New True-Crime Podcast Come Closer Debuts

 

 

 

 You have to hand it to true-crime podcaster Rae Review. She truly commits to the role. She has nearly two million followers and a popular podcast, and is a trusted name in true crime. Not only that, but she just unveiled Come Closer - a new podcast, a new identity, and a new favorite destination for the darkest true crime. 

Rae Review's work focuses on blending in-depth research with storytelling and personal commentary. Her style often emphasizes victim advocacy, examining the human psyche, and exploring the pursuit of justice. In addition to her regular case coverage, she  frequently partners with networks like Netflix and Lifetime to discuss documentaries and true crime adaptations.

To be clear, Come Closer is not a rebranding, but an evolution. The same mind, the same analytical lens, the same unflinching commitment to the truth of dark things - now fully, visually, unapologetically herself.

Even her marketing pitch gives me the willies: "She came from darkness. She knows it intimately. She does not live there, but she is not afraid of it. She goes back, regularly, on purpose - and she takes her audience with her. She is in full glamour makeup, but the character is armor. The glamour is not performance for an audience. It is the thing that makes it possible to stand in front of the worst of humanity and hold steady. Beautiful women have always done this. They have always been underestimated while being looked at. Rae uses that."

In every episode, Rae Review is your tour guide through one of history’s darkest stories, as you dive into the most unsettling details to uncover the sordid truth lurking at the bottom. Prepare to be uncomfortable, and come closer…

This isn’t just a revamped podcast. In collaboration with Mercury, this is an evolution of her entire brand, bringing all channels in sync to create a powerhouse of true crime content.

Mercury, an innovative independent podcast network, has been collaborating closely with Rae throughout this year, and with the launch of Come Closer, they hope to leverage her existing audience to create a huge new brand that owns the darkest corner of the true crime space. Mercury is representing distribution and sales for Rae across all platforms including podcast, social and YouTube.

The first episode of Come Closer is now available on all podcast players. Listeners can also binge all previous episodes of Dark Stories, available on the same feed.

“We have loved working with Rae on bringing her bold idea to life,” says Mercury founder and CEO Liam Heffernan. “This is an evolution, not just of Rae’s brand, but of the entire true crime genre. Come Closer is dark and immersive, but it has a strong moral compass as its core. It’s a one-of-a-kind show, and we’re about to change the game!”

Mercury Podcast Network was born from the lived experience of its founder, Liam Heffernan. Like many independent podcasters, Liam encountered a common challenge familiar to all indie creators: while the shows were strong in content, they lacked the time, visibility, and strategy to grow into sustainable ventures. Promotion and monetization often felt out of reach.

Through years of navigating the ups and downs of podcasting, Liam noticed a striking gap in the industry. At one end sit the massive, celebrity-driven shows that dominate listener attention and advertising dollars. At the other, countless small podcasts struggle to find their footing. But in the middle exists a vibrant tier of talented, independent creators, shows too good to be overlooked, yet too small to attract traditional network support.

Mercury was designed to serve this overlooked community. Its ambition is clear: to build an ecosystem for independent podcasters to create, collaborate, grow, and earn. Mercury is a big network with an independent spirit, tearing down gatekeepers and giving a platform to the best indie shows and creators. Unlike larger networks burdened by high costs, Mercury is built to grow sustainably, providing the right support without compromising independence.

Today, Mercury is home to a diverse slate of standout podcasts, and its mission is simple but ambitious: to level the playing field, empower indies, and make space for voices that deserve to be heard.