The Queen of Spades

An American couple buys a house in England that locals warn is haunted. But instead of feeling fearful, Ned and Mary are excited by the prospect of ghostly company. That is, until a mystery begins to unravel their marriage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.c ... Show More

Years have passed, but Margaret Eastwich still remembers the phantom of Mill Croft Lane with a haunting clarity. She shares her grim tale with three young sisters. By the end of it, they’ll have a chilling story of their own to tell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcas ... Show More

After tragedy befalls the Marsh family, a moody and mercurial husband is given one last chance to prove that he cares for his ill-fated wife. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 

One of Russia’s most prolific serial killers was an avid chess player. First introduced to the pastime by his grandfather, the young Alexander Pichushkin finally found something he could excel at. But in 1992, his competitive urges were drawn to a different kind of game… Learn mo ... Show More

For many Russian writers and readers, Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837) holds a special place: his position in Russian literature is often compared to Shakespeare's in English, Dante's in Italian, and Goethe's in German. In this episode, Jacke talks to Pushkin translator Robert Chand ... Show More

Ah the checkered board of mental masterfulness... a place where your heart can lead you to a queen or was it a trap... a Queen's Gambit!!! That's right, this week your ever illustrious hosts, Tyler and Markiplier, dive pawn first into Chess! Was it invented by the Roman Empire? W ... Show More

Darius III rules Persia and he has already demonstrated his heroism and skill in battle. The Empire itself, despite having been through a period of court intrigue, was stable. Yet, coming through their western border, originally from Macedonia, was a young man bent on conquering ... Show More

Many historians believe William Shakespeare is the greatest playwright who ever lived. Many don’t—citing theories of theft to explain his library of work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 

The search for answers about the Somerton Man and the intriguing paper found in his pocket leads hosts Carter and Wenndy to the center of Cold War espionage. As they continue the case, the investigation moves from Persian poetry to a mysterious woman who most certainly lied to th ... Show More

Crawling out of the folklore of victorian England comes a gentleman demon who tells us of his vicious deeds and fearsome expanding appetite... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 

Today’s criminals ruled with bone-crushing fists. Ash and Alaina’s top ten royal killers include a queen who protected her siblings, a king who had his wives beheaded, and vile forms of torture that could only be the result of absolute authority. Learn more about your ad choices. ... Show More

He was the most talked-about man in Russia at the turn of the 20th century. Grigori Rasputin’s life reads like a twisted fairy tale, but even the most well-studied historians have a hard time separating the man from the darkness of his many myths. Learn more about your ad choices ... Show More