Our Email Newsletter from September 2025

Bethan's monthly email newsletter

Hello! How is it already October??? Madness. Welcome to your monthly round up of Seeing Red news, insights, competitions and information!

 

September was a busy month for us!

 

Thanks to Mark, I've been very lucky to have been able to spend lots of time with the new baby, whilst he recorded some solo episodes for the show. But behind the scenes I've been writing, and prepping social media, and we did continue recording CrimeWave together (This is our fortnightly bonus mini-show for Patreon supporters). We also recorded the first episode for Season 14, which is out today! It was so good to get back into recording together!

I've been listening to Mark's solo episodes whilst going out for some walks in the later summer sunshine, and my goodness haven't they been good. Heartbreaking, shocking, emotional, and very well presented. I felt so strongly his pain for Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee, in S13E15, and his descriptions of Ethiopia's political climate in the 90s was so shocking to me when I heard about the hijacking of Flight961 in S13E21. I really didn't know much about their history and the way people were so desperate to escape the country by any means that plane hijackings were so commonplace.

I'm sure you will agree with me that Karabo's story was both heartbreaking and sickening in equal measure- I was so frustrated that someone so keen to support women escaping domestic violence and abuse would then be taken advantage of by such a cruel and calculating excuse for a man. And what a horrendously cruel way to die :( 

I think we can all agree that the execution of Joe Arridy is one of the saddest episodes ever, like many of you who've shared your thoughts on social media I sobbed. For me it was the moment he handed his toy to another inmate saying he wouldn't need it where he was going. I am so glad times have changed and that our attitudes towards people with learning difficulties has changed now. 

I still need to listen to Mark's joint episode with Grace from REDRUM so that'll keep me company on my next couple of school runs! 

September also saw Mark head to Manchester for CrimeCon! He had a wonderful time meeting so many listeners and true crime fanatics as well as other podcasters, authors and journalists, and experts. I thought he did an amazing job of our table, but I'm gutted he didn't send me a pen and chocolate! If you were there please do head to our Facebook group where I've added a post called "All Things CrimeCon Manchester" 

September's Book Recommendation

This month I've been reading Butter, after seeing it loads all over social media and buying it, but never actually picking it up.

Butter is a 2017 Japanese novel by Asako Yuzuki. The story, inspired by a real-life serial murder case in Japan, follows a Tokyo journalist who starts interviewing a woman accused of tricking and possibly killing men by seducing them with her cooking. 

The book is quite a big one, which is one of the reasons I was put off starting it, I struggle with big books if I have them in paperback... I might need to get it for my Kindle if I want to be able to finish it any time soon. I'm the same with hardbacks too! Anyone else feel the same way?

However, now I've started it, I am loving the storyline and the insight into a culture I know very little about. As well as being interesting from a true crime standpoint, I'm loving reading a novel set in, and about, modern-day Japan.

For many of our listeners September has been the month for new beginnings, back to school for listeners' children (and for my girls!) And back to uni for many listeners. We wish you all the very best for the new school year.

I've enjoyed that The Great British Bake Off and Strictly Come Dancing have been back on telly... shows I love to watch with the girls. Shows not so child-friendly this September have included a Lucy Letby channel 4 documentary, the Disappearance of Jay Slater, and Searching For Sarm, amongst many others... please do find the relevant posts in our Facebook group to share your thoughts if you've watched any of these! 

Not only is Seeing Red back for season 14 but October will also see the refresh of our online presence. I'm very sorry I've let things slip these past few months, where I've been so baby-busy, but you should see a nice shift coming with more from us at your fingertips.

I have no idea which cases Mark has planned for you, but I've got a few episodes I'm writing which range from unsolved murders to aviation disasters and youth knife violence... all very harrowing so I'm hoping to find something a little light hearted to discuss in November... any suggestions for themes or cases are very welcome! 

Thank you for reading,

Love Bethan