075271 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-14234404 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-14226859 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-14224830 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-17673492 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-14232041 https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/04/10/call-eliminate-japans-hostage-justice-system-japanese-legal-professionalshttps://www.hrw.org/news/2019/04/10/call-eliminate-japans-hostage-justice-system-japanese-legal-professionals https://japantoday.com/category/features/kuchikomi/celebrity-inmate-tatsuya-ichihashi-who-killed-lindsay-hawker-doing-time-with-better-than-average-creature-comforts https://japantoday.com/category/features/kuchikomi/fugitive-ichihashi-may-be-in-philippines https://japantoday.com/category/features/kuchikomi/ichihashis-former-mentor-sheds-new-light-on-2007-hawker-murder https://web.archive.org/web/20080317191147/http:/www.japantoday.com/jp/news/431056https://web.archive.org/web/20080317191147/http:/www.japantoday.com/jp/news/431056 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-04/japanese-man-admits-killing-british-teacher/2782172 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1547136/Post-mortem-secrets-of-woman-buried-in-sand.html https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/apr/02/japan.justinmccurry https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/mar/24/hawker-japan-murder-ichihashi file:///Users/courtneyliso/Downloads/.%20https:/www.theguardian.com/world/2009/nov/05/lindsay-hawker-suspect-face-surgery https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jul/04/japanese-man-lindsay-ann-hawker-murder https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/nov/10/japan-murder-plastic-surgery-hawker https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/mar/28/japan.justinmccurry1 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/3248564/Murdered-Lindsay-Hawkers-killer-may-have-committed-suicide-Japanese-police-fear.html https://www.reuters.com/article/world/british-womans-body-in-japan-released-to-father-idUST93158/ https://www.reuters.com/article/world/us/japan-wanted-poster-shows-murder-suspect-in-drag-idUST285983/ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1582786/Lindsay-Hawkers-parents-commemorate-daughters-death-in-Tokyo.html https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/6541785/Lindsay-Ann-Hawker-murder-Tatsuya-Ichihashi-refusing-to-cooperate-with-police.html https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/8651279/Tatsuya-Ichihashi-profile.html?ICID=continue_without_subscribing_reg_first https://thediplomat.com/2011/01/hawker-accused-book-published/ If you enjoyed the episode, consider leaving a review or rating! It helps more than you know! If you have a case suggestion, or want attention brought to a loved one's case, email me at bookofthedeadpod@gmail.com with Case Suggestion in the subject line. Stay safe, stay curious, and stay vigilant.

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  Episode #146

  Chapter 146: 83 Hours in the Dark-The Kidnapping of Barbara Mackle Pt. 2

  Jun 30, 202634 min

  The search for Barbara Mackle was becoming a race against time. After 20-year-old Barbara was buried alive inside a custom-built underground capsule, her family and the FBI faced an impossible challenge: pay a $500,000 ransom before her air supply ran out. But when the first ransom exchange went disastrously wrong, investigators feared they had lost their only chance to save her.In Part 2 of Barbara Mackle's incredible story, I'll tell you all about the failed ransom drop, the intense FBI investigation, the successful payoff that finally put agents on the trail, and the desperate search that led to Barbara's rescue after 83 terrifying hours underground. Connect with us on Social Media! You can find us at: Instagram: @bookofthedeadpod X: @bkofthedeadpod Facebook: The Book of the Dead Podcast TikTok: Bookofthedeadpod Or visit our website at www.botdpod.com 14 News WFIE Evansville. (2003, April 21). Past haunts Chrisney doctor. ABC News. (2006, January 7). Man who buried girl alive becomes doctor. Associated Press. (2019, March 11). Kidnaper who used “Grave” accepted at medical school - Los Angeles Times. Buried alive. (n.d.). https://nmfh.org/buried-alive-boetticher/ Buried Alive - The Kidnapping of Barbara Jane Mackle - 1968 Crime Magazine. (n.d.). Craig Woodward Cwoodward@wpl-legal.com. (2020, January 30). Who dunnit: Anatomy of an egomaniacal con artist – Part 3 of 3 Coastal Breeze News Gary Steven Krist. (n.d.). FBI.gov. Gary Steven Krist. (2026a, January 17). Grokipedia. Lallanilla, M. (2026, April 2). The heiress who was buried alive—and survived | A&E. AETV. Neumann, S. (2024, November 2). How a 20-Year-Old heiress survived her kidnapping and being buried alive for 3 days: “I screamed and screamed.” People. Notorious Georgia kidnapper out of prison again. (2011, March 7). Corrections1. Special To The New York Times. (1968, December 21). Escaped Prison on Coast. The New York Times The Mackle Company LLC. Time. (1968, December 27). The Girl in the Box. U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. (1970). Krist V. Smith. In Justia U.S. Law (309 F. Supp. 497). Winerip, M. (1978, December 21). For Barbara Mackle, ’68 kidnapping is a closed subject. The Bradenton Herald, B2. Woodward, C. (2010, January 13). The Daring Kidnapping of Barbara Mackle – Part 1 of 3. Coastal Breeze News. Beane, W. F. (2005, January 24). FBI Oral History Project (Oral history interview addendum material). Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI. If you enjoyed the episode, consider leaving a review or rating! It helps more than you know! If you have a case suggestion, or want attention brought to a loved one's case, email me at bookofthedeadpod@gmail.com with Case Suggestion in the subject line. Stay safe, stay curious, and stay vigilant.

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