20/20: 'Blood and Water: Dead End' Review

20/20 is back with another installment of its true crime series Blood and Water, and this week's episode, 'Dead End,' digs into a murder investigation where the obvious suspect isn't as guilty as investigators first thought. Hosted by ABC News journalists including Deborah Roberts, this 31-minute episode walks you through police interviews, suspicious behavior, and the moment evidence pointed elsewhere—turning a seemingly straightforward case into something far more complex. The production is slick, the pacing is tight, and the narrative structure keeps you leaning in to hear what detectives uncover next. But here's the thing: this episode packs 6 ads totaling 3 minutes (9.5%) of your listening time. Still, if you're into true crime investigations that don't spoon-feed you answers, 'Dead End' is solid stuff. Score: 7.5/10. The verdict: worth your time if you can tolerate the ad breaks.

What Makes 20/20 'Blood and Water: Dead End' Work

The real hook here is how the episode flips the script on the typical "husband did it" true crime formula. Early in the investigation, Sandy—Leslie's husband—becomes the prime suspect. He sits down with detectives multiple times, answering questions about their marriage, her drinking, her mood. The detectives' notes are packed with follow-ups and visits to his workplace. You can feel the pressure closing in on him. But then the evidence starts telling a different story, and the episode forces both the investigators and the listener to question assumptions.

"This is Deborah Roberts here with another weekly episode of our latest true crime series from ABC and ABC audio, Blood and Water."

The pacing deserves credit too. 'Dead End' doesn't waste time recapping the previous episode—it assumes you've done your homework—and jumps straight into the third formal interview with Sandy. Rather than dragging out the suspense artificially, the episode lets the investigative process unfold at a natural rhythm. You hear Sandy's perspective, then the detectives' skepticism, then new details that shift the investigation's direction. It's the kind of storytelling that respects your attention and rewards listeners who've been following the series.

The production quality matches what you'd expect from ABC News: clear audio, natural editing, and a focus on the human moments rather than gratuitous crime scene details. If you haven't explored the show yet, the 20/20 Stranger in the House Review: A Chilling True Crime Story That Keeps You Guessing covers another standout episode that showcases 20/20's investigative approach. 20/20 on Apple Podcasts has a deep library of these investigations, and they're worth exploring if you like crime reporting that goes beyond the surface.

The Ad Load on 20/20: 6 Ads, 3.0 Minutes

Let's be honest: this episode has a heavier ad presence than you might expect in a 31-minute show. Six ads—including NBA Finals, Stanley Tucci, National Geographic, Stanley Cup Playoffs, Wanda Sykes Stand-up Special, Get Real Podcast, Hulu, and Trail ABC—totals 3 minutes. That's 9.5% of your listening time spent on sponsorships. The ads aren't integrated into the host read; they're dropped in as separate segments, which creates a noticeable break in the narrative flow. If you're someone who tolerates ads as the price of free podcasting, this load isn't catastrophic. But if you'd rather skip them and get straight to the story, skip 20/20 ads automatically with one tap while you listen.

20/20 Review: Is 'Blood and Water: Dead End' Worth Listening?

7.5/10. The episode is tightly crafted investigative storytelling that subverts true crime expectations, with solid pacing and production quality. The ad load is the main friction point, but if you're already invested in the Blood and Water series, the narrative payoff makes it worth your time.

FAQ: 20/20 'Blood and Water: Dead End' Review

What's the episode about?

The episode dives into Leslie's murder investigation, focusing on police interviews with her husband Sandy, who becomes the initial prime suspect—until evidence points in a different direction. The detectives and listeners alike learn that initial assumptions can be misleading in homicide cases. The strength of the episode is that it doesn't telegraph where the investigation will lead; you're discovering details alongside the detectives.

How long is this episode?

'Dead End' runs 31.3 minutes, including 3 minutes of ads. The actual story content is roughly 28 minutes, giving you a solid true crime narrative without padding. If you're listening during a commute or workout, this is a digestible chunk that wraps up a complete investigative segment.

Should I skip earlier Blood and Water episodes?

No—this is episode 3 of the series, and context matters. Previous episodes establish who Leslie is, how she died, and why Sandy became a suspect in the first place. Starting with 'Dead End' will leave you confused about the evidence and the investigators' thinking. The series is designed to build tension and revelation across episodes. If you want more like this, explore other reviews at PodSkip to discover high-quality true crime content from other shows.

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